College Student Looking For Passionate Hunter

[AfricaHunting.com]

Alright, you'll have to show me eight. I see dirt patches and 6 Kudu in that picture.

What a great picture! I also see 8...

 

[BRICKBURN]

What a great picture! I also see 8...

Alright, I tried to turn dirt into Kudu.

You have to show me this 8th Kudu.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Where is Waldo

 

[BRICKBURN]

That's a Duiker.

Ok, Ok! It's a baby Kudu.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Have you seen that one: Count the Kudus…: http://www.africahunting.com/threads/count-the-kudus.742/.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Katie, now you see part of the challenge of hunting. It is not quite so easy as some might think.

 

[K-man]

I remember seeing a picture that displayed the distinct contrast that Scott has so precisely laid out in his post. There was a fence dividing 2 pieces of property. On one side was ranch property that was being grazed by cattle and on the other side, directly adjacent to that property, was a former cattle ranch that had been converted to hunting property. The contrast between the 2 was unmistakable. I'm not sure where the picture was from....South Africa or Namibia maybe? The flora on the hunting property was lush, green, and thick and represented great cover for the native wildlife. The cattle farm, in distinct contrast, was barren, stark, and desolate with very little grass, shrubs, or trees. It really illustrated the point Scott is making, and further demonstrates another positive benefit hunting can have on the environment.

In today's "eco-conscious" society, especially amongst members of groups that purport to care deeply about the Earth, I would think that a chance to save wild lands from over development, conversion to farm lands, infrastructure (roads, power lines, etc.), would be seen as a good thing. We've definitely seen the benefits here in the US from organizations such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF), Ducks Unlimited (DU), and even Trout Unlimited (TU) that have purchased historic and native range lands, wetlands, and lands bordering native waterways as part of conservation trusts, so that they will be preserved for wildlife, as well as hunters and fisherman in perpetuity. It's certainly more complicated in Africa, but still a viable option to help combat the land encroachment and poaching that is so rampant there. This is effectively what outfitters and PH's do there, and by doing so, provide the bulk of land management strategies, as well as anti-poaching patrols, that are so desperately needed if African wildlife is to have a chance.

However, as is so often the case with these protectionist groups, the strategy of "My way, or the highway" most often prevails. Because of a singular focus on one animal, or one tree, or one whatever, the species and land as a whole often suffers. It's a definite "can't see the forest for the trees" scenario. One would think that with Africa being on the verge of going off a proverbial cliff as far as her wildlife and native habitat is concerned, all viable strategies would be considered. The role of hunting, if one is trying to be objective, has been demonstrated to be an effective tool in conservation by numerous organizations and research studies. And yet we as hunters, often hear in this emotional debate the argument from the fanatical anti hunters that they would be OK with a species' extinction, as long as hunting was abolished in toto. It is defined as an acceptable loss in the grand strategy of abolishing the so-called barbaric practice of hunting. Again, a "my way, or the highway" mentality that would seem unimaginable to most sane people, and yet it exists. I ask the question, "Who has the screwed up priorities?" In Africa especially, talk is cheap, but unfortunately bulls*%t is readily available. In fact, it's too bad you can't sell bulls%$t and rhetoric. It might be a great alternative revenue source to fund wildlife initiatives over there......

If anyone has that picture that I am talking about, it would be great to post on here to further illustrate the point that Dr. Slough has so wonderfully laid out. Pictures certainly can be worth a thousand words........

How about this picture I took flying into the Save conservancy in Zim. Shows your point exactly

 

[sandman0921]

Alright, I tried to turn dirt into Kudu.

Exactly like all those rocks I kept glassing that I could've sworn were Dall sheep every time I looked through my spotting scope this past August in AK. They were literally "stone" sheep

K-man that's not the picture I was thinking about. It was an "on-the-ground" perspective. But that's a great picture that illustrates my point well. Thanks for sharing that.

 

[Scott Slough]

Sandman ... love the Kaplan quote almost as much as the pragmatic explanation! I used it as an example in one of my classes last semester!!!

 

[Katie]

I appreciate all your responses. Joining this forum has been enlightening. I always like to get new perspectives even though it may be uncomfortable at first. In today's world, I can't be an idealist.

 

[Katie]

I will be on here on the weekend to respond more thoroughly to your posts!

 

[Katie]

I like how people attach "Disney" feelings to animals.

They are intelligent...I guess we can't hunt them. Then I guess we shouldn't hunt whitetail deer because once they get 3.5 years old, they get very intelligent. People seem to take things from their pets or favorite movies and attach them to things in nature that they don't understand.

Right! Ooops I was actually watching Disney movies lately haha. But yes, I understand we must eat. It is more humane this way. Whats the alternative factory farms -unhealthy tortured food.

 

[Katie]

Katie, now you see part of the challenge of hunting. It is not quite so easy as some might think.

Oh no if it were easy then there would be no challenge. How do you feel about those who cheat...do it it illegally from a plane or such other means?

 

[LivingTheDream]

Oh no if it were easy then there would be no challenge. How do you feel about those who cheat...do it it illegally from a plane or such other means?

Katie, I can tell you that poachers will get no love here and we are probably harder on poachers then any one. However, the debate on what is ethical compared to what is legal is whole debate in itself and is sure to get emotions running high.

From the perspective of African Rhino or Elephant poachers and smugglers who kill anything and everything with no purpose then their greed, I think you find that on this forum there isn't a tough enough penalty for all those low lifes with many in favor of the death penalty.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Oh no if it were easy then there would be no challenge. How do you feel about those who cheat...do it it illegally from a plane or such other means?

ILLEGAL = POACHING

No one "hunts" from a plane.
I have seen evidence of pest control done from a "plane", not hunting.

I have heard of legal CULL operations being done with the use of a plane. Usually, licensed contractors/ government designates. Some jurisdictions allow landowner designates to cull by aircraft, not hunt.

You use the word "Cheat".

Someone obtaining/acquiring a "trophy" by "any means" necessary?
That person has lost sight of the actual goal.

Everyone will draw their personal line somewhere and many will differ in their opinions.

Fences, no fences, low fences/high fences,
pen raised, tame, ranch, captive bred, free range, released vs reintroduced, boma, pens, drugged, self sustaining, artificial feeding, baiting, tracking,
private property, concession, wild, put & take, property size, etc.

You won't sell me a drugged, tame Boma shoot for anything any time soon!

You will find me hunting self sustaining, wild and reintroduced species by fair chase in large areas.

 

[Katie]

Thank you for clearing the distinction up for me Brickburn.

 

[Katie]

Katie, I can tell you that poachers will get no love here and we are probably harder on poachers then any one. However, the debate on what is ethical compared to what is legal is whole debate in itself and is sure to get emotions running high.

From the perspective of African Rhino or Elephant poachers and smugglers who kill anything and everything with no purpose then their greed, I think you find that on this forum there isn't a tough enough penalty for all those low lifes with many in favor of the death penalty.

Legal versus Ethical, now I did not think of that. My intention here is to get a real perspective, not one from the biased, media. Thank you for your insight.

 

[greyfox]

She contacted me via e-mail, I answered her questions, she seem s sincere,

 

[K-man]

Katie, will you do us a favor when you have finished your assignment and post it here? Or at least a link to your finished work,I know I would be interested to read it. Thanks

 

[siml]

@greyfox , I hope you right. It sure sounded like a baiting question. Brickburn answer covers it for me.