Facebook. I’m not a big lurker but commonly come across anti-hunter commentary there – heck, some of it from old friends. I’m talking misinformed, non-sensical blabber about the wrongness of shooting animals. Some even proclaim hunting is cowardly. I guess you can already tell where I stand on the matter. Nevertheless, I typically stay out of the fray on social media channels.
Social media is one thing but have you ever found yourself face to face with an anti-hunter making such arguments? Here’s another question; Have you ever gotten tongue-tied when finding yourself in an unexpected debate opportunity? You know, the times where hours later you’re thinking “I wish I’d said blank and blank”. As sportsmen and defenders of hunting, shooting, and conservation, it can happen. And when it does, it’s not only frustrating but a lost opportunity.
When Cecil the Lion was killed in the country of Zimbabwe Africa a few years back, the hunting community seemed to somewhat collapse. Uninformed about lion hunting (among other things), bevies of people vehemently charged in. People who couldn’t find Zimbabwe on a map if their fat-free caramel macchiatos depended on it. There were death threats, increased animal activist rallies, and over-generalized arguments about the horrors of big game hunting. A lot of it may have had to do with the lion having a name. Many call it the Disney effect. However, the fact is we don’t exist in cartoons.
The same contingent is just as combative toward the Joe’s and Betty’s out there hunting deer, turkey, and other game animals without first names. The real meanies that pursue, harvest, prepare, and eat the game they shoot.
It’s pretty hard to ignore the fervent animal rights crowd. And we shouldn’t. Most of us are given opportunities when provoked with anti-hunter rhetoric. The best way to respond isn’t with venomous replies, rather by explaining with facts. Heated retorts only feed the fire and are used against us as hunters. Don’t play into their hands.
Here are 8 facts to memorize and use when confronted with zealous ramblings or attacks from members of the anti-hunting collective.
Poaching and Hunting for Sport Is Not the Same
Let’s get this misnomer out of the way first. For one, no one has more disdain for poachers than ethical hunters. People, such as those harvesting ivory by killing rhinos, are killing for profit. Likewise, the guy that shoots a deer on another’s person’s property from the road does so for the antlers or worse yet, for fun. The legal and ethical hunting and harvesting of game animals aren’t even on the same planet as these shameless practices. I’ve heard it said that “Lumping the two together is akin to considering bank robbers and patrons to be the same”. I wish I had come up with that.
The Trophy Hunting Misconception
Trophy hunting has taken a beating over the last few years. We live in a time where logic at times is secondary to social media madness. Trophy hunting is one of the most misunderstood activities around. The arguments include; trophy hunters are rich elitists, waste meat, and don’t care about the animal, much less the environment. So much misinformation, so little time.
For one, the trophy is in the eye of the beholder. Whether the guy hunting overseas for an exotic species or the one hunting a modest whitetail buck (one that’s a trophy to him), it’s simple. The 
trophy hunter is one who chooses to hunt an animal of a particular size. In the hunting fraternity, they are ethical sportsmen and women legally pursuing a game animal. That’s the crux of it. Unfortunately, the lines have been blurred between them and the knuckleheads hunting illegally and for the wrong reasons.
Secondly, ask any real hunter and they’ll surely tell you that they want the antlers or horns from the game they shoot. But a close second is figuring out how to get the meat home. Further, they’re the first to find a friend or food bank for it in the event they can’t use it.
Finally, attend any hunting show, charity banquet, or wild game dinner and it’s clear; hunters care about not only the security of hunting but valuable conservation efforts. Huge amounts of money are spent on the efforts of conservation-minded organizations, not to mention hunting licenses themselves. When the dust settles, the real the winners are improved game herds and habitat.
Hunting Conserves Wildlife Habitat
And what about habitat? For one, the availability of it is the most crucial component to wildlife for future generations to enjoy. That’s all wildlife, not just the wild game we hunt. As human populations increase, so does our need for wild places. When those places dwindle, so do the animals. For example, maintaining over 500 chapters across the US, The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has succeeded in opening over 900,000 acres of protected elk habitat to hunters, hikers, fishers as well as other outdoor enthusiasts. Ducks Unlimited alone has preserved over 11-million acres, much of it vital nesting grounds for waterfowl. Without hunters, those lands would not be set aside for wildlife. And those are just two examples.
Revenue Generation
According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), hunters contribute about 3 billion dollars to the economy every year. The resulting revenue funds hundreds of projects annually – projects that protect our shared resources against poachers. Hunting licenses and the like fund countless conservation initiatives at both the state and local level. Factor in the financial impact hunters have on local economies and it’s obvious that hunting doesn’t only generate revenue, but benefits many important parties in addition to the animals and environment they live in.
Gobs of Jobs
The health of an economy is centered on job prospects and, make no mistake, hunting provides hordes of them. Hunting produces well over 600,000 jobs per year (according to NSSF studies). This includes stable
jobs in depressed areas of the globe like Africa where hunting hosts, guides, and taxidermists enjoy steady employment.
Hunting is Safe
According to data from the Consumer Products Safety Commission and the National Sporting Goods Association, there are 38 injuries reported per 100,000 hunters. Though any injuries are bad, statistically speaking, hunting is less dangerous than golf, tennis, and even mountain biking. This says much about the care and values the hunting majority places on their firearms – and life.
Excellent Protein Anyone?
The venison in my deep-freeze came from free-ranging deer. It’s high in protein, low in fat, and has no added antibiotics or hormones. Can the average non-hunter truly tell you the source of their protein intake? Nope. In an age where the masses know and care
about the source of their food, venison, and other game meat is righteous. On another note, coming from animals living and breathing in their natural habitat, venison is a very environmentally-friendly way to eat meat.
History is On Our Side
In the first half of the 20th century, leaders like Theodore Roosevelt and Aldo Leopold shaped a set of ideals that came to be known as the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. They articulated the philosophy that all wildlife belongs to all of us – that every citizen is entitled to the opportunity to hunt and fish. And that ethical, regulated hunting is the driving force that maintains abundant wildlife.
With hunting as the foundation, the model perhaps represents the best argument in support of the hunting pursuits. Wildlife in the United States was dwindling at the turn of the twentieth century. When the settlers came, deer had been hunted to the brink of extinction in some states. Fast forward to today where over 30-million now roam the American landscape. That growth directly coincided with the creation of hunting seasons, regulations, and bag limits. Likewise, elk, antelope, turkeys, and other species have rallied along with consumption-centered conservation efforts.
These are but a few of the topics and misconceptions common in society today regarding hunting as a sporting activity. Unfortunately, along with the adventures of Justin Bieber, fitness advice, and the latest home decor, there will always be the steady outpouring of uneducated rants and outrageous commentary about hunting and hunters on social media. In parting, here are a few important things to remember;
Hunters and fishermen are, by far the minority in America. It’s the majority that will ultimately determine our future as sportsmen and women. To just assume otherwise is naive.
Though most of them can’t effectively explain why, those that identify as the anti-hunting bunch are mostly those simply uneasy with the concept of hunting animals. They’re not always those wielding picket signs and bullhorns. It’s important to know your audience and act accordingly.
Keep it positive and factual. To repeat, when a hunter loses his temper on the internet or in public, it only bolsters the adverse stereotypes anti-hunters want to disseminate.
Finally, as hunters, it’s important that we effectively defend hunting but we have to do it intelligently. There are other ways to support hunting, such as setting good examples afield and actively participating with organizations such as the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) and Hunters for the Hungry.
The question isn’t only, do you support hunting? Rather, are you prepared to effectively defend it when the moment of truth arrives?