[Whitman31]

Hey guys, just doing a little editing. I spliced together a couple good kills and wanted to see if I could post the video. Comments welcome...


Edited to remove video, due to overwhelming fear that it might somehow cost all americans their rights to hunt...Or maybe just because it used the f-word in reference to a glorified rat...


I was running the camera so I take no credit for the kills, or misses...:D

WARNING: This video is moderatly graphic with some crude language.

[Shung]

since the other thread was closed, I post it here again.


with all due respect, my 2 cents.

I understand killing those animals (for extremmely valid reasons).

I understand doing it with a rifle.

I understand liking the shooting.

but still, I don't think that you should call them "****ers" etc..

You are doing your job, and you are doing it very well. nothing against that.

But, you are still killing, and in my mind, it should always be done with some respect. No matter how insgnificant it is, its still life that you are you are bringing to an end.

I hope you don't take my comments too badly. I have hunted and fished in my life, and im certainly not the anti-hunt prototype..

[Eric F]

Shug I couldnt agree more there is killing then ther is the other kind of killing. Do it with respect.

[great90wt]

I'm pretty new here but I have to agree. I'm a hunter and I always feel that I have a duty to respect the animal I'm taking. Through it's death I gain sustenance, and I thank the animal for that. Now, I'm not against taking an animal for a non-food reason, the two moles I killed last week can attest to that. But that was simply they were destroying my garden, taking food from me, so one of us had to go.

[Whitman31]

I apologize if the video offended anyone. I questioned putting it up, I understand that killing prairie dogs isn't alway considered ethical. But since the title of the hunting forum states "Pursuit of game for food, fur or sporting challenge is a part of who humans are." I figured it would be OK.

Things seem a little fuzzy around here when it comes to prairie dogs. People are talking in these forums every day about building the ultimante prairie dog gun, and working up accurate loads, but a video showing what the guns do is touchy...

I guess I don't really want to apologize for the video. Killing prairie dogs is just that, killing. It's all about killing as many as you can before they get smart enough to stay underground. It's something to do for fun, excitement, and it's great practice. About the only ethical part is that the outcome for the prairie dog is possibly better than dying from poison, disease, or rattlesnake.

As far as respect goes for prairie dogs, if your going to hunt them, you don't respect them. Killing them with a high velocity rifle round and leaving them in multiple pieces to rot in the sun is nowhere near a respectable death. If there are any serious dog hunters out there that do it different I'd like to hear from them.

I understand if you didn't care for the video, as the warning said it was moderatly graphic and had some crude language. I've been on many prairie dog hunts, with many different people, many respectable people. This is how it's done.

[Shung]

I don't want to be heavy on this, but I repeat.

I have NOTHING against you killing prairie dogs, and I fully understand why it has to be done !

I also fully respect the way you do it, since I dont think those animal are suffering, the way you do it.

I say again, the only part that semmed useless to me, was hearing you calling them ****ers, and other names..


You obviously may have to kill them.. but not to disdain them or hate them. that's how I see it-

Having been a hunter and a fisher myself, I think it is such things that make ANTI-HUNT and ANTI-GUN people treat us like heartless savages, who only enjoy killing, no matter are the reasons.

I don't say you behave that way !!! I'll never make such a statement about somebody i don't know.

[Whitman31]

Shung,
I am not trying to argue with you here. I respect your opinion. My reply was meant to be general. In my circle of friends, those words probably get used a bit too much. We were enjoying ourselves and that is how we expressed it.

I guess we should censor ourselves better so we don't give the Anti's any more ammo...That's sad...Maybe if we're quiet they'll forget we exist...

[Gaiudo]

Seems language more than likely wasn't directed at the dogs, but just general crudeness. Not that I'd necessarily have a problem with calling prairie-rats that particular expression anyways...

I think it would be silly if this thread became dominated by a choice of language. Free country...

Thanks for posting the video! What were you guys shooting? Where? Optics?

[Shung]

..On the other hand, being hidden is not the guarantee they will not (the anti) bother us..

So I don't really know where we should stand, actually.

Anyway, i didn't want to blame you in anyway. As i said, I fully understand prairie dog shooting, and I think you did it (hit) clean. I only wanted to tell you, what could "bother" people most.

And again, my 1st language isn't english, and maybe I got what you were saying on the video the wrong way. Maybe it's a way of talking, enjoying things. So maybe I was wrong here.

if that's the case, I am sorry, and I apologize to you.



maybe

[jackdanson]

yeah, he didn't mean it in an aggressive/derogatory way. If I am playing paintball I may say, "Hey we got an ------ over here" That doesn't mean I don't like that person it is just an expression said in the heat of the moment in a game.

If calling a p-dog a name bothers you, you need to think the next time you drive through kfc or mcdonalds. The cruel conditions they keep those animals in before slaughter is substantially worse than calling a p-dog a name before instantaneously shutting its lights out.

[Whitman31]

Thanks for posting the video! What were you guys shooting? Where? Optics?
Thanks, good to hear some people enjoyed it. We were shooting a number of different guns. I believe the one's shooting in the video were a CZ bolt gun in 204 Ruger, a Bushmaster stainless varminter in 223, and a Ruger bolt in 223. The optics varied and I'm not exactly sure. I believe the CZ had a Leupold VX-IV (mid-power), the AR sported a Leupold VX-IV with the varmit reticle (higher power, not sure exactly), the Ruger has a Nikon Monarch 6.5-20.

Where were we shooting? I can't seem to remember, but it was somewhere in North Dakota...:D


jackdanson,

EXACTLY...

[Whitman31]

Besides, we were pretty far away, I don't think he heard me...:D

[rcmodel]

I have killed my fair share of prairie dogs over the years.

But never felt the need to publish pictures of the carnage all over the Internet for anti-hunters to cringe & wring their hands over.
(And possibly use as fuel for the PETA crusade against all hunting.)

That, + the language, presents a very poor picture of sport hunting to non-hunters.

rcmodel

[ArmedBear]

I'm with Shung and rcmodel.

I have no problem whatsoever with prairie dog hunting. I have no problem with enjoying it, either.:)

I'll reiterate rcmodel's concern, though.

pictures of the carnage all over the Internet for anti-hunters to cringe & wring their hands over.
(And possibly use as fuel for the PETA crusade against all hunting.)

One more thing... If the rodents don't get shot, they are sometimes poisoned by the thousands. Personally, I think shooting them is more humane and obviously better for the habitat in the area than poisoning them.

It would be a disservice to the animals and the ecosystem, as well as to us, if the animal rights idiots get their way. Let's be careful not to help them.

[stealth]

+1 to rcmodel +1 to Shung

I too have never posted video or footage publically of anything I've had to take down. I'd rather not put myself on anybodys radar for any reason, no matter how stupid that questioning of my intentions could be (look around at the day & age we live in, its ridiculous). Beyond that, It's a personal thing for me, I just don't share many things.

In my opinion regarding hunting game, You either get it or you don't get it.. and with most people (besides already well established hunters) any videos or pictures may be seen as carnage or worse. Thank the anti-hunting crowd for that one.

Language could have been toned down a bit in a vid, I've never felt the need to curse at anything I was taking down.. Then again, I may respect my game more than most folks do or would.

[Whitman31]

I guess it's just not my style to live in fear that the liberals are going to come and take my guns away, I'd rather meet them at the door than hide under the bed. If I legally kill something for sport, and I catch it on video, I'm gonna pass it on for others to enjoy.

I've removed the video because I was informed linking to foul language is the same as using it...

[Eric F]

There is no real nice way to kill at distance with a high velociety round. I have done it and seen others do it. Gee wiz I have shot tiny birds before for fun. I am no big fan of heavy language in any event. Nor am I a fan of folks making a kill and jumping up and down and yelling like its some sort of nascar event. It has nothing to do with living in fear or even being a liberal its a matter od being polite. Its ok to be offensive as long as its not rude........you know what I mean?

[wheelgunslinger]

Meh.
Respect for animals in the context of hunting isn't something you can tell someone about, or even harangue them into believing.

[Albatross]

As an video editing hobbist myself, I'd like to see the videa. Please PM with details.

/Don't let the haters bother you too much, a lot of people don't dig my video either.

[Shung]

I dont think anybody is a hater in here- and I never whished his video to be erased.

I had nothing against his video. I just explained what, in my mind, could be "disturbing"- nothing more.

[eliphalet]

If you care to see critters shot go to youtube there are dozens perhaps hundreds and maybe thousands of videos portraying such activities there.
I have shot at least hundreds probably thousands of critters in the last 50 years or so and I dont' enjoy watching the deer hunts on TV, or small critters explode in video or in stills, but if the "Anti's" want ammo all they need to do is hit youtube or other video sites on the net.
Rarely does a film make a hunter appear in a positive light, with the mindset of today's PC world, it can and is done but seldom, IMHO.

[ArmedBear]

If you want to make hunting appear in a positive light, invite some people over for a good meal made with something you've shot. Add in something you've grown, and it's even better.

Prairie dog shooting is something that only certain people will appreciate. Not everyone can understand that they are pests, not pets, and not everyone has a profound appreciation of accurate rifles and shooters.

This isn't about hate.

When I've seen some p-dog videos, I've thought that the shooting was impressive and the results were sometimes pretty funny (an instant kill is humane, regardless -- I wouldn't laugh at cruelty). Then I've thought, "Man, this is fodder for the PeTA *******s. These guys could be wrecking a good thing here."

[LJH]

Ok I don’t want to sound overly dramatic, but the only show that I have ever seen hunting portrayed in any sort of positive way was the Alaska Experiment. These folks were hunting for survival. As to antis’ seeing your video, I hate to tell you this; they don’t need to see it to fuel there passion. They have a different belief system than most of us and think taking of animal life is unjust. Accept that fact and keep working to hold onto your rights.

[Shung]

in my mind the only "acceptable" anti-hunt are vegeterians (who at least follow their logical).. and still I can talk with them to proove that they are not right..

all the other anti-hunt (not vegetrian) are ignorant, or stupid.. or both..

[Whitman31]

I get what everyone's saying. I guess I just felt that in this forum I was among peers, of one sort or another. A big group of guys and a couple gals who have a lot of the same interests. I may not have thousands of posts, but I get the jist. If I wanted to fuel the anti-gun fires I would have sent the whole 40 minutes to PETA or put it on You-Tube, but I didn't. I posted is somewhere that I thought it would get appreciated, not criticized.

I'm embarrassed that in a hunting forum, we're all too darn worried about who's gonna see it and put it on CNN, to just sit back and enjoy watching the little buggers get blown up, maybe even giggle when some red-neck from Minnesota drops an f-bomb. Cause that's what prairie dog hunting is, it's shooting exploding targets that move. I am generally a very respectful hunter, this prairie dog thing is different. It's one of two things, it's either practice, or cold blooded killing. The only part that I'd compare to hunting is trying to find land to shoot on where the rancher doesn't want $150 a day.

We could have stacked a couple dozen of them and taken a nice picture in the sunset like all the other wild game photos that get posted around here. But it's hard to find a dozen that are in one piece. It's just not like hunting other game, it's different and you can call me whatever you want. The reason hunters travel hundreds of miles and spend way too much money on guns, ammo, guides, and lodging isn't for the majestic moment of silence after you've killed you first dog. It the laughter that erupts when one goes hurtling through the air, or the pride of making a 400yd shot on something the size of a 20oz soda bottle. It's BRUTAL, the video was accurate...

[eliphalet]

If you want to make hunting appear in a positive light, invite some people over for a good meal made with something you've shot. Add in something you've grown, and it's even betterWell Bear, next time your in Idaho in the summer drop by for a BBQed elk steak, a few shrimp perhaps, and some fresh garden veggies with a Idaho baker. Mmmmmm, it must be about dinner time around here, the little lady will be home any minute.
Maybe after chow we can go shoot some Whistle Pigs or Rock Chucks, or I just found a slew filled with big ol' carp waiting to be speared with arrows.
It will be a positive experience! *grin.

[ArmedBear]

I'm embarrassed that in a hunting forum, we're all too darn worried about who's gonna see it and put it on CNN...

It's unfortunate that we have to be concerned about this stuff, I fully agree.

However, this is not stupid paranoia. Right or wrong, it's strategic in intent.

It's a fact that prairie dog hunting has been under attack, and also that groups like HSUS (PeTA in business suits) have had some success here and there. E.g., mountain lion hunting was banned in California some years back -- more lions are now shot than before, but now DFG pays "professional hunters" to do it instead of collecting high tag fees as revenue, an now they're only shot after they've attacked people. They've also succeeded in blocking dove seasons in some states -- ridiculous to any of us here in the West where dove hunting is taken for granted.

I had a boss once, an old hippie type, a smart guy but not so smart, who had a "car phone" back when they were very expensive. It was portable (briefcase type), but he left it in his car, even though our workplace was in a high-crime area and auto break-ins were commonplace.

We asked him about why he didn't just bring it in to the office rather than leaving it on the seat, and he said, "I refuse to live in fear."

Within a few weeks, he went out and found his window smashed and the phone gone.

Maybe he didn't "live in fear", but he was still a dumbass.

[MinnMooney]

Whitman31 :

You ARE among your peers here on THR. Many of us shoot P.D.s for sport and to hone our long range shooting skills. It helps the ranchers and it's fun - Yes, I said fun - for us shooters. I don't exactly pout over each and every P.D. that I shoot but I'm not so sure that I care for the videos that I've watched about P.D. shooting where the shooters and video guys alike are laughing, and acting stupid. Do it if you want to (& I certainly have nothing against it) but then don't film it and have others watch it 'cause it leaves a weird taste in most peoples' mouths.

[gdvan01]

Whitman31:

Personally, I'd love to see the video. I'm certain, except for the admitted language....big freakin' deal, it's not much different then what "dog-be-gone" sells on their site. Someone is always going to whine, especially here, about what someone else does.

Those that cry about "the anti's" and let's not show them what we do are as big of a problem because they worry so much about being PC. This political correctness crap will be the downfall of this country and it makes me wonder...how many of the whiners here publicly state, by action or word..."...pry it from my cold dead hands..." but then turn around and whimper about your video.

Bunch of damn crybabies.

And while I'm thinking about it for those of you who take so much stock in what the anti's are thinking and the hunting/killing videos "make us look bad", try this on for size:

There are a ton of gun boards all over the web and I frequent a handful of them. The biggest thing that makes gun owners look bad and uneducated/uncivilized is the lack of english comprehension and basic grammar used by many of the slack-jawed mouth breathers posting such drivel as "look whut I killt for my snake", "pick me a gun"....jeezus-petes.


IBTL

[3pairs12]

Well I haven't seen the video but would like to. If you dropped the F bomb in your video a few times I am sure that is why it got closed. I doubt if it were so much for the antis but more because this a family site. There numberous young kids in and around here. So weshould probably be careful on what say if we intend on posting a video.
No judgement here though I often use the F bomb it is a great Fing word, I often use out of joy.
So maybe you could send it via PM to those who would like to see it. I know I would.