National Geographic on Hunting

[Wheeler44]

There have ben several threads lately concerning the declining numbers of hunters and on access to hunting land.

National Geographic magazine this month (probably Nov. but came in todays mail) has a big and well thought out article on hunting and the good hunters do for hunted species. The author attributes the decline in hunters numbers to the decline in hunting area and the rising cost of hunting on private (leased) land.

He also states that hunting can be boring. Well whatever.

Has anybody else read the article and have comments?


Wheeler44

 

[Regolith]

I wonder if its on store shelves...

My parents have a subscription, but I won't be home till Thanksgiving. So I'll have to get it at the store.

Should be a good read.

 

[countertop]

Can celled my subscription years ago, they became way way way too political when Bush was elected.

That said, I do pick the occasional copy up off the newsstand still. will make it a point to grab this one.

 

[JWarren]

I'll have to read it.


Frankly, if we keep getting tainted products in the stores (recently a company went out of business after it had to recall tons of tainted beef), we may see more people deciding that hunting is safer than shopping for meat.


I'm getting that way.

-- John

 

[jeepmor]

we may see more people deciding that hunting is safer than shopping for meat.

I am one of those people and it was a factor in deciding to hunt. Plus, it fills the gap between summer and snowboard season.

And yes, I agree that hunting can be boring. I've missed more than one opportunity at a coyote because I dozed off leaning up against a comfortable sage brush. It was a really long day, but that's how it goes. Nice thing was, I was actually holding still enough not to alert him.

 

[JWarren]

I agree that hunting can be boring.

Hunting is never boring for me-- as long as I still have my Books-a-Million discount card.

I actually make lists of books that I will be buying and reading during Hunting Season.


Relaxing, actually.


-- John

 

[Selfdfenz]

Hunting:
What the caveman invented to counteract the "honey-do list". Still works.
Think about it.

Best,

S-

 

[MCgunner]

He also states that hunting can be boring. Well whatever.

It probably is boring to a writer that doesn't understand why a person hunts, the real reason, not the actual killing, butchering, eating of the meat. He needs to pick up a copy of "A Sand County Almanac" for a little education on the subject, but then, he probably still wouldn't get it.

 

[Flintknapper]

MCgunner wrote:

It probably is boring to a writer that doesn't understand why a person hunts, the real reason, not the actual killing, butchering, eating of the meat. He needs to pick up a copy of "A Sand County Almanac" for a little education on the subject, but then, he probably still wouldn't get it.

YUP!

 

[Kingcreek]

I can spend 3 hours or more hunting in a treestand and it seems like it passes in minutes. If it ever gets boring, I'll quit.
I find the solitude very relaxing and yet refreshing. I have time to think through alot of different things, maybe some mental problem solving, etc and there are always birds, squirrels, and other wildlife to observe.
Golf is boring. Hunting is life.

 

[308win]

I have been a lot of things hunting: hot, cold, wet, miserable, lost, excited, aggravated, frustrated, shutout, limited out, pooped out, but never bored. Too may things to see, hear, smell, experience; if nothing else, the goings on of a sparrow keep me entertained.

 

[ArcherandShooter]

The photos and captions are all online, and they are BEAUTIFUL. The captions, too, are very sympathetic to hunting.

http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/2007-11/hunters/allard-photography.html

I have to say I am very impressed.

 

[MCgunner]

Ted Turner, eh? Who knew?

 

[telkontar]

Finally some balance in reporting -- we killed all the predators so hunting is now a "green" activity. My nieces were trained in "carrying capacity" and other biological benefits when taking gun safety courses in North Dakota (where I hunt pheasant -- and actually limit).
Notice that the pcitures (my issue did not arrive today) were all in non-urban states. (Western Penn is much different from the coast. I love the sylvan areas of Penn.) I think urbanization is deleterious to many things -- guns, outdoor life, hunting, and sanity. (Of course, I live 40 miles from downtown Chicago. i have found no hunting in this state.)
Many NG readers will be shocked, I believe.

See the other thread for further discussion on hunting decline: Hunters' Numbers. NG can make it a national issue.

 

[huntingnt]

I received this issue too

I think this is a great opportunity to write in and make our feelings known that this is greatly appreciated. It's not too often that we get a fair shake. I guarantee that their e-mail will be stuffed with bleeding hearts decrying the glorification of a blood sport. It's time that we meet it head on in a neutral forum. It doesn't take any longer to write a letter to them than it does to reply to this post.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

The photos and captions are all online, and they are BEAUTIFUL. The captions, too, are very sympathetic to hunting.

http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/...otography.html

I have to say I am very impressed.

Thanks for the link! Beautiful photo essay.

(And there are 6,500 elk in Kentucky? I had no idea!)

 

[Wheeler44]

Notice that the pcitures (my issue did not arrive today) were all in non-urban states.

Note the picture of the guy dragging a deer through a suburban lawn.

 

[doconix]

My NG came today in the mail. I skimmed through the article, and I'm quite surprised and impressed. It seems to be a very favorable article on hunting.

I've said the same thing for years: If you want to protect a species, open it up to hunting. The hunters will ensure that the species maintains a healthy and large population so they have something to hunt.

 

[Regolith]

Wait....you guys have time to read while hunting?


I seem to be doing it wrong, then. I spend most of my time hunting driving and walking. But then, where I hunt there aren't any trees to put a stand in.

Not a whole lot of game, either.

 

[MCgunner]

Well, you need a Texas deer stand, you know, with a reading room off the foyer. Of course, the better Texas deer stands are wired for internet. Or, you can always read while you drive....

 

[koja48]

Texas Mobile Deer Stand

Whoa . . . if there's something so fierce there that one needs to be that far removed from the ground when traveling, I ain't got enuff gun. Bet that rig is a ball on sidehills . . .

 

[hacksaw]

Texas Mobile Deer Stand

That is the silliest thing I have seen since "Howard the Duck" Might as well just use a vehicle mounted M2 on that thing as your deer rifle......just beyond ridiculous....but I still want one..

 

[Dr.Rob]

Good rig for prarie doggin. Needs a canvas top.

 

[koja48]

Hey, everything in Texas is big....

I know a few Texans & must agree . . . especially when it comes to their hearts! Don't know that I've ever met any finer folks.

 

[Art Eatman]

Good article. I guess my main objection was where the writer used the word "hunters" when he was talking about "poachers".

Good job about the financial interrelationship between hunters and local residents in hunting areas, although I think there was too much focus on Gardiner and not enough about small towns around the country, or the smaller landowners. And, our financing of wildlife agencies--as well as such things as Ducks Unlimited.

I doubt that the backyard birdwatchers would be willing to pay a "bird tax", though, to support their habit...

Art