[Hands]

Well, I went to a "joint" on the web I was steered to, and saw an "argument" I was drawn to....

About children hunting, of course.

Focused on how children as young as 6 are hunting and all....and if they do hunt before they're 18, any time at all....they'll become some sort of mass murderer or whatever.

Heck, lemme quote somethin:

Hunters as they get older also commit other criminal activity by driving by non-hunter's/anti-hunter's homes and shoot their weapons towards innocent people and their pets. We have documented evidence of these intended shootings in many states across the United States, especially during hunting "season".
Hunting involves deadly weapons(high powered rifles and shotguns, and sometimes high caliber pistols). These deadly weapons placed in the hands of children should be considered child abuse, unfortunately, at this time coecering a child to kill an innocent animal from either the child's parents and/or other outside influences is not recognized as child abuse, however, it should be considered child abuse.
If any child does not hunt and/or kill any animal before the age of 18, that same child will most likely never harm any nor hunt any animals later in that childs' lifetime. If that same child starts hunting and killing wildlife before the age of 18, that same child will continue to kill wildlife throughout their lifetime.


and, blah, blah, blah...

Considering how that was totally one sided, and how I'm totally one-sided as well, I was wondering what you thought about it?

I do think that the "study" about "if they don't hunt after 18, they never will" is bull, cause I know a lot of fellers that didn't hunt til they were around mid age. And I feel it's "bull" about "if they hunt pre-18, they'll hunt their whole life", cause I know folks (my bro for one) who don't even hunt anymore and have in their younger years.

I'm a lil biased and perhaps hypocritical about how I feel towards a small child hunting. In no way, I feel it's "child abuse", but I do feel that it shouldn't be "forced". If a child wants to, you'll see the signs. Now, I say I'm hypocritical, cause I am. I have been pushing it down my girl's throat since she came home from the hospital wearing camo. But, hey....it worked out. I didn't get her in the field...so I didn't push her there.....but, she says she wants to this year, and she already helps me clean game...so, I guess that's my "sign" I was lookin for. I waited til she gave me the "go ahead". (to accompany me...she still ain't ready for a gun)

But, I don't see how that's any different than "forcing" a child to become a vegan or whatnot as well.

But, what that person said was crazy. Right? I mean, we don't just give our kids guns and say "Here ya go! Shoot that critter!" We teach em gun safety and such, and let em pop off a few rounds when they're "ready" before taking em out in the woods, right?

Anyhow, what's your take on it? Child abuse to "force a child to hunt" cause we do? Or do you kinda wait and see "the signs" that they want to and then act on it? And, I won't even ask about the "study of hunting pre-18 vs. aft-18 and the effects" cause even animal rights folks do illegal and insane things, so that kinda discredits that theory. ANYONE can be stupid.

[blvdbuzzard]

That was a typical phsyco nut responce to the question. What about the idiot that shoots at houses just for the fun of it??? I have not nor do I intened to shoot at non-hunters houses. It is the same story they tell all the time. If you have guns you will grow up to be Ted Bundy, Son of Sam and all other forums of mass murderer. It is similar to giving baby boys dolls you will turn them into homo's.

These people are just nuts and it does not do any good to try and talk to them because they turned thier brains off many years ago, so no new information will be allowed in.

If your kids show an interest in going with you the take them, if they do not want to go then let them stay home.

Dru.

[WyoJoe]

Hands, on Sep 15 2004, 05:57 AM, said:

Hunting involves deadly weapons(high powered rifles and shotguns, and sometimes high caliber pistols).

Yup. I agree. The rest is pure unadulterated garbage. I started following my dad in the woods of Indiana when I was about 4. My odometer finally hit the half century mark this summer. Those were some of the happiest times of my childhood. I did not turn into a mass murderer, sniper or anything else. Personally I think kids who grow up hunting grow up with a different set of values. I think they grow up more conservative and respectful.

I started taking my daughters with me when they were potty trained. My youngest was 13 and elk hunting with me. Here she was up on the mt. and had to take here make-up to camp with her. Maybe she thought she was going to see a cute game warden. They are both good girls with good values.

[Hands]

Yep, I feel the same about the kids.

And....I do have some agreement with some of "non-hunter's rights" Everyone, hunters and non alike, should never be tresspassed upon, or assaulted, or threatened....epsecially on their private property. But, I don't, however agree with someone in a cloak advocating those rights who label ALL hunters as drunken rednecks with AK 47's (I could even quote that) when in fact, they are against hunting PERIOD, and not just "the right to be left alone".
You're right, these anti's in disguise will never change their view of hunters....just like I will never change MY view of hunters....but, I often ask them what they DO to STOP these "Poachers", these "Slob hunters", these "Criminals"...because that's what they are...we as hunters even classify such a person as such, do we not? Usually it's nothing.
It's just getting scary in this world, where we have to defend our legal actions. They play on "undecideds". And, I can watch "Tha Nuge" and he plays on the undecideds just as much. Just about every huntin show on the tube has a segment where they talk about "heritage" and try to explain why we hunt. It got so bad at one point, a few years ago, that my state decided to adopt a bill giving my state's citizens the RIGHT to hunt and fish, just to try and protect it. We even , beforehand, adopted the hunter/fisherman harrassment laws.

But, I feel they have bigger ammo. Labeling any nut who tresspasses to shoot at signs or houses or people as a "hunter" (just cause hunter's have guns and these are rural areas) will give "undecided's" a certain picture. And, it just doesn;'t sink in to them that we as hunter's, as well as our own state's laws (trespass, harrassment, assault with deadly weapon, etc) , do not acknowledge them as "hunter's" anymore , they are indeed criminals.
LoL...don't they know if they (antis in the cloak of a non-hunter) actually DO get hunting abolished, that the only ones in the woods would BE those criminal individuals that are doing those things? (Not to mention turn a majority of hunters now into poachers as well) (FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS!!)

Ah well, I strayed from the topic....and vented.....I just got that "season's almost here" itch..lmao. My blood gts a lil pumped.

[Hands]

WyoJoe, on Sep 17 2004, 06:13 PM, said:

Yup. I agree. The rest is pure unadulterated garbage. I started following my dad in the woods of Indiana when I was about 4. My odometer finally hit the half century mark this summer. Those were some of the happiest times of my childhood. I did not turn into a mass murderer, sniper or anything else. Personally I think kids who grow up hunting grow up with a different set of values. I think they grow up more conservative and respectful.

I started taking my daughters with me when they were potty trained. My youngest was 13 and elk hunting with me. Here she was up on the mt. and had to take here make-up to camp with her. Maybe she thought she was going to see a cute game warden. They are both good girls with good values.

Wyo, I agree with you. I followed my dad around as well as a toddler, and I turned out alright as well. I have so many memories of times just bein with my pop in the woods.....and lessons learned as well....that I'll be able to hold to until the day I leave this Earth.
I too agree that "outdoors kids" grow up with different kinds of values. If anything, the number one value they get is to respect wildlife and nature. WE get respect...we also get the knowledge that we must give back as well. And, in my case, and I see it in my bro and my dad and his dad too.... that respect doesn't stop with wildlife.

Ah well, I could go for days about this topic...lol...I'll leave it be. Point is.....that was very well said, WyoJoe.

[Mongojoe]

Well, I have been shooting something, such as BB guns from as far back as I can remember...But then I was raised in a hunting family.
.....It's kinda like an on air, raido interview I was reading about once where the "personality" doing the interviewing was obviously anti-gun... She asked the "gun-guy" something to the effect of, "Well, by teaching these young people to handle guns, you have equipped them to become mass murderers. Doesn't this worry you?"... The gun-guy replied with something like.... "No, of course not.... You are equipped to be a prostitute, but did you become one?"

[Hands]

Lmao