As I am writing up my meeting and interview list for SHOT Show 2020, I am constantly reminded of the disconnect between hunters who use different methods to bring down their game. I shared an example of this a few weeks back and i want to remind you that we all have skin in this and it’s our responsibility to bring people together, not divide them.
A month ago…
At Bass Pro Shops the other day helping a new hunter with their bow set up. Talking to the young mans dad about hunting pigs and how I was blessed to take two with a rifle this year. Archery tech behind the counter blows a raspberry and tells me that’s not hunting.
She goes off on how it’s not sporting and the dad just looks at me. I have my rebuttal, tell her I have a full freezer and brought two pigs down with two shots. Calmly explained we shouldn’t be bashing other hunters. She walked away and said bowhunting is the only hunting.
I love bowhunting, but come on. Stop. Bashing. Other. Hunters. Oh, this all went on while I had my Bass Pro pro staff shirt on. The new hunter and his dad and I had a great conversation about hunting. He’s super excited and I encouraged him. Encourage one another, don’t bash because you don’t like to do it. SMH.
The poor dad said he cannot bow hunt anymore and has to use a crossbow. He even mentioned he’d better not say that too loud for her to hear. I just smiled and told him to hunt with whatever makes him happy and good luck this season. We shook hands, I helped him buy a bunch of gear and they left. I hope the new hunter falls in love with bow hunting. If not, I’ll support him without malice.
Compound bow, traditional bow, crossbow…hunt with any and enjoy it! Handgun, blow gun, shotgun, rifle…hunt with any and have fun. Quit bickering because people are taking notice and it doesn’t look good. New hunters want guidance, not a pissing contest. When I hunt, I am competing against myself, not anyone else. With that, if anyone wants to hunt with me and decides to use a different legal method of take, I welcome it.
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