When I first posted Chad Christie’s incredible drop-tine monster (picture below) back in December 2008, I asked Chad to get in touch with me because I’d love to profile his buck on Versus. I never heard from Chad, but some guy named Dave left this comment:
Why would you want to put this guy on TV? I hate gun season because they (gun hunters) only go out opening weekend, sit on a bucket or walk around and get this kind of luck handed to them. But if it makes them /you proud, then great job.
Regardless of topic, you know I encourage people to speak their minds and either agree or disagree with me and the other bloggers, because it makes us all more informed and thoughtful hunters. But this hit me wrong--hunting doesn't need elitist and narrow-minded attitudes like Dave’s.
He’s a hard-core bowhunter, fine. But why diss fellow gun hunters?
Why would I want to put Chad and his monster drop tine on TV? Well Dave, because that is what I do at BIG DEER and on segments on Versus--celebrate average guys who kill their dream bucks and showcase those amazing animals with awe, dignity and respect.
The bigger point here is that we deer hunters, like it or not, are a shrinking or at the least a stable lot. The 12 million of us who still do what we love need to stop the jealousy, bickering, pettiness and downright rudeness that I unfortunately see a lot in our ranks. We need to get along and coexist for the good of the sport.
If you don’t like bowhunting, fine, don’t do it. But don’t p-ss on all bowhunters, especially those who shoot big deer. It makes you look and sound small and petty.
If you don’t like gun hunters, fine, but don’t berate them. What good does that really do?
If you don’t like the way one man hunts (bait, drives, etc.) don’t do it, but don’t look down on him for doing it his way. Or at least keep your mouth shut. To each his own. It’s none of your business anyway.
Just be civil. Nothing wrong with disagreeing, but do it with respect.
Remember the post a couple weeks ago about which celebrity hunters people hate the most? V in NC left a comment that summed it up pretty darn well:
Just hunt in your own way, and don't be so concerned about what others do.
Your thoughts?