The more I listen to the anti-hunting argument, the more I shake my head at the ignorance and hypocrisy of their position.
But rather than be discouraged by it, I’m encouraged. This is a battle we can win. Keep reading, and I’ll show you how.
The anti-hunting movement believes that the best way to “save the planet” is to replicate her with synthetics. Synthetics that are costly to manufacture, cause pollution from beginning to end with their chemical makeups, and couldn’t be further from organic or natural.
As sportsmen and women, we already believe nature does it best and therefore, have the edge in this fight. We just so often don’t see it or take the time to work it all out. As true partners with the planet, we’re more for nature and the good of the planet than they are.
And it’s time we learned to prove it.
Nature does the best at taking care of itself
First, we believe that when it comes to taking care of the planet, nature does it best. What I mean is, it doesn’t get more environmentally friendly than being nature itself. It’s the most biodegradable, nonpolluting, sustainable, and clean way to do things.
For example, real fur is created by nature, herself. Its manufacture is organic and clean, it’s durable, has a long life while in use, and is completely harmless when thrown away.
Synthetic fur, on the other hand, is most often made from plastic. It’s harmful to manufacture, is not as durable, and when discarded, it stays hazardous for a really long time.
Another example are free-range deer, turkeys, and many other wildlife. They are a sustainable, clean, natural, cost-effective source of protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals for sustaining human life.
Compare that to feedlot beef, a chicken mill, or worse, the cost-prohibitive manufacture of synthetic meats, and you would have to agree that deer are a clear winner.
One time sportsmen do it better
When it comes to the ethics of hunting, we have to turn the narrative back to nature for the right comparison.
The vast majority of all animals will not die in the wild surrounded by their woodland friends as the sky opens up and they mystically dissolve into the stars. In fact, I can’t recall seeing a single documented case of this ever happening apart from a Disney movie.
To find the truth, we turn to the Discovery Channel, where we learn that from the lowest shrew to the mightiest of lions, the day comes when they all die. When, either by disease, injury, or age the animal becomes weak and then, yes, it gets surrounded.
It gets surrounded by a pack of gnashing teeth as it’s ripped to shreds while it’s still alive and then consumed.
If we took a moment and put ourselves in their hooves, I think we would all agree that a bullet or an arrow from an ethical hunter is a far better way to go.
The human hunter aims to kill as quickly and cleanly as possible, a thought that never enters the minds of a pride of lions. Again, a hunter is far more merciful and appreciative of the life of an animal than nature is.
Partners with the planet doesn’t mean keeping hands off nature
To write the myriad of ways in which sportsmen and women impact, defend, restore, invest in, manage, and protect our wild world would fill volumes.
The times we live in have added to our responsibilities a duty to understand our role so that we can defend our position, not only for the future of our culture but because nature needs us to.
We are the most conscientious managers of the wild places. Defending our culture is defending them.
As sportsmen and women, we’re partners with the planet. We participate in the processes of life and death. We steward the resources we’re presented with, not to use them up, we enhance them.
As participants, we better understand the flow of nature and its cycles. We recognize the signs because we’re part of it.
Rather than try and outdo or replace nature, we learn to work with her. Nature does it best already, why try to recreate it?
The sportsmen’s community invests more time and money into the preservation and health of our wild places than anyone because we’re a part of it.
It’s a connection to our Creator.
We shake off the synthetic life for one that’s real, a life that’s wild. This is our Father’s world, and in God’s country, we feel alive.
Passionate reason will win every time
“Antis,” more often than not, are fueled by emotion and ignorance. They rave about a world they neither know nor understand.
This isn’t a bad thing if we don’t take the bait but rather present our case of facts with the passion we all feel.
It’s like having someone being emotionally and ignorantly irate with you about how you’re raising your family because they saw you flip your child onto the floor in your living room. Only to find out later, after a lengthy discussion, that you’re teaching your daughter Kung Fu so she can protect herself.
That leaves the neighbor in a silly spot.
Our conversation with the opposition is no different. Take the time, make the case with facts, good reason, and a passion that outdoes theirs, and the results will be similar.
They expect us to be afraid of the conflict. They never know what to do when we’re ready.
Since the beginning, outdoorsmen and women have been the greatest defenders and partners with the planet, hands down. And that’s a position we have no intention of relinquishing!
~ Joel
If you appreciated this information, please click on a share button on this post to help us reach more families and Pass on the Passion!
Leave a Reply