Suggestions to help explain our passions?

[Cam Moon]

I'm sure that most of us have experienced times where we have ended up talking to a non hunter trying to explain the benefits of hunting.
I was wondering if anybody has some suggestions as to a short movie or video that may focus on the advantages and benefits of hunting to help educated those less informed.
And, another thing that I was wondering about is how most of you feel about trophy hunting pictures being shown, but with the face of the hunter blacked out or made unrecognizable in some way or another?

 

[Philip Glass]

Trophy the film but it’s very long! More minds have been changed from that film than any others of late.
The best plan is to know your facts on hunting and conservation but combine those facts with your personal experiences. Then you have a winning combination to kindly debate the uninformed.

 

[Cam Moon]

@Philip Glass I watched Trophy, and I know that you were a big part of it. Unfortunately there were a few parts of Trophy that (I feel) portrayed hunters in a really poor light, and that's why I'm looking for something else. Oddly enough, it was a conversation on a different thread about that movie that prompted me to post this thread. I mean no disrespect, as Trophy had several positive aspects, but I'm looking for something that focuses on explaining the whole concept of trophy hunting being a benefit to conservation. Sometimes I find people will pay more attention to a film/documentary/movie than they will to a hunter (who may seem to them to be) trying to justify his actions.

 

[JimP]

I have no ideas for videos that will do what you are talking about.

I personally think that you need to get rid of the word "Trophy" To most non hunters and others it is the word trophy that puts the bad idea into their head. I have quite a few non hunters in my circle of friends and they all have seen my room where I have the heads mounted in. But they will never hear the word trophy from me. When they ask about the animals I'll explain the processes that we as hunters go through to be able to hunt them and that when all of their meat has been consumed by me or others I still have them on my walls to remember the hunts by. It doesn't matter if I had to pack them out on my back for a few miles or if I was able to back a truck up to them, I'll tell them that they all are special.

While I haven't converted many to our way of thinking I have converted some to actually learn for themselves about what happens to the meat, hides, and whatever else is there besides the head and or horns. I even have a few non hunting friends who will defend the hunting of animals now once they understand where the money comes from and what part us hunters have in it.

 

[Cam Moon]

Well Jim, I have mixed feelings about that. I used to kind of look down at Trophy hunters, as I hunted for meat. I would admit that if there was a little spiker and thunderbuck standing next to each other that there would be no question as to which one I would want, but that antlers are just a bonus and not the primary reason I hunt. I feel that I received a bit of an education by reading something that was written by a vegan. It was in defense to some comments that people were posting attacking an American woman who had shot a "rare black giraffe". This person pointed out that they don't personally believe that any animal should be killed or harmed for any reason whatsoever, but said that meat hunters that feel they are superior to trophy hunters are hypocrites. And the more I think about it, the more I think they are right. I had a really hard time when I was first going to Africa. I was going with a friend for a photo Safari, and I thought to myself "How can I go to Africa and not hunt???" I educated myself a bit with regards to trophy hunting, and no longer feel that trophy is a word we need to apologize for. All that being said, I do agree that you are probably right in that a non hunter may have a difficult enough time trying to see the benefits of hunting, and that including the word trophy may make it even more difficult.

 

[K-man]

I personally think that you need to get rid of the word "Trophy" To most non hunters and others it is the word trophy that puts the bad idea into their head.

I completely agree. We hunters need to have a 2 minute "Ted Talk" in our head that is unique to each one of our own experiences ready to go the next time we are on an elevator or next to someone who is just asking about hunting and "Why we hunt". I always start with I hunt for conservation.... and usually somewhere in there I say something like- "would you hunt one of a hundred (insert species here) just to conserve the other 99?" because that's exactly what hunting for conservation does. If they say No, I then politely ask them what they think should be done to save the species, and then follow that with What have YOU actually done for the species? Very few have any real answer to that. I have to be very careful to not be confrontational or dogmatic towards them. I don't know if any have been convinced yet, but I don't think I have alienated anyone not already closed to new ideas.
Sorry - soap box rant over-

 

[chashardy]

I completely agree. We hunters need to have a 2 minute "Ted Talk" in our head that is unique to each one of our own experiences ready to go the next time we are on an elevator or next to someone who is just asking about hunting and "Why we hunt". I always start with I hunt for conservation.... and usually somewhere in there I say something like- "would you hunt one of a hundred (insert species here) just to conserve the other 99?" because that's exactly what hunting for conservation does. If they say No, I then politely ask them what they think should be done to save the species, and then follow that with What have YOU actually done for the species? Very few have any real answer to that. I have to be very careful to not be confrontational or dogmatic towards them. I don't know if any have been convinced yet, but I don't think I have alienated anyone not already closed to new ideas.
Sorry - soap box rant over-

There is a "Ted Talk" which like other Ted Talks is about 18 minutes and it's about hunting and how the speaker relates to hunting and conservation. I saw it on youtube.

 

[Trail Rated]

I thought this NPR report did a fair job of explaining that the wilderness that naturalists love couldn’t be possible without revenue and conservation efforts from hunters:

I also think the whole “trophy vs meat” argument is a fallacy. In practice, nearly all hunters hunt for both meat and trophies. Also, why is the use of an animal’s meat more moral than the use of an animal’s skin, fur or bones? Why not make as much use of the animal as possible?

 

[schwerpunkt88]

I completely agree. We hunters need to have a 2 minute "Ted Talk" in our head that is unique to each one of our own experiences ready to go the next time we are on an elevator or next to someone who is just asking about hunting and "Why we hunt". I always start with I hunt for conservation.... and usually somewhere in there I say something like- "would you hunt one of a hundred (insert species here) just to conserve the other 99?" because that's exactly what hunting for conservation does. If they say No, I then politely ask them what they think should be done to save the species, and then follow that with What have YOU actually done for the species? Very few have any real answer to that. I have to be very careful to not be confrontational or dogmatic towards them. I don't know if any have been convinced yet, but I don't think I have alienated anyone not already closed to new ideas.
Sorry - soap box rant over-

I'm sure that most of us have experienced times where we have ended up talking to a non hunter trying to explain the benefits of hunting.
I was wondering if anybody has some suggestions as to a short movie or video that may focus on the advantages and benefits of hunting to help educated those less informed.
And, another thing that I was wondering about is how most of you feel about trophy hunting pictures being shown, but with the face of the hunter blacked out or made unrecognizable in some way or another?

Ladies and Gents,

Good thoughts here, but what we really need to acknowledge is there are people who's mind is made up, so don't bother them with the facts. When you think you can reason with them, you're thinking like an old school Republican, still hoping to find middle ground with the Democrats. Ain't going to happen. It's a fight, we need to look at it that way, fight at every step and not try to mince words to make hunting more palatable for those who unyieldingly hate us.

 

[chashardy]

First, I would say that you aren't going to change the mind of the "killing animals is always absolutely wrong" crowd. They have no space to listen to any rational conversation.
Second, for those who want to understand why we hunt, I use the "hunters are the biggest conservationists" rationale. Explain that the decline in population of any species--for example elephants--is not due to managed hunting but rather to loss of native habitat to human population expansion and illegal poaching--which is definitely not the same thing as managed hunting.
I use the scimitar oryx as the best example: they were essentially extinct in their native sub-Saharan African habitat and if it had not been for the importation of breeding groups into the southwestern U.S. decades ago the species would have disappeared. Today they are a valuable product for exotic game ranchers in Texas and New Mexico and there are estimated to be as many as 250,000 or more of them here and the species has been re-introduced into Africa. All as a result of hunters creating the incentive to conserve the species. The same is true of other species. There are more sable in South Africa today than there were 20 years ago because of managed game ranches and breeding programs which are part of the game ranching industry that depends on hunting.

 

[C.W. Richter]

I've found that quick chats with anti-hunters causes the tension to stop when I ask them if they eat meat, and just how that meat came to table. It makes those capable, think (including some younger relatives.) They respect the hunting now. (prior to the talks, they thought the pretty package of meat came quite humanely from the food store!) LOL You'd be surprised how little urbanites know about the Real World outside the concrete jungle they're enslaved to...The facts that regulated hunters' $ pay the way for wildlife (from TR-on,) and that our $ pay for habitat and all species of flora and fauna-not just game. Pitman-Robertson Act, et. al. the list goes on and on. I don't converse much with vegetarians. They'd be out of their element here.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Watch the reaction of the obviously anti hunting crowd to the presenters HOME TRUTHS about the realities of Africa.

 

[Philip Glass]

@Philip Glass I watched Trophy, and I know that you were a big part of it. Unfortunately there were a few parts of Trophy that (I feel) portrayed hunters in a really poor light, and that's why I'm looking for something else. Oddly enough, it was a conversation on a different thread about that movie that prompted me to post this thread. I mean no disrespect, as Trophy had several positive aspects, but I'm looking for something that focuses on explaining the whole concept of trophy hunting being a benefit to conservation. Sometimes I find people will pay more attention to a film/documentary/movie than they will to a hunter (who may seem to them to be) trying to justify his actions.

DSChas several check out their YouTube
Thanks

 

[375Fox]

Watch the reaction of the obviously anti hunting crowd to the presenters HOME TRUTHS about the realities of Africa.

This is the best video I’ve found. The facts/logic can’t be argued and it comes from a non-hunter. I’ve had multiple people watch this and it really makes someone think.

 

[crs]

I find it interesting that I can not remember a single time that I "had" to explain or justify my interest in shooting or hunting to anyone. Of course , I have only hunted for 60+ years, so maybe it the company I keep.
There are several possible reasons for that, but I will let someone else worry about it if they like.

 

[Tanks]

...
And, another thing that I was wondering about is how most of you feel about trophy hunting pictures being shown, but with the face of the hunter blacked out or made unrecognizable in some way or another?

If I am going to show my hunting pics on social media I am not going to black out my face (and have not). I look at blacking out either one being ashamed of hunting or being intimidated by possible reactions of antis.

 

[Dreamhunter]

Well Jim, I have mixed feelings about that. I used to kind of look down at Trophy hunters, as I hunted for meat. I would admit that if there was a little spiker and thunderbuck standing next to each other that there would be no question as to which one I would want, but that antlers are just a bonus and not the primary reason I hunt. I feel that I received a bit of an education by reading something that was written by a vegan. It was in defense to some comments that people were posting attacking an American woman who had shot a "rare black giraffe". This person pointed out that they don't personally believe that any animal should be killed or harmed for any reason whatsoever, but said that meat hunters that feel they are superior to trophy hunters are hypocrites. And the more I think about it, the more I think they are right. I had a really hard time when I was first going to Africa. I was going with a friend for a photo Safari, and I thought to myself "How can I go to Africa and not hunt???" I educated myself a bit with regards to trophy hunting, and no longer feel that trophy is a word we need to apologize for. All that being said, I do agree that you are probably right in that a non hunter may have a difficult enough time trying to see the benefits of hunting, and that including the word trophy may make it even more difficult.

@Cam Moon - you mentioned that you were going on a photo safari initially?

Possibly the research you found on “trophy hunting” and why you decided to add hunting to your Photo Safari trip could be shared here.

 

[BRICKBURN]

This is the best video I’ve found. The facts/logic can’t be argued and it comes from a non-hunter. I’ve had multiple people watch this and it really makes someone think.

The genuine disquiet and consternation from the audience is telling and lends credence and weight to the presenters argument. It is the reality sinking in......

 

[Vintageguy]

First off I don’t waste time on the rude and closed minded. But I have explained many times to the inquisitive, hunters being the best conservationists. One example, when I was a young boy in central Illinois there were lots of wild pheasants, you saw them everywhere. But in the 70’s grain prices went high and farmers started farming fence to fence, that’s what we called it when no buffer was left along the fence and hence no cover. Literally in 2 years we went from pheasants everywhere to nothing. The last season we hunted we saw 2 birds only. But there were little spots here and there that still had pheasants because the farmers left cover for them. This was before commercial hunting and the common motive was those farmers hunted themselves or had family who did and therefore they had a motive to be concerned about conserving their numbers. The farmers and people who didn’t hunt would comment how they never saw any anymore but lip service was it, no personal motive to act.
As far as hunting pics with blurred out faces, I hate that! It conveys the message that you feel you did something horrible and something to be ashamed of. People should just keep their pics to themselves if they feel the need to do that.

 

[375Fox]

I find it interesting that I can not remember a single time that I "had" to explain or justify my interest in shooting or hunting to anyone. Of course , I have only hunted for 60+ years, so maybe it the company I keep.
There are several possible reasons for that, but I will let someone else worry about it if they like.

I’ve had people watch that TedTalk video not so much to justify my interest but to make others realize it’s a bigger picture than just killing things. I work around a lot of new people all the time and in a lot of different places.