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| Montreal, November 24, 2001 / No 93 |
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by
Scott Carpenter
So you want those pesky animal rights folks to go away – to stop badgering, pestering and destroying your "heritage"? You want the "suit" in downtown New York or Toronto to understand why it is you like to dress up in camo and cover scent and run around the woods with your bow or rifle chasing Bambi or Thumper or some such character. Well buddy, I'd hate to break the bad news to you but it isn't going to happen. |
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Nope. Joe Mercedes and Mrs. Volvo don't give a damn about your connection
with nature, your prey or any other fuzzy feeling you get when you drop
a monster buck in its tracks. In fact I'd put money on the possibility
that your emotional appeal only disturbs them and confuses you.
I admit – as a hunter – I've tried to put to words more than once what drives me to hunt. But the best I can come up with is something short of an experience that can only be known through actually doing it. I suspect – at least in that sense – hunting is a lot like going to the moon. It doesn't matter how many times you go because each experience is as exhilarating and unexplainable as the next. Thus explaining yourself is unnecessary because in the end he can't understand anyway – nor does he have to. That's right folks. The suit doesn't have to "get you" or your fascination with hunting, killing and consuming game. All he HAS to do is leave you alone. You see hunting is like a lot of other things you do, it's your right as a human being to seek, pursue and take game for your table or enjoyment. A right to hunt you ask? I don't remember seeing that in the Bill of Rights or the Canadian Charter? Well that's probably because it isn't in there.
But a right to hunt or pursue game for consumption or sport is as much your right as it is to purchase a hot-dog at the local greasy spoon or to choose polyester over cotton. You see, deciding to hunt is simply a choice that does no harm to other human beings. It's a decision like any other that affects your happiness and is thus yours and yours alone to make (At least in a just world). Indeed, the decision to hunt isn't about sound game management or public relations. We don't hunt to control deer populations or feed the homeless but instead we hunt because we want to... for better or worse in happiness or otherwise. In fact I'd call it a "Don't tread on me" issue. There is no need to explain or apologize or rationalize. Like all choices that don't intentionally and directly harm others it is your right to pursue it. So quit worrying about what the neighbors might think as you walk out the front door in your "Mossy Oak" (TM)! Grab your rifle and skinning knife and go to it – proudly! 'Cause it's all about freedom baby and in the end that ain't nobody's business but yours.
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