In post 51 I said the following.
"Pro, if you are really concerned about pitting hunter against hunter, then you better search deeply into your soul and your thinking, as the explosion of ?governor and conservations tags ? have created an environment that has not only allowed, but encouraged less than honorable methods of taking big game animals. When one allows those with deep pockets and huge egos to participate in what has become known to many, as :?wealth tags? you can bet the common and accepted way of hunting will be thrown out with the dish water. And that is exactly what is happening, and it is damaging hunting?s image and casting a very deep, dark and ugly shadow. And of course Utah leads the nation in this aspect and yet many think its okay as long it generates revenue.
Without mentioning any names, let me give you an example to which I speak and this happened just last year. And sadly, it has happened most years, in one way or another, since we placed so much value and money on the top of our wildlife's head gear!
A well known and wealthy man purchases a tag to hunt one of Utah?s once in a lifetime species----he contributes a huge sum to do so. To that point everything is okay and I can accept that and I think many other Utah hunters can too. Where things go downhill fast is the method in which he harvested his animal. A posse of guides (hunters) scours the area and find the biggest male of that species. They watch its every move and keep it under surveillance. The wealthy hunter is called, flies into town, and he and his entourage (a large group of guests and ?dignitaries?) hike up the hill so they can watch as he (the executioner) dispatches the critter.
That is far more like going to an execution at the point of the mountain, than it is going on a hunt. What the hell are we thinking? Where will it ever end? Are there no limitations if money, greed and ego are involved? We better all step back and take a good look at what the programs that were created to enhance and better our hunting, are really doing to hunting?s future. If we don't get a fix on this soon, it could well be hunting's reputation and demise.
It's hard enough for many to accept hunting and all the good it does. But when they see and hear of these travesties, it not only pits them against us, but us against ourselves.
Look closely at what happened to the sub prime mortgage scandal and what it did to our economy. Many were predicting the outcome of such actions, but it fell on deaf ears, much like what is happening to our hunting heritage here in Utah. If you are serious about not wanting to pit hunter against hunter, then you and many others in this state better wake up. It's a time bomb, that if allowed to continue, its course could destroy our great state's hunting. "
I was called a lair by Pro, and I'm sure he knows exactly of whom I speak and how it all went down. He is far too close to the "in crowd" and he knows in many cases, that what we speak of, is fact, not fiction. I have no idea why one would defend many of the actions to which we speak, but they continues to do so, unless one's afraid of the consequence of standing up for hunting, with the people he knows and those with which he associates.
Let me say a bit more about what happened a year ago on some mountain here in Utah. I just want those reading to know these are facts, not fictions, and then when you get done reading how this great critter went down, let me know if you HONESTLY can say it done in proper method and in a manner that compliments hunting and its future. If you can honestly say there was nothing wrong with what happened and it does no short term or long term damage to hunting, then it helps one understand how this ever got to where it is today.
First, let me say the hunter who took this fine animal paid a huge sum of money for the opportunity to get his tag. I personally have no problem with that, but I don't think, because a person is willing to fork up a large sum, that we have to compromise hunting or allow methods of finding or of taking that animal that raises such ugly questions and is so offensive to so many, hunter and non hunters alike.
For many of you who don't really understand, he has nothing to do with jealousy, but all to do with the perception of what is okay as long as guy pays a lot of money for his permit. To me, it is much akin to someone taking a test that is more intelligent than the others taking the test. It seems since he has more knowledge (in this case more money) and has a higher IQ, then it would be okay if he didn't have to study, he would just let someone else take the test for him, and all he had to do was sign his name. (in this case, just pull the trigger). I doubt that flies very well in college and it shouldn't be okay in hunting either. It okay to have a someone prepare you for the test (a guide or two) but it should not be okay for someone to take the test. And that is basically what is happening on some of these so called hunts. In many cases the only thing the hunter has to do is get close enough to take the shot. That's not hunting and that is hurting hunting image.
In the example I used above, the person who pulled the trigger is a very busy man. He is also a man who can out walk and I am sure, out shoot most. He is perfectly able to hunt the critter for which he was allowed to just become the executioner. (He just signed the test, he didn't take it, although is was very capable of taking it and passing it)
The real danger is not only have we allowed this to happen, many defend it.
All the money in the world is not worth the loss of a good man?s reputation. He knows and understands that. And all the money generated by these tags will not be worth the price that hunting will have to pay as a result of the consequences of these less than desirable actions.
Hunting is a very noble and worthwhile endeavor if done like in the past, but it will be come a thing of the past if we continue to allow in the future, what is happening in many of these cases.
I personally don't think the spider bull was anything but wild. But I do see a terrible trend, lead by the Utah wealth tags that if not curtailed soon, will hurt hunting nation wide. Innocent, hard working hunters, should not have to pay the price for the greed and ego of a very few. I hope Utah?s Governor and our legislative bodies are wise enough to see in which direction we are headed, and do something soon to curtail its direction.
I don't know the best way to do this, but it better be done fast. Each of us need to learn and value what hunting really is, what it entails, and be sure we don't let dollars get in our eyes and block our vision. That to me seems like what has happened to Utah?s wildlife leadership. I think we need a change of guard from top to bottom.
Have a good one. BB
