|
[ Return to Contents
| Post a Reply
| Post a new message
]
Brian
Posted by northway on Feb 03 2006
Brian,
Here is what you said again...
#3 Because baiting is legal does not make various modus operandi “viable and ethical”. In my post I am not slamming you personally or baiters universally. If you are in the mainstream indolent bunch so be it that you take it to heart and perform in this kind of behavior… I do not act contrite for stepping these bounds on my points. In turn, you may be one heck of a good guy, but know full well I’m certainly no granola on the opposite side of the fences for understanding and enjoyment of Alaska’s hunting and fishing opportunities.
You keep referring to baiters as "indolent". Darn man, that is the last thing I am . Do you know how much work it is keeping bait stands operating? If that is lazy, then I would hate to know what hard work it. I will honestly tell you that I am not lazy. People that know me know that I will go the "extra" mile. I know I am not the only person that has done this, but have you shot a bull moose 3 1/2 miles away from the air strip by yourself and got it all packed out? I consistently will put on 50 + miles of walking for a sheep. I do what it takes. Indolent is not a word that relates to me. Now, I do realize that there are a lot of people that paint the picture of fat hunters throwing out their trash and climbing up and shooting bears. That isn't quite the way it is. I realize that baiting may not be the most "natural" way, but it is the ONLY way to kill bears around here. If it wasn't for baiting, the black bear harvest would decrease by 90%! I wish we had the open hillsides, the berry patches, and the salmon streams (natural bait). We don't. It is a fact that the black bears have been playing a role in moose calf survival. We pretty much stick to killing the 6' and up bears. I have not fired a shot from my rifle in 3 years on the stand. I have taken hundreds of pictures instead. Am I getting green? Hell no, I just am enjoying things more and having fun waiting for the right bear to come in for my daughters to decide if they want to shoot it. I could hammer the bears if I chose to, but I do not as I do respect them and enjoy seeing them. Now for all the "other" natural things that are happening around a bait stand, that is natural. Those birds singing, squirrels chattering, grouse drumming, etc. aren't doing it for the bait. Those are nature at its best that I point out to my kids. I have one stand where there is a type of duck that flies over very high and makes a cackling/laughing sound. I still am not sure what type of duck it is! It always makes me smile each spring when they fly over. I get to tell my kids that is one of the mysteries of Alaska that I haven't figured out. I am sure I will one day, but enjoy hearing them each and every spring. Fact is, we doze off almost everytime in the stand. Nothing more peaceful than being out there in the woods.
As for Denali, I think Mark (bushrat) did a good job of explaining how I felt. (THANKS MARK!) I sometimes don't explain myself very well. What Mark said is how I feel about that. The thing about Denali is that 90% of the people only see what is on the road! That is my point. They think that is natural??? That is unfortunate as that is the perspective people have on wolves that don't live out in the real world. They think that they are just big overgrown dogs that trot down the road and walk up to buses, when in the real world, you rarely see them. Believe me, I have a great respect for wolves. I love matching wits trying to catch them. I do a good job, but they do a good job of not getting caught also! I am sure that off the beaten path in Denali it is still pristine, but that isn't the picture that most people get. I have read Sheldon's books about living in Denali. Awesome reads! I sure have a lot of respect for him and how he lived.
I think that the animals up on the slope are habituated too. I was just pointing out Denali because tourists seem to talk about that the most and how it was the highlight of their trip seeing old fido run up along the bus and then ursus horribilus scratch his rear end on the sign post.
I am just frustrated with people getting up on their pedestal and telling me or anyone else what I do is wrong or "unethical". I support hunting in all manners, just because it is something that I don't do personally, doesn't mean that I won't support it. I hope I didn't call you a granola. At least I don't remember saying that. Somewhere down the line we hunters are going to have to try to stand united on the issue of hunting, whether it is something that we agree with or not.
Mark brings up many good points. He has opened up my mind on many issues also, so I am working on having an open mind towards all issues. I can agree to disagree with anyone and will still walk away with an understanding of respect. Unless you are PETA or something, then don't waste my time!!!!! LOL!
Brian, thanks for the offer. Not sure if I will ever be able to take you up on it. I am sure I would love every minute of it. I love nature just as much as the next guy, but I also realize that it isn't the pretty picture painted that most people want to see. I was just snowmachining out on the trapline and found 2 moose kills. I wonder, how in the hell did those moose feel? The one moose was killed in the thickest of trees. I am positive that those wolves "waited" that moose out until it was so weak that it just succumbed. That is the real world. I know I haven't seen it all nor experienced it all, that is why I do and will try my best to have an open mind. I am sure the experience that you give your clients are real and true and that they are worthwhile.
Previous: You want natural you say? OK Brian Richardson Feb 02 2006
Next: bushrat & northway Brian Richardson Feb 05 2006
 Message Thread:
|
