Hunting Ethics: Don't tolerate slob hunters

Having hunted both private and public lands, I have noticed that unethical (slob) hunters abound. Whether it is shooting out-of-season, violating means of take or bag limits, or trespassing, these hunters are destroying the sport. I have had enough bad experiences for a lifetime. We, as hunters, cannot afford to ignore this problem. It is precisely this problem that makes hunting public lands dangerous and frustrating. It is also this problem that causes lack of access to private lands.

We as hunters should always keep ethics in the front of our minds. An enjoyable hunt and communion with nature should be the goal, not harvesting game at any cost. Once told a hunter on public lands shot my hen turkey decoy. Ironically, he almost missed it. Had it been real, he would have only wounded it. But here was a hunter who was willing to break any law to harvest a turkey, when, for less cost than a turkey tag, he could buy a beautiful bird at the grocery store. It is mind-boggling.

We as hunters need to work to pass legislation to increase penalties for game violations. Poaching should mean an end to all hunting privileges forever. We should impose huge penalties for recreational trespass. Hunting without a license should mean mandatory jail time. We should make all hunters take hunter safety classes as a prerequisite for obtaining a license, with no exceptions. In fact, in my opinion, these classes should be required every year to obtain that year's license. All hunters hunting private land should have to carry written permission on their person. (as it is in Ohio). We should increase the cost of hunting licenses as necessary to fund additional classes and increased game warden presence in the field. Maybe if it was more difficult to get a license, it would weed out some of the slob hunters. It is time to take back this sport from the slobs.

All states have a poaching hotline. Memorize it or write it on your hunting license. Don't ignore violators. Get their car license number and report them. Get a zero-tolerance mindset.

Make it your credo : Always follow all game laws and never trespass. If you are unsure of the property boundary, don't hunt there until you know for sure. Follow all the rules all the time.

Here are some links to hunting ethics information:

http://www.buckmasters.com/buckmasters_links/features/010920Ethics.html
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002192960_huntethics291.html
http://smith2.sewanee.edu/texts/unfiled/EatingBambi.html