Pat Lefemine

 

World Record Apathy

 

They just keep coming...

"I heard you had a picture of the world record buck, where is it?"

"Can you tell me where the world record buck pic is - someone said you had it posted here?"

"Is it true that the Hanson buck was beat by a bow - killed buck? Where is the picture?"

I'm sick of it.

But not because I am envious, or because I am listening to rumors or innuendos on how this buck was grown in a genealogy lab in Brazil. But because we posted two action items, both quite serious, and I have yet to receive more than 1 e-mail on either of them. For those of you that skipped these items while looking for the Rompola buck I will attempt to enlighten you:

1. Washington State has proposed a Spring Bear season that the anti-hunters are attempting to squash with a cleverly concocted media campaign.

2. There is a strong rumor that an outright ban on bowhunting will be sought in MA for the 2000 elections. Yes, you read that correctly.

While I, as many others are impressed with Rompola's magnificent deer, I find it hard to believe that a big deer is more important than an entire state which may lose the freedom to hunt with a bow. And yet the e-mail and bbs' prove this out. Not one topic was started about WA, and a brief topic was started on MA - but quickly died. I received one e-mail on MA, none on WA and over 800 on the Rompola buck during the same time period. We even sent out a mass distribution alert on both of these issues only to get 5 responses, two of them asking about the Rompola buck.

If I am off base and you are thinking that the Rompola buck is more important than promoting bowhunting and protecting our seasons then please don't whine to me when you wake up and find yourself in the fight of your life. Ask the residents of MI, who are now enjoying some notoriety about this big buck, what the focus was in '96? Or Idaho? How about Californians on November 5th 1998 when they woke up to find out that all trapping was now an illegal activity - as of that morning!

Hunting, as many would incorrectly believe, is not a right. There is nothing in the US Constitution that protects our sport. It exists entirely as a privilege of your states' legislature and game commission. I've heard enough macho chest beatings on how "nobody's gonna take our season away" to realize that there are a lot of people whom are naive to the fact that - yes, they can, and they just might. In Maryland Governor Paris Glendenning appointed a rabid anti-hunter to the Wildlife Board. His first proposal: A comprehensive proposal to ban all bowhunting in MD.

These seasons exist for the 10% of the population who enjoy hunting at the grace of the other 90% whom are willing to put up with it. Don't be fooled because everyone in your neighborhood owns a gun and blaze orange. Where I live, I am a conversation piece at the water cooler. In your state's urban areas, you are too.

Let's look at the facts:

But it's not all doom and gloom. We can win this war and we can expand our hunting opportunities.

In MN, WY and UT, sportsmen went on the offensive and helped to solidify their protection against attacks on our heritage. In OH a highly charged emotional issue (Dove Hunting) was beat back by a strong coalition of sportsmen working together. In CT, we drafted regulations to allow greater opportunities for bowhunters. It takes commitment, dedication, and people willing to sacrifice just a little time and energy to protect this great sport before it's too late. But its up to all of us.

Oh, and by the way, the Rompola buck is one heck of a deer! You can find the picture here:

 

 

Past Anchor Point Commentaries:

Traditional vs Modern Archery
Lying, Cheating, Stealing