Exclusively Bowhunters vs. General Rifle Hunters.... lend your thoughts

[bogeyboy555]

I was just reading through the Giraffe post about Rebecca Francis and wanted to start a new thread about a recent observation I have made....

What is with all the liberals vs. conservative comments to try and classify the type of people who are either for or against shooting animals? Am I the only one who doesn't think it has anything to do with some political underpinning? Some people simply do not like the ideas of killing animals, let alone ones that are depicted as gentle giants in an African land ruled by massive cats and poaching. Part of me thinks this constant segmented affiliation of a political party and certain appetites or "tastes" for other peoples actions clouds the reality. There is a huge group of folks filling up the middle ground between party ideologies. What is wrong with taking the best of both conservative and liberal mindsets?

One odd observation I have noticed over the years is that my friends who are only rifle hunters are predominantly Conservative/Republican...... While every single one of my buddies who exclusively bowhunt the true backcountry are about as liberal/democrat as they come..... Both kill animals. It makes me realize that "It's not what you do, it's how you do it."

Anyone seen something similar? I would love to hear a different viewpoint on the subject.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Anyone that thinks one party or another will save hunting is delusional. The biggest untapped asset that hunters need to figure out how to appeal to is the large demographic that does not hunt, but has a very large say in political decisions. This demographic includes people from all political affiliations. If they are educated and understand the role the hunters play in wildlife conservation, they will support us. If they merely see hunters as folks who shoot stuff and pose in ridiculous pictures on Facebook, we have a long and bumpy road ahead of us.

Edit: to somewhat answer your question, I am very close to an exclusive bowhunter and almost exclusively on public land. I have no preferred political affiliation. Rather, I either vote for the candidate that has stances close to my own values, or in worst case scenarios the one that I think is the lesser of the two evils.

 

[hodgeman]

In our highly polarized political environment, people tend to classify any position they don't agree with as being "the other guys".

I've hunted and killed with folks of every political stripe with any weapon imaginable and at the end of the day- good guys are just good guys and butt holes are still just butt holes.

 

[bogeyboy555]

Anyone that thinks one party or another will save hunting is delusional. The biggest untapped asset that hunters need to figure out how to appeal to is the large demographic that does not hunt, but has a very large say in political decisions. This demographic includes people from all political affiliations. If they are educated and understand the role the hunters play in wildlife conservation, they will support us. If they merely see hunters as folks who shoot stuff and pose in ridiculous pictures on Facebook, we have a long and bumpy road ahead of us.

Edit: to somewhat answer your question, I am very close to an exclusive bowhunter and almost exclusively on public land. I have no preferred political affiliation. Rather, I either vote for the candidate that has stances close to my own values, or in worst case scenarios the one that I think is the lesser of the two evils.

I hear what you are saying and agree - Whether it be at work, business travel on the airplane, or talking in social situations - when I tell people I love to hunt, they respond with the "really?" type skepticism. Usually after a brief description of "How" I hunt, they start asking me curious probing questions, that usually end up with them letting me off the hook from their usual "he just blasts animals" mentality.

I think it is easy to get caught up on the "why" I hunt mentality to defend hunting (wildlife conservation, sport, meat, etc)........ But for me personally I have gotten much better acceptance towards being an "Animal Killer" when I tell people that I am taking an extremely challenging route to go about it.

Is it all more of a guns issue?

 

[Poser]

I hunt with whatever the most efficient weapon is legally open and/or what makes the most sense for the situation or time of year.

Archery, Mzl, Rifle for big game depending on season or tag. Shotgun for early season squirrel, but .22 for late season. Pellet gun for backyard squirrel. Shotgun for rabbit, migratory birds and waterfowl. Shotgun for turkey. Gig for frogs....

 

[Nogunjoe]

Vast majority of hunters I know are on the conservative end of the spectrum. Good quality people.

Liberals and Conservatives are comprised of large numbers of people, mostly good and some bad, some smart and strategic thinking and many not so much. The biggest difference is that the smart manipulative Conservatives are good people and want self reliance, a healthy business environment enabling people to succeed in life, and encourage good values and behavior, all so that individuals can pursue happy successful lives. The smart manipulative Liberals Lie and manipulate the mostly well meaning followers to achieve destructive agendas similar to historic communist regimes, where government power is concentrated and the individual is as insignificant as a cow. Ultimately, the liberal agenda is horrible for people, but their leaders desire power and use the naive followers to achieve it.

The liberals use/prey on ignorant individuals/masses teaching them they are victims, then motivating them to do bad things in the name of a good cause. All to achieve the liberal leaders nefarious objectives. This played out all over the world in Russia, Germany, countless African countries, Vietnam, Cambodia, etc. All these countries/people ruined by liberal agendas that result in mass death and economic ruin. The people the Liberals claim to be helping, are ruined right along with everyone else.

 

[Trial153]

I only bow hunt at this point, haven't gun hunted for big game in years. I do shoot my rifles and love owning guns, in fact I would say I am way more into owning firearms then I am bows.
That's said I shoot, use and tune bows more.

At one point was died in wool republican, then I would say I shifted more and more conservative, as I seen the Republican Party didn't represent my views. as the years went buy and I see less and less difference in either party I would say My views that I once thought were conservative are way more in line with Libertarians.

We have a political system that is corporate partnership with an entrenched bureaucracy, and both parties politicians no longer represent the citizenry.

 

[westrnwild]

I tend to agree with Jason's comment. Neither will save hunting. Both parties are farther from center then ever.

I am almost exclusively a bowehunter and primarily on public land.

Take the recent motion congress passed...100% republican... Its horrible for hunting.

We got to get the general population approval. And bow hunting for substance as much broader appeal and approval. I had a long conversation with Patagonia the company after the pass of those two amendments and asked there involvement, and they plan to get involved now and enlist help from industry...and even they admitted to being pro bow hunting on public land as the founder of Patagonia does that himself but not so much for rifles.

There needs to be a big push for perception improvement in hunting and more out reach to non hunters. However in IMHO bowhunters that hunt for subsistence is the easiest way to enter those talks.

 

[5MilesBack]

While every single one of my buddies who exclusively bowhunt the true backcountry are about as liberal/democrat as they come.....

Wow. Not sure where you're from, but that's the complete opposite from everything I've ever seen. In fact, in over 35 years of hunting in general I would say that a very strong majority like 90%+ of all hunters I've ever known were all very conservative. From my observations, it has more to do with where one was raised than their weapon choice. Bows, guns, knives, spears......it's all good in conservative eyes.

Generally, most urban areas are predominately liberal, while most rural areas are predominately conservative. Did you know that over 80% of California's counties vote conservative? If we got rid of all the population centers in the US, it wouldn't even be close come election time. Now, which side tends to be the most disconnected from the rural lifestyle and hunting in general? And by side I certainly don't mean democrat versus republican. I mean liberal versus conservative. I also wonder how age falls into this as well, as there seems to be a very strong majority of younger people falling for the liberal garbage show.

 

[westrnwild]

Wow. Not sure where you're from, but that's the complete opposite from everything I've ever seen. In fact, in over 35 years of hunting in general I would say that a very strong majority like 90%+ of all hunters I've ever known were all very conservative. From my observations, it has more to do with where one was raised than their weapon choice. Bows, guns, knives, spears......it's all good in conservative eyes.

Generally, most urban areas are predominately liberal, while most rural areas are predominately conservative. Did you know that over 80% of California's counties vote conservative? If we got rid of all the population centers in the US, it wouldn't even be close come election time. Now, which side tends to be the most disconnected from the rural lifestyle and hunting in general? And by side I certainly don't mean democrat versus republican. I mean liberal versus conservative. I also wonder how age falls into this as well, as there seems to be a very strong majority of younger people falling for the liberal garbage show.

I've also noticed that people that don't have money vote one way (hence young people) and once they get money..wallah they switch....lol. And once I had kids I came more conservative, however I am not a traditional conservative. I don't always have a conservative stance. That's why this country needs a third party...bring it to the middle where most of america is.

 

[Capra]

First off, I think that in any conversation making a general statement that associates any group with a political party is the exact trap that has been set for us a citizens. Divide and conquer and they are winning. Washington is purple folks make no mistakes, Lobbyists and big dollar interests are calling the shots.

To me you have to look at the core beliefs of anyone who hunts. No matter your description of how and why you hunt at our core we hunt for many of the same reasons. I think is is safe to say that an individual who would like to take up a weapon, work hard with no guaranteed reward, torcher themselves in rough conditions for a bigger picture, enjoy life at its most basic level,consciously kill, and reap the rewards of their efforts. That person is more than likely conservative.

The other personality just wouldn't understand unless the was deer tied to a tree with an EBT card in his ear.

The new generation is promising though. Hipster hunters, highly health conscious people, and others have a more open mind. The city centers are producing these and it is good for Hunting.

 

[5MilesBack]

I've also noticed that people that don't have money vote one way (hence young people) and once they get money..wallah they switch....lol.

Money or no money, I don't think money is the deciding factor in one's beliefs and ideologies. We are living in an entitlement age, and we all know which side of the great divide those people lie. The illogical thing is why anyone that prides themselves in the independent, self-sustaining, hard working lifestyle of a backcountry bowhunter would ever put themselves in the same camp as the liberal propaganda machine. Those are polar opposites.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Because of the rich and greedy folks that threaten the long term future of public lands.

 

[gelton]

One observation I have made that is similar is that Western hunters in particular seem to be more left leaning than hunters east of the Rockies. I haven't drilled all the way down to weapon of choice but I think there is a clear difference based on geography. I was surprised to notice this as I thought most of us were just the opposite. At least we are in the south.

Hate to admit it but as much as I love it out west it's one of the things that makes me hesitant to move out there. Wouldn't want to move to a state with all my gun rights intact and then lose them like colorado did.

 

[5MilesBack]

Every hunter I've ever known was from West of the Rockies (or along the Front Range of the Rockies), and as stated, strong majority conservative. And that goes back a few decades.

I think another consideration here is education, and I'm not talking about the over-education of morons here. Seems as though the higher some go in the system, the dumber they get. I'm talking about people understanding what their beliefs and ideologies really are. Take unions for example: Unions and union members have historically sided with the libs. But when I discuss these issues with individuals that are union.......most all of their ideologies fall to the conservative side. Yet because of the union they've always voted liberal. People need to educate themselves, and a single issue shouldn't decide which side they're on. You have to take all of it into consideration.

 

[Shrek]

My grandfather was a local politician and I remember one conversation when I was young that got into Democrats and Republicans and he showed me a Kennedy silver Dollar. He showed me one side and said it was the Democrats and then the other side was Republicans. Then he held it up and asked me what it was. I was probably five so I just looked at him stupid. He answered the question....MONEY ! Don't ever forget it. So while we the general public are arguing about real issues and being shown false choices the politicians and the parties are mostly just dividing up the money. Power is money and money is power.

 

[djsmith46]

On a very basic, generalized level, if you want hunting and weapons to always be an option for your family, conservatives in politics would provide this. BUT, if you want public land to hunt, the left seems to be a little better at providing this. The problem is much of the left would love nothing more than to see public land providing recreation exclusively for the non-gun toting demographic.

 

[Shrek]

On a very basic, generalized level, if you want hunting and weapons to always be an option for your family, conservatives in politics would provide this. BUT, if you want public land to hunt, the left seems to be a little better at providing this. The problem is much of the left would love nothing more than to see public land providing recreation exclusively for the non-gun toting demographic.

And that's a real problem for all of us to grapple with.

 

[tipsntails7]

Anyone that thinks one party or another will save hunting is delusional. The biggest untapped asset that hunters need to figure out how to appeal to is the large demographic that does not hunt, but has a very large say in political decisions. This demographic includes people from all political affiliations. If they are educated and understand the role the hunters play in wildlife conservation, they will support us. If they merely see hunters as folks who shoot stuff and pose in ridiculous pictures on Facebook, we have a long and bumpy road ahead of us.

Edit: to somewhat answer your question, I am very close to an exclusive bowhunter and almost exclusively on public land. I have no preferred political affiliation. Rather, I either vote for the candidate that has stances close to my own values, or in worst case scenarios the one that I think is the lesser of the two evils.

This is perfectly stated for myself as well. Strange though, on the same day I was asked why I love Obama so much, then called a gun toting republican nutter. I don't think politics are a good determiner of where you fall.

 

[Nogunjoe]

BUT, if you want public land to hunt, the left seems to be a little better at providing this. The problem is much of the left would love nothing more than to see public land providing recreation exclusively for the non-gun toting demographic./QUOTE]

Nonsensical. Liberals do not want you to have guns or hunt. So saying they are better at providing public land to hunt is nonsense.

Their agenda fully realized leaves you with no guns, no hunting, no private land ownership, and begging them for a permit to access public land on their terms.