Buckmaster, I won't enter into a discussion about canned hunts too much other than to say that the definiton of a canned hunt varies from person to person. Is hunting a high fence 40,000 acre ranch considered a canned hunt? I know of several ranches like this in Texas. If it is, then what makes it any different from an island of 40,000 acres or less? there a plenty of these in the Pacific that I hunted when I was in the service.
is there a diffence between a high fence 100 acre pasture with no cover and one with heavy brush? do both fit the definition of "canned"? there are so many different opinions on this issue I will simply say, I look at every legal hunting opportunity I can find and determine for myself if it fits my own personal definition of what I consider ethical and challenging. What I deem unethical (i.e. a pasture, high fenced for example) another may find acceptable. I will agree that as hunters we need to let our Department of Wildlife divisions know how we feel about certain laws. That's what they're there for. In Texas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife meet every year with the public and determine if the rules, laws, regulations they have in place need to be changed and why. If the public (and in this case it's outdoorsmen) doesn't speak in that venue - all the saber rattling on the internet, threats to outfitters, letters to sponsors and TV shows won't change a thing. That is the venue for anyone who wants to make their concerns known. Doing so influences the hunting and fishing laws. Texas (again, because this is where I live and I know the TPWD rules reasonably well) has instituted a minimum spread rule for whitetail bucks, and has defined what a legal buck is for those counties that fall within this specific regulation. The purpose? to improve the whitetail buck population, reduce the kill rate of 1 - 3 year old bucks and hopefully allow them to mature a little, increasing the chances for a stronger herd.
Texas implements different fishing rules every year to try and manage the various catch limits for different species of fish. All these rules are subject to comment from the public. If the public doesn't make it's voice heard who's to blame? Not the state, they exist because we pay the taxes for them to exist and operate in accordance with what we hope to see.
I would like to comment about the "many groups against us". There's no question that HSUS, PETA, Sierra Club, and an "ad nausem" list of anti-hunting and fishing groups would love to see our heritage destroyed. But you know, with the exception of 1 or 2 anti-hunting/fishing letters we've received at Outdoor Adventures, the bulk of those criticism letters we receive come from outdoorsmen. Criticizing the show and Keith Warren for using a crossbow, or a compound bow, or an in-line blackpowder, or taking an animal at a long distance, or hunting out of blind, treestand, brushblind, etc. you name it - I've seen it, hunters who think their method of hunting is the only acceptable method.
For us, and for our show, we want to provide a show that has several objectives in mind. We want to show the wide variety of hunting options available. Keith has hunted public lands, private ranches, open range, low fence and yes high fence ranches that meet his definition of an ethical hunting opportunity. Why? because all of these are legal, well run hunting opportunities that outdoorsmen may want to take advantage of.
We hope to entertain as well, some take offense to the fun you see on our shows. It's hunting and fishing, it should be fun. If it isn't why bother?
We also hope to educate those who don't have the experience many of us do. We try to bring new products to the table, products that will make hunting or fishing a little more enjoyable, more successful and something you like.
Just so it's understood, the average 24 minute show you see (minus the commercials) takes approximately 40-50 hours of film to create. Hunts for our shows range for 2-5 days in length depending on the game we go after, the conditions of the hunt, weather factors and a host of other factors as well. I don't know if you saw the show or not, but here in Texas Keith went on a Nilgai hunt last year. Nilgai are exotics and are available on private ranches (low fence and high) here in Texas. It took 10 days of filming and hard hunting before Keith got the animal.
What you don't see are the number of trips that turn out to be a bust, several trips each year result in no success at all. It happens, that's why it's called hunting. Please, don't tell me to run these shows, Keith did that several years ago, the ratings fell through the floor, no one wanted to watch. We don't survive in this business unless we provide what the viewer wants to see. A perfect example is the fishing show that used to be on The Outdoor Channel, the host took a different child each week and taught them how to fish, took them fishing, showed them having a blast, encouraged his viewers to do the same. Result? it was cancelled. Why? because no one watched.
Now, I gotta go for awhile, and as I said, time permitting I'll come back here when I can. I would like to add one more thing. Not every show is going to meet EVERYONE's approval, but we do try to show a diversity, we attempt to bring something new to the show every week. I hope those who watch will continue to do so, you can always send an email to the address on the show or the website that's listed at the end of each show with comments or suggestions. But please refrain from foul, abusive, threatening emails (I don't mean to imply that anyone here will send such an email either, but you would be amazed how many of these we get). It really doesn't do any good and depending on whether I've had enough coffee or not /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I might not respond in a manner you would appreciate.
I hope all of you have a great day. Tomorrow is veteran's day. So, if you see a veteran tell him "thanks".
God Bless our Troops
Roger
