The Unsportsmanlike Hunter

How many times are we watching a football game and see a penalty for “unsportsmanlike conduct” or what they are calling a lot these day as “taunting”? We all get furious when we see someone from the opposing team dancing or acting like are the best ever after making a great play.  Dare I say that their actions offend us?  I guess, somewhat it does.

With this day and age of everyone being offending by everything, being PC (politically correct) is something we need to focus on.  But I think the term politically correct is also something that is overshadowing what we should all practice and that is common courtesy.  Common courtesy is something that is lacking a lot these days.  It can be something as simple as opening the door for others or as far as changing the way you do things because of how others might react to it.  In my opinion, as hunters, changing the way we do things because of the reaction of others will do nothing but help our cause.

Let’s look at a couple examples.  Take this recent photo where someone in Texas was driving down the interstate with a deer hanging upside down for all to see (pictured to the left). I don’t know why someone would do this. Could have been that was the only way to get it home, maybe they were just so proud of the buck they wanted everyone to see it or maybe they were just trying to make a sick statement of some kind.  It really doesn’t matter what their intentions were, there was only one reaction that happened and only one reaction that was going to happen.  Of course it was disgust and outrage from all.  Hunters are disgusted because of the disrespect of the buck.  Anti-hunters are disgusted because of how this hunter is “taunting” them with their kill.  But the worst part is that the majority of people that see this driving down the road are neither anti or hunter.  They are just normal people with no opinion on hunting and actions like this do nothing but sway their opinion against hunters and truly just bothers some people.

We as hunters are in a battle that will not go away and for all the good that we do to help each other out, we are also the ones that do the most damage to ourselves.  Common courtesy to others is the #1 rule for everyone.  When you’re hunting on someone else’s property, you would hopefully never try to offend the property owner out of common courtesy.  Hopefully you would never say something to your grandma that offends her out of common courtesy. So why try to offend or disgust everyone that sees you hauling your dead and bloody deer down the road.

I know everyone is proud of their kill.  I am sure this hunter in the Jeep was very proud of that buck.  I would be to.  But getting that deer or any game home is a big statement.  Some hunters use that statement to show off their kill. They are proud and want all to see.  I know all about it.  I miss those days when you could sit up at the local tavern and watch trucks with piles of deer going down the road on opening weekend.  But those days are gone. Just think of 99% of the people that see your display and don’t care about hunting.  Those are the people that you may ask for a job someday or maybe those are the people that you may ask to hunt their property.  I am not worried about the anti-hunters out there.  They will make up any story they want to try and hurt us.  But think of the rest of the people out there.  They will be our biggest support during this long war.

The old days of strapping deer all over your car are over.  We need to protect ourselves and our heritage.  I am not saying to hide your game, I am only asking to be courteous of others.  Take those simple steps to not only protect your meat, but also protect your passion.  Cover up your game with a tarp if you have to haul it in the open.  If you throw your game in the bed of your truck, just close the tailgate.  There are many other ways to make yourself heard that will actually help us all.  Respect others and they will respect you.

Tell me what you think.  Leave a comment below.