A Rant

[onpoint]

I got blown off the river by an evil wind....I hope it wasn't an omen. In a different thread, Big Fin lamented putting a downer (Legislative issues) on our passion and enjoyment. Unfortunately that's todays reality if we want to hold onto the legacy left for us by those who fought earlier battles. Many outdoorspeople (for lack of a catch all term) have long rested on their laurels while the political climate, we have threatening our "passion", slithered in. Lots of us have complained about higher taxes, while buying new four wheelers and range finders, then voting for "anti-government" politicians (definite oxymoron)
who would back door us by voting to abolish access to our streams. Aldo Leopold said..."To have an ecological conscience is to live in a world of wounds". Sound familiar to what we as hunters and fishermen face today? I don't lament the "downer", I'm quite excited too see so many people getting pissed off. We "outdoorspeople" are a sleeping giant that needs to wake the %#*& up. Maybe we finally are. To the newly pissed-welcome to the war. I like alot of others, have a lot of battle scars. Friends get tired of my bitching while we're floating, the wife rolls her eyes, I have gotten in plenty of trouble at work....to me it's all worth it. Would be nice to have a major victory though instead of only celebrating the bad thing that didn't happen. I really don't want to see any of you guys where I antelope hunt, but I am damn glad that you're on this forum involved the issues. I'll try to squelch the urge to rant and rave on this site....I hope some of you understand my lunacy.

 

[Ben Lamb]

From the halls of the capitol: amen.

 

[NChunter]

I agree with you 100%!!!

 

[Hem]

i got blown off the river yesterday by an evil wind,really pissed me off too.....but you know...every day above ground is a good one.roll with it,what else can you do?

 

[drahthaar]

Aldo Leopold said..."To have an ecological conscience is to live in a world of wounds".

OK, I am tired, my head is pounding, but this quote caught my attention. What the heck does that mean. In what context did he state that?

 

[shoots-straight]

Aldo must of been from the Root, and saw what I have. I feel his pain, battle weary, and ready to go on. As I said on another post, "must keep moving". They are.

 

[Big Fin]

Aldo Leopold said..."To have an ecological conscience is to live in a world of wounds".

OK, I am tired, my head is pounding, but this quote caught my attention. What the heck does that mean. In what context did he state that?

Onpoint probably has it verbatim from one of the writings, but if I remember correctly, he was talking about the conflict of being a student of forestry and wildlife, yet being a member of a society that inflcts daily wounds upon the landscape and the wildlife that lives there.

Those who understand the cycles of nature, or in his words, "have an ecological conscience," are burdened with the understanding that our existence is not without impact. That our mere existence is a "world of wounds" upon the landscape.

Those without such understanding can go blissfully about their daily lives, as what they have no knowledge of, frees them of the burden to worry of the impact they are having. Pretty much the "Ignorance is bliss" statement.

 

[wgiles]

The most important thing that we can do is to let our legislators know how we feel about hunting, fishing, access and other sportsman's issues. We should belong to organizations that support our positions, but be careful that we don't belong to organizations that appear to support our positions, but don't. The anti's are well funded and have clout. We need that too. We should be involved on the local, state and national levels. Hunt Talk has at least given us a forum where people like Ben Lamb can keep us informed. I would like to find an equivalent in my state. I belong to the NRA and the Illinois State Rifle Association, but I would like to find hunting activist organizations to belong to as well.

 

[drahthaar]

Onpoint probably has it verbatim from one of the writings, but if I remember correctly, he was talking about the conflict of being a student of forestry and wildlife, yet being a member of a society that inflcts daily wounds upon the landscape and the wildlife that lives there.

Those who understand the cycles of nature, or in his words, "have an ecological conscience," are burdened with the understanding that our existence is not without impact. That our mere existence is a "world of wounds" upon the landscape.

Those without such understanding can go blissfully about their daily lives, as what they have no knowledge of, frees them of the burden to worry of the impact they are having. Pretty much the "Ignorance is bliss" statement.

Thanks Fin. Its a good quote.

 

[shoots-straight]

The NRA, entered Montana's I-161 campaign. They took it upon themselves to support the loosing side, the outfitters. The should have left it alone. I don't see them weighing in on any of the bad anti sportsmans bills coming out of Helena now.

 

[onpoint]

I really don't get the whole guns for guns sake NRA stance. I am a hunter, my weapons are tools. These tools are useless to me without the resource I am utilizing, good habitat for that resource to live in. Organizations that foster those causes get my attention. And as far as outfits like the Montana Shooting Sports Association, you can thank them for some of the very legislation that has been griped about on this forum.

 

[wgiles]

I don't see the NRA as supporting hunters. That isn't their focus. Maybe they should, but that's why I'd like to find some organizations in my state and nationally that do support hunting, fishing and access. I know of some, but I'd like to hear of others.

 

[NChunter]

I don't agree with the NRA 100%, but it is hard to hunt without a gun. Guns are useful for other things too, besides hunting. And maybe it is not a such a bad thing that they focus just on guns, maybe that is all they are good at. That is why we have RMEF for elk, and all the other specialized groups. It would be great though if they could all get together and make our hunting voice heard.

 

[tjones]

Don't forget your local groups they will have the best feel for things in your back yard. The Headwaters group over in Bozeman has been the the battle up to their necks since the session started. If you are a sportsmen in the Bozeman area you need to join this outfit. They are top notch. Join in and help the fight.

There are local groups across the state. Find them and join they all can use more help. There is no end in sight. The battle will continue, sitting on the side lines is no longer an option. The attacks will keep coming. Get in the game.

 

[Oak]

I don't see the NRA as supporting hunters. That isn't their focus. Maybe they should, but that's why I'd like to find some organizations in my state and nationally that do support hunting, fishing and access. I know of some, but I'd like to hear of others.

Is their focus to support ranchers and outfitters in Montana? Because that's what they are doing if they jump into the I-161 debate. What does it have to do with gun rights?