From the "WTF? Files"

[Hangar18]

Another sign the Apocalypse is near...

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/hunting/news/story?id=2474274

Big game? Now these hunters can really play
By Darren Rovell
ESPN.com

He shot game.

That might as well be the motto of the newest professional sports league: the World Hunting Association.

The league, which will begin operation this fall, will award as much as $600,000 in prize money to hunters who rack up the most points shooting whitetail deer with tranquilizer darts.

"More Americans call hunting their No. 1 passion than the game of golf," says David Farbman, a real estate executive and hunter who will be the league's commissioner and chief operating officer. "Sports fans will fall in love with us."

Farbman says he is currently in negotiation with television networks who might be interested in broadcasting the competition. The first of two 16-day tournaments scheduled for this season is tentatively set for the beginning of October in Gladwin, Michigan, at Lost Arrow Ranch.

Farbman already has filled five of the 10 hunter spots.

"We're looking all over the country for professional hunters who are strategic, intelligent and adaptive, and who ideally have been in front of the camera before," he says.

Each hunter's score will be determined based on the size of the deer they shoot. Fans will be able to find out more about the hunters -- as well as the deer -- through the organization's Web site, which will feature profiles on both.

"A lot of people might root for the buck instead of the hunter," Farbman says.

The WHA is off to a good start from a business standpoint, as it has secured sponsorships with, among others, Eastman Outdoors for its Carbon Express Arrow and Gorilla Inc. for its treestands, as well as tranquilizer dart makers Pneu-Dart and G5 Outdoors. Much like NASCAR, the league also intends on branding the apparel of the hunters and cameramen with corporations that pay a sponsorship fee.

Jokes Farbman: "I guess we'll know the WHA is big when we have our first hunter strike."

Darren Rovell, who covers sports business for ESPN.com, can be reached at [email protected].

Copyright ©2006 ESPN Internet Ventures

 

[JoseCuervo]

Are you allowed to use ATV's?

 

[noharleyyet]

That much camera exposure would kill the average man.

 

[Moosie]

I'm in !!!!!!!!!!

 

[Ten Bears]

Where do I apply?

 

[danr55]

It has to be associated with the outfit in Colorado that sells catch and release elk hunts. YOu arrow them with a sedative and have a picture taken, then the guide administers a antidote and hangs a tag on the bull. The color of the tag is keyed to the week the bull's shot. They can only be shot once every two or three weeks.

Stupid!

 

[Bambistew]

How can this be legal?

 

[mtmiller]

How can this be legal?

I would guess high-fenced, operator owned livestock...woops, wildlife.

 

[Nut]

A lot of people might root for the buck instead of the hunter," Farbman says.

Isn't that anti hunting?


Anything for the almighty dollar