Ask Uncle Joe – FALL 2017
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Dear Uncle Joe:
My home state of Tennessee has a sandhill crane hunt every year. This upsets even my friend’s husband, who is an avid deer hunter. He says he hunts for conservation and animals that are not overpopulated shouldn’t be hunted. I am sure he’s not alone, so why is the state hunting them if so many hunters are against it?
Elizabeth,
Franklin, TN
Dear Elizabeth,
Why.That’s the eternal question, isn’t it? Why do some people love killing helpless animals who pose no threat to anyone or anything? The main reason why a state hunting agency will open a hunting season on a species is to keep hunters interested in their sport. Across the country, hunters complain when they don’t see enough wildlife or when they are unable to fill their tags with dead animals. By opening up new seasons hunter interest is raised, even if a given hunt does not bring in a lot of money for the agency.
According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, sandhill crane hunting has been in the works since 2004, and the hunts have been crafted in such a way that the population will continue to grow. The first hunt in the modern era of state wildlife (mis)management was in November, 2013. According to the TWRA, this is not a revenue generating hunt so it is being done solely to keep hunters interested in killing birds. I don’t really know why they do it, or how they can do it, but they do.
Peace,
Uncle Joe
Dear Uncle Joe:
I just learned that the decision-making boards of wildlife agencies are composed entirely of hunters! If wildlife belongs to the public shouldn’t there be representatives of the public sitting on these boards?
Sue,
Yonkers, NY
Hi Sue,
The public is generally in favor of wildlife protection, while wildlife agencies are in the business of wildlife exploitation. As a result, the states have enacted regulations to prevent the public from having any meaningful input into the way wildlife is managed. The regulatory body in the New York Department of Environmental Conservation is the Bureau of Wildlife, and according to the Bureau, they “manage many of the now common species such as deer, bear, turkey and Canada goose to provide recreational opportunities, ecological and economic values, and enjoyment to the people of the state…” Since this is all code for “creating as much hunting opportunity as we can” it doesn’t suit the purposes of the DEC to have members of the non-hunting or anti-hunting public making decisions that affect hunters and hunting seasons. Nothing they do will be objective and unbiased because being reasonable is bad for business. State law requires hunters to be a majority of these regulation setting boards, and state law needs to be changed before wildlife will be given any respect at the government level.
Peace,
Uncle Joe
CASH.
Why people, why? Hunting is good, so good it makes good look….not good. So be good and don’t think good is good enough because if you want to not hunt then that means no food and die of hunger to your grave. So be who you are cause this be America where American, Mexicans and French people live. Full of great people like Mr. Hershey and HE had to hunt chocolate bars. SO LET HUNTING STAY IN THIS GREAT EARTH GREATEST PLANET GREATEST PERSON and the greatest person is the guy right next to me. Don’t think I’m pulling on your arm this is for real.
(Name and city not given)
Dear Mr. Name,
I’m sorry for assuming that you’re a man, but it’s only because I can’t imagine a women being as incoherent as you are. Before you finish reading this, please take your meds.I’ll wait for you. La la la…ho hum… one-Missippi, two Missippi… Ok, are you back? Good. I hope you’re feeling better.
Well, if you must know the truth. Milton Hershey didn’t hunt chocolate. I know you might find that hard to believe, but it’s true. Mr. Hershey bought two chocolate making machines in 1893 at the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and the rest is history. Take my word for it, the great American chocolate bar has nothing to do with hunting.
Yes, a lot of French and Mexican people live in this “greatest planet” as you say. It is weird that you singled out these ethnicities, however, since neither the French nor the Mexicans is among the more common hunting cultures in the USA. Do the French and Mexicans have more sense than Americans?I tend to think that all of us are equal, but then I get letters like yours…
And, no sir, I don’t think you’re pulling on my arm (huh?). I can tell you’re sincere. That’s what’s so disturbing.
I think I need a drink,
Uncle Joe
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