Sitkaspruce
Well-Known Member
Its funny to me how I think every hunter in this thread said they wouldnt kill a grizzly, other then Sculpin who said he might.
Also wondering (might not want to get into this one lol) but I know how many fish poachers I and others have come across. How often do you guys run into it? I geuss its hard to tell if guys have tags or not. I was watching alaska state troopers yesterday and im sure they like to have good juicy stuff for there show but I was shocked how much wasteful poaching was happening. I know about the chinese using black bear gall ballder and bile thing. I know alot of 'hunters' arnt as respectful as Wolf,Sitka and Nog are. All who seem to be meat and not trophy. I admit trophy hunting mentality is something I will never understand. It seems cruel and unusual. and that is why I post in this thread. I love that its only fishing site. I dont go on other 'outdoor' forums I dont want to see the pictures or read the threads about it. omg its a emotion no one have a fit.
Fish Stalker
I work a lot on the mid coast, in some pretty remote areas and with lots of bears, mainly grizz as they keep the black bears in check. I see the odd hunter in the odd area, but with the area very remote and most of the bigger bears being reclusive, it is tough just to see one, never mind shoot one. Grizz hunting is not a drop in the bucket, it takes lots of time and a dedication to the whole trip because most of the areas with high numbers of draws is also in proportion to the access, high draw numbers along the coast are in very hard to access areas, so pressure is less.
Something to think about when you read, hear or see "Trophy Hunting" is that this type of hunter is also someone who is very selective, who might not kill an animal for years. I know of quite a few "Trophy Hunters" who have not shot a deer/elk or moose for over 5 years due to them being very selective in their choice of what they kill. It a choice that some make, because being outdoors and enjoying what it has to offer is what it is all about, killing an animal is just a bonus. Same as fishing, being on the water is what it is all about, catching a fish is a bonus.
What gets me when anti-hunters or anti-what ever uses the term "Trophy Hunter", it implies to most that the hunter or hunters is only hunting for the kill and to expand their ego. That could not be further from the truth. The ones I know (and I have been involved in the sport in one way or another for 31 years) compare it to a hobby, witting themselves against the animals they are hunting......and it 's not about the kill, it's about the challenge, the meat for the table and possibly the antlers/horns being a conversation piece.
For what it is worth, I have 8 heads mounted, a large black bear rug and wolf tanned, and other than the wolf, everything was eaten. Am I a "Trophy Hunter" in the eyes of the uninformed or anti-hunting group???
I also have to wonder if some of the people who are so against the grizz hunt think that it is different than the thousands of fisherman who head south every year to take part in the "Trophy" fishing for fish in the warmer waters to the south, most do not fish for the meat, it's for the biggest, toughest, rarest or on the lightest line possible fish. Yes some of the meat is eaten, but it is not caught to fill ones freezer....ego's, bragging rights and even the almight $$$$ plays a bigger part then the sport of it.
Cheers
SS