Vic777 said:
If this stuff gets well publisized, We can hang up our skates, it's the end of hunting. Hunters are just portrayed as drunken a**holes.
End of hunting? Why? Just point out to the antis that the last meat they ate came from an animal that was almost certainly treated far worse than the animals that get killed on a canned "hunt", and tell them that they should either switch to vegetarianism or stop being a [bleep]ing hypocrite.
When you get right down to it, what is the difference between a cow getting slaughtered in an abbatoir, a deer getting killed on a canned "hunt", or a wild deer getting killed by a hunter?
AFAIK, the cow's led an unpleasant life and is getting killed in a fairly cruel industrial manner. And the guy killing it gets no pride or (I would hope) enjoyment from the kill.
The canned deer has probably had a more pleasant existence and isn't dying any more unpleasantly than the cow, and may in fact suffer much less. And while the "sport" pulling the trigger is getting enjoyment from it, deep down inside he can't really take pride in it. It's a faked experience and both expensive and really cheapening at the same time, sort've like going to a brothel.
The wild deer's been living the life it was evolved for, isn't dying any more unpleasantly than the cow or the canned deer, and the hunter can draw both enjoyment and pride from the kill.
Conclusions? The next time antis object to canned "hunting", tell them to weep for their last steak dinner. Canned hunting? Not for me; I wouldn't get what I'm looking for out of it. Hunting? Have a great time, guys, and good luck.