MN Firearms Safety

Part of the May 6th class was about ethical hunting practices and slob hunters.  Generally, we would think that a slob hunter is one that is disrespectful and simple things come to mind.  Littering in the woods, mixing beer and liquor with hunting, and trespassing are a few of the indicators of a slob hunter.  The Student Manual describes a slob hunter as one who doesn’t practice the necessary ethics to promote the good will of hunting.  I reached beyond that description to try and find a more exact understanding, but was dumbfounded at what I found.

I never expected to inter-mix the phrase politically correct with hunting.  It appears that in today’s world, political correctness is still alive and it seems people are far more willing to condemn others for what they see as not acceptable.

When I was young, it was traditional to display your deer on the fender of an auto (actually, the law required any deer harvested to be at least partially visible to the public.)  It was a given that once you bagged a deer, your car would be parked at the local gathering spot for an indefinite period of time, so that you could socialize with friends and other hunters.  It was a place where everyone would share their hunting tales and over-exaggerate on every detail.  This was part of the deer hunt and was socially acceptable, in fact, it was a traditional, annual community gathering that was socially expected.

Undoubtedly, sitting at a busy intersection with a deer tied to your car is no longer acceptable and now is commonly part of the definition of a slob hunter.  Having to be politically correct has all but destroyed the tradition.  But, I don’t believe the number of slob hunters has increased; it appears as though society’s tolerance for showmanship in hunting has decreased.  And I think that as the population continues to grow, more non-hunting and anti-hunting people trying to find solitude in rural areas will feel compelled to condemn any action that is not tailored to their social expectations. 

Today, a slob hunter is much more than someone who ignores No Hunting signs, litters in the woods, and is disrespectful of others out in the field, landowners and the game they are pursuing.  Today, a slob hunter is anyone who exhibits any act or action that could be perceived negatively by others.

There are a few simple things each of us can do to reduce the slob hunter concept.  Most obviously, becoming an ethical hunter is number one.  Being mindful of hunting laws, respecting the rights of landowners, other hunters and wildlife is a big step in that direction.  As you learn, always consider how your actions may be viewed by others.  Ingrain this process into your hunting routine and it will become habit.

Another simple habit to develop is being responsible.  If you are with a group of friends and one or more are being disrespectful, step up and say something; there is a slight possibility that they are unaware of their unacceptable behavior.  If they ignore you or chastise you, exclude them from your group; if the adverse actions are illegal, report them. This may seem rash, but it is your future you are protecting.

We should also be mindful of the advertising axiom of "repeating the negative." Focusing on the slob hunters instead of the ethical hunter (which is likely 1% slob, 99% ethical), hunters advance the perception that even the hunting crowd thinks slobs are an enormous problem.  Instead, we should focus the public on the positives of ethical hunters and how responsible hunters are the majority.

Being a safe, responsible and ethical hunter will slow the advance of politically correct demands on our sport.  Aldo Leopold, known as founder of the wildlife management science and author of a renowned book A Sand County Almanac (1949), probably said it best:  "A peculiar virtue in wildlife ethics is that the hunter ordinarily has no gallery to applaud or disapprove of his conduct. Whatever his acts, they are directed by his own conscience rather than by a mob of onlookers."

In other words, you control your own actions in the outdoors.