All the Odds Are In Our Favor
August 25, 2007
Hunting success rates must be in the high 90’s or so because we have such overwhelming advantages of the creatures we hunt. At least that is what some folks would have you think. I was reading Steve Black’s opinion piece on the opening of DuPont Forest for bear hunting and although I agree that development in the area has lead to some of the problems his opposition to the hunt is at best mythological view non hunters have about the sport.
I don’t believe for a second that the hunted animal ever has a sporting chance. The modern hunter has all the odds in his favor.
He has, first of all, the element of surprise. Any military man knows this is 99 percent of the battle won.
Secondly, he has a weapon powerful enough to bring down a Buick. On top of that, he has a hunting scope mounted on his weapon. (”All the better to see you with, my dear.”)
Sport? Hardly. If a modern hunter really wanted to give the animals a true sporting chance, the hunters would go after bears with a claw hammer and a pen knife.
The sporting chance, as it has been for 200 years or so, is not the equal footing of game animal and hunter to kill each other in the encounter but for the animal’s keen senses preventing the hunter from killing the animal. Beating the bear’s nose is a tough undertaking and I would say that for you to enter the bears comfort zone or home area without being detected by his nose is no small feat. I doubt there is much element of surprise. There is little doubt that few men armed with a hammer or a pen knife would win the battle with a black bear but to even suggest that method should be how a hunt should be conducted is ridiculous.
Developments in the prime bear habitat of this state is no doubt having a huge impact on the bear population and the increase of human / bear encounters in the area. In recent years individuals have been killed by black bears and to ignore the problem is only asking for this horror to happen again. Although many of us hate to see the development of raw land the rights of private land owners is what this country was founded on. Much of the protected land in this state from development was secured through monies raised by hunters and conservation groups.
Bear population in this state is also rising and whether you like it or not the only proven method for keeping wildlife populations in check is hunting. Bears are a renewable resource and allowing the hunting of this majestic creature will only further secure the population and keep this animal from being completely removed from the North Carolina landscape.
Will the bear hunt in DuPont Forest result in the harvesting of any bears? Hard to say, last year a hunt was held in the eastern part of the state that was having bear problems and the hunters did not kill a single bear. So much for the odds being stacked in their favor. I’ll give you this a bear in DuPont Forest has much better odds then the steer grown on a farm for your local Piggly Wiggly Grocery Store. Think about that Steve next time you’re leaning over the meat counter picking out that perfect steak for your weekend BBQ.
Moose Droppings is a place that chronicles my journey, I’ll explore new places and ideas I’ll learn new things and I’ll teach the things I’ve learned to others. Join me on the adventure and hopefully it will help you in your outdoor endeavors.
