Farmers, Sportsmen Need Each Other
Hunters and sportsmen across the country are in a real fight with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and other radical groups to…
Hunters and sportsmen across the country are in a real fight with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and other radical groups to protect the rights of hunters and trappers in the United States. Farmers are involved in the same kind of fight to protect animal agriculture that is essential to everyone. The activist groups want to take all animal products off dinner tables and have everyone live on beans, cabbage and other plant products.
According to the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, hunters in the state of Maine are involved in an effort to stop HSUS and other activist groups from banning bear hunting in that state. Their recent publication, The Sportsman’s Alliance, stated:
“The Humane Society of the United States has already poured in more than $1.5 million to bankroll the bear-hunting ban. This is a direct attack not only on to hunting but on the scientific management of our nation’s wildlife. Anti-hunters view this as the first step to their true goal: banning hunting nationwide. Attacking hunting in the state of Maine with its rich and storied outdoor traditions is alarming, and signals to sportsmen everywhere that HSUS is not afraid to fight for its radical agenda. The time to act is now. We must protect our hunting heritage as well as proven, scientific methods of wildlife management.”
Yes, the time to act is now, not only for sportsmen, but also for farmers across the country. When one looks at what has happened that affects farmers, one needs to be concerned. When legislation gets passed that affects approved farm practices, such as the law in California that greatly restricted egg production not only in that state, but in adjacent states, one needs to be concerned.
This is just one example. On many occasions, HSUS has proposed legislation that would restrict farming practices in various states. Several years ago they tried in Ohio but voters, with help from farm organizations, turned them down.
Anti-animal agriculture would cause many problems with the food supply. No animal products on the tables would greatly restrict human diets. People would lose excellent sources of high quality protein plus many other quality vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. More than that, people would lose just plain good food that they enjoy.
Farmers and their farm groups need to join with hunters and other sportsmen in their efforts to take an aggressive stand against these anti-animal agriculture activists. It is an effort that needs support from everyone who values the food supply as well as the country’s hunting heritage. Both groups need each other.
Hunters also need the support of farmers in another way. Land that they like to hunt on is mostly owned by farmers. They need to respect that ownership and get permission to hunt on local farms.
Farmers, at the same time, need hunters. Without them, wildlife populations would soon get out of control. Deer, for example, already cause millions of dollars in damage to fall crops of corn and soybeans as well as cause many automobile accidents.
In addition, uncontrolled wildlife populations result in disease, starvation and suffering on the part of that wildlife. Controlled hunting and trapping programs help avoid problems with over population wildlife.
Everyone needs to urge farmers and sportsmen to join together and develop a plan to stop these animal rights groups in their anti-food and hunting efforts. Farm and sportsmen organizations should take the lead in this effort. And the time is now.
Parker is an independent agricultural writer.
