Image of the hunter

[Tim Nunan]

http://www.examiner.net/sports/outdoors ... the-hunter

By Ken White
The Examiner
Posted Apr 29, 2011 @ 11:47 PM
Print Comment
Independence, MO —

After the first week of the three week 2011 spring turkey season in
Missouri, hunters took more than 18,000 bearded birds.

Despite the fact that more than 80 percent of Americans approve of
hunting, the number of hunters is not growing across the country.

A survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service showed 40 percent of
Americans strongly approved of hunting and 33 percent moderately
approved while 22 percent disapproved. A big 81 percent believed hunting
should remain legal, another survey, only three percent supported the
tactics of animal rights extremist groups......

(snip)

The Fish and Wildlife survey provided an insight into the Achilles Heel
of hunting. More than 65 percent of the people surveyed sad they believe
“a lot” of hunters broke hunting laws and practiced unsafe behavior,
such as drinking to excess and firing guns recklessly.

The poll shows the non-hunting majority not having a problem with
hunting, but they do have one instead with hunters. If hunting is going
to survive, this negative stereotype has to be changed......