Kentucky Sportsmen

[plowboy]

This will probably get me hammered by some but too bad. Having read through far too many posts on the pros and cons of crossbows and the pros and cons of expanding or cutting back on seasons I think it' time to say something else. When I was growing up and first learning about fishing and hunting I was taught that fair play and respect were extremely important. Respect for both the quarry and my fellow sportsmen and not just for my own opinion. The name calling and veiled threats that have been flying back and forth across these forums is disgusting. Some have tried unsuccesfully to remind us that there are many out there who would like to ban all hunting period. Maybe some of those are responsible for some of these posts, but it appears at least to me that most are coming from very selfish individuals who have no respect for their fellow sportsmen or their quarry and care only about what they want to do. When we resort to vulgarity and name calling we are definitely revealing what true sportsmen we Kentuckians are.

[schuyler olt]

Plowboy, I could not agree more. Great post.

[JP]

wow........rather philosophical....but nonetheless truthful and honest....my respects...:)

[daking]

Here, Here, Plowboy. Never before has so much been said with so few words here. I think that with the embarassment of riches Kentucky sportsmen and women enjoy, the trend has been towards greed rather than gratitude. When I first started deer hunting in 1978, we had a three day gun season and a 30 day bow season in less than half the state. Look what we have now. And we're pissing and moaning about the way things are going. Maybe we should all have to experience the 1978 conditions for a while so that we can appreciate the bounty we have now


Terry Sullivan

[trader rob]

well said, if it wasn't for the classified and coon hunting sections i wouldn't visit this site at all. i'm sure there are some fine people on here, they are just hard to find.

[joekat46]

Plowboy - "Blessed are the Peacemakers" may be the high road but sometimes I just have to take a stand when I see something that really gets under my skin. This has long since topped some of our old subdivision association meetings - maybe one meeting excepted where I was glad I was in a right to carry state and still owned a Kevlar vest (I'd put a "smiley" face here if I knew how).

Forgive me but I'm just getting warmed up. I feel this is a lot bigger issue than just the crossbow. The results in KY will steer the game commissions of several other states. There have been early feelers put out down here in Florida concerning similar crossbow legislation but things here are so political if anyone complains they'll fold like a cheap suit.

P.S. - Ever notice that "JP" guy always agrees with you?

[turk2di]

Plowboy - "Blessed are the Peacemakers" may be the high road but sometimes I just have to take a stand when I see something that really gets under my skin. This has long since topped some of our old subdivision association meetings - maybe one meeting excepted where I was glad I was in a right to carry state and still owned a Kevlar vest (I'd put a "smiley" face here if I knew how).

Forgive me but I'm just getting warmed up. I feel this is a lot bigger issue than just the crossbow. The results in KY will steer the game commissions of several other states. There have been early feelers put out down here in Florida concerning similar crossbow legislation but things here are so political if anyone complains they'll fold like a cheap suit.

P.S. - Ever notice that "JP" guy always agrees with you?
If the Florida Commission is watching, i hope they learn that perhaps it would be best to have a democratic debate on the subject and then vote. Hey Joekat, Joey got a turkey this mornin at Peabody during the youth hunt;)

[Multidigits]

I'd suggest that Florida watch Alabama instead. Their sportsmen handled the new crossbow season rather well after the first month or so. It's already a non-issue there.

[Willie]

Alabama and Georgia too.

Both Florida neighboring states where crossbows are legal archery equipment.

Georgia has three seasons under its belt and Alabama has one.

All positives..

The simple fact that as more states come on line with crossbow legalization the more myths, rumors and outright lies are dispelled.

Virginia OKd the VDNR to establish a season for crossbows. All indications are it will be in the full archery season.

The West Virginia senate just passed a bill to allow physically challenged individuals the right to use a crossbow. All crossbows for any use are illegal as of now there.

Wisconsin has proposed a crossbow season to coincide with their archery season.

Illinois is considering allowing youth under 18 the ability to use a crossbow.

The simple matter is most states have a two-fold problem... Too many deer and not enough hunters/revenues. Crossbow legalization will help in both cases. Not a cure all, but a giant step in the right direction.

[RUTNUT]

Way To Go Plowboy, Thats My Bud.:D

[grinder]

simple and to the point plowboy, some want to constantly bring it up, i've considered leaving the site because there is nothing but catcalls and bullying like a schoolyard. lets talk hunting instead of fighting.

[plowboy]

My thanks to JP, Rutnut, Grinder, Daking, Trader Rog and to an extent Joekat for your endorsement. It is good to know that there are still some out there who appreciate what we have today. Bothers me though that some immediately jumped back to the controversy. But still it is encouraging to know that there are still some Kentucky Sportsmen and Sportswoment out there who truly do appreaciate the great outdoors that we in Kentucky are so lucky to have. Look forward to meeting some of yall down the road.

[shogan]

I agree with plowboy. But I want to say their are more positive people on here then negative. This has always been an open website and thus we occasionally get visited by those with the campaign in mind (as we havre recently seen).

And they kinda stokes things up. We just need to remember (not matter what side of the issue you stand) to keep it civil and fun.

The campaigners will go away when they get bored, and the defeated regulars will lick their wound and go back to playing nice, and the children just passing thru trying to stir muck will end up back in school and forget about pranking the website.

I personally find this to be a very informative and typically friendly website.

And finally hats off to Uncle Lees for spending the cash to host the site.

[maxcam]

This will probably get me hammered by some but too bad. Having read through far too many posts on the pros and cons of crossbows and the pros and cons of expanding or cutting back on seasons I think it' time to say something else. When I was growing up and first learning about fishing and hunting I was taught that fair play and respect were extremely important. Respect for both the quarry and my fellow sportsmen and not just for my own opinion. The name calling and veiled threats that have been flying back and forth across these forums is disgusting. Some have tried unsuccesfully to remind us that there are many out there who would like to ban all hunting period. Maybe some of those are responsible for some of these posts, but it appears at least to me that most are coming from very selfish individuals who have no respect for their fellow sportsmen or their quarry and care only about what they want to do. When we resort to vulgarity and name calling we are definitely revealing what true sportsmen we Kentuckians are.

I think that those who really care about the resources of this state are making that very argument. And as some have mentioned there are "children" on both sides of the isle. I am hear to tell you that there is a legitimate concern for what took place on March 4th. That is my opinion. You may not like it but you should respect it. After all if the commission would have shown a little more respect we wouldnt be have this discussion that is dividing us all.

[Multidigits]

The fact is that the Commission made a very tuff choice for ALL of us on March the 4th. What they did took a lot of courage. They knew there was a large group that would make a stink about it, but what the did was for the betterment of the whole. There's not many more issues more important in todays times then stopping the slide in hunter numbers. There's not doubt(backed by lots of data) that the crossbow change will improve hunter retention for the older hunters who might drop out, and for the younger hunters just starting out. Both these groups have been targets for improvement for years. Now we have some real relief in sight, and we have folks complaining about it. The overall good of the whole is put on hold for the selfishness of a few. We see it here almost daily. Bad advice given out because somebody doesn't want NR hunters using there WMA. That's one example of selfishness. Others are wanting whole seasons to exclude a particular user group for no real reason. Some of those same people then start and post on a thread about what's wrong with Ky. sportsmen. Well, I guess that we're all sportsmen, even those damn crossbowers. Who's to say they are so much better than the others to exclude them from hunting in Ky.???

[shogan]

You know when you put someone on your ignore list (lets say small cog who joined last week and is only here to raise cain) you don't see anything they say. And you don't get any more unsolicited private messages ranting on about make believe points.

Ultimately the true sportsmen aren't here about 1 point and 1 point only and aren't here just to get everyone to see it there way. And in 2 years if they are still around and finally being a good sport maybe Illl take them off the ignore list.

Isn't technology great!

[Wildcat]

Sportsmen have always had disagreements over one thing or another. I remember the old days around the General Store where we checked in the deer and hung around shooting the bull. I'd see some of those older men really get into it and had to be helped outside before things got out of hand, it didn't get that bad all the time.

At meetings and dinners disagreements always poped up but weren't too bad.

Today things are different. It's the net, the web sites and talk forums. We can talk about anything any time we feel like it. When something like the crossbows come up it's easy for things to heat up since people have strong feelings plus they are behind a PC miles away. I myself have strong feelings about certain things but I always try to stay within the rules of the forum. I don't except everybody to agree with everybody else but some people can and do get out of hand. I don't like the name calling and I've brought up the fact that it's against the forum rules several times.

[turk2di]

The great thing about this site is after a year or two of reading other posts from smart people, you get to realize How short-sighted pr petulance one can be(me). If these sportsman on this have done nothin else, they have made me more reflective b4 knee-jerkin(type jerkin(?)) a response or startin a new discussion. I too will use the ignore option from here on. Heated debate's are A-OK, but once someone gets to name callin & personal vitirol, i no longer consider or read what they type. I love this site;)

[trust me]

Your Kentucky Hunting Forum WORD FOR THE DAY
Vitriol: 2: abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will.

Boy, that one word sums it up. (I had to look it up.) You nailed it all with that statement.

I don't log on here to argue and piss and moan. I can go talk to the wife if I want that. I come here to share other's stories, and to share mine with others. A little advice, a little humor, it's all here. I don't read the piss and moan posts, and I use the "Ignore" button. Makes it more enjoyable.

[Rob]

Man, I just expanded my vocabulary. Here I was, thinking vitriol was some sort of motor oil additive ("Use STP with Vitriol"). Now, I'll be using that word all week to my redneck buddies with limited vocabularies!

[Turkeyhunter5]

Agreed 110% Plowboy. I Could Careless If Anyone Hunted With A Crossbow. I Am Practicing With Mybow So I Can Go This Bow Season. But If I Want To Hunt With A Crossbow I Think That It Is My My Own Buissness. I Am Surprised Nothing Has Come Up About That Locking Device On A Bow. I Seen It On Tv And When You Pull Your Bow Back It Hold It There. A 6yrd Could Be Shooting A 65 Are 70 Pund Bow.

[shogan]

Yeah but I still dont know how to say it.

Vit Tree All

You think thats it?

And my wife said I was wasting my time on here and wouldnt learn nuttin.

[trust me]

Close enough. We'll know what ya mean.:)

[aceoky]

The good news is: after Sept 3, passes, and a couple of weeks go by, everyone should be "into hunting" , and the "cabin fever" will be gone(already is for those who fish) :D

What "bugs" me: we have enough enemies from outside of our ranks, why make 'em here????

Another CHOICE of weapon(no one is INSISTING that anyone else use anything that I'm aware of):) will most likely help our hunting numbers and "any way you can slice it" , that's a "good thing"!!!

Some people can't stand to lose(and most don't like it), BUT, that is no excuse for the name calling/bashing etc. and (once again) it helps nothing/no one...... it make those comments less credible, and many will refuse to try to see that point of view, which again, negates the time you spent making your "point(s)'

As for me, I'll "take the heat", as I firmly believe, that more hunters=better for all;

and without seeing FACTS.....PROOF......DATA that leaves little if any doubt that x-bows are bad, (or going to actually hurt something other than feelings), I see no reason to not support our Dept. They have overall done a great job(ask anyone in S.E. KY about seeing deer in the late 70's-early 80's, been here for 32 years, and I can tell you the facts on that! When you almost never see a deer track, much less a deer, that's hard to imagine NOW(Thanks KDFWR) :)

[turk2di]

Man, I just expanded my vocabulary. Here I was, thinking vitriol was some sort of motor oil additive ("Use STP with Vitriol"). Now, I'll be using that word all week to my redneck buddies with limited vocabularies!
I may have spelled it wrong:o . But u can still use it if ya like:cool:

[HornHunter]

Finally some sense comes from the cross bow deal!!! It would suit me just fine if they had a slingshot season, It don't mean I have to start hunting round rocks (he he).