Who does your internet scrapbooking help?
By Jesse Zeman, BCWF director of fish and wildlife restoration program
No doubt there’s been a pile of negative media about hunting recently. There are groups and individuals taking a run at you because you hunt and fish and they challenge what you stand for and what you care about. They are well-funded, and organized. They certainly want to stop parts of hunting, and fishing will soon be on the list starting with sturgeon and steelhead. People who oppose hunting and fishing are also in the minority and they don’t control the outcome.
The people who control the outcome for wildlife, hunting, and fishing are the public and politicians; it’s your job to convince them what you do and why you do it is ok.
So why would you spend your precious time arguing with other hunters and anti-hunters on the internet?
Stop telling other hunters how great hunting is, what your contribution is, and why you do it – they already know.
Stop trying to convince anti-hunters why they’re wrong – they will not change their mind.
Stop trying to convince them their ‘facts’ are wrong – chances are they already know.
Stop focusing on hunting regulations. Hunters and anglers have spent the last 40 years arguing about regulations while species like mountain caribou have hit the endangered species lists and Thompson Steelhead, which numbered in the thousands, are now down to 145.
Start sticking to the science.
Hunters, non-hunters, anti-hunters, and politicians are great at throwing generalizations around that “truth and science” are on their side.
Be honest: If you don’t know, say you don’t know. If you want to find out, look for science-based sources – learn how to do research and learn how to create web searches that provide current results from authoritative sources.
Be a critical reader and try and reconcile what you get from the voice of experience on a hunting website with what science says. There may be as many issues with the content on pro-hunting websites as there are on anti-hunting websites.
Think about why you hunt and fish.
Think about what’s important to you, what you put into and get out of hunting and fishing, and start sharing that with the public and politicians.
Write it down so you understand it and are able to communicate it. Be genuine and don’t hide behind what someone else says or thinks. Non-hunters don’t understand dead pictures of animals, or how people who care about wildlife can kill it; some even think hunters and anglers are ok with fish and wildlife disappearing. Non-hunters understand spending time in nature, enjoying BC’s rivers, lakes, mountains, valleys and the fish and wildlife that exist there. Non-hunters understand conservation, sustainability, adventure and the outdoors experience.
Once you’ve sorted out why and what hunting and fishing means to you, start engaging the people that count.
Start talking to your non-hunting friends, family, neighbours, customers and coworkers. Chances are these people are hunting and fishing supporters and they might even want to give it a try. Tell them your story: how you got into hunting, fishing; what it means to you and how you do it.
Let them try some wild fish or game — most people love it. Even if they don’t support hunting or fishing, chances are they will be far more receptive after you’ve explained your passion for wildlife.
When you post on social media tell the story of your trip from beginning to end. Non-hunters don’t get a picture of a dead animal – they don’t understand what goes into a hunting trip when it’s wrapped up in a picture. They will get a story about a hunting trip, the trials and tribulations, the range of emotions you go through, with a bunch of pictures, and maybe one picture of what you harvested.
Post the pictures of processing and cooking your wildlife. People need to understand where their food comes from and you can help take them reconnect to that process. Storytelling will better help them appreciate the ethics and morality of hunting and fishing as well.
Start talking to your politicians.
They are everyday people, and most of them, like your non-hunting friends, are people who are probably supportive of hunting and fishing, but don’t have a clue what it’s really about.
Sit down with them; tell them about yourself and why you care. Tell them your concerns about the future sustainability of fish and wildlife, and what you’d like to leave to future generations of British Columbians.
You don’t have to be an expert, or a PhD in sales to have someone understand you care about wildlife.
Write to your local newspaper about what you see and understand, and what you want to see in the future. Write it so that non-hunters and non-anglers get it, and can see themselves a part of taking care of fish and wildlife in the future.
Start getting involved.
There are far more people who support hunting and fishing that also care about conservation than the vocal minority who doesn’t. Use your time to make them hunting and fishing allies, supporters and even hunters and anglers themselves. This can be done by getting involved in a local club, conservation project, or online by engaging the people that count.
We need to recognize what we’ve been doing doesn’t work.
Sitting around complaining about “the antis” and politicians, arguing with “the antis”, or spending hours debating regulations on public forums has proven to be ineffectual and sometimes hurts us.
Start talking to the people that matter.
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