I was sitting in my den Sunday evening pondering what this week’s article would be about. I was torn between writing about the opening of Mississippi’s 2008 duck season or writing about some of the bucks I had seen recently at some of the taxidermy shops.

The Outdoor Channel was on, as it is most of the time in my den, and there was a hunting show on featuring several celebrities hunting and taking several giant bucks. Bingo, now you know what I decided to write about this week. I knew I was going to write about this particular topic, I just didn’t know when. Well, the time is thus.

The bucks that were taken on this particular episode were huge. When I say huge, I mean world class. Hunters and guides were slowly stalking through wide open hardwood forests and slipping very close to these enormous bucks. Each hunter took bucks that dreams are made of.

As I watched each hunt unfold, I almost started laughing as the guide, hunter, and unseen cameraman of course, eased their way toward an unsuspecting mammoth whitetail. They were whispering the whole time to each other about how and when the shot would be taken. The noisy crunch of fallen dry leaves seemed oblivious to the monarchs. When the hunter had a firm rest, the cameraman had a clear view, and the guide had taken his hand off the hunter’s shoulder, then and only then was the shot taken. Then the celebrating began while admiring the massive buck that had just been taken.



How stupid do the producers of these hunting shows think we are? A hunter is extremely lucky to see just one buck of this caliber in a lifetime of hunting. These hunters are seeing two, three or more a day. Of course, you know where I am headed with this. These ‘hunters’ are hunting and taking these bucks on game ranches where these giant bucks are ‘grown’ in pens and enclosures. There is no skill involved, there is no experience required, and there is no doubt of the outcome. The only requirement for the taking of one of these bucks is a checkbook full of money. I would even venture to say that these ‘hunting’ operations will accept all major credit cards too.

Our quest for more, bigger, and better things has now penetrated one of the last sacred activities we have, our hunting. Businessmen, in the form of these outfitters, and sportsmen in their quest for bragging rights, have teamed together to create what could eventually be the end of hunting as we know it and as it is intended to be. It is so obvious that these bucks are in enclosures and have been farmed for the taking, that a blind man could see it. I am absolutely appalled at the exploitation of this wonderful game animal. By the way, elk and other game animals are also being farmed in this manner for so called hunting purposes.

As mentioned earlier, I saw some gorgeous bucks at a couple of taxidermy shops as of lately. Six of these bucks scored more than 170 inches. Without exception, each of these bucks had a hole in one of their ears. These holes were left as a result of removing ownership tags. Some of these tags had the name, address, and even phone numbers of the person who owned the deer before some ‘hunter’ paid to shoot it. Do you think the ‘hunters’ that took these animals will tell you that they were hunting pen raised deer in an enclosure? I doubt it. For the life of me I don’t understand the allure of shooting these bucks under these conditions. If someone could explain what I am missing, I would be more than happy to listen.

The bottom line is, these bucks and bulls are grown for profit to sell to a so called hunter who wants to adorn his trophy wall for bragging rights. Excuse after excuse can be made to justify this type of hunting, but it simply cannot be justified. Many ‘hunters’ may disagree with this but if the truth kills granny, let her die.

Come on y’all, let’s not tolerate this type of hunting, which by the way is not hunting at all. In the future I will immediately turn the channel when I realize the animals pursued on a hunting show are in enclosures or farmed for the taking.

I urge each of you to do the same. Call or send e-mails to the producers of these shows and tell them your issues. Call the companies that advertise their products on these types of shows and voice your concerns. Our hunting, the way it is intended to be, is at stake. I guarantee you, the hunters that take game raised and handled by man, know that they really didn’t take a wild animal under fair chase conditions.

They may not admit it, but each time they look at their buck or bull above the fireplace, deep down they know. This is wonderful fuel for the antis. Let’s not help them in their endeavors to stop our wonderful sport that we cherish so much. Take a stand against this type of hunting. Do what’s right for the future of hunting. I assure you I will.

Until next time enjoy our woods and waters, and remember, let’s leave it better than we found it.