Pedal's law

[Hightech-Redneck]

Just flashed by on news 12 NJ, proposed to ban bear hunting for 5 years and in that time only non-lethal methods to control bears. 

 

You really cant make this shit up, people are nuts. 

[NorthJerseyMike]

This is ridiculous... All it takes is one moron hunter to shoot a media bear and make him a martyr.... Now we are all punished... I had an anti that I know tell me today that she would rather people die who live in bear country than see bear die.... these folks are nuts. 

[Bannock-pt.]

I posted this in another thread, but i believe its more appropriate here.Let me start off by saying that I believe the hunter who may have or may not have killed the bear that people named pedals did nothing illegal. In fact, he did absolutely nothing wrong when it comes to the factual reasonings behind killing any bear for that matter. However, like it or not, the alleged killing of that bear could absolutely be the worst thing that could have happened to bear hunters in the state of N.J. The "pedals bill" which was advanced 5-1, would force the division of fish and wildlife to work with anti hunting groups to come up with a non lethal method of population control. You've got to be kidding me right? Science is out the window now. Look up what qualifications it takes to become a state biologist. Its quite alot of work to get that title. Masters degree in bio at the least, for very little pay as well.. Yet, these men and women will be forced by legislation to listen to anti hunting groups tell them how to do their jobs? This is crazy. Im not sure what we can do to help fight this bill. If any groups have a plan and need help, please post it here. Also, In todays day and age of social media, perception is going to help dictate legislation. The antis can and will use a bear like the one THEY call pedals to foster their agenda. The public who may have been swayed by science or attacks on humans by bears in NJ will have news coverage, pictures, and videos of this bear ingrained in their heads to foster the anti hunting movement. Lastly, out response to this bear will be used either for or against us. We have already seen science thrown out the window. Lets try to handle ourselves in a more mature manor than they are. Perhaps this will sway the voting public towards our cause. Our actions and responses will be used either for or against us. The future of bear hunting, in part, will be dictated in how we fight, and handle ourselves.

[Bucksnbows]

Pedals aside, this is the exact same bill that has been introduced for years now into the Solid Waste Committee because the antis have a libtard's ear on that committee.  It never gets a vote on the floor, but it always bears watching (pun intended, of course).   

[MTH]

This is crazy. Im not sure what we can do to help fight this bill. If any groups have a plan and need help, please post it here. ..... The future of bear hunting, in part, will be dictated in how we fight, and handle ourselves.

The last time this situation got to this level of ridiculousness, varied hunting groups around the state to include UBNJ, TANJ, NJ Sportsmen's etc.....banned together to form the New Jersey Outdoors Alliance, the NJOA....that group and its leadership worked tirelessly for over a year to foster a positive view of hunting in NJ, they stopped dead in its tracks the bill that was advanced out of committee to add animal rights activists to the fish & game counsel, and actually forced the sponsor of the bill out of office in the very next election (anyone remember Mr. Panter?) They then worked further to help pass Sunday bow, and the reduction of the bow safety zone...as well as countless pro fishing initiatives......

 

A rift eventually formed that dealt primarily with 2nd Amendment issues. The NJOA supported candidates whom supported hunting and fishing opportunities in NJ regardless of where they stood on 2nd Amendment issues....and a lot of guys and gals out there could not see a disconnect between hunting and the second amendment.   Thus there was a lot of infighting because the NJOA supported candidates that also happened to favor certain levels of gun control despite their pro hunting positions.

 

Unity in cause is what it takes....and infighting results in disunity and weakness. The NJOA is still around and still working hard....You may way to venture their way and show some support:

 

http://njoutdooralliance.org/

[Leo801]

A few of us called this last year and again this year, and years prior I believe. On multiple sites and FB... It's simple, yes, killing the injured bear was legal and the right thing to do, BUT, ...STUPID AS HELL. We KNEW this would cause an irrational knee jerk reaction from Trenton to coddle the very small but very loud minority of uneducated misfits.

One man's need to fulfill his own spite lust could possibly cause the   hunt to be revoked and damage years worth of conservation as well.

Was it worth it? Was targeting an injured novelty bear loved by the community and who had international coverage worth shutting down the hunt for all of us? Just for a spite harvest?

I read what you guys go through to hunt bear, most of you work tirelessly to get ready for bear, most document your methods and hard work here, especially Robin. And I for one appreciate it as it helps those of us who don't live close enough to learn VIA trial and error, but now, those years  of perfecting your particular method may be for nothing.

 

I'd like to hear the hard core bear hunters take on this particular bear being harvested.... Good idea, or stupid move?

 

(Yes,  again, I know it's legal and moral, but we have to deal with Antis who are petulant children who crybully the state into bending to their will so, this isnlt a legal/not legal or right/wrong question, just want to see what the hard core bear enthusiasts  think)

Edited October 17, 2016 by Leo801

[NorthJerseyMike]

I wrote to Fish and Game.  My suggestion is that NJ follows NY and allow bear hunting from Sept to Dec.  Protesters can't protest 24/7 for 4 months.   NY doesn't have the media frenzy that NJ has created.  By limiting the bear hunt to a week or two, we have essentially publicized it and turned it into a media circus.   

[Haskell_Hunter]

Here's my take:

 

Will this stir up the anti-science crowd, yes.  Theirs is solely an emotional argument with absolutely no basis in science.  However, when has science ever prevailed in a political discussion?  It's more about public opinion polls or doing something to gain political favor from a loud minority group than doing the right thing.  So that's a problem we're going to have to deal with.

 

I also heard that the hunter who harvested the bear set up a Facebook page to taunt anits and use it as a platform to boast about harvesting this bear.  I don't know this for sure, I am repeating things I've read in some comments as I don't have Facebook.  While it's okay to take pride in a harvest, this might not be the best way to do it.  He's now the poster child for what is wrong with hunters, and we all suffer from this.  For him this was a trophy hunt:  He put the time in to harvest this particular bear and did so.  To some extent we all do that, but the point of this hunt was a population management hunt.  That is going to get lost in the conversation because of this one person's actions.  Antis will use this to invalidate the purpose of the hunt even though the state has a plan.  Every hunter has their own harvest plan when the step foot into the woods, but that won't matter.  Additionally, we can't argue that it wasn't a trophy hunt by stating the people brought in 125# bears because then the conversation shifts to hunting cubs; another invalid emotional plea.  Don't get caught up in that argument.

 

As hunters, only we know why we pull the trigger on a harvest and pass on others.  We are a diverse group and while some of us will pull the trigger in one case, others may not.  There's a ton of that discussion on here this year alone for deer season.  We've also talked about certain bear harvests that would be a pass for other folks.  But at the end of the day we try to do our best to support each other's harvest even if we would have passed it.  This is another case of that.  You can already see the wedge being driven between us on the subject, and the antis will use that to their advantage.

 

I don't know if I would have pulled the trigger on this bear.  I don't actively bear hunt, so my mind isn't in that place to decide.  But this guy wanted this bear, and he harvested it legally.  I would have shared the information with my closest friends, but I never would have put it out on the Internet, nor would I have used it to antagonize antis.

 

So I support the legal harvest of any wildlife in NJ, but I do not support actively engaging in the antagonizing of antis with any wildlife harvest.  It is disrespectful to the hunt and the hunting community.  It is always unsportsmanlike to goad your opponent in victory.

[Leo801]

I wrote to Fish and Game.  My suggestion is that NJ follows NY and allow bear hunting from Sept to Dec.  Protesters can't protest 24/7 for 4 months.   NY doesn't have the media frenzy that NJ has created.  By limiting the bear hunt to a week or two, we have essentially publicized it and turned it into a media circus.   

I agree, a concentrated season allows for short, high volume crybullying whereas longer seasons would get an initial tantrum then the dimwits would have to move on and the media would lose it's high profile "My feelz" articles that appeal to the general public who only care about the hunt when it's being shoved down their throats.

Still, this would be just another bear season gone by and forgotten already if one person would have thought past their own bravado and looked at the bigger picture.

This one incident perfectly sums up NJ's sportsmen and sportswomens short comings all in one package, we CONSTANTLY do things that are against our own best interest, we need look no further than EVERY election in this state where if you our own people vote for anti-hunters and anti-gun idiots EVERY DAMN ELECTION. And get nothing in return even outside the sports realm. Just fewer jobs, higher taxes, less rights and more corruption.

[Leo801]

Haskil, he did indeed have a FB page. There's a few, one was set up sarcastically by a non hunter, i've posted on it sarcastically. One was a 'first person' type site that was more comedic/sarcastic than taunting...... but HIS site was solely to shit stir and bait the bear loons. I even found it to be in poor taste but I think it's down now. Or wasn't showing the last I looked.  

Getting our way, or rather, having things go our war (like getting a bow season for bear) even though it's just, and right, is no reason to get all petty and foolish, that's what THEY do and why they look insane and are not taken seriously. This makes us ALL look like idiots

Edited October 17, 2016 by Leo801

[BowhuntingJersey]

This bear that was shot is a wild animal, yes? Well maybe the state has to tag them with colorful tags so hunters know who or what bear they can shoot!!!

[Hightech-Redneck]

In all honesty, do you think the state should have done something to relocate or cull the bear at an earlier time?

[Zipper]

In all honesty, do you think the state should have done something to relocate or cull the bear at an earlier time?

Why couldn't they get Pedals a job in the Circus riding a bicycle?

Edited October 17, 2016 by Zipper

[BHC]

This bear was legal game, my problem is with this so called hunter, his intent was to harvest peddles, with all the bears around why this bear? He is a selfish person who by his negative actions will hurt future bear hunts. We have enough people against us as hunters and hunting in general, he added more fuel to the fire. If you think this will not hurt future bear hunts you're on a different world. Where there is a action there is a reaction.....this guy is a POS

[mattg1500]

Man its crazy what this hunt stirred up. I never see anyone protesting deer, turkey,squirrel,pheasants,fox,coyote etc. why bear? is it a black thing? lol jk. You would think people are more attached to the deer they feed in their yard or the baby fox running and playing in their yard. The Peddles deal I guess I get, but the rest is ridiculous. In Ga we earned the rights to hunt on almost 4000ac because we kill hogs, we dont trophy hunt, we dont discriminate, we kill. We provide them a service in return for the meat which we harvest. I have shot a few with my 308 that I could have carried in a fanny pack, I do feel a bit bad but they taste good and they arent wasted. I have never seen a protester there. It was my first bear hunt and hopefully not my last. It was a nice time in the woods in different terrain than I hunt deer in. I am not ashamed nor do I regret any decisions I have made in the field. I will wear my NJ bear cooperator patch with pride, heck I wish it was a sticker. One website for Peddles said if the people noticed his health declining they would contact F&G, but who knows his condition? Maybe it was declining. I didnt see any videos of him eating, drinking, interacting with other bears, just wandering the streets like a delinquent. There are enough laws and limitations we dont need more. Let each individuals conscience and morals be what limits them, not pg17 paragraph 3 in the new F&G handbook