Squirrel Hunting Contest Problems

[bsekf]

Our local Rod and Gun Club runs an adult/youth Team Squirrel Hunt Contest as a annual fund raiser. All contestants must follow NYS Hunting Regulations and we only allow one limit per team (6). Give away about $250.00 in prizes and have a Chinese Raffle.

Local environmentalist wrote a scathing editorial in the local paper. Accusing us of teaching poor sportsmanship, profiting from NYS wildlife and etc. We have pretty well decided to just ignore him and not attempt to argue with him, especially in the paper. We are going to prepare a hand out reply, stating our Club goals and that we adhere to all NYS Conservation rules and laws. We are concerned his group may attempt to disrupt our weigh-in and raffle.

This individual has railed against "Big Buck Contests" and Predator hunts.

Have any of you dealt with something like this? What do you recommend?

Bill

 

[rjtfroggy]

We had a guy that used to come in the woods banging trash can lids together, we were on private property and he would walk just over the line. Watched him park his car one day and we decided to give him a little pay back. We parked our trucks right off his bumper front and back along side a snow bank he couldn't move more than 2 inches in either direction, then we went hunting across the street and stayed on stand until dark.
You want to see one pissed off person, but he never came back to give us grief again.

 

[SmokinJoe]

I suppose that would fit in the "peaceful protest" category, huh? Wish you had a video of it.

 

[rjtfroggy]

Actually we should have called the game warden and had him arrested.
It is against the law in Ct to harass hunters.

 

[rjtfroggy]

Sorry OP didn't mean to steal your post.

 

[CaptainMal]

I recommend you go about your business. You cannot win any argument with mental illness or with a drunk. Don't waste time establishing any kind of dialogue with him.

If he tries to disrupt your activities, contact the police first. If they have been defunded as so much of NY seems to be, then it's another story.

 

[searcher]

Our local Rod and Gun Club runs an adult/youth Team Squirrel Hunt Contest as a annual fund raiser. All contestants must follow NYS Hunting Regulations and we only allow one limit per team (6). Give away about $250.00 in prizes and have a Chinese Raffle.

Local environmentalist wrote a scathing editorial in the local paper. Accusing us of teaching poor sportsmanship, profiting from NYS wildlife and etc. We have pretty well decided to just ignore him and not attempt to argue with him, especially in the paper. We are going to prepare a hand out reply, stating our Club goals and that we adhere to all NYS Conservation rules and laws. We are concerned his group may attempt to disrupt our weigh-in and raffle.

This individual has railed against "Big Buck Contests" and Predator hunts.

Have any of you dealt with something like this? What do you recommend?

Bill

I would suggest having a breakfast in the field (catered as part of the entry fee) or something like that as a fundraiser with word that hunting will follow - and raffles awarded. No awards for numbers of killed or anything like that - maybe more like "come and display your marksmanship" or something. There are too many people who think that wholesale slaughter of anything is wrong - and they have enough numbers to get laws changed. We are starting to see laws enacted to prevent these contests and it doesn't help when one of the contestants of a coyote tournament dumped all his dead coyotes on the side of a road in town and ends up in the newspaper. Things like that can really get things out of whack. I was preparing my gear a few years back to shoot in a local "turkey shoot" put on by the Lion's Club. An acquaintance asked me "how many turkeys get killed?" If one weren't into hunting and shooting - it makes sense that folks take the name of the match literally. And they are the same ones who don't have a clue as to the damage by coyotes, ground squirrels, etc. I guess it either comes down to educating them (in the cases of those who will accept) or just keep a low profile. Wars of words seldom help anything in my experience. Like trying to explain to a cat lover why mountain lions and bobcats are hunted. good luck.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Zero tolerance from me in the past, if I'm on private property and they trespass illegally, I call them in immediately. They can explain to the CO, don't know what will happen these days, but I will insist on a citation.

 

[WyleWD]

Zero tolerance from me in the past, if I'm on private property and they trespass illegally, I call them in immediately. They can explain to the CO, don't know what will happen these days, but I will insist on a citation.

+1^^^ If he comes on to private property or interferes with a hunter who has permission to hunt there, just call the GW or the local sheriff. Maybe call the sheriff or GW in advance and ask for their direction on what to do IF he shows up. WD

 

[FJVance]

We try to get as many Game Wardens and Police invited as possible.

 

[bsekf]

Thanks for the replies. Our chairwoman, a PE teacher and NRA safety instructor, has prepared a very nice handout that explains our Club mission, what the funds are used for (2 $500.00 scholarships for local students) and how we follow NYS rules and laws. We have contacted the Chief of Police for guidance and will move our weigh-in procedure to a store room where we can control admittance. We have been forewarned that this guy has national ties. I am going to research him and I'll bet he isn't local.

 

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

Our local Rod and Gun Club runs an adult/youth Team Squirrel Hunt Contest as a annual fund raiser. All contestants must follow NYS Hunting Regulations and we only allow one limit per team (6). Give away about $250.00 in prizes and have a Chinese Raffle.

Local environmentalist wrote a scathing editorial in the local paper. Accusing us of teaching poor sportsmanship, profiting from NYS wildlife and etc. We have pretty well decided to just ignore him and not attempt to argue with him, especially in the paper. We are going to prepare a hand out reply, stating our Club goals and that we adhere to all NYS Conservation rules and laws. We are concerned his group may attempt to disrupt our weigh-in and raffle.

This individual has railed against "Big Buck Contests" and Predator hunts.

Have any of you dealt with something like this? What do you recommend?

Bill

If he's not a vegetarian, then he's a hypocrite. Where do you think your burger comes from?

 

[Bill K]

Our local Rod and Gun Club runs an adult/youth Team Squirrel Hunt Contest as a annual fund raiser. All contestants must follow NYS Hunting Regulations and we only allow one limit per team (6). Give away about $250.00 in prizes and have a Chinese Raffle.

Local environmentalist wrote a scathing editorial in the local paper. Accusing us of teaching poor sportsmanship, profiting from NYS wildlife and etc. We have pretty well decided to just ignore him and not attempt to argue with him, especially in the paper. We are going to prepare a hand out reply, stating our Club goals and that we adhere to all NYS Conservation rules and laws. We are concerned his group may attempt to disrupt our weigh-in and raffle.

This individual has railed against "Big Buck Contests" and Predator hunts.

Have any of you dealt with something like this? What do you recommend?

Bill

Have you local law enforcement at the weigh-in and raffle. It is against the law to interfer with a lawful and legal hunting activity. And go ahead and put out the hand out, so people can read the truth about your activity and goal, especially with a youth program/contest.