Finally, some progress!

Posted by: Brianna Fritchey | July 3, 2007 05:18 PM

Nice!

Posted by: Canaduck | July 3, 2007 06:16 PM

I think it's wonderful that killing is not such a popular family activity. Good.

I would be more happy about the fishing part if that means less actual fishing, but massive numbers of fish are still being harvested with nets, not only depelting populations but also killing whales, seals, seabirds, turtles, sharks, sawfish, the list goes on and on.

While the quaint family activities have been toned down the large-scale pollution and taking of wildlife is worse than ever.

Keep up the good work, PETA! We still need you big time.

Posted by: Maya | July 3, 2007 09:55 PM

Yay! This is great news!

Posted by: Michele | July 3, 2007 10:06 PM

Well said!!

Posted by: Chris | July 4, 2007 05:23 AM

The best way to "hunt" wildlife is unobtrusively with your camera. I never have, and never will, hunt with a gun, but I'm quite certain that "hunting" for that perfect pic takes a lot more skill. And to paraphrase The Byrds, you'll feel a whole lot better of yourself.

Posted by: Michael | July 4, 2007 01:54 PM

Hunting & fishing down 12%? Wow! Woot woot!

Posted by: K | July 5, 2007 09:36 AM

The best way to "hunt" wildlife is unobtrusively with your camera. I never have, and never will, hunt with a gun, but I'm quite certain that "hunting" for that perfect pic takes a lot more skill.

Posted by: Michael | July 5, 2007 06:17 PM

Thank goodness somebody's
hearing our voices...
Judith

Posted by: Judith, Freedom Fighter | July 5, 2007 07:41 PM

thats a load a shit i read a report that said its up like 10 percent

Posted by: jonny | July 6, 2007 02:01 PM

thats a load a shit i read a report that said its up like 10 percent

Posted by: jonny | July 6, 2007 02:01 PM

Good Lord! Looks like I have to get out on the lake.

Posted by: Robert | July 6, 2007 04:25 PM

Fishing bonds family. My Father fed me meat and taught me how to fish. We would go on fishing vacations together. I believed eating meat and fishing was normal, healthy, and right. I became a meat-eating fishing guide on Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. As I grew up and my Dad grew older, roles reversed and I would take my Dad fishing on my boat and I would bring the sandwiches (meat). Even Jesus was a fisherman. I believed, as many others still do, that fishing gets people in touch with nature. This is true, but unfortunately, it is a cold killing touch with nature. A touch no different from hunters, even I, a meat-eating fishing guide, so despised. When we kill, we detach ourselves from the process, even when the very reason we are partaking ourselves in the process of fishing is to trick, torment, and kill. This is the reality of how we get in touch with nature. It took me a long time to unlearn what my parents instilled in me from the onset. Now, I am a proud Vegan and no longer fish. I speak of veganism at every chance I can and have converted many people to the vegan lifestyle. When it comes to less people fishing and more people truly enjoying nature without inflicting harm; I can say, first hand, this article hit home.

Posted by: Warwak | July 7, 2007 01:48 AM

I for one LOVE to fish. Thank god for the USA, where a person can do what they WANT, not what other's feel is correct.

Posted by: Stpn2me | July 7, 2007 10:20 AM

This to the hunters and fishers: doing every abominable thing you like is not freedom - freedom is to follow the inner voice or the conscience which tells you: this is just or unjust; abusing animals for sport or any other insane entertainment is not freedom but fascism which is forced on an other species and on a minority of people with a conscience! The human being is not a wild animal which is free to behave according to his whims but a humane person equipped with a brain telling him to do the right thing! Hunters and fishers are telling us that the human being is just an animal, hunting other animals and that he has the right to do so - so why is it that on the other hand the vivisectors tell us that the humans are not animals; for this they can abuse other species and do with them whatever they like!!!??? You see the controversy - this means you fucking hunters, fishers, vivisectors, bullfighters are all dishonest cheaters and fascist liars! Now the next one to post here shall not tell me that the hunters are considering the humans as non-animals because there they have to admit that they force another species into a position contradictory to human dignity because if the human is not an animal it is not given to him to kill and abuse other living beings but to use his intelligence for to avoid it! If he is not able to do so he is neither an animal nor a human but a killing monster disturbing the living beings and he belongs eliminated or behind bars!

And something else: It is not PETA who dictates to others what they have to do: If you could think you would already have remarked that they would not post you here but it's you animal killers who are forcing for example on me your fucking cursed animal killing and fascist international laws are protecting you. If I go out for to kill you - it's me who goes to prison - you got it? you damned scum???? So go out and enjoy your ill passtimes and me I remain in my home and wish you something............

Posted by: Running Wild | July 8, 2007 09:22 AM

You know, it is people like Judith and "Running Wild" that make me seriously question the ethics of PETA. Also, knowing that the article came from PETA makes me question the facts. I have read horror stories about "sportsmen", but I have also read that alot of their permits fund wildlife programs. The truth is probably somewhere in between, but the fishermen do have a reason to keep fish numbers high, and therefore would be more likely to fund fish projects or something like that. But, then again, PETA's entire message is basically total animal freedom. Maybe the reason fishing is down is because PETA has made it harder for fishermen to fish. Maybe it is because there are fewer places to fish and more people growing up in the cities. The only thing that I am certain about is that Running Wild and Judith are crazy.

Posted by: RHC | July 8, 2007 10:40 PM

Dear Running Wild -
I understand both your message and your feelings, but raging and name-calling only hurts our cause, I think. If the point is to attract people to our lifestyle, sugar(as in kindness, not sugar-coating) often works better than vinegar.

Posted by: Susannah | July 9, 2007 09:55 AM

to RHC:
thank you for the compliment - to be called crazy strengthens me on my way because anotherone before you called me like that and this was a master-vivisector of a university who died mad in nightmares!

to susannah:
i respect your point but it is impossible for me to find nice words for people who torture animals to death and find pleasure in that and who are thinking that we should be grateful for it!!!

Posted by: Running Wild | July 9, 2007 12:33 PM

I love and agree with Running Wild's comments - those immature comments had it coming. People like that get me mad too. They want us to waste time with them, it is their fun, and that is why they post. Regardless, they need to hear it every time ignorance speaks. No more Mr. Nice guy!

Posted by: Warwak | July 9, 2007 01:03 PM

warwak:
it's fine that you get mad, too - so put your sporting shoes - speed and jump from the next skyscraper because you and your wisdom arrived at the end of the line...

Posted by: Running Wild | July 9, 2007 01:25 PM

Wildone,
Those scrapers are a lot taller than they look. I think we’re going to need a bigger trampoline!

Posted by: Warwak | July 9, 2007 06:27 PM

Tragic, fishing is the essence perfection. A lake, a pole, friends, and long lazy afternoons, nothing is better. PETA's major malfunction is that no one took any of them fishing as a kid. RHC is right, mostly.

Posted by: rick | July 16, 2007 02:50 AM

If everyone stopped hunting and used their camera to shoot animals there would be no more animals in the wild. It is a little thing called CONCERVATION!! If everyone was like all of you at peta animals would starve and disease would spread. Responsible hunters have a great love for the outdoors. More than any person at peta could understand. So the more you keep trying to get hunters out of the woods more and more animals will die due to low concervation efforts. Hunters and fishermen are the greatest concervationest out there.

Posted by: Michael | July 23, 2007 01:20 PM

Michael, no disrespect, but if you can't even spell "conservation" correctly you should not claim to be an expert on it.

The reason prey animals are overpopulated is because all of their predators have been killed off by hunters. Deer were not starving and diseased until all the wolves were shot.

Only nature can control overpopulated animals in an effective manner. Hunters are not as good at knowing which animals are diseased and old, and thus cannot balance the ecosystem. No human can.

Posted by: Maya | July 24, 2007 12:50 PM

Im with Michael on this one. Hunters do more for the animals than a lot of anti-hunters think. Ducks Unlimited is obviously a very important factor in protecting ducks by saving the wetlands and improving them. Oh but wait; wouldn't that cost a lot of money and so where the heck are they going to get that money. I know, according to DU's website migratory bird hunters in 2001 spent more than 1.4 billion dollars on hunting supplies and services and most of that money goes to DU's non-profit organization if its sponsored by DU. And that number goes up every year.

Posted by: Jacob | July 24, 2007 03:30 PM

I would love to see the facts and figures as to how much money into wildlife conservation PETA has donated (in their lifetime) compared to what local sportsman (hunters, fisherman) put into conservation on a yearly basis.

As for this comment "The best way to "hunt" wildlife is unobtrusively with your camera. I never have, and never will, hunt with a gun, but I'm quite certain that "hunting" for that perfect pic takes a lot more skill." That's laughable. I'd love to take you hunting.

I fish, I hunt, I eat red meat and I even hug the occasional tree.

C.S.
British Columbia Canada.

Posted by: HunterBC | August 5, 2007 03:56 PM

Why can't we kill animals for food? what is wrong with fishing. Are we animals? We have canine teeth. They are made for tearing flesh. Should we treat all animals equally? Why is it that humans are the only animals that care about the lives of other animals? If we are biologically made for eating meat, why can't we? Then are we different from animals? are we special? Are we superior? Are we morally allowed to use animals. Or are we inferior to animals? Why then do we care for animals and they don't care for us.

Posted by: Justin | August 10, 2007 11:10 PM

Funny how you guys skew the stats. Hunting among WOMEN has increased over 40% in the last few years, Hmmm...

Posted by: Texas Huntress | July 10, 2008 04:46 PM