Alphecca: Pro-Hunting From the New York Times?

September 19, 2005

Pro-Hunting From the New York Times?

With a hat-tip to the (hopefully only semi-) retired Countertop Chronicles comes an almost positive story about hunting from the New York Times:

GREEN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST, Vt. - Chomping wad after wad of Bubblicious Strawberry Splash gum and giggling as she tickled people's necks with a piece of grass she pretended was a spider, Samantha Marley could have been any 9-year-old girl.

A couple of things set her apart, though. She was cloaked in camouflage from boots to baseball cap. And propped next to her on the seat of a truck was her very own 20-gauge shotgun.

[...]

She had won a "dream hunt" given away by a Vermont man whose goal is to get more children to hunt, and she had traveled about 200 miles from her home in Bellingham, Mass., and was missing three days of school to take him up on his offer.

[...]

The dream hunt - all expenses paid, including taxidermy - was the brainchild of Kevin Hoyt, a 35-year-old hunting instructor who quit a job as a structural steel draftsman a few years ago and decided to dedicate himself to getting children across the country interested in hunting.

Read the whole thing. Of course, even in a "human interest" story, the New York Times writer had to insert some negativity:

Mr. Hoyt also tries to speak at schools, but he says that of 114 he has contacted, only 10 have invited him in.

"When I contact the schools they say, 'Is this to promote hunting?' " Mr. Hoyt said. "And actually I lie right through my teeth. I say, 'No, it is to explain hunting.' "

He added, "I hate to stereotype, but most teachers are liberal, tree-hugging, and they're not real sympathetic to the cause."

Dana Calkins, principal of Boltz Junior High in Fort Collins, Colo., said she never returned Mr. Hoyt's calls because "it's kind of like religion to me: whatever the family value is around hunting, that's their own business."

"I just think it has all the makings of a controversy," Ms. Calkins said. "I guess I just feel like there's enough violence in the world."

Still, there are enough intelligent quotes from others to counterbalance such blather so I'll give the New York Times a B for effort.

Posted by Jeff Soyer at September 19, 2005 07:19 AM

Comments

Jeff, you honestly can't believe that any reputable newspaper would write a story like this without including quotes from people who oppose the hunting program. It IS a controversial issue, with lots of people on both sides. It would be irresponsible for the Times to write about this program in such great detail, and on the front page, without acknowledging that it has opponents.

My $.02.

Posted by: cresmer at September 19, 2005 02:51 PM

I'm not sure. If it were a story about hunting per se, yes, I'd expect quotes from all sides. This struck me more as a "human interest" story about the girl, or the guy offering these hunting trips. But as a reporter, you know best...

Posted by: Jeff Soyer at September 19, 2005 03:19 PM

I just want to let everyone know, that I had the PLEASURE to meet Mr. Kevin Hoyt. And he is a very intelligent man and I give him all the credit in the world and stand beside him on what he is doing for todays youth. What people read now a days is not always the truth AND things being said are twisted when published! My husband and I have always hunted and 3 out of 4 of our children hunt as well.(the 4th will hunt when he gets alittle older he is only 1 by 6 he will be in the woods with me). Everyone is entitled to their own opinions yes, but don't bash a man for things that were written WRONG. No he is not promoting small children to pick up guns and kill for sport to have any "trophy" hanging on a wall. He promotes smart hunting, safety, and how to harvest an animal the right way. KUDOS to him!!!! We need more people like him to get involved with our children on this subject.
Does this also mean that I am "creepy" for taking my children hunting? Hunting is a part of life! It is more humane for me OR one of my children to go harvest a deer than it is for me to go and buy store bought meat! Have you ever been to a slaughter house? Did Any of you ever see how that is done and the suffering that goes on and for how long? If not I can send a BUNCH of links to show how that is done. My children eating what they harvest is a very good accomplishment to them and to my husband and myself let alone more healthy. What you all eat from the stores are pumped FULL of hormones, chemicals and other things....no thank you. I'll keep my kids hunting because someday, I won't be able to hunt anymore and I can rely on knowing that Kevin Hoyt, myself, and my husband have taught my children the right and responsible way to hunt!
All I am saying is don't always believe what is written! Get the facts first!
Melissa Stivers
Sarver, Pennsylvania

Posted by: melissa stivers at September 26, 2005 03:36 PM

Hunting is Conservation. Without hunters conservation fails. I love animals too! Education is the key componite to understanding and safety. I am proud to be a hunter and I'm glad to see I got people thinking.

Happy Hunting,
Kevin Hoyt
The Future of Hunting
www.thefutureofhunting.com

Posted by: Kevin Hoyt at October 2, 2005 12:07 AM

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September 19, 2005

Pro-Hunting From the New York Times?

By Golly, you're reading an archived post. Click Here to head to the main page and read current stuff...

Check it out:

My group sci-fi blog novel:

Colony: Alchibah