Deadline #2 HW #5 Reflect Narrow Topic

What sparked my interest in this topic is my passion for the outdoors and hunting. I have been hunting for the past 10 years and is one of the most enjoyable activities I do. When I heard about the hunting controversy, I was eager to see it because it is a heated debate for the past years. Anything that threatens my hunting opportunities is a big deal to me. I have had personal experience with this topic. I am a hunter and had dealt with such issues out in the field. For example, activists banging pots and pans to scare game away from hunters to activists stealing and destroying game cameras. I have worked with the Colorado Division of Wildlife and Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks and have encountered situations that gave reason for anti-hunters to protest. Such as when a hunter illegally shot a deer "poached" out of season. I also helped catch a man who shot the wrong species of deer and was heavly fined in Montana last year. Through exploring the topic, my interests are confirmed that both sides have good information and explainations. Activists and environmentalists believe hunters kill animals inhumanely and were able to cancel the bear season in California in 1989. Hunters believe hunting is an American tradition and an effective management tool. Hunters also have the support of numerous hunting magazines and the NRA (National Rifle Association). What suprized me the most about the topic is how many non-hunters are in the United States. It is the goal of hunters and activists to try to persuade the non-hunters group to one side. I value these issues of the topic because I feel like one of the things I love is getting slowly pulled away from me. I feel like all hunters are put on the spot, where in reality, it is only a handful that cause a bad reputation for the whole hunting community. I think its my duty and others to explain are side of the story and hopefully change some opinions, so hunting privileges can last longer. Hunting is not only my favorite pasttime, but is something I would like to make a career of, such as a wildlife biologist, game warden, or outdoor wrtiter. It is not only activists and environmentalists threatening our hunting opportunities, but the growing population and shrinking wildlife habitat. My experiences of this topic include everything from all my hunting trips, such as the dove hunting I did this past weekend to an archery hunt for pronghorn antelope in Montana back in August. I have worked with state agencies and was able to experience and listen to both sides of the story.