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What Hunters Have To Say about The World Hunting Association

February 16, 2007

Here's what just a few hunting groups had to say about the World Hunting Association.

Bass Pro Shops: "We do not support...making hunting a professional tournament. At Bass Pro Shops we believe in the traditional methods of hunting and passing on the heritage of this great sport to future generations," said Larry Whitley, manager of Corporate Public Relations, in an open letter to customers, vendors and conservation organizations.

Belvoir Bowhunters: "The real purpose of the WHA is less the promotion of hunting and more to make the owners and backers of the WHA wealthy...Ultimately, America's hunters need to live up to their standards of fair and ethical hunting, and those standards do not include transforming the hunting experience in nature into a crass, commercial competition in which the game animal is reduced to nothing more than a steer in a rodeo roping contest."

Boone and Crockett: A letter posted on BelvoirBowHunters.com in response to a question about Boone and Crockett's position stated: "The Boone and Crockett Club does not support the WHA in what they are doing as it violates our basic positions on fair chase and ethical hunting."

Cabela's: The Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks website posted a letter in response to an inquiry about Cabela's position on the WHA: "Thank you for your recent e-mail regarding the World Hunting Association. Cabela's was approached for sponsorship of the WHA and we declined to be involved. Furthermore, consistent with the conservation groups and industry associations Cabela's is affiliated with, we do not support the WHA. We are also working with our partners and suppliers to influence their stance as to this issue. We are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to do so. Cabela's always works to uphold the values of our customers, for they are our values as well."

Guns and Shooting Online states that it "supports the positions of Bass Pro Shops and BPRC Hunting Association [in opposing WHA] and urges readers to do the same."

HBRC Hunting Association Director Toby Bridges: "Hopefully, hunters will quickly realize that this is a mockery of real hunting...and that game departments will see it for what it really is, and that's the harassment of wildlife."

Mossy Oak: "The Mossy Oak family would like to respond to recent questions regarding our stand on the WHA. We would like to state, unequivocally, that Mossy Oak has never been, nor will ever be, directly or indirectly connected to the World Hunting Association."

National Shooting Sports Foundation: In an interview with the Midland (Mich.) Daily News, NSSF likened the whole thing to the ongoing debacle over remote Internet hunting: "It's all merely the latest bad idea du jour for perverting a noble heritage into a huckster's sideshow, and one more disservice to the tradition, purpose and image of hunting. Unfortunately, media attention to WHA is spreading fast."

North American Bowhunting Coalition: "The NABC has recently addressed the attempt by The World Hunting Association (WHA) to launch a competitive televised show where "professional hunters" will compete with one another for $600,000 in prize money by "hunting" deer, and other animals in a 1200-acre high fence enclosure...There are many issues surrounding this event, the most important is that this is NOT hunting. It is a game that will harm the image of hunting and the dedicated hunter."

"The NABC is strongly opposed...to the World Hunting Association's intent to conduct televised captive game animal competitive 'hunts' for monetary prizes. This entire concept is an affront to the fair chase standards accepted by today's hunters."

Outdoor Life: Jim Zumbo: "Internet hunting wasn't enough of a disgrace—now we have the World Hunting Association that will offer viewers a reality show where we can watch people who call themselves hunters...Pardon me while I go throw up. This is not hunting, ladies and gentlemen. It is a game which, if allowed to continue, and, God forbid, grow—will make a sham of all we believe as hunters....This whole enterprise should go away quickly, because I see nothing but trouble ahead. And we don't need more problems in our hunting community. The animals rights people have supplied us with plenty."

Pope & Young Club: "A recent announcement by the World Hunting Association has raised significant concerns within the Pope & Young Club."

"Hunting is not a 'catch and release' proposition," said P&Y President M. R. James. "Nor is it intended to be an entertaining public spectacle. The Pope & Young Club certainly does not want its organization identified with this type of commercial endeavor, either directly or indirectly. That includes any reference to P&Y-class animals or the use of our measuring system to determine the score of captive deer. This idea flies in the face of the ethical, Fair Chase bowhunting challenges our organization embraces."

Quality Deer Management Association: "The Quality Deer Management Association announced today its opposition to the World Hunting Association (WHA) and its proposed deer hunting tournament series. 'We have been following this issue closely since it surfaced and now have enough facts to state unequivocally that the QDMA does not support the WHA or its proposed hunting competition,' QDMA Executive Director Brian Murphy said. 'Deer hunting is not a competitive sport....Simply put, WHA's program violates many elements of QDMA's mission of ethical hunting, sound deer management and preservation of the deer-hunting heritage—values shared by the vast majority of deer hunters in North America.'"

Safari Club International: "SCI has serious concerns with attempts to "professionalize" the tradition of the hunt, particularly with cash rewards...While the group espouses the noble goals of increasing hunter recruitment and retention, SCI believes that education and outreach programs remain the best option for bring newcomers into the field. Likewise, SCI believes that conventional regulated hunting techniques, including due diligence on the part of hunters to prevent the wounding of game, are the only true definition of hunting. SCI President Mike Simpson told Crosshairs that 'Hunting isn't bass fishing. It just doesn't translate to made-for-TV entertainment.'"

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance: "A new tournament hunting organization has been announced, the World Hunting Organization...The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance has concerns about...a competition that treats wildlife solely as a commercial commodity."