Dear Editor,
While I respect and have no problem with those who hold differing opinions,the character assassination in Mr. Ron Huff's letter"A Point Of View"APR/MAY,regarding my article"Chuck And Kevin's Amazing Selfbow Adventure"was a shock and disappointment to say the least.If his letter had been a trollish response to one of my online hunting video's,I'd have just deleted it,a comment in reply would not have been worth the effort.
If I were to say exactly what I thought of the anti-hunting/non-archer Ron Huff and his opinions about my article,you would not be able to print my letter in your magazine,so I will keep these opinions to myself.
As I said I can appreciate a respectful debate among educated adults,it is obvious however, that Mr Huff 's blatherings are neither respectful or educated.Rather they resemble the mindless mania spouted by anti-hunters.
At the beginning of his letter it is obvious that Mr Huff thinks of himself as an intelligent and educated man,indicating that he thinks I spelled"selfbow"wrong.Well, when I was a young lad and wanted to know how to spell a word,my teacher always said "Look it up!"and while I am still capable of mis-spelling the simplest of words,I would suggest Mr. Huff,that before attempting to correct my spelling,that you Look it up also!because the joke's on you!Selfbow is one word, not two!
From Mr. Huff's letter it is apparent that he is not a hunter,"I never craved the hunt"and not much of an archer either,"I've shot a bow since I was 8 years old...on and off of course"yet his lack of knowledge or experience regarding hunting or archery doe's not stop him from voicing his opinion on either subject,in his rantings stating that"It takes no skill,no heart,and no imagination","shooting bears at bait".
In his letter, Mr. Huff trie's to impress us with his archery/hunting credentials,which amount to, he shot a bow a few times,did not like hunting,and apparently has not hunted in decades. His"credentials"were mostly braging that his father was the greatest hunter/archer that we never heard of,better than Howard Hill!!!
Some very impressive stuff indeed!But to suggest that your father was a better hunter than the legendary Howard Hill stretches credulity sir,it is not only incredulous,it boarders on raving lunacy!
Here are some of my hunting/archery credentials.
Unlike Mr. Huff, I do not shoot my bow"on and off",I shoot my bow every chance I get and have done so for decades. For more than 35 years I have hunted deer,turkey and squirrels every chance I got,hunting 50-60 days per year.I hunt on heavily hunted public land and have killed more hunter sav'vy deer,from the ground,with my bow, than Mr. Huff can count on his fingers and toe's.For this bear hunt Chuck and I built our own bows and arrows,we practiced for months,shooting 30-40 arrows every day,and all of this was done with"no heart,no skill and no imagination".Mr. Huff,you've done none of these things,so what makes you think your opinion has any value whatsoever?
Here's a little information that Mr. Huff apparently doe's not understand.Game laws are set by the States and provinces to protect huntable species from over hunting and unethical practices.Each State/Province set's up the laws and practice's that best suit thier respective areas.These laws are set by educated professionals(which Mr. Huff is assuredly Not!)who have the best interests of thier animals and states in mind.Hunting over bait is an ethical,fair chase practice that is used in many areas accross the continent.There are no guaranteed kills,this is not a canned hunt,and the uneducated,self important opinion's of someone sitting on his duff thousands of miles away have no bearing or merit.
There are many way's to hunt and many reasons to hunt and those who portray themselve's as purist's of one form or another,wasting thier live's demeaning other's of a supposed lesser ilk,are nothing more than self- flagellating egotist's.
If I had the chance to go back and do this bear hunt all over again,I would hesitate not one instant!I would recommend Big Bear Country Outfitters to anyone planning a similar hunt,It was a grand adventure!
"Selfies lost thier dignity",indeed Mr. Huff, it took little dignity to write such an ego stroking letter!
In the end Mr. Huff the most apropiate response to your self impotent/important letter is Forrest Gump quoting his mother....
"Stupid is as stupid doe's",or in your case"Stupid is as stupid say's".
Kevin J. Raybould
Buffalogobbler
