Baboons.....
Massachusetts
Contributors to this thread:
I'm sure most of you guys have heard about the guy from Idaho fish and game hunting baboons in Namibia. Obviously, he showed a lack of discretion and stupidity posting those pictures based on his professional position. When I start looking into conservation in this area of Africa it seems to be true that baboons are clearly having a negative affect.
What do you guys think? Even knowing the HUGE amount of conservation money hunting brings to Africa I've always struggled with it to some extent. This guy seems to have acted legally and responsibly from a conservation standpoint, although certainly not from a professional standpoint.
What it comes down to is think before you post. Definitely used poor judgement on his picture and wording. I personally couldn't do it hell I have a hard enough time shooting a doe because I'm always wondering if a skipper is close by. If it's legal it's legal for a reason just not my cup of tea
I'm a hunter. I love hunting. I enjoy seeing others photo's, be they a doe, a turkey, a skip, a giant buck or a spike. It's all good - because I know how hard it is to get within bow range of an animal and get a good shot off.
I may come off poorly with this statement. But he definitely was not thinking, and should not have posted those pics. Heck, that dentist a few years ago was destroyed over shooting a 100% legal lion in a 100% legal setting. This guy shot multiple primates (IE, like it or not, they are not that far from our tree trunk) and posed for a grip and grin like he had a stringer of crappies ready for batter and oil.
I'm certain it was 1.) legal; 2.) normal practice in Africa; 3.) encouraged by his guides and probably 4.) one of his "life list" animals.
But given his position and simply having some level of social awareness, it would make sense to hold off on pic's like those.
Should he have lost his job for doing something legal which may just irritate a lot of folks? I dont think so. He may be an awesome biologist and do great work. I'd have suggested he should have been punished some how - you just cant be a professional at the top of a field and put things on social media without pondering the outcome and whether it's worth it. Given his position is government based, and not solely about "game" based animals, he should have thought more about what he was doing and had a sense of what the fall out would be. Or asked a few folks who could speak frankly and not just say: "YES" to everything.
1 Americans on the internet don’t understand much. The guy should’ve known that before sharing photos of hunted primates to 100 people. 2 it goes against the Idaho guidelines of preferred behavior. 3 he didn’t do anything wrong or illegal I don’t like the mob mentality where people lost their jobs from an outcry on Twitter. We all have a right to make mistakes and provide for our families.
No way is should lose his job.
The issue is not his job. The issue is all the beading heart liberals and social media twits that think their opinion is more important than the law. If it was legal, then everyone should shut the hell up and leave him alone. Honestly, this and LinkedIn are my only media. No other junk. Too many asses out there. The dentist was legal, this guy was legal. It seems that everyone is now guilty just because news of anything gets out. What happened to the notion of innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt? The most basic and important principle of our great nation. SAD. Seems like you can't scratch your ass without posing someone off. I have had it. I'm waiting for all the hunters and gun owners to revolt against the liberals and say once and for all, "if you don't like it tough shit, we have the guns so we make the laws."
Thank you for letting me vent. Now let's see the reprocussions of my rant.
I felt bad for shooting a small bear I could never shoot babies clinging to a mom. I won’t even shoot a baby coyote. Honestly I think this guy has some screws loose. To be able to pose in a pic like that with no conscience I don’t know.
I think he emailed it 100 people, not posted it on twitter or Facebook. There is a distinction there he didn’t actually make it public, someone else did. I can’t picture myself shooting baby baboons but I wasn’t there, I don’t know what the locals told him. I don’t like how people do these twitter campaigns “recreational outrage” they will be on to someone else in a week, no one will remember that guy in a few months but his career is ruined. That’s not right he just emailed photos of a legal hunt. He was dumb to do it but he’s not a criminal
It's an interesting distinction. But I use the same test. If you put it in an email, you know it's ONE click away from someone's social media and thus the world. Bummer the world is so willing to light flame to things, but it's the way it is today, frustratingly.
Yup guilty even if proven innocent.
Thanks for the input dudes. I'm not sure what he paid for the hunt, but seems he would have been better off keeping it private and letting all that money go where it should. I'm sure he agrees...... I also agree he should not have lost his job based upon the facts, unfortunately those in charge had to look beyond facts.
I don’t think it is a legal issue just a moral issue. Only people that would kill a mother with young are in it for the thrill kill that’s all.
Brad, I totally agree man. Considering the way he broadcast it to the world I don't think he was doing for the right reasons, even though the "right" reasons might exist.
Many outfitters in Africa actually will pay you to shoot baboons. They are the equivalent of wild pigs in Texas. All it takes is one liberal to Not like a picture of a dead animal to go viral
While I appreciate the perspective, guys. I have spoken with two die hard trump supporters, so obviously not liberal, who felt the same about those being accused of being liberal. Misinformation runs rampant on both sides of the political aisle.
He never should have lost his job, certainly not smart or in good taste but to lose ones job over a legal act is just wrong.
I somewhat agree Xman but I think his job was different as he was volunteer and elected? I may be wrong though.