Rattlesnake Roundup

[phaedraeos]

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"We saw this as a rite of passage to be able to bring your boys out here and let them see how you have good clean fun and learn something and appreciate nature," says Jeff Hulstein. "It's one of the ways we are going to raise these boys into men."

I personally don't see driving snakes out of burrows via gasoline fumes, dumping them into overcrowded pits, and then decapitating and skinning them as "appreciating nature," but that's just me.

It's one thing to necessarily cull an overpopulation of wild animals. I get it. But it's another thing entirely to enjoy killing. 🙁

 

[Dsmoody23]

"We saw this as a rite of passage to be able to bring your boys out here and let them see how you have good clean fun and learn something and appreciate nature," says Jeff Hulstein. "It's one of the ways we are going to raise these boys into men."

I personally don't see driving snakes out of burrows via gasoline fumes, dumping them into overcrowded pits, and then decapitating and skinning them as "appreciating nature," but that's just me.

It's one thing to necessarily cull an overpopulation of wild animals. I get it. But it's another thing entirely to enjoy killing. 🙁

In before 4 pages of 'you don't know anything.'

"After skinning their snake, guests leave hand prints in snake blood."

Hunting/gun culture in the south is Bananas.

 

[peppy]

Not sure why people would enjoy doing that. I find the bloody handprint thing pretty disturbing. I'd rather see people learning to live with their environment rather than trying to exterminate all wildlife that might be possibly hazardous or inconvenient to humans.

 

[No Imagination]

These 'traditions' really do make me sick. I mean, seal clubbing... I get it! I don't agree with it, but at least the people who do it are under no delusions that it is somehow positive or a learning experience! They do it for the $$.

Its not what these people are doing that is so disturbing to me... It is the arrogance/ignorance that what they are doing is appreciating nature and conservation, and becoming men..? Its this mentality thats so disturbing, and their stupidity to think this is a tradition that they should nurture and pass on to their children.

To be clear, if these people were going out, on their own, catching, killing, and eating these snakes... I'd be cool with it.

On a side note: Do they sell the meat? If so, I thought selling wild 'bush' meat was illegal in most states/US.

 

[heylodeb]

Not sure why people would enjoy doing that. I find the bloody handprint thing pretty disturbing. I'd rather see people learning to live with their environment rather than trying to exterminate all wildlife that might be possibly hazardous or inconvenient to humans.

that ^^ and the quote about the beauty queen taking SEVERAL swipes with a machete before she killed one. *shudder* I don't have a problem with "culling the herd" but the deaths should be as humane as possible!

 

[Zany Tiger]

Being an Arizona resident rattle snakes are apart of our culture as much as coyotes, taranculas, and javelinas. Most rattle snakes are protect by law here in arizona and among other things help curb the desert rodent population. I've seen many rattlers hicking, driving, and even in my front yard and I leave them alone like everyone else here, we give them their due respect. Programs like that pageant are so disturbing to me 😕. Alas I am at a loss for more functional words. 🙁

 

[168135]

There are no words for this horror.

 

[Coquette22]

It is the arrogance/ignorance that what they are doing is appreciating nature and conservation, and becoming men..?

Yeah, I call BS on the "it makes them men!" stuff. I guess I should go inform my male friends that they aren't men because they've never killed a rattlesnake. You know what makes boys into men? Puberty. And it tends to happen whether you kill a snake or not.

 

[libster06]

I have to say, I'm from south Texas, and while I hear of hunting all the time (I'm really not into it myself, and I honestly don't see the appeal of the "sport" whatsoever) I have truthfully never heard of this kind of activity.

I'd rather see people learning to live with their environment rather than trying to exterminate all wildlife that might be possibly hazardous or inconvenient to humans.

The issue isn't really about population control. Sure, it would be nice to be able to "learn to live with" an uncontrolled poisonous rattlesnake population, but in parts of Texas, it really is an issue that needs to be dealt with. They come into houses and backyards and areas where children are and they do cause harm because there are so many and they sneak up on you. I don't feel that it's wrong to take measures to control them. But I DO have a problem with holding a sadistic festival in which people take pleasure and enjoyment from it. I also feel like the writer kind of added to the sadistic nature through the article.

 

[168135]

It's funny, torturing a pet is a good indicator that your kid is going to grow up to be a criminal... but torturing snakes in a public forum is okay 🙄

That's as far as I'm going to go on the topic. I'm anti-hunting... doesn't matter if it's ducks, deer or rattlesnakes.

I have a third cousin who grew up in a gun-loving family... guns, antlers and taxidermist animals all over the place. Last time I visited, they were watching hunting shows on their big screen tv. He's a trouble maker... drinks, swears, cuts class, posts pictures of his kills on facebook... he's probably going to end up fishing lobster like his dad. Went to highschool with another kid... started a pro-life group at his university. Cares a lot about people, but thinks that animals have no feelings and that there isn't a difference between his dog, a cow, and the deer he shoots.

I can't stand to be around people who turn out to be like that... it's sickening how much respect and empathy they lack for animals.

 

[pennyonthefloor]

It's funny, torturing a pet is a good indicator that your kid is going to grow up to be a criminal... but torturing snakes in a public forum is okay 🙄

That's as far as I'm going to go on the topic. I'm anti-hunting... doesn't matter if it's ducks, deer or rattlesnakes.

I have a third cousin who grew up in a gun-loving family... guns, antlers and taxidermist animals all over the place. Last time I visited, they were watching hunting shows on their big screen tv. He's a trouble maker... drinks, swears, cuts class, posts pictures of his kills on facebook... he's probably going to end up fishing lobster like his dad. Went to highschool with another kid... started a pro-life group at his university. Cares a lot about people, but thinks that animals have no feelings and that there isn't a difference between his dog, a cow, and the deer he shoots.

I can't stand to be around people who turn out to be like that... it's sickening how much respect and empathy they lack for animals.

I haven't had a chance to check out the rattlesnake stuff yet... but this struck a nerve.

The generalizations of that sort are somewhat offensive. I have 'gun-loving' relatives that have a deep respect for animals yet hunt. They do it for the meat-- in some areas it's a way of life. Not all hunters are criminals or losers-- I know a few individuals that have PhD's that go hunting.

Torturing animals is different from hunting for food. I respect animals but I also respect hunting. I understand the culling but making a 'sport' out of it... quite twisted.

 

[168135]

I haven't had a chance to check out the rattlesnake stuff yet... but this struck a nerve.

The generalizations of that sort are somewhat offensive. I have 'gun-loving' relatives that have a deep respect for animals yet hunt. They do it for the meat-- in some areas it's a way of life. Not all hunters are criminals or losers-- I know a few individuals that have PhD's that go hunting.

Torturing animals is different from hunting for food. I respect animals but I also respect hunting. I understand the culling but making a 'sport' out of it... quite twisted.

It should be noted that I wasn't trying to generalize and stereotype. My dad came from the same sort of family and grew up into a totally different person. One of his best friends is the same way, except a little more open-minded than my dad. My personal experience with people my age and younger who participate in these types of activites have always been pretty negative. Also, if they happen to find out I'm vegetarian, they give me more of a hard time about it. They deliberately come up with these sick and twisted views just to see if they can get a rise out of me, even when I haven't done anything to provoke those comments.

Should note that my parents come from a small fishing community and hunting/fishing is a bit part of our culture here. Sooooo happy that we don't have anything like the "Rattlesnake Roundup". We have catch and release fishing derbies outside of my hometown, which I don't have a problem with. Around here, father and sons usually bond by going out fishing and enjoying nature. They either catch and release or use it as a food source. But "let's go shoot you a nice buck so you have a set of antlers to hang on the wall and we'll call it male bonding!" "Or let's skin a rattlesnake and call it male bonding!"

 

[Parasitologist]

I can make generalizations too. For example, I have found my experiences with vegetarians/vegans to be overall negative. Such whiners, and complainers, weak and pathetic. Im so happy i will never run into any of you while I am hunting rattlesnakes becuase your to busy complaining on the internet

 

[168135]

And all vet students are smug, pompous, difficult to get along with, think they're the smartest people in the world and like to stick their nose in other people's business 🙄

 

[heylodeb]

OK - ALL of you - GO TO YOUR ROOM. No dinner. and you're grounded until ya'll start playing nice.

NOW.

 

[168135]

I'm new at this whole troll thing, but isn't Parasitologist one?

 

[No Imagination]

I'm new at this whole troll thing, but isn't Parasitologist one?

Not really, at least not in this case. (S)He is simply making the same broad stroke statement about vegetarians/vegans that you made about hunters and hunting.

I have a third cousin who grew up in a gun-loving family... guns, antlers and taxidermist animals all over the place. Last time I visited, they were watching hunting shows on their big screen tv. He's a trouble maker... drinks, swears, cuts class, posts pictures of his kills on facebook... he's probably going to end up fishing lobster like his dad.

drinks, swears, cuts class, posts pictures of his kills on facebook... TBH, this guy sounds like someone who doesn't take life too seriously and knows how to have a good time... probably a lot of fun at a party and someone I wouldn't mind hanging out with!

 

[LetItSnow]

Cares a lot about people, but thinks that animals have no feelings and that there isn't a difference between his dog, a cow, and the deer he shoots.

I can't stand to be around people who turn out to be like that...

I hope this question doesn't set off a bomb, because really, I'm just curious.... but what's wrong with not seeing much difference between a dog, a cow, and a deer?

I'm kinda hard-pressed to see much difference that matters. One is a pet (probably), the other two are food (probably). But other than that...? What am I missing?

 

[Dsmoody23]

I can make generalizations too. For example, I have found my experiences with vegetarians/vegans to be overall negative. Such whiners, and complainers, weak and pathetic. Im so happy i will never run into any of you while I am hunting rattlesnakes becuase your to busy complaining on the internet

 

[No Imagination]

I hope this question doesn't set off a bomb, because really, I'm just curious.... but what's wrong with not seeing much difference between a dog, a cow, and a deer?

Its not a bomb, and its a good question, but complicated.

A cow, at least in the US is a food animal. Therefore sets it apart from other animals in respect to veterinary care. Even if it is not/never going to be used as a food animal, it needs to be treated differently then other animals (you can lump swine, goats, sheep, ect. into this).

A dog, can be considered a pet, or a food source, or a danger; all depends on where you live and how hungry you are 🙂

A deer, depending on the species and state, can be considered a wild animal (fit for personal consumption), or a possible a herd animal used for food... but those laws are still kind of fuzzy to me.

Now, what scarcelyheard meant by that statement, I have no idea. I too don't see a difference with respect to morals or ethics between eating a cow vs. deer vs. dog.

 

[168135]

A lot of people would get upset if someone shot and ate their dog. A lot of people would be upset if their dog were to get ill or injured. He basically thinks that everything that isn't human can't feel emotion, can't feel pain, and was put on this earth for us to exploit. You'd expect him to at least be emotional about his pet. But nah... it's just an animal. It's not important.

At least that's what he wants me to think about him.

I went to his church camp one summer and a lot of the teens there had the same attitude so I should have saw that coming.

 

[Parasitologist]

No Imagination, Lets do it
You will find me at one of the vet school in the western united states lol

 

[l2vet]

A lot of people would get upset if someone shot and ate their dog. A lot of people would be upset if their dog were to get ill or injured. He basically thinks that everything that isn't human can't feel emotion, can't feel pain, and was put on this earth for us to exploit. You'd expect him to at least be emotional about his pet. But nah... it's just an animal. It's not important.

At least that's what he wants me to think about him.

I went to his church camp one summer and a lot of the teens there had the same attitude so I should have saw that coming.

The anger/sadness is not because it's a dog but because it's a pet. People would feel just as sad, I wager, if they were becoming attached to their beef steers in the same way.

 

[phaedraeos]

Call it the hippy in me, but I believe that no matter what the species and the use we as humans have for a particular animal, whether it be dog, deer, or steer, that animal is deserving of our compassion and our respect. I've been a vegetarian for over 16 years and I fully support hunting, much more so than the CAFOs most of our livestock live their short, unhappy lives in. I have no issue with eating meat, a fact that my carnivorous husband fully appreciates. I do however, believe that all meat eaters should go out and kill their own dinner at least once in their lives to gain a full appreciation for what they're eating. And yes, I've killed chickens myself - just not eaten them afterwards.

The significance of this article for me was the *lack* of respect that the participants in this roundup had for the animals they were killing. Speaking strictly from a biological and veterinary perspective, I am amazed and touched by the tenacity and adaptability of life, from rattlesnakes to rats to humans. I love the "snakiness" of snakes, the "dogginess" of dogs - that's what made me pursue veterinary medicine in the first place. So, to hear about people gleefully ending the lives of thousands of animals at one go - animals that were doing what they've naturally evolved to do over tens of thousands of years, and until that day were perfectly happy just being snakes - it makes my stomach churn.

If you have to take a life, you should always have a justifiable reason for it, and I mean a good one. This 'festival' started with good intentions, I think, but devolved into an event where participants were able to kill for the sake of killing, and they now do so with impunity. That's the significance behind my posting it.

 

[heylodeb]

Call it the hippy in me, but I believe that no matter what the species and the use we as humans have for a particular animal, whether it be dog, deer, or steer, that animal is deserving of our compassion and our respect. I've been a vegetarian for over 16 years and I fully support hunting, much more so than the CAFOs most of our livestock live their short, unhappy lives in. I have no issue with eating meat, a fact that my carnivorous husband fully appreciates. I do however, believe that all meat eaters should go out and kill their own dinner at least once in their lives to gain a full appreciation for what they're eating. And yes, I've killed chickens myself - just not eaten them afterwards.

The significance of this article for me was the *lack* of respect that the participants in this roundup had for the animals they were killing. Speaking strictly from a biological and veterinary perspective, I am amazed and touched by the tenacity and adaptability of life, from rattlesnakes to rats to humans. I love the "snakiness" of snakes, the "dogginess" of dogs - that's what made me pursue veterinary medicine in the first place. So, to hear about people gleefully ending the lives of thousands of animals at one go - animals that were doing what they've naturally evolved to do over tens of thousands of years, and until that day were perfectly happy just being snakes - it makes my stomach churn.

If you have to take a life, you should always have a justifiable reason for it, and I mean a good one. This 'festival' started with good intentions, I think, but devolved into an event where participants were able to kill for the sake of killing, and they now do so with impunity. That's the significance behind my posting it.

I think that this was very well said. 👍

 

[LetItSnow]

Call it the hippy in me, but I believe that no matter what the species and the use we as humans have for a particular animal, whether it be dog, deer, or steer, that animal is deserving of our compassion and our respect.

I agree with that. And, like you, I also think we can use animals as a food source and still treat them compassionately.

I questioned SH's (apparent?) criticism of her classmate, because she seemed to be criticizing him for not "see[ing] a difference" between a dog, cow, and deer. My first thought was .... well, I don't see much of a difference, either. So I was just trying to tease out what, exactly, she was criticizing, since I didn't get it.

This 'festival' started with good intentions, I think, but devolved into an event where participants were able to kill for the sake of killing, and they now do so with impunity. That's the significance behind my posting it.

Well said.

 

[168135]

I was thinking this when I read phaedraeos' statement: if this were facebook, I would have clicked "like".

 

[Bacci]

Sorry, I just feel like I have to...

Simpsons did it!


Now you can all go back to arguing. 😀

 

[libster06]

Now you can all go back to arguing. 😀

Pretty sure we're all kind of on the same page..