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Diversity and Inclusivity Will Ensure Hunting’s Future
by Michael G. Sabbeth
“When I wake up here, I see acres of land. When I wake up at home, I see concrete,” Erika said emphatically. Her eyes expressed her earnestness; her furrowed brows indicated her search for her most expressive words. Erika was among several young hunters Leon McNeil arranged for me to interview by Zoom on a youth hunt in Devine, Texas. Awed by the quiet and tranquility of the ranch, Erika expressed her gratitude for her gracious hosts.
McNeil is an educator at the San Antonio Academy and founder of City Kids Adventures, which sponsors hunting opportunities for about one-hundred and fifty inner city youth each year. McNeil and Leticia, his wife, have been involved with youth hunting for twenty-four years.
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Personal Note:
I met Kai-Uwe Denker when I gave two presentations to NAPHA in Windhoek, Namibia in November, 2016.I have a signed copy of his book, Along the Hunter’s Path
True Meaning of Hunting: Presentation to EU Parliament
by Managing Editor | Apr 15, 2020 | Conservation in Action, We Hunt For Life, Wildlife ConservationDallas Safari Club Game Trails Newsletter
Presentation given in front of EU Parliament in Brussels by Past President of NAPHA (Namibia Professional Hunting Association) and renowned fellow hunter Kai-Uwe Denker. It expresses what hunting means to those to know it and and important service to the public good.
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Lessons From A Deceitful Anti-Hunting Interview
by Michael G. Sabbeth, Esq.
Late last year I followed a link on a Dallas Safari Club (DSC) Facebook page to an audio file of an interview conducted by Emma Barnett, BBC’s Emma Barnett Show, June 17, 2019, of Danene van der Westhuyzen. Danene and her husband, Gyspert, own Aru Safaris, one of the most prestigious outfitters in Namibia. (link to interview: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=403191380289594) I was compelled to listen to the recording because Danene is a friend. Full disclosure: Danene hosted me when I gave two presentations in November 2016 at the Namibia Professional Hunters Association (NAPHA) annual conference in Windhoek.
Listening many times to the interview, I knew that instructive lessons for our hunting community could be distilled. Emma Barnett’s (Barnett) interview was deceitful, dishonest and condescending. Based on my analysis of Barnett’s tactics, I crafted a presentation which Danene and I gave at the 2020 DSC Convention.
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Saving Private Hunting
The Big Picture Can Enhance the 3 Rs
by Michael Sabbeth
I begin with an anecdote. On the first day of class for most of the twenty years or so I taught my ethics program to young children, I handed out a questionnaire. The first question was: “Who are your heroes?” The second question was: “Why are those persons your heroes?” I summarize the answers. To question 1, almost all children named their parents. For question 2, the youngsters described the traits that created their heroes: they made the child stronger; they made the child a better person; they taught the child right from wrong. The children’s heroes inspired them to reach beyond themselves.
I see an analogy to ensuring hunting’s future. Demography is destiny. Hunting’s demographic future is troublesome. We all know hunters are decreasing as are Pittman-Robertson hunting dollars. If it is accurate that hunting is approaching a metaphoric iceberg, and I think it is, then it must rapidly change course and develop agile and effective strategies as the best hope to avoid disaster.
