Anyone interested in splitting the "Outdoor Life Group"?

[theHandpuppet]

The OLG umbrella seems to cover many divergent groups -- those who enjoy hunting, fishing, and shooting as their "outdoor life" and those who prefer non-hunting activities such as birding, hiking, wildlife photography, etc as a way to experience the outdoors. Anyone else here interested in a second "Outdoor Life" or "Outdoor Activities" group, with this one remaining as the discussion group for hunting-related activities?

[sbj405]

1. I would be interested.

As a vegetarian who enjoys hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, etc. :-)

[MrSandman]

2. Just utilize the "ignore thread function"...nt

[likesmountains 52]

3. yes, I would like that..n/t

[Kolesar]

4. This is the only contact with hunters I get

I have a few distant relatives who hunt, but I seldom see them these days. I am a bit curious about what hunters do. If any hunters/anglers can tell me the secret to presenting clean air, clean water, and energy efficiency issues to the sportsman's community, please tell let me know! I am dead serious.

I am surprised that this group is not more active considering how important the environment is as a platform of the Democratic Party. I would think nature recreation would be prime among a community of people who believe in simple lifestyles with less impact on Earth. I am too busy to start lots of threads here, myself. I usually just check on Ohio, LBN, and the E&E forum.

[Lefty48197]

15. Some of America's most dedicated conservationists are hunters and fishers

Groups like Ducks Unlimited and Trout Unlimited understand very well that preserving the habitat is the key to keeping the species available for hunting and fishing. They work to preserve and restore wetlands, praries, forests etc. Most hunters and fishers are actually very protective of the environment (in spite of some bad apples), but the NRA and the right wingers in the pro-gun movement have made it seem like hunters aren't interested in (left wing) issues like preserving the environment.

[Zookeeper]

23. I started fishing last summer and I'm shocked at the fish...

consumption advisories.

I don't understand why more anglers haven't raised holy hell about pollution issues.

[Sanctified]

26. I am pretty certain that most hunters are huge conservationists.

Plus all the money that is raised from hunting Licenses, tags and fees goes to nature conservation. I know in several states they used the money to help re-introduce animals back into their natural habitat.

[wildeyed]

5. That might be a good idea.

While I have nothing against hunting, I have little interest in the subject. I haven't been wading through the hunting/fishing posts to find others that interest me. I rarely come here anymore.

I like rock climbing best, but I am interested in hiking and kayaking, too.

Maybe Hunting and Fishing for this forum and Outdoor Activities for a new forum?

[achtung_circus]

6. Sign me up (nt)

[theHandpuppet]

7. Here's what we need...

Skinner directed me to the rules for starting up a new discussion group for "Outdoor Activites/Nature" and I hope those of you who are interested will pass the word, since we will need at least ten DUers (with stars indicating contributors) to get this off the ground.

You can review the rules for what is needed at: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=206&topic_id=10&mesg_id=10

[Deep13]

8. guns & shooting not necessarily outdoor recreation

I think I would put the guns/shooting/2nd Amend./self-defense/foil hat discussions in one group and the hiking/fishing/camping/hunting/biking/Sierra Club stuff in the other. The reason being is that the first suggested group is primarily about the technology and uses of deadly force while the second is recreation generally. I have firearms and practice at a range, but I never hunt. (Not against it, I just don't do it.) The gun practice is in case one of two things happens: one of my former "customers" finds me (I am a prosecutor); or a bunch of Bible thumping hill billy assholes decides to come to my house to lynch the god-hating, liberal traitors. In either case, I want something more than foul language for a response. This is a red county that went 60% for Dubya and it is easy to feel surrounded by the enemy. After all, the nut-cases around here all have guns.
:shrug:

[theHandpuppet]

9. Well...

My proposal was for a discussion group for outdoor activites which don't involve guns or weapons, hunting, etc but such activities as hiking, birding, wildlife photography, what have you. Certainly, hunting and fishing are very important elements of "outdoor life" to many people and this discussion group serves them well. I must confess, however, that I do not visit this forum as often as I had anticipated doing simply because I'm not comfortable with the disproportionate number of discussions here surrounding guns, ammo, hunting, etc. on what I had mistakenly thought was going to be a more nature-oriented group. That misperception was MY fault. Make no mistake -- I have owned a rifle and used it, having lived in rural areas where there was a real danger posed by some wild animals. It was not something I enjoyed nor viewed as an outdoor activity as much as a necessity.

Having said that, the rules for this particular discussion group should be respected and this is why I proposed an alternative group where folks like myself might feel more comfortable. I truly don't see firing off weapons at a range as an outdoor activity in the sense that it doesn't require some more intense interaction with nature or the natural world. I view it as an outdoor sport, much as I would someone who enjoys archery at a target range. I would be loathe to incorporate sport shooting on a new discussion group because I fear the discourse would be overtaken by topics on guns, ammo, etc. This group already serves that audience.

[Deep13]

10. Yeah, I guess you're right.

[Freebird12004]

11. I am interested in an "Outdoor Activities & Nature" group

With a separate group for "Hunting, Fishing and Shooting"

[idiosyncratic]

12. I second the idea. In that smaller group maybe I can convert

some people to my new passion -- Geocaching.

[randr]

13. Another second to that idea

I check in from time to time and can never get past all the gun talk.
I am not anti gun, I own and shoot several myself.
I just do not hunt.
There are, IMHO, far more people using the great outdoors for recreational uses that do not involve hunting.
I spend a great deal of time hiking, camping, river rafting, and always encounter many numbers of like minded folk along the way.
I would be much more inclined to participate in a forum designed around the spiritual nature of our planet and benefits of connecting to nature than discussions of exploiting the resources we have been given.

[theHandpuppet]

14. From my count of the definite "yeas" ...

We still need a couple of folks to check in to meet the numbers requirement. If you know of any other DUers who might be interested, please have them check in! :)

[Catchawave]

16. I would definitely be interested in a

non-violent natural outdoorsy group :) Please don't take this offensively, I'm just not comfortable with gun topics.

[Lefty48197]

17. Yes

.

[OnionPatch]

18. Me too.

Nothing against hunting and fishing, but my favorite outdoor activities are nature-watching, hiking, backpacking, canoeing and exploring. I was a little disappointed when I clicked this forum and found it to be more like "Outdoor Life" magazine, than "Outside" magazine. Like I said, nothing against that, it's just not what I was hoping for.

[illflem]

19. Why?

It not like there are hundreds or sometimes even ten new posts in this group per day. Not too hard to wade though threads that don't interest you.

[Exultant Democracy]

20. I would love to see that.

This group is basically unusable for me because it is more of less all guns all the time. Personally even as a vegetarian I don't have anything against hunting as long as the hunter is going to eat what they kill. None the less as an avid hiker I find the outdoor life group an almost total waste of time which is tragic because DUers usually know a lot of cool stuff.

[krispos42]

21. How about a 'Shooting' forum?

This could encompass discussions on guns, gun accessories, and shooting activities. We could discuss hunting bullets, skeet shooting, and self-defense hardware here, and leave Outdoor Life to the broader topic.

[benEzra]

22. That'd be nice...

I think it would be wierd to have a forum called "Outdoor Life" about the shooting sports/guns/etc., and a separate forum about outdoor activities under some other name.

Make one forum "Shooting" and the other "Outdoor Recreation" or somesuch?

[Zookeeper]

24. That's a really good idea...

I know hunters who are only interested in guns as tools for hunting. Then there are those who are interested in guns for shooting or collecting.

Shooting and collecting doesn't have to involve the outdoors at all.

[BrightKnight]

25. yes, hiking, backpacking, climbing, Kayaking, cycling

would be a better fit in their own group. A separate Outdoor activities group would probably attract more people.

Hunting and fishing should have their own group. I like guns and I have done my share of hunting and fishing. These are simply two different kinds of things. The people involved may or may not crossover.

[MethuenProgressive]

27. I admit I hardly ever check this forum anymore

because I'm not interested in the newest Glock, etc.
I hike, backpacking, enjoy wildlife watching, tracking, and photography,
hiking and camping with my kids, and I write for an AT guidebook.
I shoot one or two birds a year, hunting/guns are only a tangental
part of my "Outdoor Life."
I'd appriciate, and participate in, seperating the forum.