Good. Lord. This place is insane. IN. SANE.
If it wasn't the overwhelming number of fishing poles, it'd be the softly lit Gun Gallery. If it wasn't the over-sized fish pillows, it'd be the over-sized catfish in the aquarium. If it wasn't the five sizes of camping stoves, it'd be the five days of daily specials in the restaurant.
But what really got me was the ridiculous amount of taxidermy. This on the heels of my zoo adventure! I don't need this shit.
While on the one hand I can look at the displays like I'm in a natural history museum, on the other I see my dog's eyes in the eyes of every deer, zebra or wolf on display.
Although I don't like it because it makes me sad, I can wrap my brain around hunting for food. I can not wrap my brain around hunting for sport. How tough are you to hide and shoot at something?! You don't impress me.
Then I read the little placards in front of the displays about "the original conservationists". Whut? I found a related blurb:
“Begun well over a century ago, the success of modern conservation can only be fully understood against the backdrop of historical slaughter for markets that took 40 million buffalo to the brink of extinction and 5 billion passenger pigeons beyond it. It was hunters who led a revolution of new values, new science and new approaches for responsible use of these resources. Seasons, game limits and wildlife conservation funds all came from hunters, and we are immensely proud of that effort. Because of us, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, elk, wild turkeys, wood ducks and hundreds of other cherished life forms transitioned from vanishing to flourishing….
….Our very identity clings steadfastly to stewardship of land, clean water and air, intimate knowledge of natural communities, and careful interaction with the good earth — because that’s how we’ve ensured abundant wildlife and good hunting for more than 100 years.
For us, the amusing irony is that American society, which has looked down its nose at hunters more sternly with each passing generation, is discovering that camouflage has been a primary shade of green all along.”
Huh? Never thought of it that way. Harder for me to stretch that to an elephant, but I get it.
So I can't say I'm going to rush out and take up trophy hunting, but I can say I'll try to stop giving hunters in big trucks the stink-eye.
P.S. - I have to tell you, without a hint of irony, that I totally rocked it in the Shooting Gallery!
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