Thanks, Jake. Here's the email I sent off to Mr. Farbam:
Mr. Farbam: I have recently become aware of your new program...WorldHunting...and having looked into it I am afraid I cannot support it. I have been a hunter for 54 years and have done rather well considering I hunt only with a bow. If anything, I always do what I understand to be within the law, in the nature and intent of the rules of fair chase and never for the purpose of making money or much more than notoriety among my friends and for the personal satisfaction of knowing I have been successful doing it, as Howard Hill said, the Hard Way. I also do it to feed my family. Your way, is the Worst Way and I cannot see how in God's world you would think that your idea of darting big game with tranquilizers amounts to anything but animal harrassment without the guarnatee that the animal will not succomb to the drugs you perport to use. As I understand it a number of hunting gear mfgrs., recognized big game record keeping organizations and two of your most prominent sponsors have decided to take a position against your program. Making hunting of any kind into a "for profit" (and I assume it will be for YOUR PROFIT) is exactly what is wrong with hunting today. Canned hunts, high fences and lack of real hunting skills is what is often portrayed on all but a few of the many shows and DVDs currently available to the consumer. In the end, I suppose that one would literally have to pay a fee to become a "member" or to become a bonafide "hunter" in your scheme which, even it were a legitimate program, would limit itself to a few elite who had the money and time to become involved and "competitive". I am sorry, sir, but your ideas do not seem to me in any way related to a better portrayal of any decent hunter I know, regardless of the weapon they choose. Your plan would actually attract and involve only those who are probably already suspect in character and motive. I hope your program dies of its own transparent attempt at profiteering. I have sent numerous emails to many in the bowhunting world as well as my own state Fish and Game departments indicating my displeasure with your poorly thought out program. I see no benefits from it for any sportsman but yourself. I wanted to "cowboy up" and tell you myself how I feel about the scheme...and it is a scheme..and a poor one at that.
In addition to the sentiments I expressed to you above I also have other reservations. Would you be using controlled drugs? Don't most state veterinary regulations limit who can use such drugs and is it legal for anyone but a licensed vet to use them? How would such drugs be controlled and by whom? I can see the headlines now about the kids who drive through town taking our pedestrians with their dad's hunting darts. I can certainly see the drugs being used in crimes of violence, like rape or larceny.
Please, Mr. Farbam....give it up and forget it!
Bill Carlsen
Epping, NH