Another article on the WHA. SCI is now re-evaluating their position! They may actually decide to support this thing.
Misfire?
World Hunting Association on target for premiere, but critics still keep the pro tourney in their sights
MT. MORRIS TOWNSHIP
THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Thursday, August 17, 2006
MT. MORRIS TWP. - In a few weeks, the World Hunting Association plans to unveil its official sponsors for the first-ever professional sport hunting league, set to premier in October at a Gladwin game ranch.
Eastman Outdoors won't be one of them.
"We want to make it perfectly clear to everyone that we don't have anything to do with it," said Julie Legeret, a spokesperson for the Mt. Morris Township company that makes Carbon Express arrows, Gorilla tree stands and other hunting and camping products.
There's good reason for the company's stance.
Legeret has been conducting damage control since June, when the Southfield-based WHA made waves when it announced the creation of a competitive hunting tour in which bow and rifle hunters would compete for cash prizes using tranquilizer darts to shoot deer on game ranches.
They also announced two Michigan manufacturers of hunting gear - Eastman Outdoors and G-5 Outdoors - would sponsor the tour, and hinted at other sponsors.
No one was more shocked than the folks at Eastman, who said a company representative met with WHA founder David Farbman, but never committed to a sponsorship deal.
"We never told them we were going to be sponsors. We never agreed to anything. We hadn't given them any money or anything," said Legeret. "I'm the one who handles all our donations, sponsor requests and media contacts, and I didn't even know someone here had talked to them when this hit the news."
Within hours of that first news release, an outcry erupted from hunters who felt the concept violated the ethics of fair chase and sportsmanship.
"The backlash was immediate. Every e-mail and phone call coming through our customer service department was about what a bad idea it was, how they were going to boycott our products and not shop in stores that carry our products," said Legeret. "They announced it on Wednesday, and by Friday we had a statement on our Web site that we weren't sponsors."
Legeret said she's still chasing down and snuffing out stray rumors.
"We had to do a lot of repair work to turn everyone's opinion around to make sure they know we don't have anything to do with it," she said. "I still Google articles online everyday to make sure we're not mentioned. Every now and then, our name still shows up from people who still have the original press release.
"To tell you the truth, it's left a bad taste in our mouth and really given us a bad attitude toward the whole thing."
WHA chief operating officer Robert Halsey admitted they've "made a few mistakes," but said the international tournament will open as planned at the Lost Arrow Resort in Gladwin with as much as $600,000 in prizes.
"There was a lot of misconception with some of the folks in the industry when we first announced. Since then, we've learned a lot," said Halsey. "No one has publicly reversed their stand yet, but we've had a lot of meetings and we're expecting more support now for what we can do for the sport of hunting."
The WHA plans to sign up eight professional hunters for the debut tour, including a paralyzed insurance agent who hunts from a wheelchair.
The multi-media concept includes televised events and interactive online gaming to attract youths and nonhunters.
"We're trying to showcase the skills, strategies and tactics of hunting, and show the general public that's it's not just a bunch of guys standing around over a bait pile," said Halsey. "I think the perception is changing among hunters now that the initial backlash has quieted down and they're seeing all the other things we're bringing to the table."
Whether hunters will watch remains to be seen. To date, an online anti-WHA petition has drawn about 1,300 signatures.
"I'm really disappointed because I know that with all the word of mouth, people from across the country know about the petition. But in a country that may have 20 million deer hunters, the number who have signed the petition is pretty insignificant," said Indiana hunter Greg Russell, who launched the online anti-WHA campaign.
"I believe most hunters are against the whole principle, but getting them all willing to be active is pretty tough."
Back in June, Safari Club International's Washington headquarters issued a statement criticizing the concept, but is re-examining its official stance.
"I'm not sure, but I believe they're looking into whether or not it could increase interest in hunting among youth if it's done correctly and ethically," said SCI-Flint chapter president Marc Somers.
"Personally, I haven't spoken with anyone in favor of it."
Eastman Outdoors, meanwhile, isn't budging.
"The hunting community never really got on board with the idea. People just aren't excited about this," said Legeret. "We're just going to stay as far back from it as far as possible.
"Negative attention to the sport is the last thing we need."
Topic: Worst Idea Ever...HUNTING ALERT!!! READ & EMAIL! (Read 59897 times)
