Atlatl Comments
Check out this editorial:
Former commissioner questions legalization of the atlatl
We have solid research by Responsive Management, Cornell University, Penn State University and the Pennsylvania Game Commission that shows Pennsylvania enjoys 82 to 85 percent of the public in support of hunting. No other state bordering us has that kind of support. This support ranges from the most avid sportsman to the majority of folks who say, ‘I don’t hunt. I don’t care to hunt, but I don’t care if you hunt.’ That latter degree of support is fragile but vital to being able to sustain our rights and privileges to hunt in an ever-changing value system. That is a system in which conflicts are settled in the judicial or political arenas, and numbers count. Keep in mind that we hunters are outnumbered approximately 11 to 1.
* * *
However, convincing the public that this prehistoric weapon, in the hands of most hunters, is capable of making the so-called clean, humane kill appears to be an issue that is going to contribute to the support erosion factor and possibly another nail in the coffin for hunters in general. Is this one of those cases where sportsmen could gain a little and lose a lot?
I can think of a lot of other issues that are much more important to Pennsylvania hunters and non-hunters: Sunday hunting; the liberal seasons; dwindling deer herd and habitat; and private land owner liability.
UPDATE: Check out this entertaining video.
Agreed. I would like to see action on Sunday hunting – give the Commission Wednesday off if it is a manpower problem. I would also pay more for a license to hunt on Sunday.
Sunday hunting is controlled by the legislature. PGC has no control over it. Same holds true for land owner liability.
I’m an atlatlist who has given many demonstrations around PA, NY, NJ, OH, MO and a few other states. I have talked to thousands of people who, after seeing this implement in action, have a better understanding of WHY we want to hunt with one. After all the atlatl and dart IS a hunting tool.
“convincing the public that this prehistoric weapon, in the hands of most hunters, is capable of making the so-called clean, humane kill appears to be an issue that is going to contribute to the support erosion factor and possibly another nail in the coffin for hunters in general. Is this one of those cases where sportsmen could gain a little and lose a lot?”
If for one minute I thought I was “contribute to the support erosion factor and possibly another nail in the coffin for hunters in general.” I would not support deer hunting with the atlatl and dart system. The above quote by Mr. Dunkle is one that I have heard many times since we first meet with the PGC and asked that they look at the atlatl as another opportunity for hunters. Most of these people who make comments like the one above have probably never seen the system being used. I fully believe in this implement. It is, in the hands the average hunter fully capable of humanly harvesting ANY gave animal on earth. So long as the person using the atlatl has familiarized themselves with this implement as well as their quarry, they will be successful.