Evolution of My Ethic

Before taking any wildlife classes here at Clemson University I never really took my ethic into consideration. To completely honest I don’t think I even had an ethic that I can think of. From the time I was old enough to shoot a gun I would take backyard “hunting” trips and shoot at anything that moved with no regard to seasons or regulations. I knew the wildlife was important and I grew to appreciate my surrounds a little more every year older. Before I knew it was a serious problem I would probably have fallen into my hunting partners’ point of view, that ever famous whack’em and stack’em. I would have been all for pouring pounds of corn by the hundreds to take down a deer with little effort or fair chase in the laziest fashion, or pile corn for turkeys in April to assure a tom for that season. I hated fishing regulations (number and size limits). I saw nothing wrong with baiting a dove field or blasting them out of the skies by with 20+ per day and hiding a bag of my kill in the woods so not to get caught by DNR. I took no account of my actions. Looking back at my “ethic” I have to say that I was in a pretty crummy condition before here at Clemson. The new me and my new ethic is now ashamed of what I used to be. I whole heartedly believe in fair chase and equal opportunity for the hunt. I respect the wildlife and the land unlike ever before. I am willing to voice my ethic and put to shame anyone who thinks they can contest against any regulation or are above any law with the knowledge I have gained from the lectures of some of the best professors in this field.