I agree. I hunt on land as well and never compete to do so. Spearfishing is to much fun to worry about comps. I'd rather just hunt for a record. But I can't say I don t do so when it me and some buddies were always trying each others fish!
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A HUNTER'S HEART
"Why do I hunt? It's a lot to think about, and I think about it a lot. I hunt to acknowledge my evolutionary roots, millennia deep, as a predatory omnivore. To participate actively in the bedrock workings of nature. For the atavistic challenge of doing it well with an absolute minimum of technological assistance. To learn the lessons, about nature and myself, that only hunting can teach. To accept personal responsibility for at least some of the deaths that nourish my life. For the glimpse it offers into a wildness we can hardly imagine. Because it provides the closest thing I've known to a spiritual experience. I hunt because it enriches my life and because I can't help myself... because I was born with a hunter's heart."
[p.161] ---------------- David Petersen (ed.) 1996. "A Hunter's Heart: Honest Essays on Blood Sport". Henry Holt & Co., New York. ISBN 0-8050-4423-X
Even if i don't consider myself a real hunter yet this is how i would sum it up. It has hardly anything to do
with competions where it's all about "indiscriminate" numbers, size and sponsorship.
I don't believe a sport should deal with other's lives at all...
Although I sympathise with your 'fence sitting' Balpherus the original idea of the poll was to get a decision one way or t'other. If it continues to be defined or classified as a sport then it will be regulated or legislated in the future as such and end up being banned as it is in the Netherlands or over regulated with a 'sport fishing license' as it is in Croatia.... or nearer to home... limited by number (2 Bass in 24hrs) as it is now in Ireland since 2011. We in the UK are in real danger of being seen as taking part in a 'blood sport activity' when it very clearly is not. The starting point for us is to move on from this outdated 'sport' definition and be a bit more honest, open and transparent in what we do... the hope being that we can change wider perceptions of spearfishing and avoid some of the impending sanctions which are definitely on their way?It's a hobby for me. Walking and running are two activities that can be classed as sports, but I don't think I'm an athlete just because walk or run to my car. :naughty I couldn't vote as the one thing it is, an "activity" wasn't included on the voting list. :waterwork Sorry
The poll is deliberately reduced to only 2 choices, there is no grey area here, a conclusive decision should be made - it's either a sport or underwater hunting?
Perhaps Spearo's on this forum are well placed/should decide for ourselves how we regard, describe or define spearfishing as an attempt to dispel any condemnations & accusations of hypocrisy.
Perhaps the real debate is 'how' we hunt?
I have contacted SMP John Wilson's office, Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society and the Duty Inspector for Fisheries.
They have all been very helpful and are due to get back in touch with researched information.
I will keep you posted, and will get in touch with SMP Angus McDonald after completing a detailed analysis of information aquired.
I will also be contacting the head of the firearms devision to confirm police recomendations for spearguns.
Excellent. I look forward in future to buying my fisheries licence, access permit, annual govt. licence and also buying another gun cabinet for my growing collection of pneumatic guns.I have contacted SMP John Wilson's office, Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society and the Duty Inspector for Fisheries.
They have all been very helpful and are due to get back in touch with researched information.
I will keep you posted, and will get in touch with SMP Angus McDonald after completing a detailed analysis of information aquired.
I will also be contacting the head of the firearms devision to confirm police recomendations for spearguns.
Excellent. I look forward in future to buying my fisheries licence, access permit, annual govt. licence and also buying another gun cabinet for my growing collection of pneumatic guns.
Is there really a need to start bringing this to the authorities/politicians attention?
I'm not sure the 10 or so at most Spearos in Scotland would particularly think this is a good move?
Surely, if the concern is legislation being enforced on our 'sport' it would be a sensible action to form a user group before bringing this to authorities attention.
I can just imagine the potential knee jerk reaction when they surmise there's hundreds of us out there with big scary guns, cammo wetsuits and torches !
As far as I'm concerned we're well under the authorities radar, have been for decades and will continue to be unless people start giving them no choice.
Get out there and enjoy it - it sure beats writing to people about it
Firstly I have no idea or influence on what Balpherus is up to but it very much looks as if he should join the caledonian spearfishers which looks excellent by the way and thanks for the link. I did notice however that a member of the BSA has helped and that is where the real focus should be... on lobbying the BSA for change so that the vast majority of spearo's in the UK have an established and recognised body that actually represents us and our interests? The current Chairman of the BSA is Steve Mullineaux and I'm sure from the response that he gave me he will be interested in everyone's thoughts so contact him here - bsachairman@underwaterfishing.co.ukIf your objective is to form a user group, as you say, is your approach correct?
Publishing a website, that in your own words, 'is a bit rubbish' and having total beginners in our sport contacting MPs etc.( whatever their intention, and no offence meant here at all) may have very undesirable results.
There's already an organisation in Scotland that has was formed to represent Spearos in 2011-perhaps they could asisst with the information youre looking for Balpherus?HOME - Caledonian Spearfishers
An efficient, organised group with a clear focus will be difficult to pull together without the right approach I'm sure. Maybe some of the Irish Spearos (Vasile?) would be a good source of help for you - they've done it themselves and from the outside it didn't look easy to me.
I had faith in you Balpherus it was wicked auld Uncle grantl who doubted your intentionsediting in progress
Thankyou for the Caledonian link, I didn't realise they were still active. Regarding the contacting of Scottish government MPs and ministers, it is to find out what is currently in the pipeline. I have found general enquires very helpful in the past, and they have been more than happy to assist with my current questions. It is a crucial part of any process to know what the starting conditions are, before knowing what needs to be done in order to maximise a benificial outcome. I am surprised that (and no offence was taken, as we all need to start somewhere) it is not a more seasoned spearfisher that has taken steps to contact government officials to find out what is going on. It is highly unlikely that they don't know what activities are taking place in their coastal waters; as such it would only be a new type of activity that would ring alarm bells. Any currently drafted or proposed bills would already contain spearfishing if it is seen as relevant.
I had faith in you Balpherus it was wicked auld Uncle grantl who doubted your intentions