Day 1: As Hunters Kill, Protesters Howl

NY Times ^ | December 9, 2003 | ROBERT HANLEY and JASON GEORGE

[Lee Heggy]

From 'October Country' on 'The Great American Sporting Rifle' which they manufacture. Just one of many similar rifles that will definitely take down a bear.

"One of the most powerful traditional rifles manufactured today. It is built along the lines suggested by Lt. James Forsythe in his book, THE SPORTING RIFLE AND ITS PROJECTILES. The rifle has demonstrated its prowess on both the North American and the African continents. It has provided one shot kills on everything from elk and bear to eland and Cape buffalo. The barrel utilizes shallow groove, slow twist (1:104) rifling which delivers a round ball at speeds up to 2,000 fps (.62 cal) and muzzle energy in excess of TWO tons (.72 cal), depending on caliber, powder charge and barrel length. The standard rifle features a walnut stock and a 28" octagonal barrel, which is tapered from 1¼" to 1". It has a steel beed front sight and a shallow "V" rear sight. Other sight options are available, as is hand cut checkering. The two piece breech plug is of classic English design and is drilled ¼ - 28. A standard #11 nipple is provided, although musket ignition is a low cost option. We use the L & R Shotgun/English rifle lock and a side or rain bar over the lock. The rifle is all iron mounted, and is finished in a hot blue, matte finish. It is 45 inches long, weighs 10 pounds and is available in .62, .66, .69 and .72 caliber.

[FreedomPoster]

In addition to the other responses, which cover the technical and legal issues well, please note that the Civil War was fought almost entirely with muzzle-loading rifles, and was the bloodiest war of our history.

.50 Caliber slugs are nasty business, and the modern muzzle-loader with saboted loads is pretty darn accurate and effective.

[green iguana]

Huck is an avid fisherman (check out his homepage.) I've never met an avid fisherman who was virulently anti-hunting. Please correct me if I'm wrong here...

[ZULU]

I said I apologized.

I never polled fisherman, but I would assume your assumption is a valid one. But then I don't know that guy personally.

[Tacis]

Don't they also have to release a bunch of polar bears for diversity's sake and to avoid claims of ursine discrmination?

[IYAS9YAS]

Don't they also have to release a bunch of polar bears for diversity's sake and to avoid claims of ursine discrmination?

Coffee everywhere! Dang you! LOL!

[looscnnn]

State probably only allows shotguns and muzzle-loaders to to the population density. When I was growing up in MI, there was a line that divided the rifle from the shotgun zones. I think it still is in affect today.

[Stopislamnow]

Both are suitable. Most muzzleloaders are .50 cal. Both require moving in closer than normal.

Wonder why they didn't allow bows.

[d-back]

I went hunting yesterday for black bear in NJ--no luck, unfortunately. (It's deer season too, but no luck with the whitetails either.)

The rule in NJ is you cannot use a rifle to hunt: the State's too small, and hunting areas frequently are close to highways and residences. For bear, you use a shotgun with slugs, no smaller than 20 gauge. I use a Mossberg 695 bolt-action slug gun, twelve gauge, with Remington slugs. It'll kill a black bear at under a hundred yards, that's for sure. Kicks like a mule, too.

[BiteMedems]

Why are they carrying signs? Everybody knows bears can't read.

[Huck]

If you've never hunted that feeling is hard to understand.

I guess so. No, I am not anti-hunting, but I have never actually gone hunting. Yes, I do spend a lot of time fishing in summer. That's a little different though because a) I practice catch and release and b) they are fish.

What I don't relate to is the passionate desire to kill a bear. I can understand that it's necessary. Lots of unpleasant things are necessary. But I can't relate to enjoying it. Doesn't make it right or wrong.

[MEGoody]

I understand that this hunt is to cull an overpopulation of bears. But I'm just curious. Is bear meat tasty? Or do the hunters even use the meat?

[holdmuhbeer]

we have laws in nc about the intentional practice of interfering with a hunt. these folks would be arrested in nc if they interfered.

[Pharmboy]

The famous British "Brown Bess" musket was .75 calibre; our side used many French muskets at .50 calibre.

[Pharmboy]

LOL!!

[Pharmboy]

I meant to say that those muskets were used during the American Revolution.

[Piquaboy]

Thanks for clearing that up for me. Now, when someone asks, I won't have to say, I don't know.

[FatherFig1o155]

Two things:

First, regarding the protester in the photo. When did New Jersey become HER state? In my state of New Jersey, and in my county of Hunterdon, we're ok with this hunt.

Second, a word of advice for the protesters in bear masks:

DUCK!

[ZULU]

Well, look.

I support the bear hunt. Its necessary. I hope they bag a lot of bears and I think the anti-hunters are a bunch of nuts. Bear hunts are necessary to keep their numbers under control and instill a fear of humans in the bear population. If a bear attacked me or my family, or anyone else, I would do my best to shoot him.

Persoanlly, hunting isn't my sport either, although I enjoy reading hunting books and banging away at targets and building muzzle-loaders. Personally, killing things bothers me, but I have no problem with responsible hunters who aren't as squemish asd I and can kill cleanly. Its a good sport and their right.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

But I'm just curious. Is bear meat tasty?

The only time I had bear meat was at a large outdoor party. It seemed a little tough, but it sure was fun sitting around with my friends saying, "I'm eatin' bear!"