Sacred Cow Tipping

R emember cow tipping?

It was the craze of finding cows sleeping on their feet, rushing in and pushing them over. Some say it is an urban legend, but there are enough Youtubers doing this to justify it as a reality. Not a nice thing to do to the cow, but real nonetheless.

It’s time we tip over some sacred cows of the outdoor world. There are some issues no one wants to touch because of business reasons, political correctness and downright cowardice in some cases.

Although I have no desire to tip an actual cow, throwing some of these sacred ones off balance should be fun.

Pollution Politics

It is time the fisheries conservation community starts talking about water pollution.

Mention bumping up the minimum size on bass or speckled trout, and you will get tons of emails, tweets and public comment. Meetings around the state would turn into a scene that would have made Joe Blanchard and Southwest Championship Wrestling proud back in the day. 

I have never actually seen an actual physical fight at one of these events, but I have seen men cut promos that remind me of a blood-covered Bruiser Brody cutting a promo on Cowboy Scott Casey after a cage match.

Mention water pollution and get crickets—Zilch.

It is time we start putting more effort into removing cancer and birth-defect causing agents out of the water than we do worrying about whether the state is going to bump down the bag limit.

I salute the Coastal Conservation Association for their recent efforts to raise awareness of the dioxins in the Galveston Bay complex. The problem is we are so worried about looking “green” and liberal, if we support anything to do with pollution reduction we keep our mouths shut.

That is nonsense. 

Water pollution is an issue for anyone who does not want to end up at MD Anderson cancer hospital. It’s an issue for anyone who wants fish and wildlife to have safe water to survive and thrive and be safe to eat.

Land Hogs

Another, (albeit less serious) sacred cow that needs tipping is the fictional notice of feral hog population control. Yes feral hogs cause problems. There is no question they destroy millions of dollars of property annually. But when you see landowners charging $1,000 to hunt hogs, that has nothing to do with controlling numbers. It is all about making money.

I am all for that. If a hunter wants to pay $5,000 for a hog hunt good. I hope landowners make tons of money, but let’s be real. If the same people who complain about hog numbers really wanted to help control them it would be a lot cheaper to hunt them on their property. 

More hunters equals more dead hogs.

If state wildlife management areas, national forests and other public venues were more serious about hog control they would allow unlimited hog trapping, dog hunting and other methods during the off season—but don’t hold your breath on that one either.

Social Media Celebs

The fishing world has been injected with a heavy dose of unfounded egotism with the advent of social media. It actually goes back to the beginning of forums an early form of social media, but is running rampant with Youtube, Vine, Facebook, etc.

Just because you run a Facebook group on trout fishing does not mean you are a rock star. I have seen more snooty attitudes and just downright clown-like behavior by folks who operate social media groups or have a few Youtube followers than just about anything in years.

These are the media of today, at least a big part of it. We embrace them here at Texas Fish & Game, but please do not act as if you are the only one who knows anything because you clicked the “create group” icon on Facebook and started posting photos.

Most groups and Youtube channels are fun, fact-filled and done by good, passionate people. However, I am sure everyone here has encountered the wannabe, pathetic expert by virtue of a free platform where they didn’t have to accomplish anything to start.

I love the great outdoors, but I write about it because it is a business. Oh I am passionate about this profession, but it is how I feed my family and how I have done it since I was 19.

People who do things strictly for ego and to build a following for no other reason to have a following, need help. 

Keep you intentions pure and you will go far. 

If you want to help people learn more about something, you’re good at (like catching bull reds in the surf) by all means engage social media and share. I salute all humble members of this new media who simply want to share their passion and skills

That world could use a serious jolt of humility on top of expertise.

Now excuse me while I find some more sacred cows to tip.

That was fun!

Email Chester Moore at

cmoore@fishgame.com

 

 

Email Chester Moore at cmoore@fishgame.com

 

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