Paula Del Guidice: Hunting changes aren’t all good

Wednesday, Oct. 16, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

ALL IT TAKES is one look through one of the major outdoors publications to see that things are changing for the sport of hunting. Gone are the ads for the newest rifle with the best big game caliber or the newest in outdoor wear from a reliable clothing manufacturer.

What you'll find is a proliferation of ads for all-terrain vehicles (not to mention editorial content pandering to advertising dollars) and "sport" radios. Alongside these you'll find the typical ads for chewing tobacco as well as those for enlarged prostate gland and toenail fungus treatments.

What you don't see are ads for "heat-seeking game finders," nightscopes, and laser sights. Clearly, the technology exists to turn ethical hunters into unethical hunters, unless individuals have a strong personal sense of what is right and what is wrong.

In Nevada it is illegal to hunt any game bird or animal with the aid of an artificial light. It is also illegal to hunt game animals or birds except between sunrise and sunset, or other times specified by the Board of Wildlife commissioners.

Therefore, nightscopes, "heat seeking game finders" and similar devices would clearly have no legal use here in the Silver State. However, I've talked to dealers who have a barrage of inquiries from those wanting to buy them.

Clearly the use of "sport" radios violates the hunter's code of ethics and the Boone and Crockett Club's fair chase statement, which forbids the use of electronic communications for attracting, locating or observing game, or guiding the hunter to game.

There are times when having a two-way radio would come in handy, such as in an emergency. But some otherwise legal or ethical hunters might have a hard time staying off the radio if they happen to see a monster buck headed for their unsuspecting hunting partner.

There is little doubt that the advent of all-terrain vehicles changed the nature of hunting. It pushed back the boundaries of what is accessible to man.

Areas of wilderness four-wheel drives can't access and those too far to hike into with provisions (and out with game) are now easily accessed with ATVs. Before, hunters had to use horses to get into these remote areas or hire outfitters who have horses.

During the early part of the Alaska moose and caribou seasons this year, every vehicle coming down the road from the Wrangell Mountains was hauling a moose or caribou rack and an ATV. Hunters in Alaska even have refined the art of stashing cans of gasoline in strategic spots to extend the limits of their ATVs.

I know of many hunting situations where I wish I'd had an ATV. I also know of the ecological damage they can do in fragile environments, such as much of Nevada.

Luckily, they're pretty noisy or their use might be more suspect. And just like other technologies, they could be used in unethical and illegal manners -- again, it's up to the hunter.

The proliferation of new technologies in equipment that can be used in questionable or unethical manners only gives those opposed to hunting more ammunition to use in their attacks on the sport.

It's important to keep the sport clean and healthy to pass on to future generations. We all want our children to know that hunting is a sport built on the respect of animals, hard work, love of the land, skills, common sense, honesty and integrity. We don't want to pass along the tradition of hunting by quick fixes, use of gadgets, escaping from the law, deceit and laziness.

It's up to the hunting community -- manufacturers, individual hunters and groups of ethical hunters -- to police the proliferation of these technologies and to recommit themselves to a strong code of ethics this and every hunting season. This recommitment is necessary to preserve the future of the sport.