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So what might one see, wandering around the floor of their Deflections themed

convention?

Hunting requires firsthand participation in nature, being A PART of it, with travel

often necessary. But the deflectors can operate APART from nature, and “travel”

globally online, so no need for them to attend conventions to plan on visiting

wildlands, or to interact firsthand with any people. Appropriate since many of

openly show their hatred for fellow humans. There would be no need, either, for

any outfitters or land companies to secure booth space. Deflectors are more

interested in persecuting hunters than conserving habitat, so why bother with

securing any land or supporting outfitters who own and/or manage land in any

capacity?

Similarly, since most deflectors gain their inaccurate “knowledge” of nature from

manipulative click bait internet links, celebrity rants, and biased documentaries,

there would be no need for any guides or experienced professionals to exhibit at

their conventions. Nor would there be any need for outdoor clothing

manufacturers to offer products designed to withstand the worst that the

elements can dish out. Simple loungewear suffices for endless hours of keyboard

warrior duties. No hands-on exhibits for kids to learn about nature would be

there, because of course it would likely violate an animals “rights” to have people

gain more appreciation for them by touching their antlers, horns, skins, etc., even

when they are no longer alive. No firearms, bows, crossbows and knives would

be on display, because scathing, hateful remarks are the deflectors’ weapons of

choice (ironically, causing self-inflicted wounds more often than not). State and

federal fish and wildlife agency representatives needn’t exhibit there either

because most deflectors never contribute even to their nongame programs, don’t

even care how such organizations operate, and only offer ignorant criticism. And

besides, creating and filing incorrect, fearmongering, apocalyptic petitions can

readily be accomplished without speaking to those directly involved in wildlife

regulations. Some artists might be present, but the best wildlife artists know their

subjects rather intimately, from spending time afield with them. Many top

wildlife artists not only recognize the importance of conservation through hunting

but also are hunters themselves and/or contribute a portion of their profits to

pro-hunting and legitimate conservation organizations and efforts, so they would

not be welcome at the deflectors’ convention.

Seminars offered might cover such topics as how to troll accounts on social

media, how to incessantly copy and paste propaganda, misidentification of truly

endangered species, how to crusade via inaccurate petitions, how to twist and

warp facts to suit your own agenda, how to project your own shortcomings onto

others, how to insist that killing people is preferable to killing any animals, and

how your own opinion and lifestyle is the only one that matters globally and of

course has zero impact on nature.

The awards banquets might feature trophies – whoops! Probably can’t use that

word! – for most death wishes issued to hunters in a year, most cuss words or

unsavory names used on one social media comment thread, number of genuine

conservation efforts thwarted, highest amount of dollars any “iconic” cash cow

they latch onto has raised in donations for the year, most biologically inaccurate

statements made on social media, and number of self-serving lawsuits filed

profitably. One category that would never receive any worthy nominations is

most actions that contribute positively to conservation. For the umpteenth year

in a row, there would be no qualified applicants.

Hatred, deflection, ignorance, lack of meaningful contributions, and no direct

commitments to wildlife and wildlands, upon reflection, don’t seem to have much

to build an argument on let alone a convention around, now do they? Nor does

this approach have any heritage to be proud of. Unless one thinks persecution,

dismissal and denial has any possible way of ensuring that nature has a

sustainable future in an increasingly more challenged world. Or that these are

values and tactics that anyone should adopt and hand down to future

generations.

Four years later, as I now prepare to once again attend the DSC Convention, I

have no doubt the many merits and utilities of hunting will be displayed,

demonstrated and discussed there. The deflectors, who are not stakeholders in

conservation, will criticize from their armchairs. Rallying the unknowing, emotive

masses to instead rip out the stakes that the conservation through hunting model

has firmly planted. They will proclaim that stopping legal, regulated hunting will

“save” the animals. Such a claim is false. Truthful conventional wisdom, and

wisdom gained from conventions, is that the conservation through hunting model

has been and continues to be very effective, whilst that of the anti-hunting

zealots continues to detract, divert, deflect, and damage nature instead.