Stupid question but I'll answer- God did if you believe in him. But If you don't believe then we are the top of the evolutionary food chain and morality is what we want it to be. Pretty simple I thought. Problem is what do you beleive and how do you set your morality.

Like I said "If you have a problem with the killing of any animal legally then you have no place on this forum."

Name three species where this occurred during the 20th century and the era of the sports hunter with game laws. Buffalo were almost removed by government encouraged commercial hunting. They could not have existed with modern cattle operations anyway.

Red wolves were not protected by law until late and so that could not poaching by its very definition. The Red Wolf in the end bred itself out of existance by crossing with coyotes until there were no pure red wolves left.

The alligator is a protected and manages species. If this man is shown to have been a poacher he will be convicted and sanctioned heavily.

If it cannot be shown then our societies and legal systems standards are that he is to be judged innocent or "not guilty" and not subject to sanctions.

But anyway for now I will await that list of animals exterminated by poachers.

Websters New Collegiate: Poacher-One who kills or takes game or fish illegally.

I know it was a replay that what a cliff note is!
It was asked for. and I tried to do both sides justice but I did right the "Cliff Note"

Yes I understand "your standards" I have not written or tried to established any rules. I respect your right to speak them and have them.

You sir are not the spokesman for sportsmen nor I am!
So trying to tell me what I should or should not be doing has no place here or anywhere. I have not told you that you can or cannot say something because its a disservice to sportsmen. The only Lunacy here may be mine, but it stims from trying to ask people to see who have their head in a smelly dark place.

You poor, misunderstood and persecuted creature.

Job 12:7-10. But ask the animals, and they will teach you; or birds of the air
and they will tell you; or speak to the earth and it will teach you; or let the fish
of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the
lord has done this. In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all
mankind.

Isaiah 11:9. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for
the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Ezekiel 34:2-4. Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of
themselves! Should not the shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds,
clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you did
not take care of the flock! You have not strengthened the weak or healed the
sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched
for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.

Isaiah 24:4-6. The earth dries up and withers, the world languished and
withers, the exalted of the earth languish. The earth lies under its inhabitants;
for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the
everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must
bear their guilt.

Like I said I don't. IT's not the legality its the morality. I have a problem with the motivations.

It's not your place to tell me mine.

And as alligator populations have been managed and expanded to fill the available has not the flock been tended and cared for? Does not the good shepherd tend and cull his crops by selling, trading, slaughtering for meat and/or skin the excesses that cannot be used profitably to prevent disease and starvation to the herd.

Our state alligator population has seemingly filled the available habitat. The TPWD acts as the senior shepherd providing guidance to its agents (paid as wardens and unpaid as hunters) on the proper applications.

I think you misuse the words of the Bible and the intent of the Christian creator for vain and selfish purposes BB.

If so then approach it legislatively. Otherwise you have done little but appointed yourself God, or judge to establish others beliefs, morals and ethics. What other areas of out life might you like to dictate or control?

But then to a large degree that is really what the discussion is about.

You made my argument for me! Use of the animal, to hang on the wall to stroke ego. To make (hunter) hard, Where was that?

Thanks

I never argued about alligator management. I think we are finally starting to see the picture in animal management. We almost caused their extinction as I have said. There used to not be limits and kill them all was the attitude. So are we still supporting that attitude or not. Kill for hide, to be used for leather goods shoes etc... to warm, and keep dry, use the flesh to eat, I have no problem. Kill because its fun to kill. NO there is no justification for Killing just to kill. Only man tries to do that using GOD as justification but that HE never said that.

I addressed all that in previous post and if you are delusional enough to think I somehow supported an argument you made I have no problem letting your insanity shine.

The good herdsman removes the aged and worn bull or ram. The wild equivalent has always been a trophy to be hung, displayed and honored in memory. Still as in this case the meat is often collected and used so there is a use there as well.

The American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, once was on the verge of extinction.

All I'm trying to say is all of yall shouldn't hate on barrblues for caring about an animal that has lived for who knows how long. At least he has some respect for that awesome animal. We're lucky that animals are on this earth. I hope they put that gator to good use.

Well they were not poached and due to good husbandry (game management) they have now about filled all available habitat. I would call the meat collected and the trophy saved is a very fine use.

What BB is doing is measuring the "purity of heart".

gar fisherman,

The eyes of the youth see what the eyes of the old cannot.
Any time you want to fish let me know.
I bet you pickup your trash as well.
WTG I appreciate a good steward.