The Largest Army in the World

[Rich McVey]

Saw this on another site.


In WWII, Japan's highest-ranking naval officer was Stork Yamamoto.
Although he was Japanese, and his loyalties were unquestionably with The
Empire, he studied for many years in America, graduating from Harvard
University. There is an oft-repeated (and sometimes disputed) quote
attributed to him regarding the possibility of any nation taking a war
to American soil:

"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle
behind every blade of grass."

Here is why he was correct:

America's Hunters. The World's Largest Army.

The state of Wisconsin has gone an entire deer hunting season without
someone getting killed. That's great, considering there were over
600,000 hunters that got permits this year.

Allow me to restate that number: 600,000

Over the last two months, the eighth largest army in the world - more
men under arms than Iran; more than France and Germany combined -
deployed to the woods of a single American state to keep the deer
population under control.

But that pales in comparison to the 750,000 who are in the woods of
Pennsylvania this week. Michigan's 700,000 hunters have now returned
home. Toss in a quarter million hunters in West Virginia, and it is
literally the case that the hunters of those four states alone would
comprise the largest army in the world.

And that is just FOUR states.

The total population of registered hunters in America today ranges from
23 million to 43.7 million individuals. (Based on annual data provided
by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.) As long as the American Hunter
retains his right to Bear Arms, America will forever be safe from
foreign invasion of troops.

Hunting ? it's not just a way to fill the freezer. It's a matter of
National Security.

[kcc]

Wow thats amazing. Gives one something to think about.

[BentRod]

[Amx]

.

[Mike Carey]

very true, however, our country's worst enemy may well be ourselves. You can take a country by military force, or you can destroy it by destroying it's economy, political system, or "will". How will America's future play out?

Looking at history, all great powers rise and fall over time. Where are we in our timeline? Will our country follow the path of other super-powers in history, or is there something different in us that our Founding Fathers instilled as part of our country's "DNA" or Spirit?

I'm an optomist at heart and I believe as a nation we can solve any problem put in front of us.

[G-Man]

Ah, the American hunter, one of the reasons the revolutionary war went the way it did. Check out this link: Those Tall American Patriots and Their Long Rifles

[MarkFromSea]

Ooh Rah!

[sickbayer]

im just suprised there is any animals left to shoot in that state. that is a lot of permits.

[Bodofish]

im just suprised there is any animals left to shoot in that state. that is a lot of permits.

Lots O animals to shoot..... You ain't in Wales anymore........... =) give a shout later. bought a new prop.

[bionic_one]

im just suprised there is any animals left to shoot in that state. that is a lot of permits.

I know you may not specifically be against the hunting, but for any PETA types out there:

Over-winter population goals for that state are around 800,000 with most areas exceeding their local goal by 40%. Habitat can only support X amount of animals, so any surplus would either die of starvation or disease. Bottom line is, only so many animals can survive in the habitat, so they can get a quick death and provide recreational hunting opportunities and food - or they can die slowly of starvation.

Here is an interesting read from the WDFW's hunter education program:

Angel Island, off the coast of California, had a healthy deer population in a state park. Hunting was prohibited, and the number of deer in the park increased beyond what the habitat could support. The California Department of Fish & Game suggested that biologists shoot excess deer to reduce deer numbers. The public was opposed to the idea, and 203 animals were instead live-trapped and released in another part of the state.

Some of the deer that were released had a radio "collar" put around their necks. The collar would tell biologists where the deer were, and it would help them study how the deer would survive in their new habitat. At the end of the first year, 85% of the deer were dead in their new habitat! More than one-half died within the first three months.

The live-trapping and transplanting cost $3,000 per deer… and it really didn't help increase deer populations in other parts of the state!

[Mike Carey]

im just suprised there is any animals left to shoot in that state. that is a lot of permits.

I know you may not specifically be against the hunting, but for any PETA types out there:

Over-winter population goals for that state are around 800,000 with most areas exceeding their local goal by 40%. Habitat can only support X amount of animals, so any surplus would either die of starvation or disease. Bottom line is, only so many animals can survive in the habitat, so they can get a quick death and provide recreational hunting opportunities and food - or they can die slowly of starvation.

Here is an interesting read from the WDFW's hunter education program:

Angel Island, off the coast of California, had a healthy deer population in a state park. Hunting was prohibited, and the number of deer in the park increased beyond what the habitat could support. The California Department of Fish & Game suggested that biologists shoot excess deer to reduce deer numbers. The public was opposed to the idea, and 203 animals were instead live-trapped and released in another part of the state.

Some of the deer that were released had a radio "collar" put around their necks. The collar would tell biologists where the deer were, and it would help them study how the deer would survive in their new habitat. At the end of the first year, 85% of the deer were dead in their new habitat! More than one-half died within the first three months.

The live-trapping and transplanting cost $3,000 per deer… and it really didn't help increase deer populations in other parts of the state!

Interesting. The "feel good" solution turned out to be the more cruel solution. I grew up in Wisconsin and worked during high school at a butcher shop. Man, the amount of deer that came through was amazing. Pretty good eating too, BTW.
Sorry, this thread is drifting off course.

[BentRod]

Sorry, this thread is drifting off course.

Don't they all? :smurf:

[MarkFromSea]

Sorry, this thread is drifting off course.

Don't they all? :smurf:

Yes they do! Nothing wrong with that! Here's another drift: My daughters are in WI, just outside of Irma/Wausau. I've got 2 weeks with them this summer. Rented a house on the Flambeau, a couple of canoes, near the Chippewa/Lake Holcombe. Have you got any personal knowledge of that Ladysmith/Rusk County area Mike? Favorite baits targeting river smallmouth? Thanks!

[racfish]

PETA= People Eat Tastey Animals.

[Amx]

Sorry, this thread is drifting off course.

Don't they all? :smurf:

Yes they do! Nothing wrong with that! Here's another drift: My daughters are in WI, just outside of Irma/Wausau. I've got 2 weeks with them this summer. Rented a house on the Flambeau, a couple of canoes, near the Chippewa/Lake Holcombe. Have you got any personal knowledge of that Ladysmith/Rusk County area Mike? Favorite baits targeting river smallmouth? Thanks!

inline spinners/Mepps. Small crankbaits in cray/crawfish/dad/mudbug colors = brown, red, green, orange.

[Anonymous]

no, sorry, no personal knowledge. I pronounce this thread hijacked. :rambo: Sorry Rich.

[Amx]

Whoops

[sickbayer]

lol...well i grew up on rabbit stew back home in wales........and if it has wings or legs id eat it. So I'm with whatever works and if the state can make a buck and ya get to shoot what more can I want.!

[Amx]

My favorite to hunt were rabbits followed closely by squirrels. Most always with a .22. Sometimes the rabbits with a shotgun. The 'rifle/shotgun' I had was a Savage .22 over, 20 gage under, with the flip selector on the hammer to choose which barrel to shoot. Single shot of course.

[MarkFromSea]

Thanx Amx! Oops on the hijack, but, I'm pretty excited about seeing my daughters and fishing WI this summer. 16 years MC Res, 2811 then 0491. My favorite shooting: hunting ducks Skagit, Nisqually, Potholes, Umatilla, Yakima. I'm a firm believer in the Second Amendment, it protects all of the other amendments more so than the Supreme Court. NRA Life Member. Sight alignment/sight picture! Cheers!