Predator Calling Hall of Fame?

I was reluctant to chime in on this.
I don't feel it is my place to discuss details beyond the fact that it was a brlliant idea in the first place and should have been continued from day one.

There are a lot of noteworthy gentleman out there deserving of consideration. The one HOF'er Danny forgot to mention was Bob "He Dog" Henderson. Bob was probably responsible for teaching more people about predator calling than anyone.

It takes a lot of hard work and research to give any potential HOF'er due consideration.

The prospect of revitalizing the HOF program is being given serious thought since February this year.

If you are truly interested in the roots of predator hunting you can Read the book by Major Boddickerr or even get a taste from one of my videos. There is a youtube teaser out there called Coyote Safari Deja vu. It even has John Wayne in it talking about the Second Amendment and gun safety in a film short called This Little Bullet.

As far as history goes, the single most influential force came from three clubs. Texas, Arizon and California.

These clubs were much greater than mere coyote killing. They were instrumental in MANY conservative efforts, wildlife rehabilitation facilities and game laws and practices that are still in effect today.
 
Danny, a number of factors influence things like that. Those kinds of events are hard to put together. Then take time energy and money. I think Bruce would have given me a "Right on Brother" to that statement.

To do it simply because it would be a neat thing to do is one thing, but to do it to perpetuate, legitimize or solidify an industry is another. I have been involved in the planning of large events like fundraisers, golf tournaments and even Halloween Spook Houses that just ate me up time wise. Those kinds of efforts are more difficult than most can imagine.

I hope it gets started again and would be happy to help pull it off as a volunteer. Maybe you have provided the spark that will build into a fire for someone to take the ball and run with it. For now I am interested in what Jay is alluding to.
 
Gerald,
I agree 100% and all I was trying to do was stimulate some thought and see what reaction it would elicit. Most as you can see was very positive. I do recall a post about the hall of fame a few years back and was told then that it was "in the works" however nothing transpired. Maybe this time something will.
Good Hunting
Danny
 
Why would you even need one? It's apparent that the greats in this sport are/will be remembered for their contributions whether there is a Hall of Fame or not. We humans can be a strange lot at times. Some feel like they need to be "recognized" by their peers in order to self-actualize (Mazlow's Hierarchy), while others could care less about any formal recognition.

For me personally, I think any form of Hall of Fame would end up being a good ol' boys club. I mean, how does the average guy even get nominated for it? There's probably 10 guys out there right now that have killed thousands of coyotes, no one has ever heard of them and they don't even own a computer. Shouldn't they at least be afforded an opportunity to be included in this Hall of Fame?

So, essentially, it'll end up instilling unnecessary competition into our sport and people will gripe that so-and-so should, in no way, have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, etc, etc. I can only imagine that the criteria will evolve to a point where you get X points if you've won a National Coyote Calling Contest, X points if you've taken a kid out and taught him the sport, and on and on. This is one coyote killer that could care less about it.

Just a different point of view.
 
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Why would you even need one?



A hall of fame (sometimes HOF) is a type of museum established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field.
In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actual halls or museums which enshrine the honorees with sculptures, plaques, and displays of memorabilia. In others the hall of fame is more figurative and simply consists of a list of names of noteworthy individuals maintained by an organization or community. For example:
MLB HOF
National Baseball HOF
Cycling HOF
Bowling HOF
Rodeo HOF
Soccer HOF
Tennis HOF
Rock n Roll HOF
Boxing HOF

Is predator calling “less” of a noteworthy endeavor to deserve honorable recognition?
 
Yes, I do understand the definition of the concept, but thank you for clarifying it. In the other sports you mentioned there are typically straightforward criteria for establishing membership; career RBIs, Super Bowl wins, NBA championships, etc. Plus, there are somewhat organized and official record keepers for all those sports. I'm not aware of any of those guidelines, or the ability to prove set standards, in this sport. So again, my question is why is it needed? Obviously it wasn't important for many, many years, but now that's its become mainstream it is something we need? I think if you could interview all the old timers that would likely be the prime candidates for inclusion in this HOF, you'd see that the majority would be of my mindset....at least the ones that I admire.

In the long run, I see no value in having this "club". I think it will cause more damage than good. And, when (not if, but when)it does, rest assured I'll be one of the first to mention it. Of course, I'm just one guy with one opinion, but I have killed quite a few coyotes, I've made coyote calls and sold them cheaply to help many others enjoy our sport, I've offered my services for fundraisers to benefit others who fell onto hard times, I've taken people out and loaned them my gun, etc. Hey, maybe I'll be nominee!! Oh wait, I'm just an average guy. What was I thinking?
 
Mason,

I see your point and I do think it is a valid one. Many times, the more "recognized" people will be considered for this type of thing, and the guys like yourself who have contributed to the sport but who are not as highly "publicised" may get overlooked.

However, I think we must look at the big picture here. A predator callers hall of fame can be a true benefit to our sport. Just think of the exposure the sport of predator calling will receive with such an institution, and what it will mean in terms of the popularity of the sport. There will be more hunters to vote and lobby for our hunting rights, sponsorships, new and improved products for us to use, as well as the various legislators and state Fish and Game agencies giving us serious consideration in terms of more generous hunting laws for predator hunting. How would we like to see a longer coyote season in NJ? Or night hunting in Arizona? There are a lot of "coyote huggers" out there, those willing to see our sport done away with. Perhaps, the more we institutionalize and solidify our sport, the greater our chances will be to enjoy the sport we love in the future, and to help guarantee predator hunting rights for our children and grandchildren.

Yes, some of us who deserve to be recognized will not be. It's the nature of the beast.

But I think the benefits to all will greatly outweigh the detriments to a few.
 
I see it as a honor bestowed on a person that has dedicated much, and broken new ground in the predator hunting community. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

When someone gets the nod for induction into the HOF, it's a unique honor that should be reserved for those that stand out for a contribution that is recogized throughout the sport.

What we as regular coyote hunters employ in the way of strategies, equipment, sounds, camo, and techniques must have been pioneered by the ones that conceived the thought, and understood our quarry well enough to make that thought successful in the way we ALL hunt predators.

It isn't enough that a lot of us are GOOD at it. That's not what it's about.

It's about the innovation & dedication that those unique few individuals added to our sport that qualifies them for the honor. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowingsmilie.gif

Just my thoughts...

Barry
 
Mason jarr, makes many points I agree with. So do the other posters for that matter. What interests me, is those who were pioneers & innovators, in predator hunting. Not just calling, necessasarily.

A shot in the dark. I bet there have been many old timer coyote hunter's. Who were outstanding in their skill, expertise, dedication & yrs in the field. In the pursuit of the coyote. Whom, most never have or will, be known. To bad.

The two old coyote tracker's, I mentioned above. Would fit that bill 100% IMB. The day I seen them, one running a fresh track. The other waiting to switch trackers. It was around -28 degrees WC. Hardcore, IMB.

An amusing side note as for calling. When I was a small child late 50's. I recall my old Missourian Grandma. Who called her farm cats in to feed on table scraps in the late pm. Useing only lip-squeeks. She was quite good at it.

Frankly, a hunter that wins contests or trophy's. Doesn't interest me in the slightest. As an example; A trophy winner or contest winner. Would play heck calling a central Iowa coyote within shotgun range. Let alone onto their lap.
 
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My final comments about it. In order to have a Predator Hunters Hall of Fame I believe you'd have to have one uniformly recognized "organization" at the national level to pull it off. Otherwise, what value is there to it? For example I could have the Mason Jarr Predator Hunters Hall of Fame and elect Crap Shoot, Kerry Carver and Tony Tebbe as my initial members. Those folks are definitely deserving of recogniton, but if other predator hunters didn't recognize my "organization" as a valid device to make this selection, then what purpose would it serve? Usually when there is a national type organization then monetary dues are paid into it for record keeping, inductee mementos, banquet facilities, etc. At this point, I'm not aware of a national organization and I doubt there ever will be one. We're such a diverse group and there are so many cliques between us that we can't even get all the different website forums to get along.

I do agree the pioneers of the sport will likely be the ones who are initially inducted into the sport HOF. But once all of them are in, trust me, we'll look to "modern" people as inductees. Then what will become the criteria for induction? Again, is it how many National Calling contests they've won? How many cougars they've call in? Have they killed 100 coyotes a year for 5 years running? 50 a year? Who will make these decisions? How will the decision makers be appointed? Will we (the average hunters) get to elect these decision makers? If not, then they aren't OUR representatives nor the sport's. Think about it a little before you swallow this wholesale!!

I don't see where having this will increase our clout with wildlife agencies either. That would seem to mean, to me, that anti-hunters would fear such organizations as Boone & Crockett, Pope & Young, SCI, etc. I don't see the antis backing off one bit. I don't see F&G agencies soliciting any of those organizations for input when they're making decisions. Did the USF&WS ask ANY hunting agency about population impacts BEFORE they released wolves back into the west? If they did, I missed that part.

So. Good luck with this endeavor. I already have my list of heroes in this sport. Some are well known and some are not. Most could care less about being recognized.
 
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I don't see where having this will increase our clout with wildlife agencies either. That would seem to mean, to me, that anti-hunters would fear such organizations as Boone & Crockett, Pope & Young, SCI, etc. I don't see the antis backing off one bit. I don't see F&G agencies soliciting any of those organizations for input when they're making decisions. Did the USF&WS ask ANY hunting agency about population impacts BEFORE they released wolves back into the west? If they did, I missed that part.



Strength in numbers, Mason. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

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So. Good luck with this endeavor. I already have my list of heroes in this sport. Some are well known and some are not. Most could care less about being recognized.



I don't think it should be about a desire to be recognized.

Honestly, I don't see how a Hall of Fame can be a negative prospect. We are all mature adults here. If someone will be offended because they are not nominated or not inducted then they are focused on themselves and not what is good for predator hunting as a whole.
 
Good post Mason Jarr!

I think for some, recognition is more sought after then success. The internet has allowed this to happen for quite a few individuals.
 
I don't see the necessity for a predator a Hall of Fame either. It seems like a good way to further splinter the group and many like myself, simply wouldn't care who is on the list. All one has to do is look at the numerous predator hunting boards that have sprung up since Bruce Kennedy's Shade Tree to see that people don't always get along just because we share the same passion for predator calling. The whole deals smells of elbow-rubbing and politics to some extent and I would guess that a lot of time, money, and effort could be spent just to decide who gets their a name on a plaque when it would be better used for other projects.

Like already mentioned, I would much rather see the efforts put towards a national predator hunting organization working to promote and protect predator hunting. Something built along the lines of the RMEF, FNAWS, or other wildlife oragnizations that have gained respect as real players in wildlife issues. Not a group that gives "lil' Johnny" an award for his first coyote or has a Hall of Fame, but something bigger with serious goals. And as long as I'm dreaming, how about a first-class quarterly magazine devoted to predator hunting for members of this organization.
 
I think a national predator hunting organization would be a good idea.

Though I don't see anything wrong with a hall of fame for the forefathers of our sport.

Maybe the two could be accomplished in unison...
 
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We're such a diverse group and there are so many cliques between us that we can't even get all the different website forums to get along.........the word that comes to my thoughts that i fear and dispise....EGO... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
I could probably come up with a dozen or so nominees. Some modern day folks that are legends in their own minds might be offended. A HOF honoring the REAL PIONEERS of our sport would be great, but at some point the list should end.
 
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I could probably come up with a dozen or so nominees. Some modern day folks that are legends in their own minds might be offended. A HOF honoring the REAL PIONEERS of our sport would be great, but at some point the list should end.


Agreed.
 
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I could probably come up with a dozen or so nominees. Some modern day folks that are legends in their own minds might be offended. A HOF honoring the REAL PIONEERS of our sport would be great, but at some point the list should end.


Agreed.



Then I'll go against my statement and make one more reply. Why not have a banquet, induct the whole list of people into it at one time, and then be done with it? It would mean a savings from having to schedule and hold a session for several years and the associated cost with that.
 
When a Predator Callers Hall of Fame does take shape I'd like to be in it. Sure.....I was just another of those old time California callers but I called in a killed a lot of critters. No big deal there. So did a lot of other guys. But I had far more fun at it and looked a whole lot better than anyone else doing it!
 


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