You did the right thing but, like you, it would be REALLY hard not to say anything.  
I've had unpleasant discussions out in the public defending hunting, it's not pretty.

Ignorant people will always assume they know more than you, especially in public where their "wisdom" can be displayed.  

you did the right thing.

Yeah I've had to do the same thing. It's tough to swallow..Live to fight another day. Good job on keeping your cool..

It really depends on how well you think you could have represented your view.  I believe most people aren't able to debate a point well, regardless of the point.  It's best they avoid it.

It is very difficult to ad lib a debate.  Some truly talented people can do it.  Most of us can't.

i believe you would have just wasted precious time with your family, and passing on to them the truth about our beloved sport.

QuoteOriginally posted by BOWMARKS:
I would say you did the right thing hard to win.  I got an Email last week from a buddy about a bumpper sticker his brother seen out west.(Hunters you should be ashamed of yourselfs killing live animals for the meat , why don't you go to the grocery store and buy your meat where nothing gets killed)          

Scary part is these same clueless people vote.....

yes and no, the place for the debate should be correct or would be surrounded by liberal's and stoned out of the place.  As, already said, his statement was all false.  However, likely is not eduated on what all it takes just to have the oppurtunity to get the "Rug".  Few years ago, I was at a zoo, and we was looking at some white tail deer and a lady made a similar comment.  I stood next to her and her husband and asked what she meant by her statement?  She said that alot of people go out and just shoot one on the weekend and take the skin and leave the rest.  I asked where they was from and if they hunted or did any outdoor activities, then asked how she knows this is true?  They were from northern illinois, and had read an account in a newspaper of them catching a guy, Poaching.  I then explained in calm manner that yes, it is unfortantly true some people do still poach and explained the differance between poaching and legally hunting.  We went and got a coffee and ended up sitting and discussing hunting for awhile and though not expet, and told them.  I explained that I had been bowhunting whitetails for 25 years and some of my experiances, good and bad with the game and hunters, the history, the challange we face in trying to harvest the game, and that most hunters aren't Rambo  out there killing everything.  I threw out the usual stats of auto accidents, the trial made on trying to eliminate hunting and mangaement.  After what I couldn't believe 2 hours, I had made two new friends and they became more informed and educated.  matter of fact this last year her and her husband came down and went out with me hunting.  They had a good time and really got to feel the primal instinct in us all as we had four different deer come up within 30 yards of us (I purposely set my blind up to I couldn't get a shot and not ruin the area for me, for there experiance).  Afterward, they said how much fun they had and the rush they felt in seeing the deer and asked why I didn't take one.  I then explained my ethics and limited range and they both was really glad and happy at the expericance.  few weeks went by and they emailed me about perhaps trying to hunt this coming year.  It can happen, As the campaign slogan said we can change, not in that way, but we can change there mentality.  Not all of them, but like they crept in the media and politics, we can do it one at a time.  When I have these debates with them, I always ask, where do you get your info?  where you from?  What do you base it on?  Do you do any outdoor activity?  These few questions seem's to give me the tools to lever them into understanding the total impact good ethical hunters have not only on the game, but envirorment, economics and way of life.

Early in my career I helped landowners improve their property for wildlife. From time to time a landowner supposed there wasn't any wildlife on the farm because 'the hunters had killed it all.'  I always got a kick out of touring the property with the landowner and showing them animals or sign of same (tracks, nests, rubs, -- you know the drill).  Some landowners don't even get out on their property, especially in the wilder corners.

I remember a telephone call I received once. The caller complained about all the poachers (poachers and hunters are the same to many non-hunters) dumping deer along the roadside. I asked the caller why she thought these were poached deer. She said it was obvious because the heads were missing from the deer.  Of course I explained to the caller that these deer were road-kills and that the heads had been removed (whether legal or not) by folks who wanted to keep the antlers.