An 11-year-old Michigan hunter is the latest victim of death threats and criticism from anti-hunters after harvesting a rare albino buck last week while hunting with this father.
Gavin Dingman of Osceola Township legally shot the 12-point buck from 30 yards with a crossbow. The momentous occasion was quickly shared on Facebook by his proud father, and just as quickly turned dark after the photo reached the eyes of anti-hunters.
One Michigan news station, WZZM 13, even provoked Facebook users to issue their opinions on the kill by posting an image of Gavin to their page with the caption: “Michigan boy, 11, bags rare albino deer. Your thoughts?”
“News outlets are not helping the situation with this young hunter by turning this issue into a debate,” said Nick Pinizzotto, USSA president and CEO. “It opens the doors for antis to throw hateful comments at a sixth grader who was doing nothing more than legally hunting.”
Albino deer are rare, with varying estimates by wildlife biologists of how many are actually born. Estimates range from one in 20,000 to one in 100,000, however, although rare, it is perfectly legal to shoot the genetically inferior animal in Michigan.
In fact, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources removed the ban on hunting albino whitetail deer in 2008 after declaring that “there is no scientific reason to protect these deer.”
Legalities of hunting are often overlooked by anti-hunters and are replaced with disparaging judgments and emotion-filled diatribes that often include threats to the individual and their family. With the advent of social media and its ability to quickly disseminate information, as well as locate individuals, hunters have become easy targets for animal-rights activists. Today’s hunting youth and women hunters, in particular, have been singled out and attacked online – including the threat of death. These cowardice actions perpetrated online are a very real-world danger to those targeted. In response, USSA has developed the Hunter Advancement Task Force to support those who have been singled out and to work to prevent future attacks.
“We are working to strengthen hunter harassment laws across the country so that hunters like Gavin are protected,” said Pinizzotto. “Threatening a life from behind a computer screen is no different than if it was in person. It should not, and will not, be tolerated. We are proud of Gavin for his accomplishment and stand fully behind him.”
