Let us first define Anthropomorphism:
Ascribing human motivation, characteristics or behavior to things not human, such as inanimate objects, animals or natural phenomena.
The most obvious case of anthropomorphism was the 1942 movie "Bambi" by the Walt Disney studios, but has been followed by innumerable cartoons like "Yogi the Bear", to "B" 1995 rated movie "Babe", to the plethora of animals in A.A. Milne's Winnie-the Pooh" stories. What is important for the hunter to understand is the affect anthropomorphism has on an urban society, and on the thinking of opponents of hunting. Perceiving animals as having human characteristics make them nearer and dearer to our hearts, and we hunters must understand how anthropomorphism changes perception of reality. One hears every year of some poor urbanite who misguided by anthropomorphism is mauled or trampled by a wild animal, because that person was invading the space, getting too close, or even trying to feed a wild animal.
We must realize that these factors cause many anti-hunting arguments to be based on emotionalism and not on logic. You can never win an emotional argument. Changing perceptions of an anti-hunter who bases their decision on emotion is near impossible.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_bear_attacks_in_North_America#Black_Bear
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_cougar_attacks_in_North_America#Cougar
http://animal.discovery.com/videos/im-alive-attacked-by-wild-elephants.html
Another point is that some anti-hunters have some logical and reasonable arguments against hunting. Yes, this may seem like heresy, but it is necessary for responsible hunters to understand these concerns and be sure our actions are not a cause for opposition. One of the reasons why anti-hunters view some hunters as "Blood-thristy" is our inability to explain why we enjoy what we do, so it is extremely important that every hunter is able to answer the question "Why do you want to hunt"? Most hunters will tell you that they love animals, and yet they kill animals, and those who do not hunt find it difficult to comprehend.
Hunters can argue that most people, excluding the vegans, hunt, the difference is that they hunt their meal in Safeway or other markets. Some pay a farmer to grow and pick their vegetables, and ranchers to grow, kill and butchers to package their meat, while others enjoy the challenge of harvesting and processing wild, free-ranging game meat for their personal consumption.
Another major fact that hunters have in their favor is the financial contribution hunting makes to wildlife management through the purchasing of licenses and tags, and to the general economy. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, sportsmen contribute more than $7.5 million every day, adding more than $2.7 billion every year for conservation. Since the inception of the Pittman-Robertson Act in 1937, hunters and shooters have a paid $5.93 billion in excise taxes. Hunting generates 600,000 jobs in the United States. Hunters and anglers provide more than 75% of the annual funds of the 50 state conservation agencies, paying for programs that benefit all Americans.
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