Why are they going after Tripp Isenhour for killing a stupid hawk?

Question

Who cares about it? The eco-freaks are going nuts, but why prosecute him? I'm sick of this garbage.

Answer 1

I TOTALLY AGREE

1 HAWKS ARE NOT MIGRATORY BIRDS THEY DONT FLY SOUTH FOR THE WINTER

2 IN ARKANSAS ON THE HUNTING LICENSES IT USED TO READ DO YOUR SHARE OF THINING THE HAWK POPULATION LET THEM LAY THAT MEANS SHOOT THEM F'ERS AND LET THEM SIT THERE

GET OVER IT PEOPLE

Answer 2

It's a hawk, sounds illegal to me. Plus more nasty rodents- and WHO wants that?!

Answer 3

It's not that easy, Toucan. Consider that the hawk was there first. In other words, man carved out a golf course in its habitat, not vice versa.

But if that's too "eco-freak" for you, ask yourself why Isenhour was firing shots when the bird was just 30 feet off the ground at the time of impact. Why didn't the crew just grab a few balls and toss them into the air? The velocity of thrown balls would have been significantly less than shots off the clubface of a touring pro. (The illogical and unfortunate result brings into question the motivations at the time.)

What bothers me about this is that Isenhour waited until today to apologize, nearly three months after the fact. Plus, his apology was forced. Had he come out and said that it was a stupid thing to do, he knew he might kill the bird and that he'd have to pay the price, it would be more acceptable. That said, I'd still like to hear from the video company that filmed the spot.

Isenhour's interview on Golf Channel Friday night should be a good one. Because I'm assuming someone of his ability came close more than once with warning shots, I'd really like to know what happened, the dynamic with the guys and gals on the set and if it was discussed at all if killing the bird was an acceptable option.

[Finally, you're clueless, Steve V. If Isenhour killed a human being by firing at it on purpose, it would most definitely be a major story. Heck, even if it was a stray shot that accidentally killed someone, it would still be a big story. Your sarcasm is fooling no one. Your intelligence however ...]

ADDED - 3/7, 12:33pm CT ... Rope, you're taking my example too literally. Whether it was a migratory bird, a local bird or one that has never been seen in the area, humans invaded their space, not the other way around. (On the record, his charges include killing a migratory bird but it's reprehensible behavior regardless of the creature. Plus, I doubt there was any discussion among the people on site to confirm whether the bird was migratory.) Now, 40 years ago, this isn't even a headline because society was generally apathetic towards wildlife. Four hundred years ago, Isenhour would have been doing his job as a hunter because he would have fed the hawk meat to his family. But, in today's world, he viewed, among other things, as failing to exercise sensitivity to the possible outcome of his actions.

Answer 4

because it is wrong to kill any creature for no good reason.

Answer 5

TOUCHE my man! Tree huggers need to worry about bigger and more severe crimes than this!

Answer 6

Doing that was up there with the marines that threw the puppy over a cliff.... They guy was an arrogant @.$$.  They should strip him of that title.....

Answer 7

What Tripp did was NOT on the same level as Michael Vick, but it WAS equally careless, reckless, and stupid.  I'd feel the same if he had deliberately taken aim at a squirrel!

Accidental incidents are way different than intentionsl ones.

If he accidentally shanked, sliced, or hooked a shot into a tree and "accidentally" killed an animal, that's a different case altogether...because it was an ACCIDENT!

In this case, Tripp intentionally took AIM at the tree the bird was in, even though his intent was to just scare the bird.  When you intentionally take aim at a target (i.e. person or animal) there is a risk that you may hit the target.

From 250 yards out, I take aim at the pin knowing my odds of actually hitting the pin are quite low, once in a blue moon I hit it!  Tripp is a PRO!  His odds are way higher and even better when closer the target.

By intentionally hitting his ball AT the bird, he risked hitting it and possibly killing it!  It would be bad enough, even had he missed or wounded the bird;  but, as luck would have it, he did hit & kill the bird.  That's bad and he SHOULD be punished.  At the very least, a large fine!

Again, it's NOT the same level of Michael Vick in which Vick had an illegal ongoing game which resulted in multiple animal deaths.  So the punishment shouldn't be the same.

But definitely a punishment of some sort!!

Intentionally aiming with deadly force at any defenseless creature carries the risk of actually hitting the target, ESPECIALLY when done by a professional.

Sorry, but unless it were just a pure accident, shank, etc.; Tripp needs to pay the piper on this one!  Sorry!

Answer 8

IT'S AN ENDANGERED BIRD!

if he accidently killed it, it probably wouldn't of been that big of a deal.

it was annoying him so he got in a golf cart drove close to it and started hitting golf balls at it. he was heard saying "i'll get it now"

Answer 9

If he had a hunting license and a gun, and killed his limit, there would be no fury.  But he repeatedly tried to remove the bird, because he was annoyed.  Big mistake.  It will haunt him and it will tarnish the game of golf for some time.  People do stupid things sometimes, and this is one of those times.  I'm sure he did not mean to kill the bird,  even if he made a remark to that effect.

Answer 10

hey clubhouse, it's an issue b/c it's a "migratory bird".  i.e., it isn't always there.  

the green-weenez have to get their nickers in a knot every other day.  its one friggin bird.  shut up and hug a tree.

Answer 11

idk, but to be fair they betta do him like they did michael vick lol

Answer 12

I have a great idea. Let's put that a hole out on a fairway and let someone drill him in the face with a golf ball and see how he likes it. What he did was despicable and classless.

Answer 13

Look its the same as hitting balls at the guy picking up range balls....its just stupid........Toss in the fact that where he was doing it ....Killing the hawk was illegal.....well....He has a problem........I don't think that it is particularly news worthy....but some idiots seem to.

Answer 14

i couldnt agree more. what some people dont seem to understand is that animals arent people.  if the bird was dumb enough to stick around after 9 shots missed it and this guy was good enough to hit a potentially moving target from 100 yds away, it pobably deserved to die. it was a BIRD for goodness sake, why do people care so much. the story would get less coverage if he hit a person and they died