Survey finds hunters, anglers favor John McCain

A survey has found that John McCain holds a considerable lead over Barack Obama in the race to become president — among hunters and fishermen.

Given that there are an estimated 40 million hunters and fishermen of voting age in the United States, there’s some significance to their thinking and it may have helped the current president win two terms.

We all know what happened during the second term: the vice president, on one of his hunting trips, accidentally filled a fellow hunter full of birdshot.

But that’s beside the point. The point is, many Americans consider hunting and fishing — and certainly their right to own guns — part of their heritage and prefer a leader who cherishes those same values and would be inclined to protect those values in an era in which they’re being increasingly threatened.

The survey, conducted by Braun Research, polled 1,009 sportsmen of which 45% said they’d vote for McCain, while 31% tilted toward Obama.

Asked whom they’d rather hunt with, 49% said McCain, 27% answered Obama. As a fishing partner, 44% favored McCain over Obama (31%).

“They’re just not sure how much fun Barack Obama would be in a duck blind,” said Steve Sanetti, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which helped underwrite the survey.

None of this is surprising, since many serious sportsmen are Republicans, and considering that the survey was conducted on behalf of sportsmens’ rights groups that already knew what it would conclude.  Here at Outposts, we support hunting and fishing but will not get political, unless you count the irresistible reference to Dick Cheney’s 2006 nonfatal shotgun blasting of Harry Whittington during a Texas quail hunt.

That was an accident, of course. Accidents happen to everyone.

—Pete Thomas

Photo: Current and former presidents Bush Jr. and Sr., avid sportsmen, return to Walker's Point off Maine after a 2007 fishing expedition. Voters who hunt and fish tend to favor leaders or prospective leaders who share similar values.
Credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Robert]

I'm an avid hunter and fisherman. I will be voting for Obama.

[luvwknd]

I hunt & fish and I wouldn't let McShame watch my dog let alone this great country!
He's a FAILED fighter pilot that believes since he failed and spent 5 years as a POW he deserves to be Prez! Well Johnny boy, maybe you shouldn't have voted in favor for GWB policies 95% of the time over the last 8 years AND maybe you shouldn't have a wife young enough to be your daughter AND maybe you shouldn't flaunt your OIL money by owning 5 houses!

McShame is just that, a national shame to this country and if you vote for him and he's elected (very, very doubtful) you will deserve 4 more years of GWB policies!

VOTE OBAMA FOR TRUE AMERICAN CHANGE!

[Jeffrey Fina]

Yea accidents do happen indeed, except when normal citizens have "accidents" like that, it can be called attempted murder. But not Dick, its an accident.

[David, US Army Veteran]

What a ludicrous survey. Hardly worth reporting. Besides, it appears the only hunting McCain seems to know is househunting.

[POLO]

Birds of smae feather flock together

[Hilary Smith]

Look what happened the last time we elected a president you "wanted to have a beer with." I simply can’t understand this point of view. We are choosing the leader of the free world. What am I missing?

[jim]

and this is news?

this group of people have long been known for only caring about their guns and hunting lands. democrats don't have a good track record in this matter. they could care less what anyone does as long as they get what they want. too bad this seems to sum up the majority of people these days

[Derek]

More significantly, here, is that apparently another 24 percent of those surveyed are undecided or otherwise noncommittal-- a far higher percentage than the undecided public generally.

[Robert Stern]

While there may be bozos who would choose the Leader of the Free World and their brain surgeon based on who they'd rather hunt with, I gotta wonder if they've ever thought that the people they hunt and drink with are presidential....LOL!

Perhaps if Obama went out to shoot caged birds (but instead shot an old guy in the face) he'd get their approval?

No presidential candidate will ever prevent hunters and fishermen from doing their thing...unless, of course, they want to use an arsenal of assault weapons to hunt people. Then perhaps even McCain would look askance at it.

Hunting and fishing might get a bit dodgy -- McCain wants to drill "here, there" and everywhere.

[john in Montana]

Contrary to what the reporter says, I find this survey report surprising, here in MT there is a robust sportsmen group supporting Obama. And it is clear to me that though Obama doesn't hunt, wildlife has a better chance under his administration than a McCain administration. ... Guns come up a lot among those that hate Obama in the state, but I don't buy it. Obama's record doesn't concern me, and really John McCain's record is not that good. Besides, our Governor Schweitzer says emphatically that Obama won't take your guns. ... He's not the type to cast his lot in on that issue for political points. I believe him.

I suppose most of these folks are just registered Republicans. I don't think Montana has party registration, but I've always considered myself an Independent. I voted Nixon once, Ford once, Regan twice, old Bush once, Perot once, Clinton once, Gore once, and young Bush once.

Ha! it looks pretty funny when I put it all out there.

[Ces614]

Great... just what I wanted to hear my fellow anglers are just as retarded as the other 49% who want Grampy MCSame in office. Geez people, if want to have any resources left we'd better vote for someone who has a decent environmental record (Obama!). Or I guess we can all just fish off the oil rigs...

[T.A. Landrum]

well duh... Why would hunters ever vote for someone that does not like guns? Most hunters also fish as well.

[timebanded@cox.net]

With the republicans record on environmental issues, you have to be dumber than the day is long to be pro McCain if your an avid hunter or fisherman.

[primarywatcher]

Boy oh boy, slow day for news today! Rednecks for McCain - go figure...

[theo]

if things continue as they are, in 10 years most folks won't be able to afford hunting.

as if that's the most serious criteria right now given the dozens of huge messes we're in.

what an empty story. enough already.

[Jack Johnson]

OF COURSE....people who kill things LOVE John McBush! What a surprize! Of course they also love WAR ...where LOTS OF LIFE IS killed...then these great sportsman completely change their dumb dumb BUBBA SPORTMEN minds and are "PRO LIFE. Their mothers should have opted for PRO CHOICE and ridded the world of these SPORTSMEN!!

[Matt]

I think it's fair to say most hunters and fishers don't want a black man anywhere near Washington. I think it's less shared values than it is "no blacks for president." this is not making race an issue, this is a long-held hallmark of so-called "sportsmen."

[will]

31% for Obama among this crowd ought to be considered a major victory. Though I think dividing the population down to somewhat arbitrary 'voting blocs' is pretty unnecessary. I have a feeling that if you were to break it down into above/below 50th percentile I.Q. Obama would have a convincing lead.

[Robert]

I'm an avid hunter and fisherman. I will be voting for Obama this fall. Our public resources need to remain public. I'm tired of losing more and more state and federal land to private industry. I'm tired to conservative laws restricting my access to land.

[Andrew]

It makes sense. Hunters and anglers usually aren't the most intelligent people.

[Marks]

A lot of those "hunters" and "fishing folks" are recreational, occasional and not very good at it, regardless they are licensed for Safety in states.

The NRA hammers those supposed Republicans in magazines stirring up fears that guns might be confiscated along side articles that show new clips for the .45 hand gun that now shoot 30 rounds.

Weapons for "collectors" in a hunting magazine that aren't allowed for hunting purposes.

The newest 12 gauge automatic shotgun in a fishing magazine, nearby fishing poles and tackle boxes advertising. What inference can be found there?

If hunters want to believe in their guns while Federal Economic policies ruin their life savings and end jobs, I guess their happy to keep GOP in the White House.

I say to them step away from sniffing the gun oil. Put the stink bait down you fishing folks! Smell what the GOP has been cooking for the last 8 years, that really stinks!

All those 4X4's are increasingly useless in the garage because people can't afford to fill them up anymore. Manipulated gas prices are White House allowed.

No shortage of oil exists but pump jockeys here and around the world are shorting gasoline production for profits sake.

Job and investment losses are Bush economical policies that failed Americans.

Bush signed the legislation that cut Corporate taxes. Executives got paid more, workers lost jobs. Much fraud on Wall Street since Bush became President ruining 401K savings.

McCain ruined DHL in Ohio specifically allowing the company to be bought by a foreign conglomerate.

When hunters and fishing folks are Republican, they don't have to be stupid!

[AMAL]

THIS IS THE ONLY COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE GO HUNTING IN A FULL STOMACH, HOW SHAMEFUL THAT WE KILL INNOCENT ANIMALS FOR OUR FUN AND GAMES, I HAVE NO RESPECT FOR SOME ONE WHO HAS NO HEART FOR KILLING INNOCENT BEINGS. THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO CAN KILL HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE AND NOT LOSE SLEEP, THE SAME BUSH THAT GOES HUNTING OFTEN IS ACTUALLY PRACTICING SO WHEN THEY KILL THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE IN THE NAME OF DEMOCRACY. I WISH THAT ONE DAY HUNTING BECOMES ILLEGAL SO WE HUMAN CAN BE CHECKED BECAUSE WE DONT OWN THIS PLANET ALONE, ALL THE LIVING THINGS ARE EQUAL PARTNERS.

[chris]

gee what a shocker, country white folks don't favor the Black candidate for pres.

[Dave]

this just in: survey finds people with brains prefer Obama.

[Rocky]

What a stupid poll
Who cares what hunters and anglers think about anything?