Went to Bass Pro Shop's Santa Workshop today..

[hrh_disney_queen]

..and I am STILL scratching my head about the appropriateness of this display. I don't have the link that someone posted here on the Dis, but it shows a huge Bass Pro Shop Santa Workshop with animatronic elves and trains and lots of stuff to see and do for the kids. We went today, and first off..if you have a small Bass Pro Shop, don't expect much. Ours is in a mall, and they had a few things for the kids to do: not much. BUT..right in between the Red Rider BB Rifle (Lasers) Game, and the Letters to Santa station were two REAL, DEAD, STUFFED REINDEER. I just stood there with my mouth hanging open for what seemed like an eternity. Then all I could do was hope my kids didn't see them. I have been in the BPS before, I know there are stuffed animals all over the store, but REALLY...DEAD REINDEER at the Christmas shop?

What do you guys think? I really thought this was outta line. Is it just me?

This is NOT a debate on hunting..please just a question about what you would like your kids to see over in the Santa Workshop area..

 

[maleficent1959]

It wouldn't give me pause. It's a Bass Pro Shop.

I take my kids to Natural History and Science museums, so seeing a preserved reindeer wouldn't freak them out either.

 

[EpcotBeauty]

I expect to see dead, stuffed animals whenever I go to Bass Pro shop or Cabela's. I don't see the big deal.

If trophy hunting is offensive to you, I would think stores like BPS would not be the best venue for you. JMO

 

[DrCavin]

I wouldn't have freaked out unless the Elves started using them for target practice.

 

[Hedy]

I expect to see dead, stuffed animals whenever I go to Bass Pro shop or Cabela's. I don't see the big deal.

If trophy hunting is offensive to you, I would think stores like BPS would not be the best venue for you. JMO

MTE. Of course, now I want to check out our Bass Pro Shop.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I know the store is full of dead animals, I just didn't expect to see Rudolph and Blitzen stuffed and on display..

 

[ozarkmom]

I wouldn't have been freaked out.

 

[amsyw]

I guess I had never thought about the "dead" real reindeer. I live just miles away from the original Bass Pro. Every year there is a fantastic Santa Claus that comes for the kids to sit on his lap (He looks like the real thing and in fact has leagally changed his name to "San T. Claus", his wife comes with him too!) Anyway, they have all the reindeer (with their names on tags on the reins) in a display with Santa. Yes, stuffed "dead" real reindeer.

Like I said I guess I never really thought about it. I'm NOT a hunter, won't eat deer meat if it were the only meat available. But I think knowing what BPS is I guess I wouldn't be suprised to find "dead" real deer.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Not a big deal in our camp. It would actually be cool to them to be able to see what real reindeer look like.

The only way the reindeer would bother my kids would be if the reindeer were laying flat on the ground with fake blood splattered on them, and the hunter standing over them raising his gun in triumph.

 

[Hedy]

I know the store is full of dead animals, I just didn't expect to see Rudolph and Blitzen stuffed and on display..

Did his nose light up?

 

[TEENEE]

I've seen it and thought it was great. My kids weren't bother by it all.

 

[PatsGirl]

 

[daughtersrus]

I guess that it wouldn't bother me too much.

I was actually talking about taking my daycare kids there one day for the crafts.

We've gone a few times and they love to just look at the animals. I'll never forget the first time shortly after our store opened. I had two of my daycare kids with. They were both about 4yo. There was a large group of kids and parents gathered around because they were feeding the fish. We also have a very large brown bear standing on his back legs right near the fish tank. Well, my DCG points to a light brown fuzz on the bear. Loudly she asks me, "is that his pe**s?". Honestly, I thought that it was a burr but after a closer look, determined that it was indeed a male bear. She then asks if she can touch the bear. I said yes. So very proudly she says to the DCB, "we can pet the bear but we just can't touch his "pe**s"". Several of the parents around laughed and the man helping to feed the fish turned every shade of red that you can think of.

If she was only a bit taller, she probably wouldn't have noticed but the darn thing had to be right at her eye level.

 

[c4a]

MTE. Of course, now I want to check out our Bass Pro Shop.

omg. that was my first reaction, too. I have 2 that are within a couple hour drives...ROAD TRIP!!!

(I can just see myself trying to explain to dh-"seriously, honey. It's not shopping. It is an exercise in self awareness. Yeah. That is it. I need to know if I am opposed to seeing a stuffed reindeer at BPS. It has nothing to do with any sales." After seeing it, I plan on stopping by the Starbucks...I may have a problem with the Caramel Frappachino (sp?)/extra whipped cream, also.)

 

[LuvN~Travel]

I know the store is full of dead animals, I just didn't expect to see Rudolph and Blitzen stuffed and on display..

Well.. after they ran over Grandma, Grandpa did want revenge!
Kim

 

[Stargazer]

I live just miles away from the original Bass Pro. Every year there is a fantastic Santa Claus that comes for the kids to sit on his lap (He looks like the real thing and in fact has leagally changed his name to "San T. Claus", his wife comes with him too!) Anyway, they have all the reindeer (with their names on tags on the reins) in a display with Santa. Yes, stuffed "dead" real reindeer.

Yep - this is the one we go to every year! 7-yr-old DD's always been a curious kid, but actually has never even questioned the stuffed reindeer! I think she has always been so focused on Santa that she doesn't pay much attention to the display in front of him.

 

[audrabolster]

Given that this was a Bass Pro Shop, I really don't know what else you would have expected... ?

 

[ms1031]

I thought you were leading us up to saying the Red Rider BB Gun laser game had the kids shooting Rudolf and Blitzen.

 

[c4a]

Well.. after they ran over Grandma, Grandpa did want revenge!
Kim

TOO FUNNY!

 

[JEmaryland]

I don't see the problem. I go to Bass Pro expecting to see that sorta thing. Most kids probably wouldn't even notice unless there was attention brought to it.