We all hunt so we understand the love most hunters have for the outdoors and the creatures we hunt. On the other hand the vast majority of Americans don't hunt and are horrified by the prospect. I have had friends come over while I had outdoor channel on tv and when a deer or something goes down they are disgusted and repelled. I ask them what they think about the steer they just ate going down under a sledgehammer and get a blank look.
One thing that's not been helpful to our cause is the over hunting done back in the day when game was much more plentiful:

http://www.parkergun.org/forums/forum1/3789.html

Here are some very nice guys in my club talking about how in the old days they would get 62 rabbits in a day. The next few comments are like, yeah, where did all the rabbits go? This is how we are perceived by outsiders. Go figure.