Hunting - not for sport/fun

[Scooter's Mom]

I'm putting this in the doghouse because I know it is going to get a lot of negative comments. It did on my FB page, so I know it will here.

My husband is bird hunting today - duck/goose. He will go dove hunting again when the season opens next week. While he does enjoy going, not because he enjoys killing the animals, he likes getting out in nature and he likes eating the birds he brings home. He doesn't go just to say, "Oh man, I killed x amount of dove this year! look at me, I'm a big man!"

His family has always supplemented their groceries with wild game - from dove to elk. His grandmother used to keep rabbits in the backyard and make meals from them. While I personally do not enjoy the taste of venison, it is part of the family budget to have it in the freezer. So, it goes on the menu.

I posted on my FB that my husband was going duck hunting today, and got some negative responses. I guess this is just me kind of venting and reminding people that not everyone hunts for sport and some people hunt for other reasons - like survival. While our survival doesn't entirely depend on him getting a duck or anything today - it would be nice to have one in our freezer for the days/paydays we just cannot afford to pay for something at the grocery store. The price of food these days is scary, and anything we can do to offset it is a bonus in my book.

I know I will probably get berated for my husband hunting, but as I said... I am just venting a little. He doesn't do it for funsies, but for foodsies.

[Karen]

I hope he enjoys the day. We humans have eliminated many of the natural predators, and so we need people to pick up their role in some areas.

[caseysmom]

That always amazes me ...particularly from people that eat meat, eating meat that was hunted is so much more humane...tell them to do their homework!

[pomtzu]

And if people didn't hunt for food, we'd be overrun with wildlife. There will always be the holier-than-thou, and the bleeding hearts to object to this, and I for one would love to tell each and everyone of them to put a sock in it. Hunting just for the sport of killing a moving target is one thing - to utilize for a good purpose (such as eating ), is entirely another. Your husband is doing absolutely nothing wrong, and for people to preach and criticize is the only wrong I see here.

BTW - I've had dove hunted and cooked by our very own PT Puckstop - and it's delicious. It was a real treat. Hope your hubby bags a bunch!

[Scooter's Mom]

He just called and he's on the way home. My DH didn't get any, but the guy he went with got a couple.

My favorite of the "game" is dove - my father in law fries them in something similar to pancake batter, and they are SO good! Tiny, but good!

[moosmom]

While I'm not CRAZY about hunting, I do believe that as long as it's for food, it's okay. What I don't like is when people go hunting just for an ego trip and bragging rights. I also loathe "game farms" that keep big game enclosed so that idiots can pay lots of $$$$$ to kill them, and have their picture taken with the dead carcus. That's just plain stupid and so unfair to those poor animals. Those kinds of places should be shut down.

Ted Nugent is a avid hunter. BUT...he uses every single part of the animal. He uses it for food. What he doesn't take, he donates to needy families, and shelters.

[chocolatepuppy]

Some people want to believe meat in the grocery store comes from the meat fairy. People need to grow up. As far as hunting, send your hunters my way, way too many deer in the streets here.

[Asiel]

While hubby doesn't hunt we don't have anything against it. Out here people hunt to fill their freezers for the winter. I love venison and we have a neighbour who is kind enough to always bring us some when he gets his. So far he hasn't missed a year. They rarely eat meat from the butchers, they prefer wild meat.
The bonus is that I get all the leftovers to feed my dog. Nothing goes to waste. Don't understand why people make hunting so ugly when for most it's a way of saving and feeding the family.