What do you think of hunting?

[shihtzulover850]

i don't hunt. my dad is going turkey hunting later this year. i told him i'd like to see the bird, but i don't want to know all the details on how it died.

lol i wouldn't want to either

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I think there's something weird about people who can find it enjoyable to watch something die and know that they killed it. I acidentally hit a bird with my car once and I cried my eyes out, I couldn't imagine actually aiming to kill something. That being said, I also don't eat meat. I have a big problem with certain animals being hunted- like bears and cougars, whose numbers are limited but they are not technically "endangered" so in most states it is legal to kill them. I know that many of them are picked off because livestock farmers have their own interests in mind, but wildlife also needs food and a place to live. We also wouldn't have such a huge overpopulation problem with deer if all their natural predators weren't hunted into near-extinction or driven away.

[Miss Z]

I think there's something weird about people who can find it enjoyable to watch something die and know that they killed it. I acidentally hit a bird with my car once and I cried my eyes out, I couldn't imagine actually aiming to kill something. That being said, I also don't eat meat. I have a big problem with certain animals being hunted- like bears and cougars, whose numbers are limited but they are not technically "endangered" so in most states it is legal to kill them. I know that many of them are picked off because livestock farmers have their own interests in mind, but wildlife also needs food and a place to live. We also wouldn't have such a huge overpopulation problem with deer if all their natural predators weren't hunted into near-extinction or driven away.

Exactly.

Hares used to be very common in Britain. Since medieval times they have been hunted for food, and more recently 'to keep down the population'. That's pretty much the same reason my myxomatosis was introduced, to keep down the population of wild rabbits and hares, and I think in a way that is a form of hunting. Now it's quite unusual to see a hare. And the myxomatosis virus kills hundreds of pet rabbits each year And also, since many rabbits and hares were killed, the amount of predatory birds, such as red kites, fell dramatically. Why do some people feel the need to interfere with nature?

[Cataholic]

I think there's something weird about people who can find it enjoyable to watch something die and know that they killed it.

Very well put. I have YET to meet (and I am 40 years old) a 'hunter' that didn't make me go "hmmmm....".

[Karen]

I do not hunt deer, but do not see a problem with it, as it is a huge problem that we, the humans, have created. We hunted to near extinction all the white-tailed deer's natural predators - wolves are extremely rare back east (here), for example. I have seen deer, dying of starvation or dea by the side of the highway in upstate New York years ago. It is far less cruel to shoot a healthy animal and use its meat to feed people than to see the forest ecology destroyed, and the deer population slowly starving to death.

[Vela]

I do not hunt deer, but do not see a problem with it, as it is a huge problem that we, the humans, have created. We hunted to near extinction all the white-tailed deer's natural predators - wolves are extremely rare back east (here), for example. I have seen deer, dying of starvation or dea by the side of the highway in upstate New York years ago. It is far less cruel to shoot a healthy animal and use its meat to feed people than to see the forest ecology destroyed, and the deer population slowly starving to death.

Very well put. I agree with that. Whether it was wrong or not to kill off the natural predators, we can't change that at this point and the deer would all die of starvation if they weren't kept down in numbers by hunting. Since man has destroyed most of the natural predators for the deer population, we have to take its place or it messes everything else up too. I couldn't do it myself, but I don't mind if people do, providing they aren't doing it just to kill something, which to me is kinda sick of a person to want to do.

[Lobodeb]

I voted that I dislike it, but in truth, I dislike when it's done improperly. I totally despise bow hunting as I think you'd have to be an expert marksman to kill the animal instantly. I think the chances of the animal suffering are pretty high. I also don't like the idea of hitting an animal in the leg to wound it, chase it down as the poor thing is running for its life. But, as Glacier so eloquently put, if done properly, can be a huge blessing, especially when the whole animal is used.

I too, despise canned hunts, poaching and the like.

[Rio and Me]

I'm just going to say my opinion!
I agree with hunting if the animal is going to be used, is not endangered and if it is dont correctly!
I dont agree if it is just for fun, if you have no idea about what you are doing!
I have gone fox hunting on horseback with foxhounds, the last time i went sabatours were there and i must say how hypicritical they were, how can they be there protesting hunting is crulety when they throw nails/needle into the path of horses and dogs, shouting waving things frightening the horses and dogs, geting whipped in the face is payback!

Since hunting has slowed down (i know it still gos on), i have hit countless rabbits, pheshants (?spelling) and 3 fox's in my car, and seen thousands on the road, im not saying it didnt happen before, its just more so now its banned! fox's are more and more in the towns and MY GARDEN.
Rio has managed to catch and kill 2 rabbits (both had myxi)(fed to ferrets so they werent wasted), she wouldnt have stood a chance else!
I just think in the long term in the end they will regret there choice!
Ky
Ky

[Chilli]

I'm not fully against it, as long as they use ALL of the animal that they can.
I absolutely hate it when you see a dead deer in the woods whose just been killed for his horns/antlers. As long as the hunter uses as much of the animal as he can, then I don't have much of a problem with it.
I love target practicing with guns, but I'll never go hunting.

[luvofallhorses]

I seriously think it's cruel..especially how the dogs are treated. I mean some hunters take good care of them, but some don't and it breaks my heart.

[MomOf7]

I hunt with my dogs. Waterfowl and upland birds. Yes we use the meat. We also use the feathers and wings for training purposes. Not much is wasted.
We also do hunt tests which are simulated hunts where live ducks are used. The dead ones are taken by trainers and used for training purposes and used several times as they freeze them and re use them.
Sounds cruel sure. Its a lifestyle I guess you could say.

I think its more cruel to keep animals in too small of grounds in horrible conditions then go to the meat store to eat these poor animals. Thats more cruel than any hunt I have ever been on.
JMO

[dogzr#1]

Like many have said before me: As long as the whole animal is used, not just for the hide or antlers etc, then I'm ok with it. I'd rather see a deer shot once and it's life ended quickly, than it getting hit and living, and just living the rest of it's days in pain. But to just hunt for mere sport then that is cruel. Just my opinion.

[CagneyDog]

In most cases I am against hunting. Hunting is made a bit better if it is done for food but I still see no reason to do it. I rather let nature take it's course, and if that means that we are overrun by deer (which we wouldn't be if we didn't kill their predators by the way) then so be it. People need to leave nature alone.

[*LabLoverKEB*]

I agree with Sarah 100%. My dad is a fishermen, but not so much a hunter anymore...

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Hate it with a passion