question!? :)

[shepgirl]

I'm not for hunting deer either, although I do understand what Karen posted. But no one in the family hunts, and when I go somewhere and see a deer head mounted on a wall it does affect me negatively.
I also don't like to hear the stories about how they build blinds and hide till the mom appears and leads them to the babies that they then shoot. If you hunt and eat your kill that's one thing, but to kill just to brag about it, then I consider it wrong. And the one thing that burns me the most is that when a group of hunters start packing for their hunting trip, the first thing they pack are the cases of beer.
Over here, hunting with dogs is strictly forbidden because of the damage the dogs can do to a deer and then it escapes hurt. Or the dog chases the deer and maims it so the hunter can shoot it. But not all areas prohibits this horrid custom, to me that isn't hunting, no fair play for the deer, some of the dogs get pretty gruesome when they get turned loose.

[Medusa]

I feel the same way about bow hunting. Every hunter I've spoken to that bow hunts has admitted that at least once they've injured the deer but didn't kill it. So it ran off to die an agonizing death. But it's that macho thing again and the deer suffer because of it.

[Taz_Zoee]

Well, I think Twisterdog said it much better than I did. And I hope you (or anyone) didn't think I was critizing hunters, after all I have some in my family.
And as I said, I do eat meat, and I think I've probably eaten deer at some point in my life too.

Anyway, back to the main topic of this thread. I just hope you and your guy friend can keep an open line of communication about this subject and just agree to respect each others views.

[carole]

Yes i agree do tell him how you feel about it, and if he is a decent guy he will respect that and not talk about it too much.

I wish i could say i am a vegetarian, because i hate that we humans seem to have to kill everything in site, for our own benefit,but it would be hypocritical of me to say it is wrong, besides Karen told me something i did not know,about the starving deers, that would not be a nice sight indeed, so maybe it is necessary culling.

We have to kill possums in NZ because they are a pest and cause damage to the environment etc, and although not eaten their skins are used,but they are the cutest little creatures ever and it still makes me sad.

[jackie]

OK, I understand why some of you are against hunting, but what do you have against beer?!?

When I got camping or to the beach the first thing I usually pack is beer, so why shouldn't hunters?

[Karen]

OK, I understand why some of you are against hunting, but what do you have against beer?!?

When I got camping or to the beach the first thing I usually pack is beer, so why shouldn't hunters?

Beer + firearms = tragedy waiting to happen

Its not beer itself that's the problem!

[jackie]

Beer + firearms = tragedy waiting to happen

Its not beer itself that's the problem!

Actually thought of that after I posted.

[sparks19]

I feel the same way about bow hunting. Every hunter I've spoken to that bow hunts has admitted that at least once they've injured the deer but didn't kill it. So it ran off to die an agonizing death. But it's that macho thing again and the deer suffer because of it.

it's not just a macho thing... I know a lot of women that hunt also.

I don't know... I guess being married into a family that is full of hunters changes my perspective... but none of the men in this family are "macho"... they are good, down to earth people... good fathers.... wonderful husbands.... not macho in the least.

ETA: our uncle has a deer head on his wall... he didn't shoot the deer just so he could hang the head on the wall... he ate it...and it was his very first deer so he mounted the head. Nothing wrong with that and that doesn't make him macho or inhumane.

[sparks19]

Beer + firearms = tragedy waiting to happen

Its not beer itself that's the problem!

I don't agree with drinking before hunting or while hunting... but if they are gone for a weekend hunting trip... what is the problem with drinking at the camp after the hunt is over for the day? and any responsible hunter would never touch a beer before or during a hunt... but there is no problem with drinking after the day is done.

I drink while I fish

[Medusa]

My point is not anti-beer. My point is that the hunters that I know brag that they hunt to thin out the deer due to overpopulation, to save vegetation, etc. But if they drink beer even after the hunt, then in my estimation, it goes under the category of sport and not for any altruistic reasons. And even if they don't drink beer, it still is a sporting event to them. I don't speak for hunters and I don't speak about all hunters. I speak merely from my experience of knowing and talking to hunters, both male and female. Without exception, they have not made their case satisfactorily to me that they do it for any reason other than fun. I do not think that hunters are bad people. The hunters that I know are also good, hard working people. That doesn't negate the fact that they hunt for sport and the deer heads mounted on their walls speak volumes about their motive, certainly louder than their protests that they do it for the ecology.

[sparks19]

My point is not anti-beer. My point is that the hunters that I know brag that they hunt to thin out the deer due to overpopulation, to save vegetation, etc. But if they drink beer even after the hunt, then in my estimation, it goes under the category of sport and not for any altruistic reasons. And even if they don't drink beer, it still is a sporting event to them. I don't speak for hunters and I don't speak about all hunters. I speak merely from my experience of knowing and talking to hunters, both male and female. Without exception, they have not made their case satisfactorily to me that they do it for any reason other than fun. I do not think that hunters are bad people. The hunters that I know are also good, hard working people. That doesn't negate the fact that they hunt for sport and the deer heads mounted on their walls speak volumes about their motive, certainly louder than their protests that they do it for the ecology.

i see your point ... but I don't really care about their reasons... either way they ARE helping to thin out the population and curb starvation... whether they know it or not.

[jennielynn1970]

I grew up in the Pocono Mountains, and while I am not a hunter, nor will ever be one, my father, brother, cousins, grandparents (great grandmother was an excellent shot) all hunted. We ate and they still do eat venison on a regular basis.

I do not think that hunting just for "sport" is humane or ethical. If someone is hunting for food for their family, like my family did, I do think it is ok. They've hunted deer, bear, rabbit, pheasant, and all those kinds of wildlife. I've had moose and even reindeer in my past (a family I lived with in Sweden were hunters as well, and hunted these).

There is an over abundance of deer in our area. I do not like to see them hit on the highway. I do not like to see them hunted for sport. I'm not a fan of hunters who use a bow and arrow... I don't think there is enough of a guarantee that the deer, or whatever animal, will be killed quickly enough to not suffer. Not that one shot with a rifle does either, but hopefully quicker.

I haven't dated a hunter in years. Probably since I moved away from the Poconos over 14 years ago. When I do buy meat, which is not very often, I actually prefer to buy meat at the Halal market. It may seem silly to buy meat at the halal market, but I know it's supposed to have been killed according to the Muslim and Jewish way that is merciful.

[IRescue452]

I always figured hunting was better than slaughterhouse conditions. Carnivores hunting is natural, keeping thousands of cows in a pen in flatened jungle is not. So I figure eating meat from more natural sources is better than from other sources. That's just my train of thought. I ate bear meat this christmas for the first time. My uncle hunts for food, he's kinda a strange mountain man. He's got mounted heads and whatnot. There's not a large byproduct industry for the non-edible remains of hunted animals, so what else is he going to do besides discard the head?

[Genny]

I just read all this and I totally understand what Karen and several others meant when you were talking about the over population of deers. That's why the guys (my mom and dad's friends) say they all hunt and they have done it for years. Like a lot of you said you can't talk about hunters if you eat chicken/fish/beef and I also eat meat. Chicken has to be one of my favorite foods I think it's alright if you hunt to feed your family, but for the sport of it? I don't like that. And the deer heads on the walls are just so sad to look at. I guess if my dad, grandpa, uncle or brother had always hunted then it probably wouldn't bother me like it does. but then you guys bring up chickens and cows and how animals we eat are mistreated and that's terrible to think about too. If everyone else would stop eating meat I would too and I know you guys would, but that's never gonna happen, so......
anyway it was good to hear all of ya'lls opinions about this! Thanks. oh and I wanted to make sure you all know I don't have anything against deer hunters...I would never do it and I don't like to talk/think about it but I know hunters are like everyone else and some of them are probably the sweetest people in the world.. so it's nothing against them I just didn't know how to go about it with this guy...I didn't really know what to say at first. but I'll let you all know how things go later on and thanks!!!!

[Twisterdog]

i see your point ... but I don't really care about their reasons... either way they ARE helping to thin out the population and curb starvation... whether they know it or not.

I agree. Who cares if there is a deer head on the wall in den? Who does that harm? It's their home.

And, whether they brag about how big the deer was to their buddies or not, the end result is the same.

Like people who recycle aluminum cans not to save the planet and help the environment, but because they want a little extra spending money to play bingo or buy a pack of gum. Who cares?? It doesn't matter why they do it, aluminum is STILL being recycled and not put into a landfill. Why begrudge them their pack of gum? Doing the right thing for the "wrong" reason is still far better than doing the wrong thing.