I Am Ashamed Of My Country

[VTJess03]

Well, since this is the Dog House, here's a dissenting opinion on hunting in general I don't like seal hunting, for the record, since I have never heard that seals are a nuisance species, nor do the hunters usually use the meat, to my knowledge, and I think that is terribly wasteful. If you are going to kill an animal, you must be a good steward of that resource, and that involves taking more than a trophy or, in this case, the hide.

Firstly, hunting supervision is impractical; however, hunting regulation is necessary...here, the hunter's have to take a hunter safety course before they can buy a license (involves gun safety, tag/bag laws, non-trespassing, etc), and then they have to obey their limits on how many animals of each species they can take. This system not only provides funding to the enforcement agency (game wardens, etc), but also to fish hatcheries that stock sport fish (trout mostly, here).

I view hunting as necessary; we have overtaken the land on which these wild animals (deer and black bear here) should have been able to live. When we push them away, then we increase population density which increases disease pressure. Also, we have moved the animals then into a situation through which they can attack our food supply (deer devastate apple orchards, vineyards, gardens, etc.). In order to protect the vegetables and fruits, we have to dissuade the wildlife, and often the best way to do this is to shoot the wildlife, put it in the freezer and enjoy all the benefits of lean, healthy, all-natural meat.

In particular, black bears are becoming a nuisance species here, since for so long, people objected to hunting them. We have had deer go in the supermarket, bear go in the hospital (very humorous afterwards, but very dangerous during the intrusion). You only have to look at places like Yosemite National Park to realize the danger that nuisance bears put themselves and people in. There has to be something done about this; the animals need to fear humans, not view them as an easy source of food. The best way to do this, I believe, is to increase hunting pressure and remove the nuisance animals from the semi-wild.

If the animals were not so crowded in their natural habitat, they would not be coming out of it looking for food. It was a human-caused situation, so the humans have a responsibility to regulate the solution.

[CagneyDog]

The human race caused so many problems with hunting and regulating what they have done now will just cause more.

[Lori Jordan]

I am very discusted with the hunting going on and how it is done....A friend of mine was just recently on vacation in Australia while there she accidently hit a Koala,she called whomever the city i suppose and they came out and picked the animal off the road and threw it into the back of there truck,she says that hitting one is like hitting a raccoon here,and same as Kangaroo's there like the deer and im kinda mad at that statement there a living thing there beautiful animals they should have more respect.they say the Koala's arnt liked because i guess they carrie alot of a human know std Chlamydia?

[JenBKR]

Well, since this is the Dog House, here's a dissenting opinion on hunting in general I don't like seal hunting, for the record, since I have never heard that seals are a nuisance species, nor do the hunters usually use the meat, to my knowledge, and I think that is terribly wasteful. If you are going to kill an animal, you must be a good steward of that resource, and that involves taking more than a trophy or, in this case, the hide.

Firstly, hunting supervision is impractical; however, hunting regulation is necessary...here, the hunter's have to take a hunter safety course before they can buy a license (involves gun safety, tag/bag laws, non-trespassing, etc), and then they have to obey their limits on how many animals of each species they can take. This system not only provides funding to the enforcement agency (game wardens, etc), but also to fish hatcheries that stock sport fish (trout mostly, here).

I view hunting as necessary; we have overtaken the land on which these wild animals (deer and black bear here) should have been able to live. When we push them away, then we increase population density which increases disease pressure. Also, we have moved the animals then into a situation through which they can attack our food supply (deer devastate apple orchards, vineyards, gardens, etc.). In order to protect the vegetables and fruits, we have to dissuade the wildlife, and often the best way to do this is to shoot the wildlife, put it in the freezer and enjoy all the benefits of lean, healthy, all-natural meat.

In particular, black bears are becoming a nuisance species here, since for so long, people objected to hunting them. We have had deer go in the supermarket, bear go in the hospital (very humorous afterwards, but very dangerous during the intrusion). You only have to look at places like Yosemite National Park to realize the danger that nuisance bears put themselves and people in. There has to be something done about this; the animals need to fear humans, not view them as an easy source of food. The best way to do this, I believe, is to increase hunting pressure and remove the nuisance animals from the semi-wild.

If the animals were not so crowded in their natural habitat, they would not be coming out of it looking for food. It was a human-caused situation, so the humans have a responsibility to regulate the solution.

I feel the exact same way - I don't agree with the seal hunt, but God put animals on the earth for us to eat. Besides, hunting is more humane than the way commercial animals are killed for the meat you get in the grocery store.

[king2005]

Seal hunts have been going on in Canada, before europeans even came here. Nothing to hate the country about. Maybe being dissapointed is a better word.

[carole]

If you feel ashamed about something your country continues to do despite so many other countries being against it, then you should speak up and say so, i too am ashamed of things my country does at times, but i am still proud of the good things my country does too and would be the first to say so either way.

Killing baby seals in this manner is cruel , horrific and barbaric and it is time in this day and age it was stopped, sure there are many more terrible things going on this world today, some much worse, however we cannot change everything all at once, but we can at least try,signing the petition is one way, although it seems not to be getting through.

I am unaware that cows and sheep are killed in the freezing works in a cruel manner, to my knowledge this is not the case here in NZ, if it is I will be the first to stand in line and do something about it.

I do not understand all the reasons for the cull myself, but i do know i will not support the method in which these poor babies are murdered.

[moosmom]

I do not understand all the reasons for the cull myself, but i do know i will not support the method in which these poor babies are murdered.

I totally agree with you, Carole. A hunt with guns is one thing. But the way they kill and skin these precious creatures alive is totally INHUMANE and should be stopped!!!

[jackie]

Killing baby seals in this manner is cruel , horrific and barbaric

¨The hunting of harp seal pups (whitecoats) and hooded seal pups (bluebacks) is illegal – and has been since 1987. Marine Mammal Regulations prohibit the trade, sale or barter of the fur of these pups. Furthermore, adult seals cannot be harvested when they are in breeding or birthing grounds and younger seals must be weaned, self-reliant and independent¨

Source.

[CagneyDog]

¨The hunting of harp seal pups (whitecoats) and hooded seal pups (bluebacks) is illegal – and has been since 1987. Marine Mammal Regulations prohibit the trade, sale or barter of the fur of these pups. Furthermore, adult seals cannot be harvested when they are in breeding or birthing grounds and younger seals must be weaned, self-reliant and independent¨

Source.

What people are saying is that laws are not inforced and the hunt is not regulated enough.