Is it REALLY Hunting???
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Elder User
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From: Long Island USA
Is it REALLY Hunting???
I anticipate this opening a can of worms but I have to ask anyway.....I am a gun owner. I own a Glock 19 and a Bushmaster CAR-15 Shorty Carbine. I am not a gun nut nor do I dislike hunters or hunting. It's just not my "thing".
I have a question.....Is it REALLY hunting to "chase" down a unarmed animal and kill it just for the thrill, or to have it stuffed? If you are going to eat what you hunt I agree with that. Its just this hunting for "fun" or "a trophy" thing that kind of bothers me a little.
Why is it that on TV hunting shows AFTER they kill an animal they ALWAYS SAY "Isn't this a beautiful (whatever)?" NEWS FLASH....IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL (WHATEVER), NOW ITS JUST A DEAD ANIMAL. I think animals look better alive and in the wild, than dead.
Personally, I only consider it to be true "HUNTING" ......IF IT SHOOTS BACK!!!!!!
I have a question.....Is it REALLY hunting to "chase" down a unarmed animal and kill it just for the thrill, or to have it stuffed? If you are going to eat what you hunt I agree with that. Its just this hunting for "fun" or "a trophy" thing that kind of bothers me a little.
Why is it that on TV hunting shows AFTER they kill an animal they ALWAYS SAY "Isn't this a beautiful (whatever)?" NEWS FLASH....IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL (WHATEVER), NOW ITS JUST A DEAD ANIMAL. I think animals look better alive and in the wild, than dead.
Personally, I only consider it to be true "HUNTING" ......IF IT SHOOTS BACK!!!!!!
Last edited by 1999XLT; Jan 7, 2004 at 02:00 PM.
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From: Summit, NJ
I don't own any guns, but I have to agree with you. I don't believe in hunting for sport, fun, trophies, etc. I do fish and I either eat what I catch or throw back what I don't. Even when I go bluefishing, I don't feel bad about catching and not eating the fish because it's getting fillet'd (spelling?) and sold to buyers on the dock (the stuff we don't want to keep). Around here they do have hunts specifically to thin out the deer population. I don't know what happens to the deer, but I imagine alot of it is eaten. I don't see much point in killing something for sport/trophies/etc..
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Colorado
I like that. We need to have hunters thin out the deer population because we (the human race) have pretty much eradicated all of their natural predators. I have nothing against hunters or guns...just a disturbing thought.
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From: Summit, NJ
Yeah, it is pretty disturbing when you think about it. The only predator here in NJ is mostly automobile. They are overpopulated here where I live. You simply cannot drive without seeing them.. It can't be done.
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From: mesa, az
....Actually another name for Hunting would be Aspect of Wildlife Management... open it up to the public to help fund the management or pay a "professional" to cull the herds...Either way Bambi is gonna be dead.
...And yes it IS hunting...If they shoot back its called war.
...And yes it IS hunting...If they shoot back its called war.
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From: northern ca
I think there is much more "sport" in bowhunting.those guys are hardcore.
I think using dogs for "hunting" is stupid, and should be illegal in ALL states, for "sport hunting".
if someone lives, say, in the wilds of alaska, and has to kill their food though, I kinda think it should be almost"anything goes". most of us don't need to hunt to eat though, and "hunting" is a joke.
I think using dogs for "hunting" is stupid, and should be illegal in ALL states, for "sport hunting".
if someone lives, say, in the wilds of alaska, and has to kill their food though, I kinda think it should be almost"anything goes". most of us don't need to hunt to eat though, and "hunting" is a joke.
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A lot of farmers around here will pay hunters if they kill a deer on their property, because deer love to eat their crops.
I dont have a problem with that, or just shooting one for food. But i know some hunters who are just sadistic. If these guys walk out of their front door for work in the morning and see any kind of animal in view, they'll run and get their rifle and try to kill it. These are the guys who put gun racks to good use, if they're driving along and see some kind of animal on the side of the road they slam on the brakes, jump out commando style and open fire on the poor thing.
Not saying all of them are like that....but i've seen a lot who are. I guess thats why i never got into hunting, that sort of thing seems bizarre to me. Like what has to be going on in your life that shooting a completely defensless animal for no reason at all exites you?
I dont have a problem with that, or just shooting one for food. But i know some hunters who are just sadistic. If these guys walk out of their front door for work in the morning and see any kind of animal in view, they'll run and get their rifle and try to kill it. These are the guys who put gun racks to good use, if they're driving along and see some kind of animal on the side of the road they slam on the brakes, jump out commando style and open fire on the poor thing.
Not saying all of them are like that....but i've seen a lot who are. I guess thats why i never got into hunting, that sort of thing seems bizarre to me. Like what has to be going on in your life that shooting a completely defensless animal for no reason at all exites you?
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First of all have any of you ever tried hunting? It is not as easy as just walking outside and shooting the biggest deer (or whatever) in the county. Many hunters do it because it is a tradition and probably the only time all year when they can get together with their dads, cousins, uncles, etc.. without worrying about work or the rest of the world in general. I have hunted deer for over 15 years and in all that time I have only shot 3 deer. I could shoot a deer every year, but that part of the hunt isn't as important to me.
1970f2504X4,
Do you know the definition of the word hypocrite? You don't believe in hunting for any reason, but you fish, and worse yet you don't even eat what you keep? What is the difference in killing a deer, rabbit, goose, squirrel, ect.. and killing a fish?
Don't pass judgement on a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes, or in this case his hunting boots!
Longneck
1970f2504X4,
Do you know the definition of the word hypocrite? You don't believe in hunting for any reason, but you fish, and worse yet you don't even eat what you keep? What is the difference in killing a deer, rabbit, goose, squirrel, ect.. and killing a fish?
Don't pass judgement on a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes, or in this case his hunting boots!
Longneck
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Postmaster
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From: Conway Arkansas
Well, I'll put my 2 cents down on this subject
Sure it's not fair... life is that way.
But in a sense it is fair. If we leave them alone, they will over populate and die from lack of food. We are just "killing off the weaK" of this group.
For the true "Hunter" per say...
It's for fun. Not to be mean. I spend many days in the woods every year hunting. I can say I didn't get one deer this year. I passed up a lot of Doe (illegal this year, and i follow the rules)
and I even let one big buck walk, because he was to far off and I didnt want to take the chance.
Going hunting isn't just about killing a deer/animal.
It's about taking a break from this hectic world and relaxing out in nature.
I can't stand hunters who kill a deer just for the rack, and let the rest rot. But if they kill a deer for the rack, and give the meat away... fine by me.
Just don't waste an animal.
I have never wasted an animal that I've killed, I got some use out of it.
For those that waste food, or whatever, just shooting something for the fun of that... that IS NOT hunting, that's just being plain mean
Sure it's not fair... life is that way.
But in a sense it is fair. If we leave them alone, they will over populate and die from lack of food. We are just "killing off the weaK" of this group.
For the true "Hunter" per say...
It's for fun. Not to be mean. I spend many days in the woods every year hunting. I can say I didn't get one deer this year. I passed up a lot of Doe (illegal this year, and i follow the rules)
and I even let one big buck walk, because he was to far off and I didnt want to take the chance.
Going hunting isn't just about killing a deer/animal.
It's about taking a break from this hectic world and relaxing out in nature.
I can't stand hunters who kill a deer just for the rack, and let the rest rot. But if they kill a deer for the rack, and give the meat away... fine by me.
Just don't waste an animal.
I have never wasted an animal that I've killed, I got some use out of it.
For those that waste food, or whatever, just shooting something for the fun of that... that IS NOT hunting, that's just being plain mean
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From: Near Bloom, PA
First of all have any of you ever tried hunting? It is not as easy as just walking outside and shooting the biggest deer (or whatever) in the county. Many hunters do it because it is a tradition and probably the only time all year when they can get together with their dads, cousins, uncles, etc.. without worrying about work or the rest of the world in general. I have hunted deer for over 15 years and in all that time I have only shot 3 deer. I could shoot a deer every year, but that part of the hunt isn't as important to me.
I agree with this. My family has always hunted. I just started hunting 4 years ago, and I regret that everyone else got to hunt with my grandfather and I didn't (he passed away before I got the chance). I like being in the woods with my husband's family, it's the only time no one is bickering about anything or worrying about the everyday problems.
In 4 years, I have shot one deer (a doe). It's in the freezer, and this year mad cow/irate pig/angry chicken disease will not be a concern for me. There is quite a sense of accomplishment in providing food for one's family, more so than buying it at the store. Probably because one is involved with every aspect, from hunting the animal to processing and butchering to putting it on the table.
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From: The Star-Club, Hamburg
I am not a hunter, and I do not even own any guns, but I have no problem with people who RESPONSIBLY want to hunt game. I have a group of hunters that I have known for years that come to hunt my land. They clean up after themselves, they do not shoot at anything that moves, and most important to me, they keep the deer population thinned. I totally agree with substituting the term "Wildlife Management" for "hunting" Overpopulation of wild game leads to all sorts of problems.
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From: Summit, NJ
Originally posted by Longneck
1970f2504X4,
Do you know the definition of the word hypocrite? You don't believe in hunting for any reason, but you fish, and worse yet you don't even eat what you keep? What is the difference in killing a deer, rabbit, goose, squirrel, ect.. and killing a fish?
Don't pass judgement on a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes, or in this case his hunting boots!
Longneck
1970f2504X4,
Do you know the definition of the word hypocrite? You don't believe in hunting for any reason, but you fish, and worse yet you don't even eat what you keep? What is the difference in killing a deer, rabbit, goose, squirrel, ect.. and killing a fish?
Don't pass judgement on a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes, or in this case his hunting boots!
Longneck
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From: West Texas
i agree.....the key in hunting or fishing or anything else regarding wildlife/nature/ecology is responsibility. If you abide by the rules, and do whatever it is reponsibly...then its okay. its when people don't follow rules and aren't responsible that things go bad.
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From: Colorado
Originally posted by 2Bowers
(Other Bower here)
I agree with this. My family has always hunted. I just started hunting 4 years ago, and I regret that everyone else got to hunt with my grandfather and I didn't (he passed away before I got the chance). I like being in the woods with my husband's family, it's the only time no one is bickering about anything or worrying about the everyday problems.
(Other Bower here)
I agree with this. My family has always hunted. I just started hunting 4 years ago, and I regret that everyone else got to hunt with my grandfather and I didn't (he passed away before I got the chance). I like being in the woods with my husband's family, it's the only time no one is bickering about anything or worrying about the everyday problems.
I do in fact agree with you though...I have hunted most of my life, and those are some of the most memorable times I have. Many of those I hunted with are gone now, and I cherish the times we got to spend together.
As for the question of "Is it really hunting?", I ask what do you want us to do if not use firearms? Want us to chase them down, wrestle them to the ground, then bite their throat until they are dead? I agree that would be sporting, but rather cruel........ I'd starve since I can't run that fast!
Last edited by rikfish; Jan 7, 2004 at 03:05 PM.