Hunting for Sport: Do you do it?

[Erenax]

Not for me, but I don't begrudge anyone their right to do it. Personally, I think using a gun to shoot an unsuspecting animal purely for sport is for cowards. If you're actually using all parts of the animal, then I'm ok with it.

[Aalyy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittman...estoration_Act

The money from the above bill and others like it have contributed more to the conservation of game animals in America and their habitat than all other organizations combined. 5.5 billion has been collected since 1937 which has purchased millions of acres of land for national parks.

Endangered species from around the world have been saved because hunters imported them to the US. In the 70s the Scimitar Horned Oryx went extinct in its natural habitat but because of game ranchers in Texas they have survived. Total population of Oryx in Texas in the 70s was 2,700 now its more than 12,000. All reintroduction attempts from various organizations started with animals purchased from these game ranches. Nilgai antelope also faced extinction now they thrive in there home habitats because of game ranches. Nearly half the entire population of Blackbuck antelope survive on game ranches in Texas. Whitetail deer, Wild Turkey, and Pronghorn antelope have all gone from nearly extinct to thriving in the US because of the billions payed by hunters that goes to their conservation.

Hunters have been a negative force in the past that cant be disputed but in the last 80 years hunters in America have become a large and wildly successful force for the conservation of natural habitat and species.

I'm not anti hunting but the argument that hunters contribute to conservation is really kind of over blown. Hunters conserve the animals they want to hunt. That may or may not conserve an actual functional ecosystem that provides societal benefits beyond just more game to hunt. Hunters and the hunting lobby are really self serving in this regard, sorry.

---------- Post added 2012-11-05 at 05:42 PM ----------

and at the end of the day, killing an animal for food is killing an animal for food. there is nothing more moral about a cow being killed than a deer. or a chicken.

True! The morality comes into play with how the animal is raised and treated prior to slaughter. Killing an animal for food isn't immoral. But allowing it to live a miserable life is.

[Sandrox]

I dont see how sitting in a tent in the cold waiting for an animal to cross your path to shoot qualifies as hunting. I also dont see how it could possibly be fun.

[ifrah]

Never had, and likely never will. However, as long as the purpose is to get food and the species and the amount of them getting shot is regulated (regulated in the scale of country/continent so that the populations are kept healthy), it's all good for me. If it is for trophies and/or endangered/vulnerable species, then I wish the animals had guns too.

[smelltheglove]

True! The morality comes into play with how the animal is raised and treated prior to slaughter. Killing an animal for food isn't immoral. But allowing it to live a miserable life is.

im pretty much a pragmatist, so i can kind of accept some stuff that increases efficiency. i do have my limits though. for example i wont eat veal, wear fur, etc. but that's my own line, i dont expect everyone else to have to hold to my lines in the sand

[Jaylock]

What do you think about Kobe Beef? Cows raised in great environments, massaged, fed great food, beer, and then slaughtered for the awesome meat. Its a very good Japanese meat.

[smelltheglove]

What do you think about Kobe Beef? Cows raised in great environments, massaged, fed great food, beer, and then slaughtered for the awesome meat. Its a very good Japanese meat.

no problem with that. not really any problem with the majority of beef farming practices. but some do cross the line for me, common veal farming methods being one of them

[UncleSilas]

Does hunting for cougars count.....?

[Noobadin]

What do you think about Kobe Beef? Cows raised in great environments, massaged, fed great food, beer, and then slaughtered for the awesome meat. Its a very good Japanese meat.

I think of it as the same as the cattle farms we have in the states with terrible conditions. Just because you make their short lived life on the planet that much more enjoyable for them, doesn't make killing them anymore nice or right. All it does is makes the humans feel better about do it...

[Reqq]

I think of it as the same as the cattle farms we have in the states with terrible conditions. Just because you make their short lived life on the planet that much more enjoyable for them, doesn't make killing them anymore nice or right. All it does is makes the humans feel better about do it...

Hmm, I think diet and living conditions don't make the aspect of killing the animal any less savage but I'm sure it does something to the quality and taste of the meat.

[UncleSilas]

I'd kill for eating but not for sport. I love meat and enjoy a variety of produce, but for enjoyment? Nah, just don't see the appeal of it all.

[juzalol]

I think hunting purely for sport is just stupid. You are basically killing
animals for no reason at all.

Been hunting / fishing plenty, always for the meat tho.

I mean if you will fight the animals bare handed then go ahead but shooting
one with a gun is hardly worth of taking a trophy for...

[Amsden]

Yes and I eat my kills. Wasting the meat is just shameful.

[Nathreim]

I'm not anti hunting but the argument that hunters contribute to conservation is really kind of over blown. Hunters conserve the animals they want to hunt. That may or may not conserve an actual functional ecosystem that provides societal benefits beyond just more game to hunt. Hunters and the hunting lobby are really self serving in this regard, sorry.

---------- Post added 2012-11-05 at 05:42 PM ----------

Name a person or organization who says it isn't self serving and Ill show you a liar. What does it matter if Hunters pay for conservation so they can continue to hunt they are still doing a better job than animal rights groups at protecting natural habitat in the United States. National Parks also receive large amounts of funds from hunting excise taxes.