I like fishing, but cannot decide whether hunting for deer etc is okay, because it isn't as if we need to?

Question

Plenty of meat is available in the shops, so why kill live game? In the past it was different, but do you think that shooting at clay pigeons and targets would be the right thing to do?
Look whats happened to the animals in Africa because of the greedy rich's bloodthirsty "sport".
Culling in some places makes sense--it goes on in Scotland at the Queens balmoral grounds. I'd like to hear your opinions, thanks.

Answer 1

I understand your deleima. But you have to look at hunting and fishing not just as a face value. What I mean by that is don't look at hunting just at the one point of shooting and killing an animal, there is much more to a hunt than that. Similar with fishing don't look at the single point of hooking the big one and reeling it in. There is much more involved.

Hunting involves the planning the scouting the analysis of your planning and scouting. Calling a deer or elk in can be just as rewarding as actually shooting the animal. Stalking an animal from some distance and being close enough to get a shot or potential shot with a bow i find is more rewarding than actually getting an animal. While being out in the field a person can have a relaxing time enjoying the great outdoors. Hunters can also see fluxuations in populations from year to year and can assist in restructuring and managing these resources.


Also hunters and anglers can be powerful voices with regards to conservation and management of the resources. They have a better idea what is going on out in the field. Personally I'd rather trust a representative from ducks unlimited to tell me soemthing about waterfowl than an anti hunter who just doesn't want to see animals killed. True hunters and anglers want to see the traditions passed on to their next of kin so the invest many hours into protecting these privlages.

Now is the venision or fish neccesary for my survival, no but its a healthy alternative and its local and with people wanting to more ecological or eat more local foods well hunting and fishing is the way to go.

Hunting specifically is also a great management tool for problem wildlife. Setting up extra archery seasons in places with high deer populations can be benificial for the health of the heard as well as people's property.

The problem with hunting and fishing is you have a few bad apples and everyone focuses on them. Logical people would see past this and know they are only bad apples and that the rest of the people enjoying these past times are responsible people.

Now your comment on african hunting and culling in scotland are out of context here. Afican hunting is not as regulated as those countries need tourist dollars. Here in North America its much more regulated and conservation is a big part now.

Hunting in North America is different than Africa or scotland socially and economically.

To recap, there is nothing wrong with hunting and fishing acutally it should be incouraged as it helps build ties to the outdoors with people who are becoming to city folk....By getting people into the outdoors they will realize what they are missing and will try to protect it more hopefullly. In all hunting is good management and protection of our natural resources


hope that helps

Answer 2

That meat in the shops has to come from somewhere. Whether anyone admits it or not, you can't live your life without causing pain and suffering or death to something somewhere. That beef in the store most likely lived it's short, painful life in a pen somewhere, and then went off on a crowded truck to the slaughterhouse. There, it waited in a line to get shot in the neck with compressed air until it stopped moving.

The deer, on the other hand, hopefully lived a long and somewhat healthy life until a hunter spotted it, took careful aim, and shot in in the heart or lungs, and without blood the brain dies. It never saw it coming, it wasn't raised in a pit of it's own fecies only to die so we could eat it, and this, in my eyes, is far more humane than beef farming.

Granted, because of the high population, not everyone can take part in such humane meat gathering practices, but those that do will inflict so much less suffering on cows than would otherwise exist.

Hunting is very controlled, and pretty much all of the money from licenses and tags goes right back into the environmental conservation effort. Without revenue from hunting and fishing, very few states would fund their DNR, parks would be in ruin, and there would be many more poachers. Animal populations would go out of control, and disease would wipe out large contingents of them every year.

Looking at what's happening in West Virginia now because of the deer overpopulation there, I'd much rather be shot and die. If you're not familiar with it, do a search for epizootic hemorrhagic disease. Then another for chronic wasting disease or mad deer disease. It's much worse than being shot, as far as I'm concerned. The DNR is fighting to prevent an outbreak in the deer population, but can only do so much themselves. They're somewhat dependent on people thinning the population in order to keep disease from spreading too fast.

Answer 3

Here in the southwesterm Mo Ozark Mountains there are so many deer that several hundred accidents a year are caused by them and cars colliding. The hunting season thins them out so there are fewer of them on the roadways. Besides which , venison is much leaner and tastier than beef or any other meat you can buy in the shops. Some families that I know personally depend on the wild game they hunt each year to feed their family.Everyone in the family hunts and even the 9 year old children have gotten their own deer to contribute to the family table.

Answer 4

It is your right and your decison to make. You are going to feel the way you do regardless of what we or anyone else for that matter tells you. We as Hunters, would request the same respect and consideration from you. The sad part is your references to what is going on in Africa and Scotland are without any personal knowledge or experience other than what you have read. This is quite obvious by what you "don't "say... How can you justify killing fish yet condemn others for the taking of wild game ? What Sir, is the difference ? Bit of a double standard don't you think?

Answer 5

Hunting for deer in most places in the US is now mandatory to keep deer-population in check.

DNR would have to take a TON of deer ANYWAY (each year) if no one hunted.

Deer, rabbit, squirrel, possum, racoon, are prolific because they feed off our grain.
I read an article stating that there are more deer & small game currently in the US than at the turn of the century!

Imagine that.

PS: Most wild-game is better for you than any store-bought "raised" meat.

Answer 6

Keep in mind venison is also not loaded up with steroids that are mixed in with a lot of the feed given to animals that are slaughtered, processed and presented to you at the store. Thanks but i think my family and i will stick with the all natural meats i harvest through deer season. Not only that its also just sound conservation practice as well to keep the animals healthy by thinning their population anually. A heck of a lot less cases of CWD(chronic wasting disease) are reported in areas where the number of deer are within check than in areas where they are overpopulated. So yes i'd like to see you go hunting. If you have kids, take them with you, i do. Teach them sound conservation practices. hunting and fishing usually sparks their interests the best in these fields. Same goes for you single mothers and fathers as well. Take your kids hunting and fishing, teach them sound conservation practices. If you harvest more than you and your family need, share it with those less fortunate.

Kate L: Not eliminated. Conservatively harvested. Illinois needs to lift its shotguns only during firearms deer season until the numbers are back within check. Just a bit of friendly advice.

Answer 7

I like hunting, but cannot decide whether fishing for salmon etc is okay, because it isn't as if we need to?
Plenty of fish is available in the shops, so why kill live fish?

Get the point?

Answer 8

The deer population is overcrowded in Arkansas. One ran into my car several months ago causing damage & I always have a deer whistle attached to the grill of the car. I'm thankful no humans were injured in the accident. It was sad to see the mangled deer thrown off the road.
But to answer your question...God put them here for us to eat. Read Genesis.

Answer 9

Go ahead and hunt. You will have to get a licence[ ?] and the funds that are derived from that fund forest , fish and game management. You will be restricted as to when you can hunt and what you can take. Go for it. I live in Texas and I do not hunt. I just fish.

Answer 10

As long as you eat the animal then I believe it is okay to kill it. I think people who simply hunt for the trophy are killing for the wrong reasons.
The meat on the shelf had to be killed to, so what's the difference as long as it's eaten.