What are you're thoughts on recreational hunting?

Here's the thing. In my state of Pennsylvania, every year, schools are closed on the first day of deer season. I cant drive down the road without seeing a bloody carcass laying in the back of someone's pickup truck this time of the year.

Have you ever wondered why we still hunt? Or better yet, why do we do it for fun? Scientifically speaking, we our omnivores and  hunting wild game is not necessary. Especially considering all of the processed foods that we have today. I'm not going to lie..I love venison. lol I just find it completely ridiculous to actually make a sport out of hunting.

There are various reasons most people give for going out hunting this time of the year. Most people say it is to enjoy nature. My thoughts are...cant you enjoy nature without killing it? People often go hunting because of family tradition, or maybe just the thrill of it all. you know, as if being a complex being with a gun is a fair fight.

Also, I find it a little disturbing how desensitized people are to killing living things. We are all living things, what makes a human more sacred? And what is it about the human mind that gets pleasure out of making the kill? Is it an acomplishment? A right of passage? Probably. Personally, I just think that it goes to show us how barbaric we as humans still are. Some of us in particular have a lot more evolving to do.

Here's something else. I find it interesting how our government gets to make a profit off of our licenses to go hunting every year. The department of conservation even says that hunting is necessary to control the population of wild game. What exactly are they afraid of? Natural balance? Why do they feel that we have to play god?

I used to go hunting. I grew up into it. Every male member of my father's side of the family has been hunting ever since they were twelve years old, and until recently, I was no exception. I never really liked it. not because I'm vegan, or obsessed with animal rights or anything, I just never enjoyed getting up early in the morning and freezing my ass off in the woods for hours on end. That's another point. What kind of hunting is it when all you have to do is sit there with a loaded firearm? ah, but I am getting off of the subject again. anyway, the reason I went hunting when I was younger was because of our family tradition, but mostly because my father worked a lot of hours and the only time I got to spend with him, were our hunting trips to the cabin.

Well, that was my rant for now..I'm sure I'll have more to add later.

I'm looking forward to everyone's opinion on this mater.

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Permalink Reply by Unseen on September 1, 2012 at 9:45pm

Yeah, but for big game, not woodchucks.

Permalink Reply by James Lee Wilson on September 1, 2012 at 10:34pm

While I do understand that you did say "who am I to judge," I want to simply state that honestly, who cares about affirming masculinity? If that's what someone wants to do, it is a very natural phenomenon and dates back very far. If someone wants to show their strength, why is that a bad thing? Ultimately, intellectuals are consistently trying to show off their intelligence in debates and such, and I'm fine with that BTW, but my point is that everyone tries to show off what they have one way or another. It seems the only people who are against it are just being pompous. Not that you are, I'm simply stating that it's usually the case and was wanting to state it here. 

Permalink Reply by Ed on September 2, 2012 at 12:25pm

Wow, now I understand why those Sunday church goers look so proud exiting the church after sitting under those phallic steeples.

Permalink Reply by James Lee Wilson on September 1, 2012 at 10:27pm
@ James Cox... Oh my fucking god. Grow the hell up. Do you have any idea just how horrible your precious mother nature truly is? You've clearly been living in the suburbs for far too long. Everything isn't all sunshine and roses out there, and what's funny about that saying, is that roses aren't that great. They have thorns that hurt like hell, so even the saying that represents beauty, still has an underline of pain. You wouldn't last a day out in the wild without air conditioning, so don't even begin to try and reference to your love of nature or someone else's lack there of.
Permalink Reply by James Cox on September 1, 2012 at 11:42pm

We live in the country! Most of our property is under a protected habitat classification, with three wetlands, endangered plants and threatened animal species. We are beginning the process for long term protection for environmental education. Our property has been in the family for 3 generations. 

I grew up with family members who considered animals and environment as only for human exploitation and consumption! I learned to hunt and fish early in life, and know how to butcher a deer or other animal as needed. We have lots of deer and other animals on our property. In memory, we had had up to 6 deer in the yard at one time, with the house nearly rumbling with their hoofs as they walk around. I have had to bury two fawns so far due to accidental death, which tore me up due to their beauty. As I have matured, my desire for preservation and non-exploitation has grown. While I can understand the practical issues involved with hunting, I will not apologize for my opinion of  your rather light hearted attitude to other life. Such an attitude is a revulsion to me, and attempting to frame it into some self endulging 'right', is yet one more revulsion.

Take what you need, but no more! Do not make rationalizations like it is some 'right', or fall back onto 'tradition, as if this can ever justify anything except more of the same. Do not turn 'hunting' or 'killing' into some alternative to religion. It can be considered a practical issue for life preservation, of humans. If I have to, I can take a life, but I will not frame into anything else than survival.

Other than this, I am sorry for my shortness. I am sickened to the heart with the ugliness that has become a norm for our culture. Some things I can not change.

Do what you 'must', thrive if you can.    

Permalink Reply by Ed on September 2, 2012 at 12:33pm

As a fellow mammal in nature I consider my efficient dispatch of an animal a humane act that helps support my survival. I pulled my dog off another smaller dog that had wandered onto our property the other day. She was very close to ripping the victim's throat apart. That is the viciousness of nature and the stark reality of predatory life. It isn't a pretty picture but it works very well indeed.

Permalink Reply by Ed on September 2, 2012 at 12:43am

@ Dale Headley

Perhaps you as well didn't read thoroughly my post. Here is my address to Mr Cox for your own perusal:

Mr. Cox,

I will retort to your sarcasm. I believe you meant "ambiguity" and there is nothing ambiguous about a varmint being classified as a nuisance. Try the phrase vermin under Wikipedia. If you cared for and tended to fruit trees and vinifera only to have it invaded by marauding raccoon and possum you would clearly understand my classification system. In that context they are certainly not dear cute animals.

You must of skipped over the parts of my post where I explained my philosophy on the taking of game animals:

" I am adamantly opposed to big game thrill hunting where there is no need for the meat from a sustenance standpoint. Outside of nuisance varmints I eat what I kill. There is no thrill in the actual death of the animal."

Contrary to your personal beliefs there still is a place in our society for the hunter-gatherer to exist. I don't pretend to be palio-Indians or drink beer and snipe hunt. Wine is more my style. I show no trophies or brag about killing an animal. You evidently haven't had the opportunity to  be in contact with hunters of my ilk who take shooting an animal seriously and with no need for bravado or pats on the back.

Your sarcasm was unwarranted and not appreciated. I can respect a vegan lifestyle. My neighbors are strict vegans and we have mutual respect for one another. Something tells me it is a good thing you are not my neighbor.

Additionally Dale, you posted:

"The REAL reason is that they are human beings that have not yet fully evolved from their evolutionary past as meat-eating predators.  And that instinct is not satiated by buying their meat in the supermarket."

Your statement that being a hunter-gatherer is no longer a valid role is just your opinion. I prefer fresh venison or squirrel meat to that hormone stuffed product found at the grocery stores. Predation is a fact of life in nature and serves a finely tuned purpose. Whether I eat the squirrel or a bobcat does makes no difference to the squirrel. It is still dead and serving the purpose of providing sustenance. You intolerant vegans need to take a chill pill. My neighbors are vegan and they see no need for such bitter rhetoric and sarcasm.

 

 

Permalink Reply by James Cox on September 3, 2012 at 1:00pm

We have raccoon, possum, coyote, redtailed hawk, one eagle species, etc. Even the occasional large cat has come through, but so far no issues to report. The number of prey species is large, so I expect that the effect of the predator species is reduced. We have lost four chickens, and one cat(our tom was a scraper-expect he crossed a coyote), over the last ten years. The chickens we let them go free range once the cost of feed was excessive. I am not sure if your situation is profoundly different than ours, or your local version of civilization has been more distructive to the environment and animal populations. Our two black labs might be a little off putting for the predators and prey. 

We are not vegan, but we do have an organic garden, which is slowly becoming a real source of food. So take a chill pill, I know there are truely 'intolerant' people some where.  

Permalink Reply by Doug Reardon on September 2, 2012 at 7:17pm

I think two recreational hunters should just hunt each other.  They obviously get a lotta joy out of shooting and killing something, they should make a true hunt for survival, that should really add to the thrill of the hunt, at least for the one who survives.

Permalink Reply by James Lee Wilson on September 2, 2012 at 8:23pm
I love it when people say this. You claim to be all about life, yet you would rather a human die than an animal. That is the true meaning of sick. again, read some posts prior to this for proof as to why people don't want a fair fight.
Permalink Reply by Doug Reardon on September 4, 2012 at 2:48pm

That was not a serious statement, it was meant to be ironic.

Permalink Reply by Unseen on September 2, 2012 at 10:56pm

That'll never happen, but perhaps it could be worked out what combination of weapons would make the fight roughly sporting. A man fighting a grizzly bear, for example, armed with a bear protective (but not proof) suit and, say, a sword or club or 22 cal pistol. I think what bothers most nonhunters is the fact that most hunting is done by blindsiding or ambushing the animal.

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