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 5, 2012 at 12:36pm

As I said elsewhere, here in the Cleveland, area we have a problem with urban deer wandering around residential neighborhoods. They are just as unwise about traffic in town as they are out in the country. A wholesale deer hunt is needed by responsible hunters who can be counted on not to shoot people thinking they are deer.

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Permalink Reply by archaeopteryx on September 5, 2012 at 12:44pm

RE: "not to shoot people thinking they are deer."

I've personally always felt that people who think they are deer should be shot, but that's just me --

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Permalink Reply by James Cox on September 5, 2012 at 1:30pm

We have lots of deer here, if I see a dead one, the bodies(mostly) are on a road that is along the river, where the speed limit is higher. Else the deer are just on a afternoon walk, sometimes with their family, nibbling at what ever plant takes their fancy. It might help here to have lots of tree cover and rather dense forage.

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Permalink Reply by Ed on September 5, 2012 at 5:10pm

My brother in law grinds a small amount of hamburger meat in with his deer meat and they make fantastic burgers. The cow meat gives you just enough of the grease necessary to keep your bad cholesterol levels properly elevated.

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Permalink Reply by Ed on September 5, 2012 at 5:16pm

Not to get off topic or anything but did you know that there is a very small group of people who actually stop and harvest, eh, pick up, carcasses off the highways of more than just our country. There is a bloke in England who has a huge freezer full of all sort of road kill. He has a party every so often and invites fellow road kill enthusiasts over to sample the different entries. Would that be a taboo activity for you?

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Permalink Reply by archaeopteryx on September 5, 2012 at 5:53pm

I'd have to say that would depend on how long they'd been on the road before they made it to the freezer - and under no circumstances am I overly partial to skunk.

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Permalink Reply by archaeopteryx on September 5, 2012 at 5:59pm

Don't misunderstand me Ed, my Daddy used to take me hunting with him when I was just a kid, and at 12, I'd bought my own .410 with money from doing odd jobs. I've certainly shot my share of birds, rabbits, squirrels and deer. I fired "Expert" in the Army.

But like Clint Eastwood whispered in The Unforgiven, "I don't do that no more --"

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Permalink Reply by Melissa Mays on September 6, 2012 at 10:45pm

..hmmm. I have no problem with hunters killing deer, etc (in proper season). The caveat being.. if you're going to kill a little woodland creature, you should eat the meat (or give it to a hungry family who WILL) & the hide should be used in some fashion.. by someone..Don't be wasteful of a life you've chosen to take; without any real necessity whatsoever. In short, heading out on a trophy hunt, for no other reason than to mount some damned antlers on a piece of wood in your living room, is utterly reprehensible; plain and simple.