Hunting / Pro or Con?

[2MinsToPost]

I used to be an avid hunter until the day came when I shot an animal, I will not tell what kind, and the animal did not die from my shot but rather was wounded and took off. I followed the blood trail until almost dark to no avail.

I have not gone hunting since. I am pro hunting because in my opinion it is a necessary evil, especially with animals such as deer who will die of starvation without some form of control, ie hunting.

What are your thoughts on this?

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by 2MinsToPost

I used to be an avid hunter until the day came when I shot an animal, I will not tell what kind, and the animal did not die from my shot but rather was wounded and took off. I followed the blood trail until almost dark to no avail.

I have not gone hunting since. I am pro hunting because in my opinion it is a necessary evil, especially with animals such as deer who will die of starvation without some form of control, ie hunting.

What are your thoughts on this?

I hunted a few times before I went into the Army...lost my taste for it there.

[whorstman]

Well, I'm not too hip on getting up at the assed crack of dawn and going out into cold assed weather and sitting still for hours waiting on a deer to come along that I will no doubt spook away or miss anyway. Some of my friends love it, and it is population control. Plus some good eatin too.

[2MinsToPost]

i admit it was a small buck. killed me, seeing that beautiful animal, then taking my shot, seeing it hit then take off, following the trail. never again, i can't do it. not something i have shared with many, especially since most of my friends are avid hunters.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

I don't understand the population control justification for hunting.We don't go shoot loose dogs just because there are too many.If there is an overpopulation of a certain animal,then there are other ways to control that.I don't favor taking away what people already enjoy doing.I just don't understand why they enjoy it.Seems it should be something that people have to be paid to do(instead of wanting to do.)I wouldn't say I am against others hunting.It is something people have grown up doing,and seem to enjoy.I JUST DON'T SEE THE JOY.

[Scav]

I am ALL ABOUT going Canadian Geese hunting, that is the only animal I can justify killing

[Bigsmc]

Was a huge supplement to our freezer when I was growing up. My Dad literally hunted to provide food. Not necessary anymore, but he's still at it and I had some venison while visiting my parents on vacation a couple weeks ago.

Me? I can take it or leave it. Went as a boy because it was great Father-Son time together. When I moved to Florida, I just left the guns behind.

[Danzig]

the whitetail deer population is actually larger now than when the first settlers arrived. deer are incredibly adaptable...also, after the first year, most does give birth to twins or often-times, triplets.

no telling how many accidents including fatalities are caused by car/deer accidents. plenty, just ask any insurance agent. birth control has been tried in many areas where urban sprawl has occurred. many think deer are cute until they become a nuisance animal...or when they attack you early in the morning. a buck during the rut is no fun to be around, and people have been killed.
regrettably (or at least to some) most natural predators of deer no longer exist, allowing deer herds to increase to unsustainable levels.

also, for those who just don't want to read a hunter/fishermans viewpoint...most state public land, as well as nat'l wildlife refuges are largely supported by hunters. it's a voluntary 'tax' by those who buy licenses every year. my husband and i are also members of the national wild turkey federation. (we've never killed our first turkey btw) but by supporting this organization, we and turkey hunters nationwide have returned the population to its former, much higher numbers! hunters didn't decimate the flocks, human encroachment among other things did.

by no means am i trying to convert anyone. but much like being a horse racing fan, i'm attacked for being a hunter, or for fishing, by those who consider all three as being 'cruel'. i'm just asking to be allowed to do what i do, i'm not trying to force anyone to live by what i think, i beg the same respect in return.
think about the sport you follow....how many of you have had to try to explain your love of this game to someone who dismissed everything you say out of hand, only saying how cruel it is to the horses we love.

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

I don't understand the population control justification for hunting.We don't go shoot loose dogs just because there are too many.If there is an overpopulation of a certain animal,then there are other ways to control that.I don't favor taking away what people already enjoy doing.I just don't understand why they enjoy it.Seems it should be something that people have to be paid to do(instead of wanting to do.)I wouldn't say I am against others hunting.It is something people have grown up doing,and seem to enjoy.I JUST DON'T SEE THE JOY.

I dont see the joy in it either. But the fact is white tail deer in Texas are overpopulated. They have no natural predators left. ANd people pay big bucks to shoot and eat them unlike dogs and cats. I happen to love the taste of venison. So I dont get it, but I sure will eat it. If the hunters pay the state and others for it, and the animals dont starve like the clearly would, Im all for it.

[timmgirvan]

Dude: I saw BAMBI, nuff said!!

[SentToStud]

Hunting is not my thing but if others do it, it does me no bother. That's their right.

I will say I find those "shootin fish in a barrel" type outings on enclosed ranges like the one where Cheney shot his friend in the head are objectionable. Doesn't seem very sporting.