Hi guys I was recently reading a thread here in the den and the issue of hunting came up. Not wanting to hijack said thread I started this one!
Before we continue let me preface this by saying, yes I am a hunter. I realize some of you have extremely strong views on this and ask that you remain civil for the sake of discussion and education. I am interested in your viewpoints and oppinions but I am not interested in starting some huge flame war where no one learns anything but some new swear words.
Some background on me first; I am a conservationist. I do not believe in the killing of animals purerly for sport. I always obey limits, and I am always liscensed. I am an ethical hunter and do everything within my power to minimize the animals suffering, this includes using appropriate caliber and a mastery of my firearms so that my shots go exactly where I want them.
And now a list of the animals I hunt and my justification as well as what parts of the animals I utilize.
I hunt in California.
*Dove - The dove population is monitored at both the state and federal level, and in 20 years the limit has not gone up or down, the populations is sustainable with current hunting pressure. I eat the breast.
*Quail - Once again a well monitored population. Eat everything I can.
*Pig - An introduced species that competes with natives and destroys natural habitiat. Eat the good parts.
*Coyote(hunted 90% on private lands) - In California the coyote population is huge and absolutely devestating to the native Pronghorn Antelope. The ranchers that allow me to hunt on their property mainly let me in because the coyotes cause damage to their herds by eating the young, or attacking the sick. Take only the fur. You may find that appaling but consider that the ranchers would be snaring these animals and letting them sit, possibly to starvation.
OK now for some substance!
Hunting and fishing licenses bring in 1.22 billion for wildlife agencies in the United States. Excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment including motor boat fuel bring in another 616 million dollars, those two figures alone make up 75% of wildlife agency revenue in the U.S.
Now add that to the some 280 million dollars donated annually by dozens of hunting groups around the world in the name of conserving habitat,.
Now lets look at another way hunters help the environment. Monitoring population, as a hunter you are required to keep perfect record of the animals you take and report them to your state wildlife department annually. In some cases you must even submit "samples" of your take, duck wings for instance are studied every year and the samples help scientist keep track of the health of the population as well as their genetic make up (is this a hybrid or purebred duck?).
Furthermore, in PA for instance the states Whitetail Deer population has exploded, so much so that they pose a threat to motorists, much more so than they do say in California. The deer are even being pushed out of their natural habitat and into the suburbs to look for food. Now I will concede that part of this problem is absolutely due to habitat destruction and human encroachment. Sadly that habitat is lost forever so the deer population has to be brought down to proper density.
To quote National Geographic (link to an article on wildlife conservation) "...The irony is that many species might not survive at all were it not for hunters trying to kill them. The nations 12.5 million hunters have become essential partners in wildlife management."
The bottom line - even if you disagree with hunting on a moral ground, one of the best things you can do to help your local wildlife is to buy a hunting license!!
Now onto the moral issues of killing. I do not believe that animals have a right to life, if we disagree here then I am sorry but we may as well not discuss it. I will not be able to convince you otherwise and you will not be able to convince me.
However, I do believe that every hunter has a moral obligation to do everything within their power to minimize any animals suffering. This does not simply mean that you have to make sure you are able to kill instantly. For instance; in California the Coyote is listed as a "varmint" (their term not mine...) which means that there is no limit on how many you can kill and there is a permanent open season. Unfortunately it is virtually impossible to tell a male coyote from a female. The problem with this is that during the spring and early summer a female coyote may have a den full of cubs that can not fend for themselves and rely on their mother for food. Being an ethical hunter I do not hunt coyotes during this time period.
Ok I think I covered everything I wanted to. Comments definitely appreciated as long as they are civil. Please share any hunting stories! Oh and even if you skipped all or most of that, if you are a hunter please list the animals you hunt!
Before we continue let me preface this by saying, yes I am a hunter. I realize some of you have extremely strong views on this and ask that you remain civil for the sake of discussion and education. I am interested in your viewpoints and oppinions but I am not interested in starting some huge flame war where no one learns anything but some new swear words.
Some background on me first; I am a conservationist. I do not believe in the killing of animals purerly for sport. I always obey limits, and I am always liscensed. I am an ethical hunter and do everything within my power to minimize the animals suffering, this includes using appropriate caliber and a mastery of my firearms so that my shots go exactly where I want them.
And now a list of the animals I hunt and my justification as well as what parts of the animals I utilize.
I hunt in California.
*Dove - The dove population is monitored at both the state and federal level, and in 20 years the limit has not gone up or down, the populations is sustainable with current hunting pressure. I eat the breast.
*Quail - Once again a well monitored population. Eat everything I can.
*Pig - An introduced species that competes with natives and destroys natural habitiat. Eat the good parts.
*Coyote(hunted 90% on private lands) - In California the coyote population is huge and absolutely devestating to the native Pronghorn Antelope. The ranchers that allow me to hunt on their property mainly let me in because the coyotes cause damage to their herds by eating the young, or attacking the sick. Take only the fur. You may find that appaling but consider that the ranchers would be snaring these animals and letting them sit, possibly to starvation.
OK now for some substance!
Hunting and fishing licenses bring in 1.22 billion for wildlife agencies in the United States. Excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment including motor boat fuel bring in another 616 million dollars, those two figures alone make up 75% of wildlife agency revenue in the U.S.
Now add that to the some 280 million dollars donated annually by dozens of hunting groups around the world in the name of conserving habitat,.
Now lets look at another way hunters help the environment. Monitoring population, as a hunter you are required to keep perfect record of the animals you take and report them to your state wildlife department annually. In some cases you must even submit "samples" of your take, duck wings for instance are studied every year and the samples help scientist keep track of the health of the population as well as their genetic make up (is this a hybrid or purebred duck?).
Furthermore, in PA for instance the states Whitetail Deer population has exploded, so much so that they pose a threat to motorists, much more so than they do say in California. The deer are even being pushed out of their natural habitat and into the suburbs to look for food. Now I will concede that part of this problem is absolutely due to habitat destruction and human encroachment. Sadly that habitat is lost forever so the deer population has to be brought down to proper density.
To quote National Geographic (link to an article on wildlife conservation) "...The irony is that many species might not survive at all were it not for hunters trying to kill them. The nations 12.5 million hunters have become essential partners in wildlife management."
The bottom line - even if you disagree with hunting on a moral ground, one of the best things you can do to help your local wildlife is to buy a hunting license!!
Now onto the moral issues of killing. I do not believe that animals have a right to life, if we disagree here then I am sorry but we may as well not discuss it. I will not be able to convince you otherwise and you will not be able to convince me.
However, I do believe that every hunter has a moral obligation to do everything within their power to minimize any animals suffering. This does not simply mean that you have to make sure you are able to kill instantly. For instance; in California the Coyote is listed as a "varmint" (their term not mine...) which means that there is no limit on how many you can kill and there is a permanent open season. Unfortunately it is virtually impossible to tell a male coyote from a female. The problem with this is that during the spring and early summer a female coyote may have a den full of cubs that can not fend for themselves and rely on their mother for food. Being an ethical hunter I do not hunt coyotes during this time period.
Ok I think I covered everything I wanted to. Comments definitely appreciated as long as they are civil. Please share any hunting stories! Oh and even if you skipped all or most of that, if you are a hunter please list the animals you hunt!
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