Is Hunting right?

[BlackJack47]

After reading an article about people in London and Liverpool, catching urban foxes and cats and having their fighting dogs mutilate them for fun, i found myself very unhappy with humanity.

I don't agree with any form of hunting unless its necessary for food. I am not a vegetarian but hunting for sport just seems sick you know.

Obviously this is an opinion alot of people out there who do agree with hunting and i very much doubt they mutilate animals.

So what are your views? Should we stop hunting, make more strict laws, or whatever you want to say.

I am very interested in comments by people outside of the UK.

Thanx for reading.

P.S. I'm just an animal lover. Not an eco-terrorist.

 

[Borrowed Time]

After reading an article about people in London and Liverpool, catching urban foxes and cats and having their fighting dogs mutilate them for fun, i found myself very unhappy with humanity.

I don't agree with any form of hunting unless its necessary for food. I am not a vegetarian but hunting for sport just seems sick you know.

Obviously this is an opinion alot of people out there who do agree with hunting and i very much doubt they mutilate animals.

So what are your views? Should we stop hunting, make more strict laws, or whatever you want to say.

I am very interested in comments by people outside of the UK.

Thanx for reading.

P.S. I'm just an animal lover. Not an eco-terrorist.

Do they actually catch the foxes and cats then throw them in a pen with the dogs, or do the dogs do so while on the hunt? It's very situational. I personally hunt but I do so for food, not trophy hunting. Granted I do take the antlers if I get a buck, but I actually prefer hunting does (deer hunter here) since their meat isn't nearly as gamey.

Hunting in most cases does not mean animal cruelty. Most of the time the animal dies very quickly and humanely. I always try for a shot just behind the shoulder blade which will quickly bring down the animal. It's just as much so they don't suffer as it is so that they don't go running off and I never find them.

Just because there's a couple people out there that are cruel doesn't mean all hunters are.

To me, animals are yet another reasource that we by all means should exploit but at the same time carefully keep in check. Harvesting trees at a rate that can be replenished is a smart thing and has been practiced with minimal effect on the natural ecology of most areas. It's the same with hunting. In fact, often it helps keep down the predator levels, because when prey animal populations get too high, there is a balooning of predator animals as well.

BTW, if you're not a vegetarian/vegan, how do you condone the raising and slaughtering of animals for your "unnecessary" consumption? Eating meat is by no means a necessity. At least the animals in the wild have a fighting chance compared to those that are raised for slaughter and are guaranteed to die. Here in the states there are plenty of laws and regulations in place that limit hunting. They regularly monitor populations of the animals and only give out so many permits to make sure to not harm the herds. I'm not sure exactly how it is in the UK but I doubt if it's much different.

 

[BlackJack47]

Fair points, this is the usual argument for hunting (it is valid). I see it differently though but I'll happily agree to disagree.

 

[Kollega]

When it's done for profit,or worse - for the lulz,and involves butchering innocent animals...

NO,IT FUCKING ISN'T.

Only time when humans should go hunting is when they have nothing to eat or nothing to wear in -30 Celsius. Hunting For The Evulz is just unneccesarily cruel. And,by some *ahem* coincidence,much of the hunting (at least in Europe and North America) is done for the aforementioned evulz,and nothing else.

I,for one,think that hunting for trophies should be outlawed.

Everyone who likes hunting can fuck right off. I'm not talking with you.

 

[BlackJack47]

When it's done for profit,or worse - for the lulz,and involves butchering innocent animals...

NO,IT FUCKING ISN'T.

I agree

 

[RufusMcLaser]

The scenario OP described is repellent to me- hunting, albeit in the loosest sense of the word, animals for sadistic purposes strikes me as wrong.
I understand and support the sporting aspects of proper hunting, and I'm a strong proponent of hunting when it helps control the population of animals which have lost their natural predators.

...And,by some *ahem* coincidence,much of the hunting (at least in Europe and North America) is done for the aforementioned evulz,and nothing else.

Tell me that after a whitetail deer throws itself in front of your car on a January night and you have to walk two miles to the nearest farmhouse to call the authorities. Humans were stupid enough to kill off all the wolves which kept those stupid vermin under control, and now we're obliged to control the vermin ourselves. I'd much rather let the wolves do it personally but it'll be a while before they make a proper comeback.

 

[BlackJack47]

Hunting in most cases does not mean animal cruelty. Most of the time the animal dies very quickly and humanely. I always try for a shot just behind the shoulder blade which will quickly bring down the animal. It's just as much so they don't suffer as it is so that they don't go running off and I never find them.

Just because there's a couple people out there that are cruel doesn't mean all hunters are.

Thats exactly what i meant, most people who do hunt arnt monsters, I just dont see the need for it. But its nice for you to post, as i very much value your opinion.

 

[BlackJack47]

I'm a strong proponent of hunting when it helps control the population of animals which have lost their natural predators.

This is also a point i agree with as long as its humane and necessary.

 

[walls of cetepedes]

After reading an article about people in London and Liverpool, catching urban foxes and cats and having their fighting dogs mutilate them for fun...

I heard that too, but it wasn't for 'fun', it was to train their fighting dogs up, but that doesn't make it any better.

Most forms of hunting need a permit in England, and Fox Hunting is banned outright (bloody good idea).

And from what you've said, you will be sad to know that foxes were introduced into Australia for the sole reason of people hunting them.

 

[Froobyx]

Well we used to be hunters before things became easy.

But I don't like poachers or when animals are put at risk of extinction.

I also think fox hunting is cruel :/

 

[DazZ.]

When it's done for profit,or worse - for the lulz,and involves butchering innocent animals...

NO,IT FUCKING ISN'T.

Only time when humans should go hunting is when they have nothing to eat or nothing to wear in -30 Celsius. Hunting For The Evulz is just unneccesarily cruel.

If I had nothing to wear at -30, being able to hunt would be a massive achievement.

The fox/dog fighting thing is defiantly not OK. If it is done in a brutal manner and just for fun then no.

If you attempt to aim for the head/heart and are going to eat it, not a problem. Animals eat other animals (or species eat species) for food. It's no different than me eating any farmyard animal, and would be hypocritical to say I eat that but shouldn't kill my own food. Even if it's just for dinner, not a last resort.

 

[Satin6T]

Oh yes it is, as long as you eat the animal you kill
or at least thats what I was taught
oh and make the kill quick

 

[Hawgh]

organising dog fighting pits would hardly qualify as hunting. Also, hunting is kinda necessary in most of the western world at the moment, seeing as most of the larger predators are extinct.

 

[Borrowed Time]

When it's done for profit,or worse - for the lulz,and involves butchering innocent animals...

NO,IT FUCKING ISN'T.

Only time when humans should go hunting is when they have nothing to eat or nothing to wear in -30 Celsius. Hunting For The Evulz is just unneccesarily cruel.

Do you eat meat? If you do, do you know that animals are raised in captivity to feed your meat craving desires? Do you know that most egg farms contain chickens that are caged their entire lives to produce said eggs?

I'm sorry but I have a problem with people who have a problem with hunting yet aren't vegetarians/vegans. It's incredibly hypocritical. Hunting is many times more humane then caged farming. I have to spend 8-48 hours (on a good hunt) out in the mountains, cold as hell, sitting there waiting for an animal or actively seeking one out in order to even be successful. Even then, if I do see an animal, it quite often isn't going to be one that I can or am willing to take. If it is under a certain age, I won't shoot. If it's of a gender that my permit doesn't allow, I won't shoot. If it's too old, I won't shoot. That's a pretty small margin to be successful.

If you really feel this strongly about hunting and its "evuls" then maybe you should read some of PETA's message about how animals are treated in captivity and join up with them. I don't hunt when I need clothes or NEED food. I hunt to supplement my family's meat (I could just as easily go and buy a package of ground beef or steaks). I don't have deer heads mounted on my walls but I do give the bones and such to a local butcher who makes use of them or knows individuals who can. Every part of the animal is used.

BTW, isn't farming of animals done basically an incredibly toned down version of "hunting for profit"?

I agree that hunting for "the lulz" as you put it is asanine and stupid, but hunting for profit (selling the meat) means that all animal farmers in essence should be put out of business.

BTW, I hunt with both a 30.06 and with a compound bow. Guess I'm only half "evuls" then. Which do you consider more humane, having the animal lose its heart and lungs instantly and dying within seconds, or having a half inch hole punched in its side and piercing its lungs so that it slowly suffocates and bleeds to death? That's the difference between using a hunting rifle and using a bow. Honestly it's hard to take you seriously when you speak like that even though I know it's for dramatic effect.

 

[madcap2112]

I'm okay with it for food, when there's no other option, which in this country there usually is. As sport, it makes me sick, too. Fuck you, Sarah Palin.

 

[Hobo Joe]

Unless it's hunting to survive, for pelts/food and things like that then no. The Toffs hunting for sport are just sick and it's wrong in my opinion.

 

[Borrowed Time]

Hunting in most cases does not mean animal cruelty. Most of the time the animal dies very quickly and humanely. I always try for a shot just behind the shoulder blade which will quickly bring down the animal. It's just as much so they don't suffer as it is so that they don't go running off and I never find them.

Just because there's a couple people out there that are cruel doesn't mean all hunters are.

Thats exactly what i meant, most people who do hunt arnt monsters, I just dont see the need for it. But its nice for you to post, as i very much value your opinion.

BTW, you didn't answer me. Was it actual hunting? (which I read from another individual that fox hunting is illegal there) or was it that they caught the animals to throw them in a pit with the dogs? Actual hunting I have no problem with (unless it's illegal like was mentioned), but catching an animal and tossing it in with a dog 2-3x it's size to be ravenously torn to pieces slowly in a fight for it's life? Uh, no, not cool.

 

[GryffinDarkBreed]

Government sanctioned and regulated hunting serves a purpose. It helps keep populations of certain animals in check, such as the annual Deer and Bear seasons across the United States.

 

[Kollega]

blah blah blah... snip

Let me guess: you are extremely proud of your medal collection,all of which you recieved for brutally murdering innocent and very cute creatures.

Okay,that's too rude on my part,but my point still stands. I don't mind hunting for food. I do mind when animals are killed just to saw off their horns,and i mind even more when sadistic psychopaths are given guns and attack dogs.