How Do You Feel About Recreational Hunting?

I am not vegan but I am against killing animals just for the sake of killing them. My dad and brother periodically go hunting. They purchase deer from this company that lets them loose so that they can be hunted later. They are left their and the people supposedly dispose of the remains.

I don't partake in this activity but if it just for sport I don't understand wyhy they can't just shoot targets.

My husband hunts both small game, and large animals like deer,and has since he was a youngster during the big depression. In those days, it was to put food on the table, and even today, what he kills, is eaten. We all agree, killing for the sake of killing is wrong.
The present day wildlife management is responsible for the vast amounts of wildlife we enjoy today, so controlled hunting actually helps the survival of the species, and the fees derived from the sale of hunting licenses provided the necessary funds for their operation and control.
Now, in response to the vegitarian idea that eating meat is wrong, just look at the results that would be possible without hunting, like the poor physical condition of all wild animals due to inbreeding, and that's exactly what would happen if the deer herds, and all animals in fact, were not dispersed during hunting seasons, and this includes birds.
Man is by nature a meat eater, and has been for centuries, so you eat what you like for whatever reason, but leave us to our likes.

It is wrong. If you are going to kill an animal at least eat the animal. Then it didn't die for nothing.

Okay. I am on the other side of the fence on this one. Where we live, Midwest America, the deer population is out of control. To the point that it is dangerous to drive at night during the fall and spring months. To make matters worse, we had a record drought this year. A lot of the foliage is dead and the deer are on the move to try and find food. This is a bad recipe for people trying to drive. While I understand that we humans have encroached on nature's territory, it is a dangerous situation.

I do not believe in hunting just for sport and not using the meat, but if it is in season where you live, it probably is because that the deer need to be controlled.

It is a sad fact, and I love animals, but if it comes between an animal or a human life trying to drive home from a day at work, well I think the answer is obvious.

My BF is right now hunting in Kentucky with his dad. Rifle season is over, so they are forced to use bow this week. I doubt that he will come home with a deer. If he does, then I have to learn how to cook venison...

My point is that, even for the deer sake, hunting has to be allowed or the populations get out of control.

edit- Andro- I guess you are right on what she is saying. No, I do not like that, it sort of reminds me of Jurassic Park. as far as humans making the mess, yes I agree, but I still think that we then have to do what is right and control the mess we caused. I am not sying that I think it is the best thing in the world, but compared to it killing someone on road then yeah I will say thenm the population has to be controlled. Now, if you want to say that game wardens do it, instead Bubband Jo, well I would go for that . However, I still would like to see the meat used.

Ick. That's not much of a fair fight is it? I'm not sure how a man could feel all powerful because he just hunted down a big bad deer and killed it with a gun. They're not even doing it for the meat, but simply for the pleasure of killing? That's one of the sickest things I've ever heard.

I totally am with you. Hunting is horrible and it should be banned. A few nights ago my dad came to pick me up from school. We drove down to a farm and dumped the corpse of the deer of a farm. The head was still on.

Traceilicious,

I don't think Lauren is referring to natural (wild) deer populations. It sounds like these were raised specifically to be killed for sport. Lauren, correct me if I'm wrong.
Besides, I can think of better ways to control an animal population than leaving its fate in the hands of testosterone-laden jocks who probably won't be able to kill it on the first shot.

PS: We can thank humans (surprise, surprise!) for causing this mess in the first place. They wiped out the wolves and cougars. Even now, cougar hunting is legal in most states. Uhhh...a contradiction there, don't you think?

Some people are just like that. They get a thrill out of it.

its recreational, and therefore optional.

If they choose to have no regard for animal life then there is littel you can do about it.

Apparently there is a sklil in using an artificial device that has undergone years of development in order to shoot a defenseless animal.

can't see it myself.

I think it is wrong. Very wrong indeed, I mean, they say it's to keep them from over population,b ut I mean, we are over populate,d nad we don't see humans hunting us for fun! It's HORRIBLE.

Some people are mentally ill. Killing deer for sport is just as bad as the kids who torture neighborhood strays by skinning them alive or setting them on fire.

As long as they eat what they kill, I have no problem with it. I don't have "Bambi's Mommy Syndrome".

Hunters do what they do for a variety of reasons. Whether for food, sport/trophy or thrills, it is ethical in their minds to do so. It is also legal. I find it ironic that vegetarians who constantly whine about how other people always give them a hard time about what they do, are doing exactly the same thing. They want to impose their beliefs, prejudices and values on other people. What happened to respecting other peoples' choices? If you don't like to hunt, then don't. It's the same as "if you don't want to be a vegetarian, then don't."
It is true that unchecked wildlife populations has caused more problems than solutions. The problem was indeed man made. In central California where I hunt, crop farms (mainly wine and veggie farms) are the the main cause. Loss of habitat has decreased grazing and habitat areas so much that the land can no longer support large wildlife populatons.

In a way I think it's as bad as killing for food... millions of people live healthy (if not healthier) lives without meat so killing and eating animals is purely to please your tastebuds. Meat and hunting are both just killing for pleasure in my opinion. Saying that, I'd have more of a problem if a friend of mine hunted than I would if they just ate meat.

I think that is wrong. Hunting should be for food. My dad goes deer hunting every year and kills one. He skins it and we used the meat to eat. I think that hunting for the sake of hunting is stupid.
Hunting should be to provide food. Even Adam and Eve hunted. That is why God put animals on the earth.
I'm not saying anything against vegetarian or vegan, If you choose to not eat meat, that's great.