Killing Animals for "Sport"

[lumenorientale]

I don’t understand why some people just can’t leave the alcohol at home. It causes a good number of hunting accidents. Guns and alcohol don’t mix.

It is a shame that there are any hunting accidents caused by alcohol, but where I live, there are far more injuries from falls, bush plane crashes, and just plain hypothermia–and alcohol not at all involved. I guess, where I hunt, and the type of hunting we do here, there is no room for any sort of poor judgment. The area is just too rugged, the weather too unreliable, the places too remote–even just outside town, you get into dangerous areas pretty quickly. The land just is not very forgiving.

But it does go without saying that alcohol is something that should be kept as far away from guns as possible.

 

[Bluegoat]

Who exactly placed you in a position to judge the the intentions of others that you do not even know?

The concern that it is an unhealthy direction for the hunter is unfounded without knowing what exactly the hunter is thinking.

You are quite correct, "Intent is very important in Christianity, and justice - "
But you are not in a position to judge this.

I mean it in just the same way people mean it when they say “artificial birth control tends to lead toward a misunderstanding of sexuality”. When the end begins to be separated from the means, it is usually a bad thing.

I would also argue that real hunting, or raising one’s own food, is also something people should strive to do on some level, even if it’s just on the windowsill, for just the same reason.

And FWIW, I know lots of hunters, and I find the attitudes of the ones really interested in trophies pretty hard to take. It’s one thing to be tickled that you got the biggest buck of the year in the district, it’s another thing when that is your main goal - a big trophy.

 

[bigfootbob]

And FWIW, I know lots of hunters, and I find the attitudes of the ones really interested in trophies pretty hard to take. It’s one thing to be tickled that you got the biggest buck of the year in the district, it’s another thing when that is your main goal - a big trophy.

I agree with you to some degree, but if you are hunting deer already, why not go for a big one?

 

[SElizabeth]

This thread is hilarious!!! Come out to the “wild” west all you non-hunters…see what life is all about. We will take you hunting with us… Too bad you couldn’t have been with my husband when he got his Boone and Crocket bighorn sheep this summer. Seriously though, hunting is a cultural thing. Although I don’t personally hunt (I just don’t like the kick of the gun) all of my family does. That does not mean that they are serial killers, and are demented…it just means that they have an activity that puts food on the table and is a hobby that they enjoy. Chill out…and don’t worry about animals…God put them on earth for us…Take all the minutes that you worry about animals, and use that time to pray for HUMAN babies.

 

[pnewton]

Come out to the “wild” west all you non-hunters…see what life is all about. We will take you hunting with us.

FYI - There is little new that this non-hunter can be taught about hunting.

 

[severus68]

Well, to me, the big issue that I see here is the real motivation of the “trophy” hunter. Yes, the animal is not being wasted if it is being eaten by others, so objectively it is not a problem in that way.

But why does that person want to kill the animal? It isn’t to provide the local people with a meal. It seems to me the reasons are ones which separate the hunter from the proper end of hunting. Because he or she gets a rush from the hunt, because he wants a trophy of his hunting prowess? Because it gives a feeling of power or dominion?

When I see this kind of trophy hunting, I begin to think that it is moving in an unhealthy direction for the hunter. Intent is very important in Christianity, and justice - each thing used for it’s proper purpose, each action toward it’s proper end.

Yes, you are right. It is the intent that is the issue. If you hunt for the thrill of the chase and the kill, it is not enough to say the meat is donated That is not sufficient justification.
As I posted earlier, development of the tourist industry brings money in and creates jobs.

 

[severus68]

This thread is hilarious!!! Come out to the “wild” west all you non-hunters…see what life is all about. We will take you hunting with us… Too bad you couldn’t have been with my husband when he got his Boone and Crocket bighorn sheep this summer. Seriously though, hunting is a cultural thing. Although I don’t personally hunt (I just don’t like the kick of the gun) all of my family does. That does not mean that they are serial killers, and are demented…it just means that they have an activity that puts food on the table and is a hobby that they enjoy. Chill out…and don’t worry about animals…God put them on earth for us…Take all the minutes that you worry about animals, and use that time to pray for HUMAN babies.

Not a culture or a hobbyI would want to adopt, thank you. I can care for human as well as animal suffering. I can muti task.

 

[Brendan]

thank you. I can care for human as well as animal suffering. .

As do I, that’s when I kill animals, I use clean shots. No suffering involved.

 

[Newbie2]

As do I, that’s when I kill animals, I use clean shots. No suffering involved.

And that’s quite to the point:

There’s no difference morally speaking in killing an animal through hunting (if one is a good shot) and through a slaughterhouse, as long as the meat and fur/hide products are used and not wasted.

Poor shots are a different story.

Hunting for just having a head on the wall and wasting the meat is a different story as well.

 

[bigfootbob]

Not a culture or a hobbyI would want to adopt, thank you. I can care for human as well as animal suffering. I can muti task.

We aren’t trying to get anyone to actually hunt here, we just want you to understand that there’s nothing wrong with hunting.

 

[bigfootbob]

This thread is hilarious!!! Come out to the “wild” west all you non-hunters…see what life is all about. We will take you hunting with us…

Too bad you couldn’t have been with my husband when he got his Boone and Crocket bighorn sheep this summer. Seriously though, hunting is a cultural thing. Although I don’t personally hunt (I just don’t like the kick of the gun) all of my family does. That does not mean that they are serial killers, and are demented…it just means that they have an activity that puts food on the table and is a hobby that they enjoy. Chill out…and don’t worry about animals…God put them on earth for us…Take all the minutes that you worry about animals, and use that time to pray for HUMAN babies.

They can worry about both as far as I’m concerned, as long as they remember which one is more important.

 

[fultonfish]

Biblically speaking you are wrong. And science is not on your side either. Animals are not THINGS, they are living beings that feel pain and are capable of suffering.

This thread is about hunting for “sport,” not “need.”

Your rural lifestyle is interesting, you seem to enjoy killing THINGS. You are very descriptive about it.

Next year Bambi will get the Nobel Peace Prize. In recognition of her being a being and all.

But in the meantime, go for it!

Still, killing rodents that cause damage and spread disease is a good thing and if the hunter derives some “sport” from killing these varmints, then it’s quite alright. They used to sell rifles with powerful scopes that they called varmint rifles. Heck, one of my friends was a crack shot and could kill those things with a pistol! No joke, I watched him. Boy, he was excellent with a pistol.

The idea of hunting for “sport” doesn’t really carry a lot of true meaning.

Pretty much everyone has discussed hunting for some kind of “need” but deriving pleasure in the process.

Not sure what it even means to hunt purely for “sport”. Yeah, yeah, yeah, they used to shoot buffalo from train windows (was that really true?)

Perhaps the OP could define what it means to hunt for “sport” and provide some true-life actual examples that he has experienced that are totally devoid of “need”.

 

[bigfootbob]

Next year Bambi will get the Nobel Peace Prize. In recognition of her being a being and all.

Next to Gore and Obama, Bambi has done a lot for peace. By the way Bambi is a He, not a She.

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

I don’t understand why some people just can’t leave the alcohol at home. It causes a good number of hunting accidents. Guns and alcohol don’t mix.

As much as I have hunted, I totally agree guns and alcohol do not mix. That said, there is nothing wrong with having a good cold beer or scotch around the camp fire at night while relaxing. No one I know takes alcohol with them while carrying the gun in the field actually hunting. This is what separates the true sportsman from the nuts.

 

[4elise]

So… many of the hunters here have agreed that hunting without using the meat is wrong.

I am a vegan / never been hunting (as a disclosure )
So, I have a question to the hunters, and to those who don’t hunt but defend the right,

1. If one does not NEED the meat…
2. One is not engaged in wildlife management… (which I think could be the topic of another thread - since some agree this actually takes place and others disagree)

The ‘hunt’ - the chase, the physical activity, the joy of being with friends and family in the great outdoors opportunities to enjoy God’s creation ---- ***anyone consider taking up photography as a means to achieve the goal? ***

I acknowledge that the Church does not say hunting is wrong.
I acknowledge that the Church does not say eating meat is wrong.
I acknowledge that meat that comes from hunting allows animals to live in greater likeness to how they are created by God than factory farms… so therefore if someone NEEDS meat this would be greatly preferential.

But I know we all know that the Church*** does teach that unnecessary suffering of animals is wrong***, because it damages us - those created in God’s image.

 

[Newbie2]

So… many of the hunters here have agreed that hunting without using the meat is wrong.

I am a vegan / never been hunting (as a disclosure )
So, I have a question to the hunters, and to those who don’t hunt but defend the right,

1. If one does not NEED the meat…
2. One is not engaged in wildlife management… (which I think could be the topic of another thread - since some agree this actually takes place and others disagree)

The ‘hunt’ - the chase, the physical activity, the joy of being with friends and family in the great outdoors opportunities to enjoy God’s creation ---- ***anyone consider taking up photography as a means to achieve the goal? ***

I did once, but the film tastes really bitter and caused massive indigestion.

 

[4elise]

I did once, but the film tastes really bitter and caused massive indigestion.

Not to mention toxic!

 

[pete_29]

So… many of the hunters here have agreed that hunting without using the meat is wrong.

I am a vegan / never been hunting (as a disclosure )
So, I have a question to the hunters, and to those who don’t hunt but defend the right,

1. If one does not NEED the meat…
2. One is not engaged in wildlife management… (which I think could be the topic of another thread - since some agree this actually takes place and others disagree)

The ‘hunt’ - the chase, the physical activity, the joy of being with friends and family in the great outdoors opportunities to enjoy God’s creation ---- ***anyone consider taking up photography as a means to achieve the goal? ***

I acknowledge that the Church does not say hunting is wrong.
I acknowledge that the Church does not say eating meat is wrong.
I acknowledge that meat that comes from hunting allows animals to live in greater likeness to how they are created by God than factory farms… so therefore if someone NEEDS meat this would be greatly preferential.

But I know we all know that the Church*** does teach that unnecessary suffering of animals is wrong***, because it damages us - those created in God’s image.

I knew this is where this was going. So now hunters are unethical if they don’t absolutely need the meat. Well, I don’t absolutely need the meat, but is very comforting to know that if something bad does happen to me economicly that I have a freezer full of meat to feed my family with. The Church also teaches that you shouldn’t cause your fellow man suffering but your constant criticism of hunters causes me great pain because I am a hunter. I also suffer from depression caused by people like you trying to convince me that some part of my life doesn’t measure up to their standards. You reconcile that with God when you meet Him!!!

 

[Marfran]

…your constant criticism of hunters causes me great pain because I am a hunter. I also suffer from depression caused by people like you trying to convince me that some part of my life doesn’t measure up to their standards. You reconcile that with God when you meet Him!!!

It sounds like you pursue situations that contribute to your depression. You should avoid threads that cause you stress and make you feel bad. That is just common sense. If you get sick on boat rides stay off the boat.

Please let the people who find debate/discussion valuable and interesting continue on their course. These threads are great places to share, and we all learn things from others here. It is so valuable to be able to share and try to understand different perpectives.

In my work with animals it is helpful for me to understand the differing perspectives that people have about animals. I appreciate all perspectives offered.

 

[Marfran]

The ‘hunt’ - the chase, the physical activity, the joy of being with friends and family in the great outdoors opportunities to enjoy God’s creation ---- ***anyone consider taking up photography as a means to achieve the goal? ***

Wildlife photography is actually very challenging and requires much more skill than hunting. You still get to use gadgets and hang out outdoors. The upside is that no violence is required and everybody keeps their life. Wildlife photographers have been known to cheat, however–and photograph captive animals and pass off the photographs as “wild” nature photos. I would think that you would get an even better “rush” by capturing a unique photo that has marketing potential$$$$