General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: How many of the hunters hunt only for food?? [View all]Adrahil
(13,340 posts)Things in nature kill each other ALL THE TIME. We are animals. It's silly, in my view, as viewing ourselves as being entirely above nature.
By ethically I mean:
1) Having an eye towards conservation. Maintaining healthy herds and healthy food stocks. In fact, WITHOUT hunting, this is often not possible, since natural predators are largely eliminated. Unculled deer herds can grow unchecked, destroying the local food sources, and condemning the herd and other animals to starvation. The population must be maintained at a level consitent with sustainability.
2) Without cruelty. A hunter should be proficient and well-equipped enough to ensure the kill is as rapid and painless as possible.
3) The animal is used whenever possible. Deer and feral pigs eaten, for example. If not by the hunter, then someone else. Killing of nuisance animals should be kept to the absolute minimum necessary.