In the early development of man a young hunter was taught how to hunt by his father, uncles, elder siblings nephews and others of the 'clan'. The teaching of 'how to hunt' surely also included some teaching of 'how NOT to hunt'. For example: Do NOT attempt to hunt a wooly rhino with a club if you are alone; as it is considered unethical to beat a rhino to death with more than a thousand blows of your club!

In postings about ethics it has been repeatedly said: Do not impose your ethics on another. Do not claim your ethics as THE ONLY ETHICAL ETHICS. Do not on another man's fire by belitteling any hunting act that he has done. This and many other are considered sage advice.

But who should teach young hunters about ethics? This question is posed against the background that many fathers have started hunting as adults and many have had very little 'expert' guidance of what is ethical and what not. Sure, where the grandfather taught the father, he can surely teach his son......

But for many that started hunting as adults: Who should teach them about ethics, particularly in view of the frequent critisism on forums about not imposing one's own ethics onto others?

How do we here on AR Forum feel about this?

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

I sure would not look for an expert. Break the word down ex = has been and spert is a drip of water under pressure. IF one has a "proper up bringing" they will have a good understanding of ethics and hunting ethics is no great streach from ethics in general.

As one born to hunt in a non-outdoors family, I was open to ANYONE who could help me. Much of what I learned about ethics I read about, in magazines, books by outdoor writers and transferred over from Bible knowledge, right-from-wrong etc. that were taught me effectively. (The only part I have not reconciled is how hunting and heaven works out. Since I don't hold with "happy hunting grounds" ideas myself, the death/dying part rubs. But, that is another thread not yet begun...)

ACLU?

I think one of the best examples of how it can and should be done is found in 'The Old Man & The Boy' and 'The Old Man's Boy Grows Older' both by Robert Ruark.

I agree with Steve

Rather than preaching to others such as new hunting partners, teach by example. I follow my personal ethics and others can use them or develop their own with out me telling them that they are right or wrong. I do have two exceptions to that rule. One is that I insist on safe gun handling practices and the second is that any hunting partner must not violate any hunting laws or regulations.

465H&H

I was taught hunting ethics by my father, grandfather and uncle long before I took a gun in the field. While very very young, I went with them hunting deer, ducks, geese, quail, pheasants, fishing, etc, etc, etc. Oftentimes I was the go-for, picking up the shot game, used shotgun shells or rifle shells for re-loading, cleaning waders, putting duck/geese decoys away,taking care of the labs and other hunting dogs. I learned hunting and fishing ethics by being there with them and observing and participating. I also learned ethics by making mistakes and being corrected by them(i.e. getting out in front of them unexpectedly afield, etc.) By the time I was allowed to carry my own rifle or shotgun, I had instilled in me more hunter's ethics than I would have ever learned from a book or a speaker. If the hunter to be is from a non-hunting family, or an adult just taking up the sport, then I would suggest that he take a few hunting trips with friends or others who are ethical hunters and who would be willing to show him ethics and true hunting. Once he has done this, and feels that ancient pull that all hunters feel, then invite him to pick up the sport and a gun/rod/bow, and accompany you as a hunter,but after he has also attended his mandatory hunter safety education class.

Luckily or un-luckily, depending on one’s point of view, I was born into a hunting family that had been hunters for as far back as anyone could remember, or read in our family history. My father’s family came to America from Ireland and came ashore in North Carolina, bought two tracts of land in Rowan Co. N.C. in January of 1764 with his wife.

The generations of the family migrated across the country and entered Texas in 1844, finally settling in the hill country of Texas. My mother’s family is a little unknown earlier than my great grandfather, who came to Texas from the Oklahoma Indian territory, with his Comanche wife and ,with three children my grand father being the youngest, and settled in the Hill country of Texas,as well in 1899 . All were hunters by necessity in those days, and the tradition flowed down to my youngest grand child today. So hunting is bred into my family.
This was on both sides of my family. Hunting and ethics were taught by example from birth by every member of the family older than your self. That is because it was taught to them exactly the same way.
I had a guy working for me before I retired, who was 28 yrs old and wanted to hunt but had not come from a family with any hunting history. I took him on a couple of hunting trips the mountains of New Mexico in the Gila Wilderness, and he learned fast, and became a real hunter’s hunter. I agree with Steve, those two books would be a real help for a guy like my friend above, along with a hunter who is willing to take the time to teach,gives him a real lift into proper field ethics.

Some, particularly the urban types that it so vital to get back on side, aren't related to or even know anybody that will take them under their wing and show them the ropes.

I am particularly grateful to the folk I have met on the Euro forums, without which I would probably have given up the fledgling sport years ago.

The answer to the question therefore is "anyone who can and has any interest in furthering our sport" IMHO.

Regards,

GH

Good points Andrew!!!



Brett

quote:

But for many that started hunting as adults: Who should teach them about ethics, particularly in view of the frequent critisism on forums about not imposing one's own ethics onto others?

Your question is why I don't subsribe to NOT arguing on AR about ethics. Healthy debates here provide points of view for the upcoming to adopt or reject.

I was lucky...I can't remember a time in my life where guns and hunting were NOT involved. When we went out on the ranch every day you picked up a rifle to put in the truck just the same as you filled the watercan. It was just a way of life.

I had a father, a grandfather, a bunch of uncles, and even more older cousins to teach me in the beginning.

I'm sorry, but I feel it is perfectly acceptable to "share" my ethics w/ others. I was a kid fortunate enough to start hunting very young and try to be an ethical hunter. Today I entertain clients w/ trips to the ranch and understand your question intimately. Many have little hunting experience. Some truly want to learn, others do not care. I take my rifles for them to shoot b/c I have sighted them in and refuse to let them hunt w/ their rifles if they have not sighted them in. I insist on gun safety and numerous times forced them to laborously search for animals they have wounded. I do not consider this to be forcing my ethics on them.
If written material is desired, I have found the "Situation Ethics" articles in Bugle magazine to be excellent.