Some animals are shot just to get them dead. They are not considered, at least by a sector of the population, fit to remain alive where they occur. Many of the species shot just to accomplish killing them are agricultural pests. But not all agricultural crop damagers are shot just to get them killed. Well, there seems to be general consensus that groundhogs and crows are varmints. But what makes an animal a varmint, or under which conditions should an animal be considered as a varmint.
In Africa, at least in some areas and at some times, the early pioneers shot buffalo on sight, just to get them dead and so stop them competing for grazing with their exotic beef and dairy cattle. Would the actions of these people have been classified as varminting?
I personally some times go and shoot, at a few selected venues, as many as possible red knobbed coot just to get them dead. The rationale? They reportedly interfere with and very negatively affect the breeding of the very tasty, and legal quarry for sport hunting in season, yellow-billed duck at these venues. (I am not going to enter into a discussion on the accuracy of this statement. This post is about the definition of a �Varmint�.) So can I consider, under the mentioned circumstances that the coot is a varmint?
Let�s hear the suggested definitions of a �Varmint� from the clear thinkers on this forum.
Verewaaier.
Posts: 1799 | Location: Soutpan, Free State, South Africa | Registered: 19 January 2004
According to Yosemite Sam, almost all creatures are varmints. You can not shoot all varmints legally tho.
Take politicians, most people except politicians, would agree they are varmints, and would be serving the public best if they could get shot on site. Somehow in the civilized world we have decided to refrain from doing so. However, we don't think the politicians are real sure we are not going to do so, since they are the ones that want all these gun control laws and anti hunting laws.
Some Savy Countries it is alright to shoot politicians, Unfortunately most of the these enlightened countries are what the politicians call third world countries. No one knows what 3rd world countries are. They don't have much money, but they have a lot more common sense than a lot of western countries.
Anyone know what a second world country would be???
Hope that clears it up a little.
Cheers and good shooting ( just not at politicians) seafire
Varmints are the same thing as vermin. Vermin can be animals, but Webster also defines vermin as "a person considered loathsome or offensive, and such people considered as a group". Vermin derives from the Latin vermis, (worm). Michael Moore and his ilk would be prime examples.
Posts: 8169 | Location: humboldt | Registered: 10 April 2002
A varmint is usually a smallish animal that does not directly or indirectly benefit the economic or recreational activities of humans. It can also be any cowboy who doesn't wear a white hat. Best wishes.
