Just something going through my head alot since my son is really getting into hunting now.
Lots of questions being thrown up in the air.
Other than hunting for the meat to be eaten or Shooting Varmits that are pests on your property...like making holes that cattle may break their leg in or sqirrels tearing up the garden and crops ........should we be shooting animals just for the sport of Killing??
Since GOD gave us these creature to take care of and manage what is our responsibility in Hunting?

NOPE I am not against hunting in anyway just wanting others OPINIONS on this.
I for one as I have gotten older will not just go out and shoot rabbits and such anymore just to kill them......I use the metal rabits and targets for that now. I still bear hunt and deer hunt and sometimes eat rabbit and squirel.

Ok lets here it

fireball

You mean like trophy hunting? Like shooting a lion or elephant or something like that, just to say you done it? I believe the population of game has to be controlled by hunters but not to the point to just shoot them and leave them lay. If i'm not going eat it or give it to someone else to eat, I won't kill it.

Well, I shoot coyotes and crows and don't eat them....never felt a bit bad about it.......worms gotta eat too

Jules

I can assure you.....nothing and I do mean nothing goes to waste in Africa!!! The only thing left at the kill site is the scrotum, with contents, the contents of the stomach, the contents of the intestines and maybe a bit of blood!!! I asked my PH if the natives eat the testicles.....he said "only when they are really hungry"!!! I asked if there was any part they never eat....he said "the hooves"!!! I noticed that we didn't see any roadkill on the trip and it dawned on me why......they stop, pick it up and eat it...he did say they don't eat jackal......

Sure gave me a new perspective on how rich we are in the US!

As I have gotten older I want to hunt less and shoot targets more. I am going deer hunting this year and hope to get one or two with a contender only. It quit being sport hunting deer with a rifle for me several years ago. I'm not knocking anyone or thing just my own feelings. I enjoy calling crows around different places but havn't killed one in several years. I'm a Federal Meat Inspector and have made my living for 44 years over dead animals. Short story. I was going to a meat inspector school in Fort Worth Texas several years ago and was showing another inspector a picture of a nice buck I had gotten the year before when an inspector from NJ started making remarks about how cruel it was to hunt when I reminded him he made a living over dead animals. That was the end of it.

Any form of hunting that conforms to the law is fine with me. Most states have "wanton waste" laws to prevent wasting game animals.

My familiy is not big on eating venison, so this past season I donated half of each deer I shot to feed the hungry. I have no qualms shooting varmints like groundhogs and crows, even though I don't do it very often anymore.

I hunt more to enjoy the outdoors rather than put game in the bag, but I can't deny the sight of a big antlered buck gets my heart going more than an average deer and I do believe harvesting a mature buck is more of a challenge. So in that sense I see no problem with "trophy hunting" for the personal satisfaction of outwitting your quarry.

What I will not participate in, any longer, is any kind of pool where a cash prize is paid for the biggest deer or biggest groundhog, or selling antlers, etc. I think these pools tend to bring out the worst in people and are the wrong motivation to harvest an animal.
Greg

Go here to read an article I wrote on my thoughts on Varmint hunting:

Thoughts and Ramblings

The third article down is my article on Varmint Hunting, and the same thoughts I express there apply to hunting in general.

Fireball, my position on that is that GOD put all animals under us, for us to manage, to use, to lord over. We in turn are put under GOD for HIM to manage, not to question HIS motives or actions. If my boss tells me what to do, I do it. Whether or not it serves my purpose is irrevelant. So a deer or squirell is subject to my bullet if it suits me and my use for it. I have to decide if I'm using his life wisely and justly. mvm

Mark,

Not that He "requires" our help, but rather that He has appointed such as one of our duties. Does that help to understand God's apppointing man as having "dominion?"

No I do not think refrasing is in order...The question stands. It not intended for a flame war.
In some places Squirrels....Rabbits and marmots...Rock chucks for Sean are in Huge supplies.......in some places they are few and far between not due to a cycling but just plain poisoned out and ran out of the habitat.
Do you feel it might be your responsibility to invoke your OWn consevation or teach it to our kids??? or do you feel if it is in your sight and it is legal Just kill it??
Like I said I am not passing judgement one way or the other........always TWO side to an issue.
I just feel where I live that teaching Conservation Even on squirrel...is a good thing and that killing just to kill is Not what we should be doing.

NOPE no reason to rephrase the question...I really want the opinions of others the reasons for their opinions on this. I understand that in Alabama and Illinois their are so many deer and chucks that Conservation of Gods Creations is not an Issue..That is not the case everywhere?? No I dont beat the wife...I DO NOT DRINK never have never will.... I will leave that to everyone who
Likes that.
Why this question would rile you???
Just want what you are teaching your kids as an opinion from you.

Fireball

Fireball

Since I enjoy hunting tree squirrels, but absolutley hate to skin them (but I do like to eat them!)......I don't kill many.... Years ago, I bought a 22 rimfire barrel for my contender and I don't remember hunting squirrels with a rifle since then........I really enjoy stalking them with a handgun but I don't kill half of what I could with a rifle. I guess that is my way of practicing "conservation"

I think most people have "their reasons" for killing stuff.......as long as it's legal...... they don't owe me any explanation!

Nah, I love the killing and the andrenaline rush.

There's nothing quite as satisfying as putting an animal on the ground.

Funny thing about Hunting. At one time If it moved ..if it was a chalenge..If it was legal it got shot!! Near my place in Kernville their were times when I killed 200 squirrel in a weekend with my oldest son. Now as I see them depleated...Mostly due to ranchers using poison to control them. I go for hikes and see so few I wonder if it is worth just killing them anymore.
I just quit doing it(killing them) Their were times you could count 40 or more deer on the side of a hill in the winter as they came out of the high country after the snows. Their is a place on 395 hwy they had to put up a fence 1/2 mile long and 20 feet high to keep the winter heard that travels from california sierras to the white mountains in Nevada from holding up traffic.
Now most of the really big heards are gone.
we had so many jack rabbits the fun way to kill them was on a dirt bike with a bat...chasing the heards around on the bike hitting them with the bat.yes we had LOTS of Rabbits,,,,,,,now hunting rabbits for the most part is like hunting deer.
Now I just feel like it might be my part to take pictures of the game and only kill what I might eat...and that aint MUCH!! last year I went deer hunting in one of our X zones and saw two bucks...One 8 point and one 4x5 mule deer hearding 7 does and fighting with each other. Now in california that is a rarity! I just could not kill one of them...so I took the picture. It's like they have survided so many liberals ...over harvesting by our fish and game....and pochers I thought it better to let them enjoy life getting old than kill one and have to carrier it..or drag it for 3 miles out of the pines.
I have seen the populations of animals dwindle till I would rather shoot at targets now and let the few survive! NO I am not against hunting and this year hope to help my younger son get his first bear..But I want to teach him respect and control for the few animals we have left.
Funny we are OVER run with bears....and Are not allowed to kill a mountian lion and they are out of control!! But they are protected here so they can prey on the cattle and house pets in the foot hills....

Fireball

I will shoot Feral cats, yes those house cats that have taken to the wild. I enjoy seeing the cottontail bunnies in my back yard and I know the neibors kids like to watch them also. When I see a Feral Cat doing it's seek up act on one of the bunnies my 2nd favorite single shot pistol comes out. The Daisy 727 air gun, if you don't have one you are missing out on a great domestic "varmit" gun.
No I am not a cat hater but do feel that in many areas wild cats have distroyed the song bird population. If there were packs of wild dogs I would go after them also,,,Oh yeh I do shoot yotes when possible.
I hope this does not become a flame

Fireball -
Ain't you in Kalifornia? I could sure use a place to hunt bear 'round here!!!

steve

Fireball, Sounds like you have a perfect grasp on your role as game manager. People like you help insure our kids have something to hunt! But black bear sounds alot more fun than man-eating cottontails I got up close and personal with one once...took 2 hrs. for my heart to start back! mike

So since God gave us Dominion over the Animals and it is our responsibility to manage them??
How many ground squirrels and Parrie dogs should we just Up and Kill...As to the Question...That would be Killing just to be Killing for the sport.
I have done it........Varmit Hunting
Not sure it always makes it right?
Sean your opinion??

Fireball

Are you infering that we should just leave the planet to a bunch of disease-ridden rodents? What would they do with it if they were in charge?

Looking for your opinion only mark...not a temper
I respect the way you feel!......I have done the same.

fireball

Mark, recognizing the difference between them staying or going IS game management. But I think GOD thinks pretty highly of me because HE'S given me two great kids to raise. Agree totally that all animals are much lesser than humans and no one that can work deserves a free ride on my coattails. mvm