Shooting large animals with rifles: What's the point?

[motion]

I grew up in Montana, and I hunted pheasants, huns, chukkers, ducks and white tail during my childhood. I also fished pretty much every day. All of the spoils were eaten by my family. We were not well off, and could not afford to go to the grocery store and buy steaks very often. Once a year, maybe. Our freezer was packed with venison in the fall, and we lived off of it during the winter.

I was visiting a friend the other day, here in Montana. He was recently in Argentina on a hunting trip and showed me photos of all the large animals he had killed. Must have been 10 of them. I guess they were all trophy type animals. Things with large horns.

Obviously, we can all saunter down to the local Costco these days and buy high quality meats very affordably. I guess maybe 80% of us can afford to do this. So, why the need to kill large animals using expensive rifles with high-tech optics? Doesn't seem very sporting for one, and we don't need the meat any longer. I'm sure its tasty, but no longer a necessity. Is it a macho manhood kind of thing? Does it feel good killing an animal? I know a lot of you hunt. Would like your perspective.

I'm probably the only one around this area that does not hunt, or eat venison. I killed my last deer when I was 17. I stood over that beautiful animal and watched the life leave it, and vowed to never do it again.

[livi]

I am with you. Hunting is not for me. Still, as far as animal lives go, its probably a better way to die suddenly after living free, than being brought up to slaughter like most of the animal food we consume.

Another point, possibly more relevant i Europe, is that eating what you kill will certainly diminish the risk of having horse meat for dinner. Not that I have anything against horses, mind you..

On that note, the latest development in this "scandal" appears to be the finding of traces of pork meat in horse food..

[Crowbob]

To kill them?

[HardDrive]

I agree. Killing large animals with rifles is wrong.

Turret mounted high powered lasers would do a better job. Less damage to the meat.

[Jandrews]

Originally Posted by motion

I killed my last deer when I was 17. I stood over that beautiful animal and watched the life leave it, and vowed to never do it again.

I completely agree with this perspective, and had the exact same experience. That said, I would almost rather do that, than participate in and encourage the process by which meat makes it to our tables today. Tough call, really, unless you are willing to go vegetarian. At this point, I still go the Costco route, but given the means and access, I would almost rather do it "the old fashioned way".

JA

[HardDrive]

BTW, I hunt deer, and we eat every last bit.

When I shoot a deer, I thank the deer for sacrificing its life.

[Jim Bremner]

I can see hunting for food. I don't understand trophy hunting. "hey, let's kill the BEST male pose next to him and take a picture and mount him to a wall" Why are we taking the best genes out of the pool?

Kill, cook, eat.

[Rick V]

I don't hunt but my son does. He harvests what he wants, then continues through the rest of the season and the meat is donated to hunters for the hungry.

[not sharp]

high powered rifles are an ambush! Bow, muzzle loader = hunting!!

[Crowbob]

Trophy hunting is juvenile to me. But the costs and fees for big game hunting do fund preserves, animal management and such.

[M.D. Holloway]

As my Son would say, "shooting an animal with a rifle is not a hunt its a harvest."

Do it to feed only...

[Zeke]

High quality meat at Costco?

Well, that wasn't the point. I'm happy you had a moment to reflect on your deed at 17. I had a few moments at even a younger age. Seems the side of my family that resided on a farm outside of Bakersfield routinely harvested animals from the pens. That wasn't to my liking at all.

It wasn't until I was 39 that I stopped eating anything killed. Took awhile, but I've been that way since 1984.

[Baz]

As a huge animal lover I can't kill them. I just can't do it.

I'm a bit of a hypocrite though because I do buy meat from the grocery store.

I do not condemn hunters who eat their prey.

Those who hunt for sport - now that I do have a problem with.

Azzholes....

[winders]

You guys are clueless. If there were not hunting seasons in the U.S., most big game animals would not have enough food available to them in the winter to support the population.

Scott

[craigster59]

I think I'd rather just wander down to Costco and buy my hormone injected, antibiotic filled, Franken-farmed beef. Seriously though, I don't condone trophy hunting, but hunting for subsistence and using as much of the animal is okay in my book.

[varmint]

male bonding. any guys who kill and clean a moose together will be friends.

about a years worth of food in an economy where that really matters.

connecting with nature in a way the granolas will never know.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by winders

You guys are clueless. If there were not hunting seasons in the U.S., most big game animals would not have enough food available to them in the winter to support the population.

Scott

So what? We kill them so that they don't die?

Think about that for a moment.

But, if that doesn't strike a chord and you are of the persuasion that we need to control and alter nature, you won't be convinced. If you've ever missed your shot and wounded an animal, even if it suffered for only a few minutes (horrible to think of the ones that got away), then you are not the kind of human that I am.

And this debate will go on ad infinitum. Pretty much why I leave my debates here and don't try to talk to many people in person. As my cabinet man told me in the 80's, "People are no damn good." (I fully realize the fallacy.)

The guy was an ex teacher who decided to build stuff. He had some good philosophies that have become more germane each year.

The only reason I own a gun is to protect myself from people.

[motion]

Originally Posted by varmint

male bonding. any guys who kill and clean a moose together will be friends.

about a years worth of food in an economy where that really matters.

connecting with nature in a way the granolas will never know.

For reals?

[mikesride]

I don't hunt anymore, just lost interest in it I guess. (still love to fish, and my lady friend likes to as well!!!) I will pay for a friends tag and the butchering when ever I get a chance for some nice deer or elk. I do remember the trips as very fun! Camping out, eating around the fire, good friends and beer.....beer........beer, ah ya good times!

[Baz]

Look there's a huge population of hunters who do it the right way. They hunt for the food - not the sport.

We are not questioning 'those' guys.

Hard Drive said it best:

BTW, I hunt deer, and we eat every last bit.

When I shoot a deer, I thank the deer for sacrificing its life.

Hunting is an American heritage.

But like everything else we do here - there are plenty of jackwagons who disgrace the whole concept.