1journeyman
Active Member
Originally Posted by wattsupdoc
http:///forum/post/2454173
... To take a wild animals life is a God given right. As it is also our duty to do so. ...
Non hunters seem to have a difficult time understanding the mentality of hunters. If you have not experienced it, then IMO, you do not have the ability to decide what it is about. When you say that if the result is killing something then its the killing you enjoy, you are absolutely incorrect. For me at least, I find that whenever I don't get a swift kill to be very unnerving. It happens though from time to time. It is much, much more than the killing. It is a bonding experience, a relationship between you and mother nature, where you interact and have a direct impact. A skill of understanding an animal, and how to outwit it. Especially when their senses have remained wild, while ours have been generally "evolved" away. Non hunters generally assume too that this is an easy task, what with all our superiority, rifles and technology, and is "unfair". I can attest to the fact that myself have spent many more days coming home empty handed than days where I have succeeded. Which translates to my loss in the game.
All animal populations need to be kept in check, lest we progress backwards as a society. They become a nuisance and overall dangerous situation. Not all animals that need to be kept in check are desirable for food, nor other practical uses, some, clothing and decoration. So what exactly do you propose is done with these animals, who is then to do you the service of removing them from possibly passing in front of your vehicle?
Yeesh, I feel like I'm arguing both sides...
I pointed out earlier biblically where meat was an acceptable food. That said, to say taking animals is a "God given right" and our duty, imo, is a bit too gar of a stretch. I've done my share of studying the Bible (including the word "dominion" found in the OT). If you want to follow a strict adherence to biblical teaching then we should be doing a lot more conservation and a lot less shooting...
I come from a long line of hunters on both sides of my family. I have tried it. So I have the perspective. I choose not to do it for exactly the reason you site occasionally occurs. Why risk badly injuring an animal and having it suffer? I can "interact" with Mother Nature without carrying a deer rifle. I've sat quietly on a large rock in the woods and had mule deer graze within feet of me. I've hiked near enough to Bison to hear them breath, I've watched a White Tail Doe give birth. I can have an impact on Mother Nature by picking up trash I see in the woods... It really doesn't take all that much thought to outwit an animal. They are, after all, animals. Sure, catching a Mantis Shrimp or a damsel in an aquarium
is a pain. Sure, getting that "perfect shot" takes some work. That said, my folks own 200 acres in the hill country of Texas. If I wanted, I could shoot a deer on any given day I choice to go shoot one... They are creatures of habit and not strategic geniuses.
It's only a "game" to a hunter". It's life-and-death survival to the animal.
We can debate the need for population control another time. My point would be mankind is a poor substitute for nature's own control mechanisms. Arguments like "they might run in front of your car" are weak. After all, we've all seen the signs in neighborhoods which read "Slow, children at play"...
http:///forum/post/2454173
... To take a wild animals life is a God given right. As it is also our duty to do so. ...
Non hunters seem to have a difficult time understanding the mentality of hunters. If you have not experienced it, then IMO, you do not have the ability to decide what it is about. When you say that if the result is killing something then its the killing you enjoy, you are absolutely incorrect. For me at least, I find that whenever I don't get a swift kill to be very unnerving. It happens though from time to time. It is much, much more than the killing. It is a bonding experience, a relationship between you and mother nature, where you interact and have a direct impact. A skill of understanding an animal, and how to outwit it. Especially when their senses have remained wild, while ours have been generally "evolved" away. Non hunters generally assume too that this is an easy task, what with all our superiority, rifles and technology, and is "unfair". I can attest to the fact that myself have spent many more days coming home empty handed than days where I have succeeded. Which translates to my loss in the game.
All animal populations need to be kept in check, lest we progress backwards as a society. They become a nuisance and overall dangerous situation. Not all animals that need to be kept in check are desirable for food, nor other practical uses, some, clothing and decoration. So what exactly do you propose is done with these animals, who is then to do you the service of removing them from possibly passing in front of your vehicle?
Yeesh, I feel like I'm arguing both sides...
I pointed out earlier biblically where meat was an acceptable food. That said, to say taking animals is a "God given right" and our duty, imo, is a bit too gar of a stretch. I've done my share of studying the Bible (including the word "dominion" found in the OT). If you want to follow a strict adherence to biblical teaching then we should be doing a lot more conservation and a lot less shooting...
I come from a long line of hunters on both sides of my family. I have tried it. So I have the perspective. I choose not to do it for exactly the reason you site occasionally occurs. Why risk badly injuring an animal and having it suffer? I can "interact" with Mother Nature without carrying a deer rifle. I've sat quietly on a large rock in the woods and had mule deer graze within feet of me. I've hiked near enough to Bison to hear them breath, I've watched a White Tail Doe give birth. I can have an impact on Mother Nature by picking up trash I see in the woods... It really doesn't take all that much thought to outwit an animal. They are, after all, animals. Sure, catching a Mantis Shrimp or a damsel in an aquarium
is a pain. Sure, getting that "perfect shot" takes some work. That said, my folks own 200 acres in the hill country of Texas. If I wanted, I could shoot a deer on any given day I choice to go shoot one... They are creatures of habit and not strategic geniuses.
It's only a "game" to a hunter". It's life-and-death survival to the animal.
We can debate the need for population control another time. My point would be mankind is a poor substitute for nature's own control mechanisms. Arguments like "they might run in front of your car" are weak. After all, we've all seen the signs in neighborhoods which read "Slow, children at play"...
