Opinions on Hunting
By Faye
@FayeHazel (40248)
United States
November 17, 2017 11:49am CST
Inspired by the time of year and discussion with @dgobucks226 - I was curious about everyone's opinions on hunting.
I do eat meat, and often. I love a tasty steak, or chicken. But the problem is that I hate thinking about where my food comes from. I realize that makes me a hypocrite.
I used to flat out dislike hunting.
Now I tolerate it. I can't dislike it actively - as I still eat meat.
I am not interested in hunting personally (unless said animal were hurting me or my loved ones or pets - or if I had to eat.) -- but I have nothing against hunters so long as they actually use their kill for food.
I have more respect if they use as much of it as they can like meat for food, pelt or hide for rug, blanket, clothing- horns for handles on knives. It did take an animal's life - so try to use as much of it as is possible and waste as little as is possible. Of course I do feel that the hunt should be done in the most humane manner possible.
Another positive is that it helps to keep wildlife populations in balance.
Now sport hunting is an entirely different thing which I do not and cannot support. That is killing for the fun of it without using the animal other than a mere trophy.
Now I don't deny it takes a level of skill to sport hunt and to preserve the animal as a trophy... but I just can't justify it in my own mind.
So around here, the commonly hunted animals are turkeys, geese, pheasants, deer and bear. Though deer is probably the most popular. Of course in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" as Minnesota is called fishing is also a big sport.
Is hunting a big sport in your area?
What is your personal opinion on it?
Photo: Pixabay
17 people like this
16 responses
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Nov 17
Having been brought up on a farm where we killed our own meat I don't really have much against hunting for food. I do think it should be done humanely as far as possible. I deplore trophy hunting and see no value in it whatsoever.
5 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Nov 17
@FayeHazel I could do it if need be (butcher a chicken) but I can't imagine that I'll ever need to - and that's fine by me. My Dad would butcher a sheep and I could cut up the carcass. I always thought I was clever to be able to joint the front and back legs to remove the shanks. 
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
20 Nov 17
@JudyEv Ah my job was to pluck the pin feathers.
I think it's pretty clever of to be able to process the mutton --- I know I couldn't do it
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
19 Nov 17
I agree. There must be great comfort in knowing where your meat was raised/what it was feed/how it was treated.
I got in on chicken butchering as a kid.
I don't think I would have the nerve to do it. (I know, I'm a hypocrite)
But as long as it is humane as is possible, I appreciate knowing that, too.
2 people like this
@shaggin (71664)
• United States
17 Nov 17
Here in PA where I live hunting is a huge past time. I feel its pretty redneck how they act. Native indians were amazing at how they came up with uses for every single part of buffalo. Hunters now eat the meat, save the heads to mount and sell the skin. I stopped eating meat when I was 7 as I hated animals being killed. My ex and of my best friends are big on hunting. I can understand people hunting and I figure if they are going to eat meat they might as well get it for free by hunting as it i healthier then most store bought meat all treated with hormones etc.
5 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
19 Nov 17
I agree with you -- some of the hunters in this area of MN - are pretty "redneck" too. And then we have your - what I call - yuppie hunters. (Name brand jacket, fancy trunk, specialized "designer" style gear), and then we have the down to earth people....
I commend you on not eating meat.
You're right - I admire those who can, like the Natives - use as much of it as possible
2 people like this
@rebelann (111164)
• El Paso, Texas
17 Nov 17
I am an omnivore and do eat meat. Perhaps it is time for those people with livestock to rethink what they do which is senselessly slaughtering hundreds of cattle only to have whatever retailer buys their meat end up throwing it away because it wasn't bought before the expiration date.
Hunting might be a better way to provide meat, but I agree with you about sport hunting nor do I condone hunting predators.
Yellowstone Park is proof positive that predators like Wolves are a necessity to keep our forests healthy and strong, they have the ability to keep ungulates moving so they do not destroy vegetation or become diseased.
In a local health food store I've noticed they are now selling deer and elk meat but I think that as with cattle and sheep they've been trying to domesticate them. Domestication of wild species is what causes the problem in the first place.
4 people like this
@rebelann (111164)
• El Paso, Texas
21 Nov 17
I think cattle could go wild again and then those people who feel a need to kill will have their chance to do so @FayeHazel plus the kritter they hunt will have the chance to run which is their right.
The only thing they need to stop doing is hunting and killing predators, they're the ones who ensure a healthy forest.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
21 Nov 17
@rebelann That's horrible. I hate animal cruelty. Even though sometimes animals get used to provide us with eggs, dairy ... and in some cases - meat - I think they should be treated as well as is possible. There is simply no need to be cruel.
I think it's going to larger and larger farms now that aren't privately owned. Maybe that makes a difference.
Maybe hunting should be encouraged, as you say.... after I had some time to think on this - at least the animal has lived it's life in the wild
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
17 Nov 17
I eat meat and always will, as long as it's around but am not okay with hunting. Especially for them to be trophies.
4 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
19 Nov 17
I agree with you. As I think more on the topic, maybe hunted meat is more humane after all?
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (34356)
•
17 Nov 17
I have never hunted and really have no interest in doing so. There are hunting seasons where I live. I think since I do not see it I haven't thought about it much. The out of sight out of mind idea. However, I do agree hunting for food and usage of your kill makes more sense to me than hunting for a trophy. I would think shooting at targets instead of game would be a more useful and fun way to test your skill. But, not being a hunter, maybe their is something unique in that sport I do not understand?
4 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
19 Nov 17
I agree. I am fine with it as long as it is used for food, and in the most humane way possible
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
19 Nov 17
I do eat meat, so only have a problem with hunting when the meat/hide/usable parts are wasted or the animal is not killed cleanly.
As a kid on the farm, I was taught to hunt to supplement what we raised and slaughtered ourselves. We rarely had the money to buy meat from the grocery store.
I no longer hunt, but several of my family still do. (Usually, Pretty and I receive some cuts of meat from whatever my family bring in. This year, bear and elk.)
People who hunt for sport should be taken out and used to help new hunters perfect their aim. If the sport hunter can't be saved, oh well... no big loss!
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
23 Nov 17
@FayeHazel Pretty (my daughter) tried her hand at tanning a deer hide two years ago. She did a good job. She sold the tanned hide.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
21 Nov 17
I tend to agree with you. It's very useful if you need to eat and use all that you can of the kill. Lucky for you now to stilll receive some wild game.
1 person likes this
@just4him (306113)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
18 Nov 17
Good post for today as Deer Hunting Season is underway. I don't mind hunting for food, and I wish all those hunters will get their deer, and fill their freezers this winter. I'm not in favor of sport hunting either.
Now if there is a hunter out there who would share their venison with me, I would be happy as there are no hunters in my family.
3 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
19 Nov 17
Yes! I too would like to sign up if people want to give away some venison :-)
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
19 Nov 17
I like when people use it/ use as much of it as possible
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
18 Nov 17
I pretty much hold the same point of view as you. (Really helpful, I know.)
3 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
19 Nov 17
Oh no, actually always good to know when one is agreed with :-)
2 people like this
@kobesbuddy (74554)
• East Tawas, Michigan
17 Nov 17
I feel exactly as you do, about hunting. I'm definitely not one who could shoot an animal, for the fun of it! It's not my sport, but other's who need meat for their family, I guess that's fine.
3 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
19 Nov 17
I don't know if I could do it, either, but I have no issue with those who use what they take
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74554)
• East Tawas, Michigan
20 Nov 17
@FayeHazel If the hunt is for food to feed their family, that's understandable.
1 person likes this
@Scrapper88 (5957)
• United States
17 Nov 17
I have nothing against hunting, but I would rather go fishing. A lot of people around where I live likes to go hunting.
3 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
19 Nov 17
Ah I have thought about fishing, I haven't been since I was a kid... though by now someone would need to bait my hook, take the fish off the hook, and I couldn't be involved with the cleaning of it... lol. I know.... real fisher-woman, right?
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9221)
• Austin, Texas
20 Nov 17
Hunting was once the way for people to feed their families; since many civilizations are or were not vegetarian. But hunting just for fun is savage! I think it's animal cruelty and also not good for our environment. Animals are critical to our ecosystem.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
21 Nov 17
I pretty much agree with you. Hunting isn't needed now - however some do it for economy. I don't understand the mindset of wishing to hunt (if you don't need to) - but as long as they use their kills -- it doesn't bother me. Waste bothers me
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129453)
• Israel
21 Aug 18
@FayeHazel
I have never ever gone hunting or know anyone that did so I really do not want to see a deer killed to be eaten.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
24 Aug 18
I agree. There are people who pose with their kill for photos. I've never understood that.
1 person likes this
