Hunting: More Than Just RecreationAug 15 '02 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line The choice to hunt should be made by the individual, not by society.
I did not grow up in a hunting family. I do not recall hearing anything negative about hunting when I was growing up; it was simply that none of the family members had the interest. Through most of my adult life, hunting was not really something I put much thought into. Sure, I read the arguments for and against hunting that surfaced now and then, and I was present at more than one discussion about the merits of hunting vs. not hunting, but it really did not impact me one way or another in any great fashion. I had tried venison a couple of times but frankly, I didn't enjoy the taste and had no strong desire to eat any more of it. I will confess I never understood why some people had such strong views against hunting. Most of the arguments against I have heard are based on how cruel it is. Well, once I started learning about how we grow, slaughter, and process our domestic animals I started thinking seriously about what is and is not cruel. I am a believer in allowing people to live their lives in the way they choose, provided they don't hurt anyone else in the process. Basically, my view is that if a person doesn't like hunting, he or she shouldn't feel compelled to hunt. Hunting became a reality in my life when I started seeing my significant other. He has hunted all his life, and thoroughly looks forward to going to "elk camp" in October and hunting for elk. I had never tried elk meat, and was uncertain about it as I remembered my negative experiences with venison. He sent some elk burger and elk steaks home with me, and I figured why not? I made tacos out of the elk meat three times and served elk steaks twice before I told my children that they were eating elk and not beef. They were initially shocked, but the truth of the matter set in when I reminded them that the ONLY times I had no leftover meat was when I served elk. Every time I make tacos with hamburger I have a ton of it left over. Not so with elk meat. They finally had to admit they liked it. And so did I. The only way you can get elk meat is to hunt it yourself. So there it is. Pros About Hunting First of all, it provides meat if the hunter is successful in his or her endeavor. It is not simply recreational; it is also productive. And one elk can keep your freezer stocked for many months, making it a very cost effective way to feed your family. Of course, you have to enjoy the taste of whatever it is you are hunting for. It doesn't do a whole lot of good to have a freezer full of something you don't like! It helps keep the animal population under control. This is critical, as overpopulation of any animal can cause serious problems for the population as a whole and could possibly endanger many animals. Hunting is strictly regulated so that appropriate numbers of animals are hunted. Every hunter I know understands the regulations and follows them strictly. While there may be a few who choose to violate, the game wardens are available and crack down on those who choose to *not* follow the rules. Hunting provides an incentive for the hunter to stay in shape and maintain a healthy lifestyle. It is pretty difficult to climb those mountains and work your way through thick trees and brush if you aren't in shape! Wild game is generally much healthier for you than store-bought meat. Elk aren't forcefed food jam-packed with hormones to make them fatter so they can provide more meat. Elk eat natural foods up in the mountains. As a parent, I would much rather feed my children elk for dinner than to serve them meat purchased from the store. I have no idea what kind of horrible additives are in the meat I buy. And I have read a couple studies that are indicative of the hormones present in our food supply being incredibly unhealthy for us. Yuck. Frankly, it angers me that I do not have control over the food I feed my children. I am at the mercy of the manufacturers. With hunting, this worry is essentially eliminated as long as the hunter pays attention to what the game department is saying when they are planning their hunt. Cons About Hunting Hmmm. I find myself having to put a lot of thought into coming up with negatives. The main thing, of course, is for those who are against hunting to *not* hunt. I hear people say hunting is cruel. My own kids initially said it was "mean" when I told them they had eaten elk. But when we discussed exactly why it is mean, no one could come up with a real answer. Is it animal cruelty to kill one for food? Perhaps to a person who is a strict vegetarian. I can definitely understand their viewpoint; if a person doesn't believe in eating any meat at all, hunting would definitely seem cruel. I would hope that person is as active in protesting the meat we buy in the grocery store as he or she might be in protesting hunting. I suppose the fact that the hunter has to purchase a hunting license could be a negative. After all, hunting licenses are not cheap. The cost does vary from state to state. But, when one looks at the big picture, the cost of a hunting license is quite minimal compared to the cost of buying meat from the grocery store. Just what is it about the hunting issue that upsets people? The gun issue? Well, many people hunt with bows and arrows. I am curious; are those who are against hunting against all hunting, or just fire-arm based hunting? And are those who are against hunting against the practices used by the meat manufacturers? And, are those who are against hunting also against fishing? These are serious questions, and I appreciate any feedback I receive on them. I suppose the hunter could be considered barbaric in some eyes, because he or she chooses to go out and kill the food he or she eats him or herself. But is it barbarism or self-sufficiency? If the world as we know it should crash, and that actually could happen, would those who have no clue how to hunt and gather their own food survive? Food for thought. Final Thoughts An early hunt is going on here in our area. Why? Partly because the farmers need the elk to be off of their property. There are limits to how many animals can be on property. If there were no hunters, would society just go in and randomly kill the elk to reduce their population? I find that vague idea much more barbaric and cruel than I do a hunter going out and shooting an elk to provide food for his or her family. At any rate, I have no problem with hunting as long as it is done following the regulations. We have laws and consequences for those who don't follow the rules, and I believe those people are few and far between anyway. Hunting is a sport because it enables the hunter to pit his or her wits against the animal. (And for those who think the animals don't have a chance; well, I know hunters who go on the hunt every year and only get an elk maybe once out of every ten hunts. Those odds would indicate that the animals have more in their favor than the hunters do!) It is also beneficial because it provides food for the table. My thoughts on a very controversial subject. Thanks for reading. Take care, Beckish  |
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