[jtward01]

FYI-

The National Geographic Channel ran a one-hour "investigative" type program today on the pros & cons of hunting. Pretty well balanced. It will probably be repeated tonight, or over the next few days.

[Vern Humphrey]

What are the cons, other than the occasional dork falling out of a tree-stand?

[jtward01]

What are the cons, other than the occasional dork falling out of a tree-stand?

Well, there were some of your typical PETA types who want to ban all hunting, but they did show video of one thing I found disgusting. A bunch of farm-raised pigeons were released from boxes. Some flew and were shot down. Most stayed on the ground and were shot from five yards or so away. Many were left flapping around with no attempt to humanely end their suffering. The video showed children throwing the birds repeatedly against a wall, trying to kill them. I'm sorry, but this is not hunting.

[Redneck American]

Well, there were some of your typical PETA types who want to ban all hunting, but they did show video of one thing I found disgusting. A bunch of farm-raised pigeons were released from boxes. Some flew and were shot down. Most stayed on the ground and were shot from five yards or so away. Many were left flapping around with no attempt to humanely end their suffering. The video showed children throwing the birds repeatedly against a wall, trying to kill them. I'm sorry, but this is not hunting.
I agree 100%! There's no call to cage an animal, and then shoot it as soon as you release it! It's people like that that give legit hunters a bad name.

If you aren't up at 4 a.m. , freezing in your knickers, walking through the dark in the woods, and knowing that anything you kill you have to drag home, then you might as well sit in Wal Marts grocery section with a shotgun, waiting for the stock boy to bring you some packaged beef!

[Oldtimer]

JT, I missed the start of that National Geographic show, but what I saw was NOT "well balanced"! For one, they TRIED to portray the guy in uniform and wearing a "Smokie" hat as some sort of game warden.
If you didn't notice, his shoulder patch was worded "Environmental Protection Agency"! And, that EPA guy kept on using the word "slaughter", instead of hunting! Their film footage of the dead black bear was definitely slanted, especially since their "investigator" was "lovingly" petting it, as if it was still alive and a "cuddly" teddy bear!

The University (Denver) Professor REALLY got to me!
When the "investigator" asked him if he had a different attitudes of "trophy" hunters and "sustenance" hunters, he said "Yes, but....", and went on with gibberish that I couldn't put up with!

Did the "investigator" EVER say anything about the NEED to "thin-out" a herd for their SURVIVAL? I know that they had a short segment about hunting on private land, but did they mention anything about public land shooting and the "lottery" or "tag issuance" systems of thinning a herd?

I'll have to keep my eyes open for the re-run of that show, for I don't know how much of the start that I missed.

[Vern Humphrey]

Well, there were some of your typical PETA types who want to ban all hunting, but they did show video of one thing I found disgusting. A bunch of farm-raised pigeons were released from boxes. Some flew and were shot down. Most stayed on the ground and were shot from five yards or so away. Many were left flapping around with no attempt to humanely end their suffering. The video showed children throwing the birds repeatedly against a wall, trying to kill them. I'm sorry, but this is not hunting.

Who called it "hunting?"

This is a 19th Century "sport" called Live Pigeon Shooting -- people like Bogardus and Doc Carver were champions at it. Like cock fighting and dog fighting, it has been outlawed in most states.

[belton-deer-hunter]

Who called it "hunting?"

well here in texas "caged" hunts are illegal so i dont know what they are talking about i have never seen one

[jtward01]

well here in texas "caged" hunts are illegal so i dont know what they are talking about i have never seen one

A couple years ago here in Florida a so-called "game ranch" was caught on video staking out exotics (farm raised African animals) and allowing "hunters" to shoot them from whatever range they chose. Some guys backed off 100 yards of so, others fired from only 10 or 15 feet. Because these were not native species, and because they were farm raised there was no law prohibiting what they were doing, but public opposition eventually forced them to stop, at least for awhile.

While I support sport hunting (and was a very active hunter for many years) I don't believe in trophy hunting. If you're not going to eat it, don't kill it (unless it's doing damage to crops or livestock, or threatening the safety of people). I don't even like the use of tree stands or blinds for deer hunting, especially when feed or scents are used to lure the buck into shooting range. To me, "hunting" is being on the ground with the animal, stalking it and if you're good enough, getting close enough for a shot.

[jefnvk]

Many were left flapping around with no attempt to humanely end their suffering. The video showed children throwing the birds repeatedly against a wall, trying to kill them. I'm sorry, but this is not hunting.

Have you ever been bird hunting?

The way I was taught to deal with a flapping bird:

Ducks: Hit their head against the canoe
Geese: If they are conscious at all, hit them in the head with a paddle or gun stock
Turkey: Again, if conscious at all, step on their neck

Just the way a few generations of hunters have done it.

[Vern Humphrey]

While I support sport hunting (and was a very active hunter for many years) I don't believe in trophy hunting. If you're not going to eat it, don't kill it

Who says trophy hunters don't eat what they kill?

[halvey]

I don't even like the use of tree stands or blinds for deer hunting, especially when feed or scents are used to lure the buck into shooting range. To me, "hunting" is being on the ground with the animal, stalking it and if you're good enough, getting close enough for a shot. You've never been to Wisconsin or Minnesota have you? The deer have overtaken and are damn near considered varmints at this point. Even with tree stand hunting, only 50% of tags are filled. I greatly thank the ones who do take up this sport because it's about as bad as it can get.