I don't understand...

[BenWaller]

You make the point perfectly.

Ben

[Traveler]

So any update on your boyfriend claire? Everyone seems to be enthusiastic to know what your boyfriend does with his hunt.

I with with everyone that hunting for the sake of fun is bad although hunting itself is fun.

[claire]

He usually leaves the animals behind. I asked him about it. I am interested in learning a bit so that I can be self sufficient and have the meat, but I don't like his approach. :/


Is it even legal to leave the carcasses?

[2coastcamper]

Originally Posted by claire

He usually leaves the animals behind.

Horrible ... I don't know what to say.

[Shanna]

I hunt occasionally with my husband. We eat the meat because my family likes venison. But I do have friends who don't eat the deer they kill. They usually just give it away to someone who likes it. I would hate to see it wasted.

[2coastcamper]

Originally Posted by 2coastcamper

Horrible ... I don't know what to say.

Now, I've had a chance to think about this:

There's another possibility. In certain areas of the country, hunting deer is crucial for population control. Over population of deer in areas where their territory is close to major roadways needs "thinning out" hunting. Also, in areas where the deer are breeding faster than the food supply can grow need this kind of hunting. In the first example, the deer can wander onto highways and cause major traffic accidents (I once passed a deer on a freeway going 70 MPH, the speed limit, and if I had struck a deer going that fast, I might not have made it). Secondly, in the food case, if the deer breed faster than the food, they will ALL starve and die.

So, there's a chance that he's doing hunting to prevent over population. I've flipped through TV hunting shows where hunters are looking for a specific type of deer to prevent over breeding. It's usually older males, to keep them from "spreading their seed" to several female deer. If the OP's boyfriend is doing that specific type of hunting, I can (somewhat) understand just leaving the carcass.

I'd still like to see something be done with the meat ... but I guess I'd understand.

[claire]

See, I agree with you all-- I don't like it and I'm glad that I'm not the only one who has a problem with it. I'm learning to hunt so that I can save the venison, at least that way there won't be waste.

[dhoyle]

A lot of it depends on what you are hunting, there two critters that will shoot and leave. They are the jackrabbit and the ground squirrel. As a boy raised on a dirt farm, and seeing the damage these two varmints can do to crop has sort of set me in my ways. Everything else I harvest is consumed.

[dinosaur]

I've been hunting for a very long time. I'm very good at it and have killed thousands of animals. On some occasions I have shot pests. A few times I killed to protect myself or one of my animals. Mostly I have killed animals for the meat, never for the skins although I have tanned a number of them.

Hunting is fun. Killing is necessary. If not, I don't do it.

It is difficult for me to accept the existence of a human who kills for the pleasure of terminating the existence of a living being. Oh, I know they exist. As I said, I just don't accept it. This behaviour has only two possible solutions. The first is a severe attitude adjustment.

[Geoman]

Claire,
People who have never hunted will probably never understand but for those of you who haven't one thing is very clear. We (humans) are the supreme animal on this earth. We are the only animal that has the luxury of a mind (means we can think) Therefore it is our obligation to take care of (that means "Keep in Balance") all other animals on this earth. The very most effective method of doing this is to "Hunt" and "Harvest" them responsibly. Doing so keeps them healthy and in balance with each other. There "is" great satifaction in that. That means of course, having respect for all the animals you harvest and making the best use of them. "Waste Not, Want Not" Oh yes, we could not do our part and they would of course balance themselves by predation, disease, etc. Of course you realize, it would not be pretty! Hunting is by far the best choice "any expert" will agree. I can show you example after example of the alternative. Now, as far as the fun part goes: The hunt, the challange, the developed skills "is" the fun part, the "taking" is the secondary responsibility but knowing you did your part to keep all the other animals healthy and in balance for all future generations to enjoy while in this life on earth, now that's the satisfaction!