What People Get Wrong About Hunters

[IronNoggin]

Rather good article IMO...

"Hunting can stir up strong emotions and reactions in some people, especially those who didn’t grow up around it. From an outsider’s perspective, hunting might seem unnecessary, selfish, and even brutal. But many hunters would describe it as the exact opposite – a necessary and natural activity, rooted in ethics, that serves a greater purpose – providing healthy food and protecting the land as well as the animals themselves. If that sounds like a contradiction, it’s worth taking a closer look. The reality of hunters and hunting might surprise you."

What People Get Wrong About Hunters

Hunting can stir up strong emotions in some people, especially those who didn’t grow up around it. The reality of hunters and hunting might surprise you.

deerassociation.com

 

[sly_karma]

Generally agree, but you need to be pretty deep into a conversation with a non hunter before asserting, "Hunting is necessary." Use that line early on and it'll come across as pious justification, and they'll switch off.

 

[Dorman Point]

I grew up in an urban area and come from a family who has never hunted. I have never fired a gun. Over the years, I have come to know many hunters, some of whom I consider to be the most ethical sportsmen I know. I have friends who have hosted me for a venison dinner and shown me the buckskin jackets and slippers they have made themselves from the hides, right down to antler buttons. Not a part of the animal wasted. They harvest the animals with guns they have built themselves. I now wish I had learned to hunt and field dress, I think I would have loved it.

 

[Alex_c]

I grew up in an urban area and come from a family who has never hunted. I have never fired a gun. Over the years, I have come to know many hunters, some of whom I consider to be the most ethical sportsmen I know. I have friends who have hosted me for a venison dinner and shown me the buckskin jackets and slippers they have made themselves from the hides, right down to antler buttons. Not a part of the animal wasted. They harvest the animals with guns they have built themselves. I now wish I had learned to hunt and field dress, I think I would have loved it.

None of my family hunted growing up, but it’s something that I have always wanted to do. My cousin learned as an adult from his friends, so this year I am going on a hunt with him to learn and make it a reality.

I know a lot of non-hunter, non gun owning lefty urbanites who actually have a lot of respect for hunters and would love to learn, if it wasn’t so expensive and generally inaccessible for people who don’t have friends or family to teach them.

I think the most obnoxious of any group seem to set the stereotype, and divisive social media algorithms that profit off of fear and anger just make these amplifications of a loud minority even worse.

 

[Rain City]

None of my family hunted growing up, but it’s something that I have always wanted to do. My cousin learned as an adult from his friends, so this year I am going on a hunt with him to learn and make it a reality.

I know a lot of non-hunter, non gun owning lefty urbanites who actually have a lot of respect for hunters and would love to learn, if it wasn’t so expensive and generally inaccessible for people who don’t have friends or family to teach them.

I think the most obnoxious of any group seem to set the stereotype, and divisive social media algorithms that profit off of fear and anger just make these amplifications of a loud minority even worse.

Me and 5 of my friends all got our gun licenses at 30 years old. None of us had hunted before. We went out and found our own spots and did horrible for 5 straight years lol. I finally got my first white tail at Tunkwa Lake 3 or 4 years in. It felt amazing. But we had many many trips with maybe 1 deer between our entire group. It was awesome to learn on our own though. A few of the guys eventually joined more experienced groups going to more remote locations and did very well. I unfortunately gave it up after my first kid was born 7 years ago. The fishing bug took over around then and I couldn't justify both hobbies with small kids. I think the cold weather camping and comradery is amazing, but it's a grind if you don't do it right. I'd love to get an Elk or a Moose someday when I can get back into it, but I'm not a fan of venison (please don't try to convince me that I'm wrong). I for one won't go out and just kill an animal that I don't love to eat.

 

[Samnjoe]

I have hunted my whole adult life. My kids grew up eating deer and moose. When they were younger they would notice that strange beef taste when we had it. We would regularly put an animal head beside our jack o lantern on Halloween. In Kamloops the kids would say " Trick or Treat.....nice buck" in Vancouver someone would likely call the cops.

 

[Flashman]

One thing I mention when talking to people about the ethics of hunting is every animal dies. Most will starve, freeze or get eaten alive by something else. Getting shot by a hunter is very likely the least unpleasant option.

 

[Adrenafin]

Death in nature is far more brutal and cruel sometimes, most times. Any animal i harvested had a free and natural life, the way the creator intended until i took it. Compare that to mass produced, incarcerated and often tortured livestocks' lives. Environmentalists and PETA type folks should be thanking hunters for 1- maintaining the countryside with their dollars and 2 - consuming less of the rmistreated industrial livestock

There's a lot to consider on this subject and most non hunters and haters simply don't have even close to the proper amount of information to comment intelligently.