Is it a Sport?
Jun 25 '00
Calling Hunting a sport makes me wonder what is so sporting about it? Sure, you have heard the jokes "Give the deer a gun, then it's a sport!". Sport, to me, implies that either competitor can win. That does not seem to be the case in hunting.
But I think we are being unfair to men who hunt for other reasons. The men I know who hunt, hunt for the same reason that they fish. It provides meat to their table. Most of the men I know who hunt consider it a hobby, a fun trip to "male bond" and be productive by bringing home a buck.
My slant on meat eating is simple--meat grows on trees wrapped in cellophane. I rarely buy "whole" chickens for that reason. In my heart, I am a vegetarian. My stomach claims me, though, as a "flesh eater" (as my Peta friends call me). As long as I can think of meat as a substance that has no part of animal life (or death, in this case), I am okay. I realize that if there were some holocaust (nuclear war, alien invasion, etc), that I would probably be a vegetarian. I cannot see myself killing an animal even under those circumstances. But I could be wrong.
If you are hunting and following all the rules and common sense prevails, then I cannot condemn you. If you use that food to feed your family (or other families as well). If you do not kill more than you need. Be safe in the woods and go with my blessings.
However, if your only desire is "trophy hunting", getting the biggest buck (and ignoring the two you've already killed because a bigger one is out there); if you take the head for the antlers and leave the rest of the kill; if you sneak on forbidden land to bag an exceptionally special beauty; or if you ignore the laws and safety issues; then you are not hunting any more than dynamiting a lake is fishing.
One man I knew, call him Bob, went hunting with some archery equipment that was willed to him by an Uncle. He carried a rifle only because he once had to spend 2 days tracking a buck he had shot with an arrow who bolted at the last second. He spent two days tracking her and when he finally caught up with her, she was in bad shape. It still took 2 more shoots from his crossbow because he was shaking so hard. It took him two years to return to hunting. For two years, his kids were fed meat rarely, because they could not afford it (this was during the 70's recession where low income people ate dog food). He returned to hunting, this time carrying a rifle in case a clean shot was needed. To this day, he donates a portion of the meat to local food banks and soup kitchens.
He may not be hunting for sport, but in my books he is a good sport.
My Dad was frequently invited to join the men's hunting groups. He always declined. A lot of them teased him for being afraid of hunting or unable to kill his own food. Dad would smile and decline. Later, I watched as he filled the bird feeders and his specially designed squirrel feeders (the blue jays would run the squirrels off and that bothered him). I asked why he declined his friends. He smiled. "I grew up on a farm. I've killed more pigs, cows and chickens than these guys ever will. It's not fun when you get them out of their pen and it's not fun when you hunt them down either. You do it to eat. I'd rather go to the grocery."
Me too, Dad. The Grocery Store--where meat grows on trees wrapped in cellophane and no animals are injured. Please allow me my illusions.
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Epinions.com ID:
laryan
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Member: Lisa Ryan
Location: Louisville, KY
Reviews written: 281
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About Me:
Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt, moved on, reviewed it all. Made 7 cents.
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