by rwwff » Sat 05 Aug 2006, 23:53:14
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Loki', '
')There's a big difference between predation and what passes for huntin' and fishin' these days. The latter are focused primarily on torturing animals for fun, otherwise known as "catch and release" and "varmint hunting."
I don't catch and release, unless its illegal to keep the particular fish that comes up on the hook or in the net; and I'll eat almost anything that has flesh. Heck, I even eat gar... And I sure as heck enjoy the gettin as much as I enjoy the eatin.
So, I will continue to take great pleasure in hunting, killing, and eating stuff. Its much more honest than buying shrink wrapped meat in the grocery store, though I admit that I do that too.
Varmint "hunting" is not really hunting per sea, but rather pest control, no worse than mouse traps, roach bait, and household cats. I think it is likely much less painful for the individual pest being irradicated; in most cases they are very nearly vaporized by the high velocity varmint bullets that are used in the effort. Personally, I don't participate in this particular activity, as it is very time consuming, but I have a hard time seeing anything objectionable about it. Humans kill rodents & crows because we don't like rodents and crows around certain stuff, so whats the big deal? If someone can get some marksmanship practice out of them at the same time, so much the better. It also has the side benefit that you don't poison stuff you don't want dead.
nb: Gar are a real pain to clean, but not impossible.