Why Not Everything About Hunting News Is Bad News

By Laura Ward


From the earliest days man has been a hunter. He hunted for food and he hunted to protect his tribe against predators. To this day men like to be hunters. They love being out in nature, pitting their skills against their prey. These hunters say that they love nature and that hunting is a harmless pursuit. Of course, not everyone agrees with them. However, hunting news is always followed keenly by all and sundry.

There is no shortage of critics of hunters. They are of the opinion that stalking and killing animals is a barbarous pastime that should be banned. They day that hunters are decimating the environment, that they care nothing for the preservation of wildlife and that they are violent in nature. These critics go to great lengths to spread their message and they do their level best to introduce stricter laws.

Critics are especially vocal on the fact that hunters use increasingly sophisticated tools to kill their quarries. They say that modern scopes, high velocity rifles and other new technology have made a mockery of the old age belief that a hunt should be fair. Modern technology, says the critics, has eliminated any possibility of a fair hunt.

Hunters have not been silent during the debate. They say that nobody loves nature the way they do. They do not want to see the natural habitats of the animals to be decimated and they are ardent nature conservationists. It is not the hunters, but rather industry that keep on decimating natural sanctuaries, all in the name of progress and human greed. In comparison with the harm done by industry, hunters do not even feature.

Hunters, especially trophy hunters like to point out that they make a huge contribution towards nature conservation. A big game trophy hunt in South Africa, Botswana or Namibia, for example can cost upwards of half a million dollars. A good percentage of that fee is ploughed back in nature conservation. This is done to protect the hunting industry.

Hunters also argue that there is actually very little game left outside of commercial game farms and conservation areas. They therefore hunt in areas that were specifically stocked by the land owner for hunting purposes. They say that there is no real difference between raising cattle or sheep for their meat and raising game to be hunted. The game, at least, are allowed to roam free.

Hunters also like to point out that statistics clearly show that they are responsible firearm owners. They are properly trained in the use of their guns and they do not often become involved in legal cases. In addition, there are strict laws governing the hunting industry. To hunt is not to kill indiscriminately. Hunters have strict codes of ethics and the vast majority abide by those rules.

There are arguments for and against hunting but it does not seem as if there will ever be a cease fire. Hunter will continue to enjoy their sport and those against it will continue to fight it. Hunters do, however, make a sizeable contribution towards the economy, especially when they hunt in developing countries.




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