I never was really interested, though plenty of people in my family hunt. In Arkansas while I was in secondary school, we did all have to take a mandatory Hunter’s Safety course. And, in the area were I live right now, I’m sure there are families that benefit from the additional caloric supply, maxing out their tags during rifle season.

I have mixed feelings around the other points you raise, that I find it hard to articulate. But, I don’t have any better solution to overpopulation.

I’ve been present at killing, cleaning, and (later) butchering of rabbit, deer and cow. But, I do try to get as few calories from animal products as I can. I was vegan at home for many months, tho not currently.

I’ve never wanted to do it myself, but am very appreciative when hunter buddies share the carcasses of their victims. :)

We fucked up the wolf populations so its our moral imperative to control deer populations.

Hunting for food is OK, as long as proper technique is observed (safe, humane, environmentally responsible).

Hunting for fun is a sociopath’s pastime.

I won’t cry if anyone dies while hunting, but i do love venison

I won’t shame somebody who would otherwise literally die of starvation if they hunt, buther, cook, and eat non-endangered animals for food.

That’s about as understanding as I’m gonna get. I suppose I may disrespect slightly less someone’s regular meat consumption if they went through all the time and effort themselves.

Population control is a copout. We should reintroduce the predators that were preventing overpopulation in the first place.

Except as I’m typing this out, I remember the dog who lives with us and how we feed him meat based dog food since that’s what his biology requires. So I’m rather selective and inconsistent about meat sourcing here, so I don’t quite know how to conclude this comment at this point so I’m gonna just send it

I don’t think the solution to the predators being gone is for humans to fill the gap, rather to let the predators make a return.

Here in Sweden we’re looking to shoot most of our wolves for no good reason. That is after a considerable effort to stabilise the population and bring genetic diversity back to it.

Hunting for sport and trophies is bad, but hunting for meat is a hell of a lot more ethical than industrial meat production. Interestingly I’ve known people that were Vegan due to the ethics of commercial animal handling, but were also hunting and would eat meat from animals killed in the hunting team.

I live in Sweden and hunting is pretty common here, even though I’m not personally involved. There are limits on when and how many animals you may shoot and when to make sure the population is healthy.

Instead of killing, try a trip just to photograph the animals. Then compare your experiences. The killing may not be what you enjoy about your hunting trips.

It is a perfectly fine thing. Humans are part of the ecosystem. We are predators and fill that niche. So long as we do so with attention paid to ensure it is done sustainably then there is nothing wrong.

It’s awful.

The equation is simple

Not eating meat >>> Killing for meat >>> Funding meat factories who make animals suffer.

hunting for food is ethical, over killing, killing for profit, killing for sport are not.

I’ve worked in wildlife conservation, and I’m all for it. With a few caveats.

• Be a fucking good shot. Practice. Don’t slop and wound. Humane kills to the greatest extent possible. Know what the fuck you’re doing.
• Eat the meat. Venison is delicious. Harvest, don’t just take a trophy.
• No spears. Holy shit, please. See point 1. Why is this still a thing? Even a niche thing, but still.
• Don’t scoff at tag prices. Be proud of your contribution. Donate to the crunchy granola hippies that ensure you have game to hunt.

the impact of hunting for food is so far below the impact of industrial agriculture and other things, it’s fine