Should Hunting for Sport be Banned?

[Nilokeras]

It's worth noting as well that one of the major reasons why feral pigs are such a problem in North America is that they have no natural predators - wolves, jaguars and cougars are all extirpated from much of their invaded range. Widescale predator reintroduction is the single most cost effective management strategy there is, as they collectively exert significant controls in terms of predation of adults, increase in juvenile mortality and ecological fear effects.

[Greater Cesnica]

Coyote attacks are very rare and attacks on adults exceedingly rare. Coyotes are generally afraid of humans, though there has been one fatal attack on an adult, she was a relatively small woman, and coyotes aren't really a threat to an adult male.

Kids and pets, though....

^ they prey on the vulnerable.

[Rusozak]

If there's an overpopulation problem then sure, why not make a sport out of it. But otherwise there's no reason to allow it.

[Kathol Rift]

Well, I guess this makes me barbaric, which I don't necessarily take as an insult, but I do enjoy hunting. That is not equivalent to enjoying killing though. If I may borrow a quote from a professional hunter and author (feel free to call him a barbarian too, if you like) "Just as one may indeed slaughter an animal from a safe distance, one may also hunt a particular one under a code of rules that is part of the same ethic that forbids passing signals to a partner at cards, shooting sitting ducks, or using bait in fly-only trout streams." Contrary to the seeming belief of the OP, us hunters are not walking out into the forest with a rifle and a beer trying to shoot everything in sight for the sheer hell of it. Hunting is more than killing, and I, personally, enjoy the hunting part more than the killing.

I would include the conservation evidence as well, but others in the thread seem to have that well handled.

I've never enjoyed the killing. I don't think anyone should. Killing in itself is an atrocity that is necessitated by the natural order, the way our world has been put together. We just have to accept the rewards that this order has brought us.

I wouldn't say that I've ever truly enjoyed it, but I'd be lying if I said said I truly dislike it either. It's a weird emotion that I can't really explain, some wack mixture of goofy pride and sadness. It's not really a feeling you can understand without feeling it.

[Punished UMN]

Coyote attacks are very rare and attacks on adults exceedingly rare. Coyotes are generally afraid of humans, though there has been one fatal attack on an adult, she was a relatively small woman, and coyotes aren't really a threat to an adult male.

Kids and pets, though....

Yeah, they're very dangerous to kids and pets, but close adult supervision is an effective deterrent to most coyotes, whereas wolves have engaged in predation even on adult men.

[American Pere Housh]

They will also eat you if given the chance.

Pretty much. They've also spread to Canada and we likewise have declared open season on them. I might actually give my hand a try at it with a crossbow.

Do you know where the fees from the hunting and fishing licenses go?

[Greater Cesnica]

If there's an overpopulation problem then sure, why not make a sport out of it. But otherwise there's no reason to allow it.

My sentiments precisely.

[Katganistan]

Well, obviously. It's a live-or-die situation at that point, and any sound-minded individual will prioritize their life over the hog's.

Down in Southern Alabama, there are people who hunt gators.

Gator tail is tasty.

[Punished UMN]

It's worth noting as well that one of the major reasons why feral pigs are such a problem in North America is that they have no natural predators - wolves, jaguars and cougars are all extirpated from much of their invaded range. Widescale predator reintroduction is the single most cost effective management strategy there is, as they collectively exert significant controls in terms of predation of adults, increase in juvenile mortality and ecological fear effects.

wolf can't kill no hog

[San Lumen]

Down in Southern Alabama, there are people who hunt gators.

Gator tail is tasty.

Ugh why hunt and kill alligators? Are there any species humans can just leave alone and not destroy their homes too?

[Greater Cesnica]

I've never enjoyed the killing. I don't think anyone should. Killing in itself is an atrocity that is necessitated by the natural order, the way our world has been put together. We just have to accept the rewards that this order has brought us.

I wouldn't say that I've ever truly enjoyed it, but I'd be lying if I said said I truly dislike it either. It's a weird emotion that I can't really explain, some wack mixture of goofy pride and sadness. It's not really a feeling you can understand without feeling it.

For me it's this lump in the throat feeling. I don't like it. But I still get that adrenaline rush. Makes it bearable.

[The Marlborough]

It's worth noting as well that one of the major reasons why feral pigs are such a problem in North America is that they have no natural predators - wolves, jaguars and cougars are all extirpated from much of their invaded range. Widescale predator reintroduction is the single most cost effective management strategy there is, as they collectively exert significant controls in terms of predation of adults, increase in juvenile mortality and ecological fear effects.

This is true but at the same time for many areas it would be pretty risky to reintroduce them in significant enough numbers because of population density. No one wants to run the risk of their kids or dogs being snatched by a puma.

[Katganistan]

Kids and pets, though....

Yeah, they're very dangerous to kids and pets, but close adult supervision is an effective deterrent to most coyotes, whereas wolves have engaged in predation even on adult men.

Wolves are HUGE. I don't think most people realize we're talking about something MUCH bigger than a husky or german shepherd.

And yes, supervising kids and pets is something you'd THINK responsible parents/pet owners would do......

[The Marlborough]

Pretty much. They've also spread to Canada and we likewise have declared open season on them. I might actually give my hand a try at it with a crossbow.

Do you know where the fees from the hunting and fishing licenses go?

Provincial governments use them for conservation efforts both for animals and plants.

[American Pere Housh]

Kids and pets, though....

Yeah, they're very dangerous to kids and pets, but close adult supervision is an effective deterrent to most coyotes, whereas wolves have engaged in predation even on adult men.

Tell me, name one wolf attack in North America that wasn't due to rabies,hunger or by accident?

[The Marlborough]

Down in Southern Alabama, there are people who hunt gators.

Gator tail is tasty.

I've never tried gator but I have eaten Nile crocodile before and it was delicious.

[Greater Cesnica]

Gator tail is tasty.

Ugh why hunt and kill alligators? Are there any species humans can just leave alone and not destroy their homes too?

Because gators pose a threat to humans. Again, people shouldn't hunt them because they're gators. Because they pose a threat.

[American Pere Housh]

Do you know where the fees from the hunting and fishing licenses go?

Provincial governments use them for conservation efforts both for animals and plants.

Same thing down in the United States.

[The Marlborough]

Yeah, they're very dangerous to kids and pets, but close adult supervision is an effective deterrent to most coyotes, whereas wolves have engaged in predation even on adult men.

Tell me, name one wolf attack in North America that wasn't due to rabies,hunger or by accident?

Candice Berner.

[Greater Cesnica]

Do you know where the fees from the hunting and fishing licenses go?

Provincial governments use them for conservation efforts both for animals and plants.

Meh. I wouldn't take the government on their word concerning taxes.

[Katganistan]

Gator tail is tasty.

Ugh why hunt and kill alligators? Are there any species humans can just leave alone and not destroy their homes too?

I just answered part of the question.
The other is that they are dangerous to people, or did you not hear of the child drowned, killed and partially eaten in Disney World by an alligator?

Seriously, at least know what you're talking about.

[American Pere Housh]

Gator tail is tasty.

Ugh why hunt and kill alligators? Are there any species humans can just leave alone and not destroy their homes too?

Gators are highly dangerous and have been known to kill people.

[Punished UMN]

Yeah, they're very dangerous to kids and pets, but close adult supervision is an effective deterrent to most coyotes, whereas wolves have engaged in predation even on adult men.

Tell me, name one wolf attack in North America that wasn't due to rabies,hunger or by accident?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_ ... l_Carnegie

And including hunger in that is stupid. What do you think "predation" means?

[San Lumen]

Ugh why hunt and kill alligators? Are there any species humans can just leave alone and not destroy their homes too?

I just answered part of the question.
The other is that they are dangerous to people, or did you not hear of the child drowned, killed and partially eaten in Disney World by an alligator?

Seriously, at least know what you're talking about.

Yes i did hear about that.

[The Marlborough]

It's worth noting that at one point you could go swimming in northern Australia but now it's basically impossible because the saltwater crocs have returned after hunting them was essentially banned. That's what happens when you don't control populations of dangerous animals.