SpudFiles

While on the internet the other day, I came across a little article that someone had written about their regrets about shooting animals. I think it is a really great story and it has changed the way I think about things now. I reckon everyone who wants to get into shooting/hunting should read this and think about it.

The link is
http://www.necessaryprose.com/gunsnregrets.htm

WTF? So he wants to shoot fat-assed people now instead? I think that the part where he shot the beak off of the woodpecker was pretty sad, but animals are NOT more important than people. I felt pretty bad when I shot a sparrow, even when I was just putting it out of its misery. (It was diseased.) If they let that squirrel go, after pegging it, he would have died a terrible, agonizing death though, rather than a relatively quick one. I think it is weird though how he thought that it was fun to shoot all of those animals. I don't really like shooting animals myself, but I have had my moments.

all the guy is saying is that people dont respect nature any more, and i agree to some extent. i think (this is my opinion) that if you shoot an animal its ok, if you eat it. if you shoot it and leave it there then thats when i think its wrong.

Well, you see, I have trouble with that one. Nobody really needs to shoot animals themselves to live, but then again, nobody eats gophers or squirrels either. Its just, deer hunting for instance, most people eat what they shoot, or give it to somebody who will. But, they by no means need the meat. However, whether the intent is for sport or not, the guy shoots the deer. That one leaves me undecided.

eh... I'd still want to hunt, given the chance. read the whole thing too

I've always wanted to go hunting. And yet, after reading the story of a young boy's tragic hunting career, I still do.

I never said I didn't want to go hunting, I was just wondering if it was "right" or not. I like hunting, even though I have only done it once. But I did feel bad when I killed that sparrow for some reason, but not when I hit pesky varmints or caught fish. Maybe it was because I saw the poor bird suffer. I have heard of sadistic kids torturing animals and giving them slow deaths, by shooting them in non-vital areas, etc. That is where I draw the line. If you are going to do it, take them out as fast as you can, don't make them suffer. And, when he felt bad because he blew the bunny in half, well, thats kinda dumb. The bunny didn't even have time to blink, let alone feel anything. And hurting fish? GOSH their just fish!! They aren't even cute.

This is kind of random, but after reading that link, I thought I'd share:

I've had a legal shot on an adult doe and chosen not to take it, because it didn't feel sporting. Shooting a deer from 30 ft away from camouflage with no stalking required when the deer doesn't even know you're there doesn't seem like giving the animal a fair chance - and thats the point of hunting, to me. So I went home empty handed that day, and my buddies gave me $hi7 about it for quite awhile. But I think they understood.

Wounding an animal and then having to put it out of it's misery wouldn't be fun, but it's the right thing to do in that situation.
A skilled hunter should have practiced enough to be confident in his ability to "surgically" place bullets, and should have a rifle with ammunition capable of delivering enough long-range penetration and expansion to take the animal down quickly and cleanly. I suppose that's where the kid in the story went wrong. He hadn't practiced and tuned in the sights on his rifle enough to make a clean kill - let alone his lack of thought about killing that woodpecker.

I think it's acceptable to kill an animal under three circumstances and three only: for food, in self defense, or because it's destroying your home or yard. Outside of that, humans need to learn to leave nature alone or it's going to bite them in the ass pretty hard.

I live on a few acres in the woods way out in the suburbs of Seattle. I have 6 fruit trees and a pretty big yard. For the last 3 or 4 years, there's been a buck (the same one, I'm positive) hanging out around here a few days a week during the spring, summer, and fall. He always eats a fair few of the apples and other landscaping in the yard - but I leave him be. I harvest more apples than I need, anyway, so why not share? He's gotten used to me hanging out in the yard. He's approached as close as 15 ft to me, but will back away if I try to (slowly) approach him. Crazy as this sounds, I really enjoy chillin in my yard with this deer a few yards away. It's really peaceful, it puts you in touch with nature.
Having said all that, I've thought about fattening him up for a year or two... but I don't think I could shoot him after all that.

</endrant>

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

ammosmoke wrote:I never said I didn't want to go hunting, I was just wondering if it was "right" or not. I like hunting, even though I have only done it once. But I did feel bad when I killed that sparrow for some reason, but not when I hit pesky varmints or caught fish. Maybe it was because I saw the poor bird suffer. I have heard of sadistic kids torturing animals and giving them slow deaths, by shooting them in non-vital areas, etc. That is where I draw the line. If you are going to do it, take them out as fast as you can, don't make them suffer. And, when he felt bad because he blew the bunny in half, well, thats kinda dumb. The bunny didn't even have time to blink, let alone feel anything. And hurting fish? GOSH their just fish!! They aren't even cute.

They aren't even cute!, lol. I haven't been hunting yet, but whenever I do, I will probably hutn deer and I will use the meat. I'll probably make jerky. As for sadist kids, they should go play in traffic.

Really part of the reason I want to go hunting is because I really want to shoot something else, but hunting stupid people is against the law.

I really want to shoot something else, but hunting stupid people is against the law.

LOL, I think you would prob feel pretty guilty though.

ps, I would be scared if you didn't.

ammosmoke wrote:

I really want to shoot something else, but hunting stupid people is against the law.

LOL, I think you would prob feel pretty guilty though.

ps, I would be scared if you didn't.

Why would I feel guilty? Lol, Haven't you ever heard of the Darwin Awards? I'd just be speeding up the evolutionary process.

P.S. I'm just kidding.

LOL! This girl at my school almost got run over by a semi-truck. The truck had his brakes slammed down, and he was honking, and she just slllllllloooooooowly got out of the way... Hardly paying attention. She is so stupid!!! She literally went and played in traffic. My friend said she is so stupid that she thinks her good looks will cause traffic to stop for her. She just started walking without looking or anything. Btw, our school is right next to a very busy main street. People that stupid scare me. My dad was like, why didn't she just stay there and rid us of her stupidity!!?!?
My friends and I think she should get a Darwin honorable mention award. Soon to be award lol....

I've been hunting many a time.Culling goats,kangaroos,bores and rabbits.Every now and then you get the guilty feeling when an animal doesn't go down in one shot,but it happens.As for goats and bores I can't stand them at all they ruin the bush same with rabbits so hunting them isn't a bad thing to me I actually enjoy it,slowly stalking them and taking into accounts all your surroundings to go undetected.

I do agree putting an animal out of its misery is the best way to go I've had to slit many goats throats after a bullet takes out there shoulder/chest region just lying there waiting the time out.

Hunting is fun and I suppose you get de-sensitized to it after a while.Good fun,good fun,give it a go I say.

Err, why don't you just pop him in the head with a nine and
call it good?
A slit throat sounds more painful...

Why waste a round.When a knife can be used over and over again a bullet can only be fired once then you need a new round.

Ohh and only if I had a Nine,I'd have so much fun.