Hunting vs. Poaching vs. Murder

I’m often asked, or rather I should say, people often assume, that since I’m mostly vegetarian (fairly meatless I like to say, a topic for another post), I’m anti-hunting. Not true. Not exactly.

Being against hunting would, in my opinion, put humans outside the animal world, of which, I strongly argue we are most certainly a part. In the animal world, there are herbivores (yes, a pet peeve of mine: kids being told giraffes are vegetarians. Maybe another post on that…), carnivores, and omnivores. Humans, throughout history, have, no question, been omnivores. One could argue that we can easily survive on a vegetarian diet alone, and perhaps should with global agricultural and population issues. But, in this discussion, I want to focus on the animal as prey.

If you agree with me on this premise, that humans are part of the natural world, not separate from it (see Genesis 1:24-26, the foundation of the modern view of animals— is it rule over or stewards thereof?) then hunting, done humanely, for the purpose of sustenance, where none of the animal is wasted, and, ideally, with a healthy respect for the taking of a life, keeps humans squarely in the animal kingdom.

Hunting for food is not something I want to do and I’m thankful I don’t have to. But, if times were different, to survive, I suppose I would. Anyone who condemns hunting, yet eats meat purchased at the grocery store, is a hypocrite. There is no argument I’ve ever heard to make me think otherwise.

To live in a society, a community of humans, as large as ours has become, we recognize that resources, specifically in this case, populations of wild animals, must be—and I hate this term for it—managed. We’ve decided anarchy doesn’t benefit most of us. (Eat or be eaten?) As human population increases (and, boy, is it) wildlife populations decrease, due to habitat loss and a whole host of other reasons. Therefore, unless we don’t care if wild animals are hunted into extinction, we must manage their numbers by setting quotas, limitations, usually by way of permit—a system that, for the most part, works. Clearly, then, going against the system is an illegal act. Poaching. Stealing a community-owned resource, regardless of the reason. (Read more about poaching here)

Now. Trophy hunting is an entirely different matter. It is murder. There is no other definition. Legal or otherwise. Killing something for the thrill of the kill. For the antlers, the trophy. Without regard for the being itself is disturbing behavior that doesn’t belong in a modern society any more than raping and pillaging. The fact that it is still, for the most part, legal is saddening. Heartbreaking.

All comments are welcome. Feel free to disagree with me, so long as you do so in a respectful manner.