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Hunting is quite a popular hobby in Sanpete County. But can something being popular justify it being ethical? First of all, the official definition of hunting is, “the activity of hunting wild animals or game, especially for food or sport.”
Also, some use it as time for recreation and social purposes. The importance of hunting can be viewed very differently. Public support varies on what is being hunted, methods, and the motivation for it.
So can we say that hunting is ethical? If done correctly meaning legally and safely, from my point of view, I believe so. I feel this way because hunting can help population control, be a source of food, and is a traditional sport. Also, according to Andrea Criscione, a Senior Research Associate for the Center for Humans and Nature, about 79 percent of adult Americans nationwide indicate that they approve of legal hunting.
First of all, it is worth considering that hunting can help with population control. According to congressional sportsmen.org, “Hunting is still the most effective method to regulate deer populations.” I believe that when regulated correctly, it is a safe practice that has been proven to have ecological, and social benefits.
If there is a large abundance of deer or elk in one area, it can lead to lowering local abundance of plants, impairing plant regeneration, and the animals can carry seeds of invasive plants to other places and cause them to take over that area. In agricultural areas, deer can eat farmers’ crops and cause losses for them. Another thing is that some game can pose danger to drivers.
“In recent years hunting for the meat has even increased in importance, with the per- centage of hunters who hunt for the meat increasing from 16 percent in 2006 to 35 (and the top reason) in 2013,” said Mark Duda, Executive Director of Responsive Management.
Another thing to think about when taking in the hunting argument is that not all people hunt just for fun. As said before, many hunters’ top reason for hunting is meat. I believe that hunting for meat is completely ethical. Additionally, when asked about approval or not for hunting different species, adult Americans are more
likely to approve of hunting if it is used for gathering food. About 78 percent of American adults approve of hunting for deer, 75 percent for wild turkey, and 71 percent for small game.
“Only about 1 percent of hunters indicate that their pri- mary motivation to hunt is for a trophy,” Duda said.
As mentioned before, most hunters are hunting for the meat and not necessarily for the big trophy animal. Hunting can be a historical relation to ancestors or group activity. Some, including my family, get up very early just so they can be at the perfect place when the sun rises on the mountain, and go hiking with their father and grandfather. It can be a sentimental time between the different generations of the family, or just having fun hiking around with your family.
“Hunters say that they see the sport as a tradition that tests their skills and abilities,” according to the website How Sport Hunting Works. “To be truly successful, a hunter studies its prey and learns its behaviors, habits, and tracks.”
Hunting isn’t all about killing the prey, but learning and using knowledge and skill. That is why some call it a sport. Most hunters put extreme amounts of time into learning their game and developing skills for the hunt. Also, hunting isn’t free. Each year hunters have to buy the license, and the equipment to hunt. Their money goes to the state to be used for habitat conservation.
Taking everything into consideration, I believe that hunting is an ethical activity with other benefits. Hunting can positively help overpopulation, be a source of food, and be a traditional sport. Overpopulation can cause problems with crops and plant growth.
Most hunters are in it for the meat and just want to provide. Lastly, hunting can be a way to show skill and be with your family or friends. Overall, I believe hunting is a good thing for many reasons.
