Petition - Shooting Wildfowl

Posted on 02/01/2017 16:01 by Takethedogalong

Calling hunting/killing animals sport in this day and age is rather contradictory. There is nothing sporting in taking a creature which is either confined with no escape in terms of the bullring or stocked small pond, or so young and immature as to be positively too niaive to run away such as pheasants bred for the gun. All are "sitting ducks" something frowned upon in the past as being unworthy of being called sport, and derided by the true skilled hunter, who would kill to feed, or to protect crops. Differing degrees of cruelty, exploited either for blood lust in the case of bull fighting, or big business/serious money in other cases. Few societies are now dependent upon true hunter/gathering, so it is more honest to call something by its true nature. 

Proper game fishing and stalking is highly skilled, and even I can relate to the underpinning requirements to do it successfully, even if hating the end product to a greater or lesser extent. In the past, giving a creature a "sporting chance" underpinned a lot of the etiquette, hence double barrelled guns rather than pump action. Two shots only, by time of reload, bird may have been lucky enough to get away! 

Posted on 02/01/2017 16:01 by Takethedogalong

Calling hunting/killing animals sport in this day and age is rather contradictory. There is nothing sporting in taking a creature which is either confined with no escape in terms of the bullring or stocked small pond, or so young and immature as to be positively too niaive to run away such as pheasants bred for the gun. All are "sitting ducks" something frowned upon in the past as being unworthy of being called sport, and derided by the true skilled hunter, who would kill to feed, or to protect crops. Differing degrees of cruelty, exploited either for blood lust in the case of bull fighting, or big business/serious money in other cases. Few societies are now dependent upon true hunter/gathering, so it is more honest to call something by its true nature. 

Proper game fishing and stalking is highly skilled, and even I can relate to the underpinning requirements to do it successfully, even if hating the end product to a greater or lesser extent. In the past, giving a creature a "sporting chance" underpinned a lot of the etiquette, hence double barrelled guns rather than pump action. Two shots only, by time of reload, bird may have been lucky enough to get away! 

Posted on 02/01/2017 16:01 by Takethedogalong

Calling hunting/killing animals sport in this day and age is rather contradictory. There is nothing sporting in taking a creature which is either confined with no escape in terms of the bullring or stocked small pond, or so young and immature as to be positively too niaive to run away such as pheasants bred for the gun. All are "sitting ducks" something frowned upon in the past as being unworthy of being called sport, and derided by the true skilled hunter, who would kill to feed, or to protect crops. Differing degrees of cruelty, exploited either for blood lust in the case of bull fighting, or big business/serious money in other cases. Few societies are now dependent upon true hunter/gathering, so it is more honest to call something by its true nature. 

Proper game fishing and stalking is highly skilled, and even I can relate to the underpinning requirements to do it successfully, even if hating the end product to a greater or lesser extent. In the past, giving a creature a "sporting chance" underpinned a lot of the etiquette, hence double barrelled guns rather than pump action. Two shots only, by time of reload, bird may have been lucky enough to get away! 

Posted on 02/01/2017 16:01 by Takethedogalong

Calling hunting/killing animals sport in this day and age is rather contradictory. There is nothing sporting in taking a creature which is either confined with no escape in terms of the bullring or stocked small pond, or so young and immature as to be positively too niaive to run away such as pheasants bred for the gun. All are "sitting ducks" something frowned upon in the past as being unworthy of being called sport, and derided by the true skilled hunter, who would kill to feed, or to protect crops. Differing degrees of cruelty, exploited either for blood lust in the case of bull fighting, or big business/serious money in other cases. Few societies are now dependent upon true hunter/gathering, so it is more honest to call something by its true nature. 

Proper game fishing and stalking is highly skilled, and even I can relate to the underpinning requirements to do it successfully, even if hating the end product to a greater or lesser extent. In the past, giving a creature a "sporting chance" underpinned a lot of the etiquette, hence double barrelled guns rather than pump action. Two shots only, by time of reload, bird may have been lucky enough to get away! 

Posted on 02/01/2017 17:15 by DavidKlyne

Just a word of caution please,about this thread. A petition has been posted which is there for information if there are likeminded people who might want to sign. If we wish to stay within sprit of the Forum T&C's it would be best to treat this thread just as a heads up that the petition is available. If we are going to turn this thread into a general discussion of hunting, shooting and fishing it will end in tears and will be closed. 

Thanks

David

Posted on 02/01/2017 17:27 by Kennine

Good post David.   Some may want to sign the petition and some in all honesty would find it dishonest to do so. 

  I maintain that those of us who eat dead animals have no right to be critical of those who unfortunately have to do the killing.  Somebody has to do it or else we would go hungry. 

 Live and let live is a good motto.

Cheers ......................K 

Posted on 02/01/2017 09:27 by mickysf

Not at all, the key words for me are 'endangered' and 'threatened' species!  I don't advocate a total ban at all on shooting.

As far as lead shot is concerned, I do stand by that suggestion of a total ban! Afterall it's illegal to use for us fishermen (except in micro form) and we still manage to continue our hobby. We also don't target endangered species to my knowledge. The vast majority of my catch is returned fighting fit, thanks to the adoption of barbless hooks, the few I do 'take' are always stocked non indigenous species (Rainbow Trout) and then eaten. I'd rather catch and dispatch these myself than buy from the supermarket! Oh, and I am also one of those country folk and since retirement, I do spend a little more time in my armchair!