by Sylvester Pierpoint (aka John Jeffries)

Created on: April 11, 2009

HUNTING ANIMALS - From the beginning of time mankind depended on his ability to hunt and kill animals for food and warmth in order to survive. The question of hunting animals for sport only came into question after the need for survival no longer depended on the hunter tracking down and killing the animal to feed his family. The desire to hunt is a natural instinct in both animals and man. For the animal, in particular the wild animal, it is generally still a necessity for survival. Man, unless he resides in the wilderness, no longer has this necessity but in most cases still harbors the instinct and desire to hunt.

All the hunters I know consider hunting to be a sport and bring their kill home to be enjoyed by their families. I do not consider trophy hunting a sport. When game is killed simply for their horns or skins or certain body parts and the carcasses left in the woods to rot it is an unforgivable act. To me there is nothing attractive about an animal head being stuffed and hung on a wall or a bear skin carpet stretched out on the floor by a fireplace. On the other hand a well prepared venison roast is quiet delicious.

Hunting animals is considered a sport because it involves a competition between the hunter and the hunted. The animal, when in his own environment, can usually outwit an enemy, including man, and successfully escape unharmed. If the hunter has not done due diligence in studying the habits of the animals he intends to hunt the prospect of success is likely to suffer. If you are not a skilled and knowledgeable tracker the animal's keen senses of smell, hearing and sight provide him ample time to escape long before you ever get anywhere near him. Like most other sports, you have to take the necessary steps to exercise to stay be in good shape in order to be successful. Tramping through the woods takes a lot of stamina and energy.

Some forms of hunting, mostly illegal ones, should not be considered a sport. Such a thing as night hunting, sometimes called fire lighting, where bright lights are used to blind and confuse the animal are illegal in most states as well as is hunting from moving vehicles such as boats or trucks. In some areas, particularly state and federal parks, off road vehicles such as campers, buggies, three and four wheel SUV's and other such vehicles cannot be used for hunting.

Hunters in general maintain a deep sense of pride in protecting the environment and safe guarding the future and well being of the game they choose to hunt. They obey the laws and take only the amount of game they require for their family's needs. They take back out what they bring in and do not leave trash or garbage behind. If all so called sportsmen' were as consensus as hunters the environment would be a lot safer than it is.

The tendency to label almost any activity a sport can and is overdone. Just think about it. If synchronized swimming can be called a sport as it is in the Olympics, why not call taking a shower a sport also.

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