Hunting for Sport
![[4] Meat processing plant.
There are so many interesting characters in our class, and reading their opinions on meat and hunting for sport has been really a rollercoaster ride of amusement for me. My position on the matter is rather simple, and I will divide it into a few really easy to digest points:
1. I do not honestly believe that anyone who cannot kill a defenseless animal with their bare hands should be afforded the right to consume meat. The detachment from the whole butchering process is unacceptable in today’s world.
2. I believe in hunting for sport, as long as you consume the animal you kill, or are hunting the animal for some (subjectively determined) greater good. I believe hunting builds character, can help maintain wildlife herds, and can effectively produce a good meal for a family.
3. Wild boar should be killed at any cost. Yes, they tear up the land, and will jump at you in the blink of and and rip your throat out. Wild boar must be terminated, and we should build giant robots called “terminators” and Linda Hamilton should star in a movie about how the machines. They will rise up. And kill the pigs. Are we the pigs?
[5] Worthless asshole.
However, there are some extremely unacceptable hunting practices. For example, look at the asshole in the picture above. He killed what is commonly considered an endangered species for probably no other good reason than to satisfy his urge to feel superior to a defenseless animal. Wow, good going. Ritvo describes trophy hunting relatively well: “Maintaining the integrity of the remains was only the first step in producing a prize worthy of public display. To present an effective symbol of the hunter’s heroic appropriation, a trophy needed to evoke the aspect of the animal that had provoked and justified the killing.” [1] The ironic thing about this is that this is basically a confession of the reality of trophy hunting. Cowardly men do a cowardly deed by killing a defenseless animal, then artificially dress its carcass to make it seem ruthless. Then, ironically, brag to all their friends about how they’re some badass for hunting a harmless animal.
[6] This deer is safe.
Luckily, conservationists began to wise up to this scam. When, as Ritvo describes, “a good day’s bag might include 29 buffalo... or 9 bears” then that is when the conservationists begin to take notice. [2] Weirdly enough, in America really and truly, wildlife conservation did not begin until Theodore Roosevelt became president. And only now, like in the picture above, do we see areas where hunting depleting herds of animals is now officially banned. If only this deer could read and understand that he is safe.
Overhunting becomes a crime against nature as Ritvo describes: “But as hunting grounds become increasingly crowded, it became clear that some of their countrymen were guilty of flagrant offenses against good sportsmanship... [for example when] an Englishman... collected a number of desperadoes and indiscriminately slaughtered thousands of Elephants.” [3] This kind of shameful behavior is not without its American counterpart.
[7] The trophy buck.
The “trophy buck” above is much prized, but the slower, common mule deer is an easier target and becomes an object of slaughter. So maybe there is a thoughtful consideration on the part of those who don’t eat meat, because they can’t kill the cute little sheep themselves, so why eat a Big Mac?
[8] Would you like fries with that?
But in reality, when it comes to hunting for sport and survival - death is a natural reality. After all: you wouldn’t want one of these jumping at your throat, would you?
[9] Rips your throat out. :-).
[1] Ritvo, Harriet. “The Animal Estate.” Harvard: Cambridge, MA. 1987. p. 259.
[2] Ritvo, Harriet. “The Animal Estate.” Harvard: Cambridge, MA. 1987. p. 288
[3] Ritvo, Harriet. “The Animal Estate.” Harvard: Cambridge, MA. 1987. p. 289
[4] http://www.thevillager.com/villager_12/meat1.jpg
[5] http://www.narrowslodge.com/images/pics/bearHuntingLarge.jpg
[6] http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/AGF/1811~No-Hunting-Deer-Posters.jpg
[7] http://www.smarthunter.com/images/buckphoto.jpg
[8] http://digilander.libero.it/cyberkaos/ECO_planet/Mc_killer/Destroy/NoMeat.jpg
[9] http://www.sohp.net/1boarpic5e.jpg](Hunting_files/shapeimage_1.png)
