Why Hunting News Is Often Good News

By Laura Ward


For many people just the prospect of a hunt brings a glint to their eyes. They love the outdoors and they love the challenge of the hunt. But not everybody agrees with them. This sport is under siege and has many critics. Hunters do not see what the fuss is all about. They describe themselves as serious conservationists. One thing is certain and that is that this sport is still extremely popular. One only have to look at the hunting news to realize what a big industry this is.

Hunters have many enemies. Critics do not mince their words when they declare that this pursuit is not a sport, but rather a travesty. They portray hunters as destroyers of our natural heritage, as selfish rapists of nature and and as violent people. Anti hunters have been extremely active in doing everything possible to introduce stricter control, to declare certain areas as official conservation sanctuaries and to make it more difficult to obtain a license to hunt.

Many critics cite the fact that modern technology gives hunters an unfair advantage. To hunt used to mean that there is a fair chase. This is no longer the case, says those against the practice. Hunters now use sophisticated technology, they use vehicles to track their prey and they kill from long distances away. Not fair, they say. The game has got no chance.

Hunters have not been silent during the debate. They say that nobody loves nature the way they do. They do not want to see the natural habitats of the animals to be decimated and they are ardent nature conservationists. It is not the hunters, but rather industry that keep on decimating natural sanctuaries, all in the name of progress and human greed. In comparison with the harm done by industry, hunters do not even feature.

Hunters, especially trophy hunters like to point out that they make a huge contribution towards nature conservation. A big game trophy hunt in South Africa, Botswana or Namibia, for example can cost upwards of half a million dollars. A good percentage of that fee is ploughed back in nature conservation. This is done to protect the hunting industry.

Hunters also argue that there is actually very little game left outside of commercial game farms and conservation areas. They therefore hunt in areas that were specifically stocked by the land owner for hunting purposes. They say that there is no real difference between raising cattle or sheep for their meat and raising game to be hunted. The game, at least, are allowed to roam free.

Hunters also like to point out that statistics clearly show that they are responsible firearm owners. They are properly trained in the use of their guns and they do not often become involved in legal cases. In addition, there are strict laws governing the hunting industry. To hunt is not to kill indiscriminately. Hunters have strict codes of ethics and the vast majority abide by those rules.

There are arguments for and against hunting but it does not seem as if there will ever be a cease fire. Hunter will continue to enjoy their sport and those against it will continue to fight it. Hunters do, however, make a sizeable contribution towards the economy, especially when they hunt in developing countries.




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