wasting meat?

[rab a sas]

I have always had strong opinions on just shooting game and not eating or using them even if they are a pest, just wanted to know what you guys think?
i realise there could be some exceptions for maybe rats but rabbits?!
looking forward to hearing opinions
Ben

[Leo]

I have always had strong opinions on just shooting game and not eating or using them even if they are a pest, just wanted to know what you guys think?
looking forward to hearing opinions
Ben

My opinion, we shoot animals because we take pleasure in killing them. I know 8 out of 10 people will deny this though and probably get all defensive.

I think some people will cover this up by saying they hunt to eat, they may eat & enjoy it, but the real enjoyment comes from killing it (whether they realise/admit it)

I think aslong as it has been killed humanly it doesn't matter if it's eaten or binned.

[Poacher]

I have always had strong opinions on just shooting game and not eating or using them even if they are a pest, just wanted to know what you guys think?
i realise there could be some exceptions for maybe rats but rabbits?!
looking forward to hearing opinions
Ben

'Game' isn't usually shot by air gunners. We tend to shoot 'vermin' such as rabbits, squirrels, pigeons and rats. Some of this is edible; rabbits obviously and I would think that most shooters use their rabbits in one way or another. Thanks to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and other chefs there is increased demand for other 'vermin' species including grey squirrels and wood pigeons. In fact both are now regarded as gourmet dishes in some parts and wood pigeons fetch a higher price than partridge in some areas of France. I've started bringing my squirrels home and have always eaten wood pigeon.

There are some species that wouldn't normally be eaten; rats, corvids and feral pigeons for example. That doesn't mean that they shouldn't be shot in my opinion. If you could calculate the amount of grain and rapeseed lost to wood pigeons it would run into hundreds of thousands of £'s annually. Similarly rabbits do untold damage to crops, trees and bankings. Look in any country park and all you see are corvids. This is because they are protected there and so the song bird population is decimated. Conversely, look on a managed game shoot and you will see all species of song birds thriving.

The purpose of my shooting is to control vermin in an area that would attract a higher number because of the feeding program and introduction of game birds. The reason I am the one doing it is that I enjoy it. As far as I'm concerned I get enjoyment out of shooting, but I'm not indiscriminate. I will shoot the rats and squirrels raiding the feed bins and leave the game and song birds alone. Similarly when I shot a wood pigeon and it was taken by a sparrowhawk I stopped shooting to allow the hawk to finish its meal undisturbed.

I know what you are getting at, but sometimes there are other reasons for killing than eating.

[rab a sas]

definetly agree it should have died humanely, do you think it is the actual killing that people enjoy or is it everything that goes with it? stalking, being out on a nice farm watching wildlife etc

[rab a sas]

I understand the other reasons for killing other than eating and having thought about it i dont understand why i dont/didnt think it was right to kill unless it was to eat it, they are pests and do need there numbers kept down. I guess the main thing is that the killing of the animal is as humane as possable. if you dont eat it do you leave it where you shot it and attract things like foxes or take it home and dispose of it?

[Leo]

definetly agree it should have died humanely, do you think it is the actual killing that people enjoy or is it everything that goes with it? stalking, being out on a nice farm watching wildlife etc

I think its the killing, the rest of it (stalking etc) is a big build up to the climax of killing it. Hence people getting buck fever. It's exciting and that's the real reason people hunt in my opinion.

[rab a sas]

buck fever?

[Leo]

buck fever?

buck fever - definition of buck fever by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

[Poacher]

I understand the other reasons for killing other than eating and having thought about it i dont understand why i dont/didnt think it was right to kill unless it was to eat it, they are pests and do need there numbers kept down. I guess the main thing is that the killing of the animal is as humane as possable. if you dont eat it do you leave it where you shot it and attract things like foxes or take it home and dispose of it?

Depends on circumstances. Often I'll leave vermin out as bait in particular areas to encourage other vermin to feed on it so I can shoot them, or to draw foxes into an area that has been set with snares. It's rare that I'll just leave something where it drops, rats excepted.

Regards your other point, except for blatting rats all the other species demand considerable field craft and that is part of the enjoyment. The actual kill is secondary to this element. That is why I also enjoy 'stalking' with a camera, rather than a gun.

[Ianhw77k]

My opinion, we shoot animals because we take pleasure in killing them. I know 8 out of 10 people will deny this though and probably get all defensive.

I think some people will cover this up by saying they hunt to eat, they may eat & enjoy it, but the real enjoyment comes from killing it (whether they realise/admit it)

I think aslong as it has been killed humanly it doesn't matter if it's eaten or binned.

If you take pleasure in killing things then you have problems. That is precisely the reason fox hunting was banned. You need to have respect for your quarry, whatever it is. I'm actually still having trouble believing you said that This is precisely the kind of talk that is gonna get our sport banned! You have gone right down in my estimations. I think you might need a doctor