# Why do hunters hunt? Why don't they take pictures? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 17, 2000, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hunters-hunt-why-dont-they-take-pictures/46064 "2000-12-17T22:55:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hunters-hunt-why-dont-they-take-pictures/46064/101 "2000-12-28T01:05:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Wrath \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*thinksnow \* > > **Uh, I could be off base, but Nature was doing a fine job for many, many years** > > Of course “nature” was doing a fine job - _we weren’t around!_. But now we are here and we aren’t getting along. Sorry, but no deer is more important than me or my family, (or you and your family) and “nature” acts too slowly. > > BTW, aren’t humans a natural element of this earth, and thereby just as natural as nature itself? Why when folks talk of “nature” are humans somehow removed from the equation?\*\* Well, we’ve (humans have) been around for quite some time, and it’s a fairly recent, relatively, development of species extinction due specifically to human hunting. No, I can’t site anything, so I’d be willing to back off of that position should someone be able to provide info otherwise. Of course humans are a natural element of the Earth, I never said otherwise. Nature seems to have a few ways of dealing with our over-population, too (earthquakes, flooding, tornados, inbreeding). > [@](#): > > \*\* > I’ve heard these arguments before from animal lovers - that wild bears once roamed the isle that is now Manhattan, and they should be allowed to return. Is this basically your position? If you think we should leave these animals alone and go live somewhere else, then let’s all do it. You first. \*\* Uh, no. I like Manhattan. I like urban sprawl. I’m not a hunter simply because I’ve not gotten to it yet, but I’m surely not an “animal lover” in the context you mean it. I love my cats, but I feel no qualms eating steak, veal, lamb, quail, venison, buffalo, ostrich, or chicken. Thanks for playing, though. 😃 > [@](#): > > _Phobos_ > It is we that have invaded coyote country. If you don’t want coyotes in your yard, then put a fence around it…don’t wipe out the species. Plus, similar to what MGibson was saying, having such animals approach human homes is often a result of people knowingly or unknowingly attracting the animals (putting out food for pets, not covering garbage, owning delicious house cats, etc.) Hey, I’m just saying that given the option of allowing coyotes that, for the past 20 or so years (read: known history of property), have had exactly zero presence, to roam and poach in my (or my sisters back yard) or to shoot them on sight, well, I’ll opt for snuffing the furry little things. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hunters-hunt-why-dont-they-take-pictures/46064/102 "2000-12-28T01:08:58Z")
> [@](#): > > So far, the response to the OP seems to be (1) for meat and (2) for population control. Well Phobos, I guess we can now add to your list; (3) Human safety, and (4) To protect kittens. 😃 Does anyone else think that maybe this debate is getting just a littli silly? Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hunters-hunt-why-dont-they-take-pictures/46064/103 "2000-12-28T03:55:19Z")
“…silly…” **NEVER!!!** ---
**Author:** ![Wrath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ee7513/32.png) [@Wrath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrath)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hunters-hunt-why-dont-they-take-pictures/46064/104 "2000-12-28T14:00:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by thinksnow \* > **Well, we’ve (humans have) been around for quite some time, and it’s a fairly recent, relatively, development of species extinction due specifically to human hunting. No, I can’t site anything, so I’d be willing to back off of that position should someone be able to provide info otherwise.** “Nature” did a pretty good job of species extinction long before homo sapiens came about. I agree that we have “artificially” accelerated the extinctions (or the threat thereof) of countless species, but thanks to awareness, animals like the Bald Eagle are starting to make a comeback. I would argue that while hunting may have done in a few, other human factors such as pesticides, waste management, urban encroachment and leisure activities (boating is wiping out the manatees), are doing far more harm than hunting ever did - at least in America. The Great Apes of Zaire are dying off pretty fast due to loss of environment and poaching. Today, hunting is a pretty well licensed, seasoned and controlled sport here, and threatened species are protected. Even fishing has limits. ---
**Author:** ![Phobos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Phobos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phobos)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hunters-hunt-why-dont-they-take-pictures/46064/105 "2000-12-28T16:07:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by justwannano \* > \*\*I should have specified…I meant putting extra $$$ into the Parks Dept to run a deer population control program in addition to their other duties. > > How in the world would they do that? > In conjunction with a money saving program,I don’t even want to imagine the horrors that would present. \*\* Exactly my point. (I wasn’t recommending the extra $$$, I was saying that the State would rather take in license money and let hunters take care of the problem rather than dishing out $$$ for a new program.) > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by mangeorge_ > Does anyone else think that maybe this debate is getting just a littli silly? It has meandered a bit from the OP hasn’t it? I had better stop before I get a reputation as a deer-hugging liberal around here! Maybe I can find a GD about the virtues of laissez-faire capitalism. **Wrath** I agree with your last post. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hunters-hunt-why-dont-they-take-pictures/46064/106 "2000-12-28T17:22:45Z")
Just so we’re clear, I’m agreeing with you, **wrath**. I’m _for_ controlled hunting. I’m _for_ protection of the environment and endangered species, whether they be endangered due to pesticide use/abuse, errant highway construction, idiots on power boats _or_ (over-)hunting. The issue isn’t neccessarily black and white, I think we’ll all agree and it has been discussed earlier. There is hunting and there is slaughter (see Japanese whalers). I support hunting, but I also want to snap a few pictures of nature. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hunters-hunt-why-dont-they-take-pictures/46064.md?page=5)