Ethics in hunting

As with any activity, there are ethics in hunting. The difference with ethics in hunting is there is almost no one around to see the behavior of the hunter in the woods and mountains. Were we sure the elk had a brow tine when we pulled the trigger? Are we sure we can make a certain, solid, deadly shot each time we pull the trigger? Do we practice enough during the off-season to be confident with our firearm?

There is a television show called "THE BEST OF THE WEST." I hate the show with every cell in my body.

The "hunters" on the show demonstrate how far they can make long-range shots on big game animals. They are making shots on animals at 800 - 1,200 yards. This is neither sporting nor ethical!

Do you have any idea how far a bullet drops at those distances? Do the "hunters" ever say at what distance their rifles are sighted in for? Do they say how long it takes a bullet to travel that distance? Do they ever tell about the times poor shots are made? Do they ever talk about the times the animal turned or took a step after the shot was made but before the bullet arrived? Do they ever talk about how far the animals travel after being shot and the difficulty of finding the animal when they have to travel to the spot where the animal was when shot? Do they ever talk about how much energy the bullet had when it arrived at the target?

I think I am a better shot than the average hunter but I am far from perfect. I cannot afford the rifles and the scopes used on the show because those being used cost many times more than what I use and what the vast majority of hunters can afford. But even with scopes that cost $3,000-$5,000 and a rifle that cost $5,000-$10,000, shooting at big game animals at those distances is not ethical. It is not HUNTING, it is shooting!

Several of the well-known magazine writers in the most popular hunting magazines have come out and mildly criticized this type of "hunting." I condemn it in the strongest terms!

If one wants to do long-range shooting then shoot at paper targets, prairie dogs or join the military special forces. I may be berated for my opinion here, so be it. But if we hunters don't govern ourselves, we will lose the support of the non-hunters. If we lose that support, we will lose the sport entirely.

One more tidbit. Once you have the animal down and field dressed, treat it with a little respect. I saw another TV show where animals were being thrown into the back of a pick-up as if they were firewood. This made me cringe.

What did it do to non-hunters who happed to see it? The animals we hunt are living, breathing creatures. Most of them provide delicious meals for our tables. Use some common sense and have some respect for the sport.

Philip is a retired Air Force officer where he was an intelligence analyst. He is also a retired law enforcement officer. He has an undergrad degree in criminal justice as well as a master's that is heavily weighted in criminal justice. He has had, in his words, "a love affair" with firearms all his adult life. He also teaches concealed carry classes.