Hipsters Who Hunt

[NickB79]

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2012/12/hunting_by_liberal_urban_locavores_is_a_trend_good_for_the_environment.html?fb_ref=sm_fb_share_toolbar

Hunting is undeniably in vogue among the bearded, bicycle-riding, locavore set. The new trend might even be partly behind a recent 9 percent increase from 2006 to 2011 in the number of hunters in the United States after years of decline. Many of these new hunters are taking up the activity for ethical and environmental reasons.

“It feels more responsible and ecologically sound to eat an animal that was raised wild and natural in my local habitat than to eat a cow that was fattened up on grain or even hay, which is inevitably harvested with fuel-hungry machines,” writes Christie Aschwanden, a self-described “tree-hugging former vegetarian.”

Interesting. While I wouldn't describe my circle of friends as "hipsters", we are mostly young, liberal city and suburb dwellers living in Minneapolis/St. Paul who are environmentally minded. Most of us are putting in gardens, shopping at farmer's markets, and riding bikes and buses more while driving cars less. I'm the only one in our circle who's hunted game and butchered livestock before, having grown up on a farm, and several of my friends have shown interest in learning how to shoot, how to butcher a chicken, clean a fish, etc. I can relate to this article.

[geek tragedy]

1. Not inconsistent provided done legally, responsibly etc.

If they're shooting a deer and then only eating a small portion or choice cut, that would be of course wrong.

[Jenoch]

2. I have been hunting deer since my youth.

I have never heard of a deer hunter who only eats "...a small portion or choice cut..." unless they do not care for the taste of venison and then they give away the meat to those that do like it. Or, in Minnesota where I live, a hunter can donate his deer to food shelves by bringing it to a qualified meat processor.

[geek tragedy]

3. Certainly experienced hunters/people who grew up doing it know better.

But, novice hunters who adopt it as part of some trendy lifestyle might not do so.

[MineralMan]

4. As long as these new hunters learn the rules and ethics of hunting,

I don't see a big problem here. However, I do worry that some will not take the time to learn those things, and will go about this in all the wrong ways. There is potential for much waste and abuse if those lessons aren't learned before they go out to hunt.

[hunter]

5. Buying cheap "factory farm" pork in my supermarket...

... is more offensive to me than hunting and eating wild hogs.

Humans are omnivores. Mindful and respectful hunting or humane raising of livestock to eat does not bother me.

When I was a kid our freezer was always full of fish, cows and steers, sheep, and pigs that were either wild or raised humanely. "Supermarket meat" wasn't a common menu item.

My dad's family heritage is dairy farming and fishing, my mom's is cattle ranching.

I eat much less meat than my ancestors did. I don't hunt or fish, and I'll go weeks not eating any meat, but I'm always aware of where my food comes from. Many people in my family are vegetarians, including my wife.

[RebelOne]

11. Kudos to your wife and family members who are vegetarians. I am also. n/t

[hunter]

16. It's complicated. We always have three dogs, the city limit...

... older and otherwise "unadoptable" dogs we bring home from the animal shelter.

I don't expect dogs to be vegetarians but I pay the same kind of attention to their food as I do mine.

Please people, the world doesn't need any more dogs, cats, or people. Stop breeding!

[badtoworse]

6. Tell 'em to come to my neighborhood. I gave up gardening because the deer were eating everything.

They're a major pain in the ass in northern New Jersey.

[premium]

19. Our problem are the damned Jackrabbits, Cottontails and gophers. nt.

[rollin74]

7. "Hipsters Who Hunt" sounds like an idea for a new cable tv reality show

if it hasn't been done already

[el_bryanto]

8. Or possibly "Hipsters who hunt other hipsters - the somewhat dangerous game"

[lumberjack_jeff]

13. "... the somewhat dangerous game"

[Blue_Tires]

9. If they use anything other than bows or spears, they're some fuckin' mainstream sellouts

[NightWatcher]

10. or maybe a steampunk rifle?

[Xithras]

12. Lol. Why?

Being a locavore has nothing to do with living like a caveman and everything to do with living in sync with your local ecosystem in a sustainable fashion. A locavore hunting with a rifle is no different than a locavore eating a veggie raised in a hydroponic garden. "Sustainable" doesn't mean "no technology".

[Blue_Tires]

15. But it still has to be in-line with the ethos of hipsterism...

[LanternWaste]

20. No more and no less than when engaging in a canned hunt

"A locavore hunting with a rifle is no different than a locavore eating a veggie raised in a hydroponic garden..."

No more and no less than when engaging in a canned hunt.

But for some odd reason, many people have an ethical problem with canned hunts. Go figure-- same activity, same format, same result... simply more efficient for the "hunter". Yet those same hunter rationalize a distinction without a difference to better justify their entertainment via the mechanism of shooting an animal.

[Jenoch]

21. I don't agree.

I never heard of anyone hunting deer with a spear, but anyone who hunts deer with a bow needs to be proficient with the weapon. A deer 'stuck' with an arrow that is not a kill shot will look forward to a slow, agonizing death.

[lumberjack_jeff]

14. Good. Hunting and fishing licenses pay for many worthwhile things. n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

17. When I do it, I have excellent and well- thought out reasons

When you do it, you're a #%#&@$ing "hipster".

Not meaning hunting, I mean anything. About the only consistent definition for what constitutes being a "hipster" I can find is, it's always something other people do.

[datasuspect]

18. i remember hunting before they got famous

they WERE extra super cool back then.