Hunting as a sport

[ashling]

What criteria should there be for an activity or pastime to be considered a sport?

The implication of calling something a sport, imho, is that there is, at the very least:
1. a fair playing field, ie rules thatapply equally to all involved, and
2. all involved in the activity are involved by thier own free will

Hunting fails on both counts.

Around here, hunting deer is a big time thing for the hunters and the local economy. I don't think, however, that it is tops on the deers list of activities.

Every, grocery store, convenience store, gas station, and the local evil mega conglomerate (your home for cheap plastic crap) has bags and bags of "Deer Corn" stacked out front.

This is purchased in great quantities by these "sportsmen/women" so that they can befriend these animals with a free lunch. Once the deer have bee conditioned to come to the same place every day at the same time, the hunters set up thier little portable outhouses with gunslits for windows. Then they dress from head to toe in camoflauge gear (including camoflauge underwear) so that they will go unnoticed as the deer come in to feed.

Today I noticed on the Texas Parks and Wildlife site that they are considerin regulating "remote controlled hunting." There are actually businesses promoting remote controlled hunting including aiming and firing a rifle by computer.

Now the hunters don't even have to leave the house.

If this is really a "sport," there at least need to be cheerleaders. I am rooting for the deer.

Give me a D - give me an E - give me another E - give me an R -

GooooOOO DEER!

[Fescue4u]

1. Ironically, Hunters don't use your criteria

I don't hunt, nor do I intend to, but its pretty clear that many people do consider it a sport.

I have to agree through, the "remote control hunting" idea is pretty stupid.

[ashling]

7. Thanks for pointing out the obvious

If they didn't consider it a sport there would have been no point in my little rant, now, would there. Many people, including a lot of these so called "sportsmen/women" also consider W to be a wonderful leader and the legitimately elected President of the United States, so lets all just shut up and go home - NOT!

[alarimer]

25. It is dumb

This guy, somewhere in south Texas, decided it would be a good idea to hunt by remote control. Never mind that you are required to possess a hunting license even if you hunt nongame species. Although I guess you can buy licenses online. TPWD is planning to nip this idea in the bud, even as we speak. There is no possible way this will fly. If the game warden can't actually inspect the license holder, themn how do they enforce the laws?

[Rumba]

2. Was this from George Carlin?

Take the smartest animal on the planet.

Dress him in sophisticated camouflage.

Arm him with a sophisticated high power rifle with a powerful scope.

Equip him with chemical lures.

Then send him out to do 1-1 combat with - a bunny.

I'm massively paraphrasing and probably have the source wrong, but the original routine always cracked me up.

[Seabiscuit]

3. You're right. It isn't a "sport". It's a mental illness.

[slackmaster]

4. Your definiton covers only competitive sports

Meaning those involving competition between two or more humans or groups of humans.

Bungee jumping would not be a sport according to your definition.

Every, grocery store, convenience store, gas station, and the local evil mega conglomerate (your home for cheap plastic crap) has bags and bags of "Deer Corn" stacked out front.

This is purchased in great quantities by these "sportsmen/women" so that they can befriend these animals with a free lunch.

I don't know about Texas law, but I'm quite sure that here in California setting out food to attract a game animal is illegal. It's called "baiting". I've heard that most deer hunting areas in Texas are on private land and may not be subject to the same restrictions as one might find on public land.

[Seabiscuit]

5. Bungee jumping isn't a sport either. It's mindless entertainment for

the risk-prone.

[Seabiscuit]

6. IOW, it's basically just another ride at the county fair.

[ashling]

23. Every "sport" would seem to involve

some sort of competition, even if it is competition against oneself. With bungee jumping I suppose it is a competition with common sense.

There is no denying that the deer do not participate in this "sport" willingly or on an equal footing with their "civilized" predators. This is true as well with other predators. However, "wild" predators never kill for "sport." Man is the only one to whom the death and torture of his fellow creatures is amusing in itself.


Hunting is not a "sport." In some case it is a necessity of nature: for "wild" predators or persons too poor to afford to buy food (see: "Consequences of the Bush Administration.") For others, however it is simply an amusement.

A grisly, gruesome, barbaric amusement.

[slackmaster]

24. I see your point, but you are anthropomorphizing the deer

As bungee jumping involves overcoming one's fears, hunting (I mean real hunting not canned "hunts" or remote control shooting over the Internet) challenges the hunter to work with the environment and overcome behaviors that are acceptable in his or her usual environment.

Real hunters have to learn to out-smart the game, which isn't as easy as it sounds. Deer are very sensitive to sound and smell and motion. For many urbanites or suburbanites who lack outdoors experience, just the act of keeping comfortable in the wilderness or taking a dump in the woods is a challenge.

A grisly, gruesome, barbaric amusement.

Or a challenging way to acquire some excellent fresh natural meat using methods that are no more cruel than those used to produce the shrink-wrapped ribeye steaks in your local Safeway store, depending on your POV.

[ashling]

28. I am not anthropomorphizing anything

just recognizing that deer are "fellow creatures."

If you couldn't tell by now, I am Just "baiting" hunters.

[Abelman]

8. Point?

I don't much care for baiting of deer or computerized rifles either. I do however enjoy being outside and hunting. As an omnivorous fella, I enjoy eating meat and I feel much better knowing that I myself have taken the time to ensure the animal I'm eating suffered minimally as opposed to possibly being slaughtered while still alive.

Not all hunters are lazy morons intent only on killing various critters for fun.

[Wallflower_Liberal]

9. Ok my only hunting rant for the day.

I can't debate hunting in a civilized manner, but I will just say this:

There was a hunter in my back yard this afternoon. Armed with a gun running through between my back yard and the person's behind me. Ok, we've got about 5 acres, but there are house all around! This is a residential area, we have posted signs, and yet it doesn't stop them. My children run right through this area back and forth to their friends house. I have two dogs that run around this area (one is a Golden with a nice white fluffy tail). It is illegal for them to be back there.

My neighbor called the police. They didn't care and got downright hostile towards her. My children have to stay indoors until the season is over.

My dh said that maybe he was tracking an injured deer he shot in the field down the road. Does anyone know if there is a law that says they can go on private property in that instance? I'm in NY, by the way.

[Book Lover]

10. In NYS, hunters can't come onto your property

at all, especially if you have posted.

However, I have to underscore the point made by Ableman above; not all hunters are morons. Also, on Shelter Island, NY, there is a meat "locker" - hunters donate game there and it's given out free to those who ask. Best combination of conservatism and progressivism I know of.

[bearfan454]

13. Thank you

I own 42 acres in Menard Co. Tx. I hunt for the meat. I feed year round and take 5.

[Wallflower_Liberal]

16. Thank you for the info on NY law.

Of course, I know not all hunters are morons (even my dh used to hunt - before he met me! His dad and brother used to hunt as well). Unfortunately, every year we have this problem. My issue in this instance is the safety of my children and dogs as well as my neighbors'. Like I said, I can't debate this issue because it is too emotional for me. But thanks for answering my question.

[Book Lover]

18. My apologies

I knew that you know hunters aren't morons; I suppose I couldn't keep my emotions out of the discussion either.

This comes up on SI nearly every year, also - out-of-town hunters come in from Brooklyn and think they're in the sticks, and they can shoot anywhere. Best of luck to you and your family this season.

[Runcible Spoon]

12. did you call in to WRPI (Troy public radio)?

I'm in Albany and I heard a caller who had almost the exact same experience...was it you? I hope so, because just ONE of these incidents is TOO much!

[Wallflower_Liberal]

15. Nope, it wasn't me.

[alarimer]

26. Call game wardens rather than police

In Texas trespassing is taken VERY seriously. People can shoot (maybe not to kill) to defend their property. I think they would have to ask permission even in NY to enter someone else's property. You should not have to put up with it.

[Padraig18]

11. 'Baiting' is illegal, in Illinois.

'Deer corn', salt blocks, etc., will land you in the crossbar motel. I hunt, and it's a sport because it requires skill, patience and a time commitment.

[Runcible Spoon]

14. if that is what constitutes a sport...

then do I qualify for the Civilization 3 Olympic event? :shrug:

[Padraig18]

19. I don't know.

Do you plan to eat your opponent, like do?

[Runcible Spoon]

20. do you usually eat your opponent in sports?

I mean, I'm a rugger, and if you've seen "Alive" you'll understand WE are hardcore....but froufrou sports like baseball? I wouldn't eat Jeter! YIKES! :evilgrin:

[Padraig18]

22. LOL!

:evilgrin:

[Catchawave]

17. If the boys like to shoot...

..why not shoot at beer bottles?

It's competitive
It's outdoors
It promotes fellowship

Why does it have to be about the killing? Not to mention they're not culling the weakest of the species either, as a natural predator would do?

[RUDUing2]

21. so what are your suggestions for controlling the deer population?

Should we reintroduce the only other predator of deer besides humans? Wolves? or do we let the deer just starve to death?

[realisticphish]

27. personally

i say wolves. but just because i like wolves :P. i see WAY too many deer hit along roads around me; controlled hunting is neccessary, and i say if you're going to do it fine. as long as you keep the meat, i dont care. its the people who hunt and then throw the carcass away that i hate


:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat