Postby mallardhunter » Wed Oct 29, 2003 2:41 pm
Just an attempt to drag the conversation back to the point, that is, how do you deal with an anti-hunter vegan?
First off, I'd forget the hunting as a management tool discussion. It takes too long and is too complicated. Most folks ain't gonna listen to it all.
I have this converstation often. A lot of my friends over the years have been of the anti-hunting variety. While I don't think I have ever converted any, I know I have made them think and perhaps soften their stance a bit.
Start off with a few questions to see if your anti believes if all killing for meat is wrong or not, and if they feel that vegetarianism is natural for a human. Ask if they believe in a higher power that created our world. Ask them if they think wildlife would be better off without man's intervention.
Many of these folks only want to tell you their side of it, without listening to yours (ours). I feel it is important to listen quietly to their side as long as they want to jabber, so that, when they begin to interrupt you, you can remind them that you listened to them and request they extend the same favor to you. Also, by listening to their logic, you may find holes to poke.
See if they believe that humans are part of the animal world. Then, gently ask them if we should kill all predators, like fox, wolves, owls, hawks, bears, coyotes, etc. as these natural predators kill for meat. If they don't want to kill these predators, find out why not (they'll revert to the "natural" argument, Mother Nature, etc, probably. If they do good, as this will be useful later.). Once they agree that killing for meat is okay for predators, it's time to explain to them what humans are, and why we are that way.
Herbivores are the vegetarians of the animal world, and are prey. Carnivores eat only meat, and are the predators, while omnivores eat both meat and vegetable matter, and are also predators. By design, humans are omnivores and definitely predators, NOT prey nor herbivores. We have predator eyes - designed by the higher power they will probably profess a belief in. Our eyes are like those of a typical predator, set in front, looking forward. Prey species typically have eyes that are set on the side of the head, so that their peripheral vision can see almost behind them (like a duck's eyes). Human's have the dental structure of an omnivore. Those front incisors and the canine teeth are designed for cutting and tearing meat. The rear teeth are designed for grinding grain, so we, by design, are predators and omnivores. The vegetarians are living an unnatural lifestyle, ignoring the wisdom of their creator (if they believe in such things) who designed them as omnivores.
If you get the "cruel and inhumane" issue of hunting, remind them how the natural world deals with the issue. Predators are cruel! A hawk will catch a baby squirrel, roll him on his back, pop his belly open and begin to eat his entrails while the squealing squirrel watches himself being consumed while still alive (I've seen this one)! Wolves will attack in packs, singling out one weak animal, wearing it down until they can move in for the kill. As a predator, a human hunter is perhaps the most "humane" and less cruel than any Mother Nature has devised.
It may be easier to explain how we are killing the "excess" animals than attempting any explanation of wildlife mangement techiniques. The latter sounds like smoke and mirrors, while the following explanation might get 'em to understand just a bit. We will use a farm as our habitat, and rabbits as our species to learn from. Start in the spring. Arbitrarily we will use a figure of 600 rabbits in the spring. As the plants bloom and grow, food and cover (allows them to hide from natural predators) is abundant and the rabbits breed and do very well. By late summer, the farm is holding 1000 rabbits (these figures are for demonstration purposes only). As fall approaches, Mother Nature plays a cruel trick on the 1000 rabbits. Their food and cover begin to die and wither, depriving them of food and hide from the predators, which can now pick them off easier. As winter settles in, less food = weaker rabbits who must eat more and travel further to find food, less cover = more predator food. Guess what? By spring, the farm is now holding 600 rabbits again - and all without hunting. Those 400 rabbits are the excess from which we hunt. The only way for the farm to hold more rabbits is to, (1) expand the acreage (available habitat), (2) enhance the habitat (grow more food and cover) (3) remove the predators. Even removing the predators will still cause some of the animals to starve as the food source dies off during the winter months. The predators (and hunters) must kill off the excess to save them from a lingering, suffering death by starvation.
This is also a great argument for those nitwits that think they are doing some noble deed by "rescuing" rabbits (and other prey species), rehabilitating them and return them to the wild. All they are doing is feeding the predators, cause a bunny (chipmunk, squirrel, duck etc.) is little more than dinner for the predators of the world. If they really want more prey species in the world, they could better spend their money expanding and/or enhancing habitat.
Here is where you can gently introduce how many more animals are around today than were in the early days of this country. Deer, turkey, and Canada geese are some of the success stories, where their population grew - financed by hunters' monies. Dispel the myth that American used to be wall-to-wall animals, oh say during the American Revolution. Remind them how George Washington's men starved to death at Valley Forge, PA during the fall and winter of 1777-1778. How could the nation's best sharpshooters, all armed, starve in a land teeming with wildlife? They wouldn't have starved had the game been plentiful. It wasn't then but is now, thanks to hunters.
Just my $0.02 worth.
Will Duck Hunt For Food.
Have You Called Your Duck Today?
Read "The Third Terrorist" by Jayna Davis
