Teenage Big Game Hunter...

[sillysally]

I found this on Facebook, and I was curious about people's opinions. I have no issue with hunting in general (though I do believe people should eat what they kill, or feed it to dogs or something), but I do think it's sketchy hunting threatened species, and I'm really curious if what she claims about over population of lions is true.

Anyhoo--what do you think?

Here's a link to the article--WARNING-HUNTING TROPHY PHOTOS OF DEAD ANIMALS IN LINK: http://elitedaily.com/news/world/th...-safari-animals-and-people-are-pissed/652339/

 

[BostonBanker]

I wouldn't doubt that the issue of overpopulation of lions in some areas is a very real problem. I know there were issues with elephants at one point, if not still now (it was a research paper I did in college) where parks were actually doing such a good job protecting them that the areas couldn't sustain the numbers. So the park rangers were going through culling fairly large numbers of yes, an endangered species.

So, if that is something that is going to have to happen anyway, I have zero issue with someone buying a permit to hunt them. I think the permits to hunt animals like that are quite expensive. If that money is going back into continued protection efforts...I don't see how it can be wrong.

Regardless of if you are going to eat the animal, throw it to the dogs, or hang it on your wall.

 

[sparks19]

I think it's been blown out of proportion. She does it legally, she has permits, majority of the meat she harvests goes to villages that need the food, and some of the photos out there aren't animals she has actually killed but she does work with conservation authorities to tranquilize the animals so they can be tagged, moved or doctored.

I really don't have a problem with it as long as it's done legally.

 

[sassafras]

Imma just drop this here. If this is how the "hunts" were really done, then it wasn't really hunting IMO. I think trophy hunting is weird, anyway.


http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/reminder-why-killing-a-lion-is-the-most-cowardly-thing-you-c

 

[Snark]

The only thing I don't care for is trophy hunting - killing the biggest, best-looking specimen to hang on your wall or adorn your study seems counter-productive to be 'helping' whatever species it is.

 

[Dizzy]

I despise trophy hunting. It makes me feel sick.

I have no issue with hunting to eat, as long as it's quick and humane and people don't take more than they need, are concious of stocks, breeding seasons, migrations etc etc etc.

My issue with her is the pure joy she clearly gets from her kill. I don't understand it. I'd be devastated if I had to kill those animals NO MATTER why I had to do it.... even for food or population management I'd feel sorrow at the job I had to do... not some sick buzz....

I feel sad for the animals I eat as it is. I am happy to eat them!! But I have respect that they died for me to eat. Not just to hang off them looking tough or whatever it is she gets out of it.

Just not my bag.

 

[straw]

I don't really know how to put into words how I feel about this, but I'll just reiterate what Sassafrass said...

I've been lucky enough to go on safari for 10 days in Kenya and Tanzania.

And I got within 30 feet (closer to the big cats) of just about all the species this girl has 'stalked' and killed. Wild, loose animals in the Serengeti and Masai Mara.

And yeah, they just chill out and eat or go to sleep right next to your truck. Even the elephants, or the mama rhino and her baby. Did not give a crap about us.

I wouldn't call that hunting. It's just driving up to an animal and shooting it.

 

[sillysally]

I despise trophy hunting. It makes me feel sick.

I have no issue with hunting to eat, as long as it's quick and humane and people don't take more than they need, are concious of stocks, breeding seasons, migrations etc etc etc.

My issue with her is the pure joy she clearly gets from her kill. I don't understand it. I'd be devastated if I had to kill those animals NO MATTER why I had to do it.... even for food or population management I'd feel sorrow at the job I had to do... not some sick buzz....

I feel sad for the animals I eat as it is. I am happy to eat them!! But I have respect that they died for me to eat. Not just to hang off them looking tough or whatever it is she gets out of it.

Just not my bag.

I thnk maybe that's why I felt kind if weird about the pics in the article--the sheer joy she seems to take creeps me out. It just feels like a lack of respect for the thing she has just done. I do eat meat, and my grandpa raised beef cattle to be slaughtered at a local meat processor--nowhere in that equation was there ever glee over the death if the cattle, even though it meant food and income. I fish and several family members fish, and while I usually catch and release, I've never been giddy over deciding to keep a fish to eat.

I do realize that the animal is just as dead either way, I just find it unsettling.

 

[Fran101]

I despise trophy hunting. It makes me feel sick.

I have no issue with hunting to eat, as long as it's quick and humane and people don't take more than they need, are concious of stocks, breeding seasons, migrations etc etc etc.

My issue with her is the pure joy she clearly gets from her kill. I don't understand it. I'd be devastated if I had to kill those animals NO MATTER why I had to do it.... even for food or population management I'd feel sorrow at the job I had to do... not some sick buzz....

I feel sad for the animals I eat as it is. I am happy to eat them!! But I have respect that they died for me to eat. Not just to hang off them looking tough or whatever it is she gets out of it.

Just not my bag.

Basically this.
I think it's gross, I certainly wouldn't want to know her. I disagree with trophy hunting or any hunting of animals that aren't over populated/for food.

That said, I don't have the knowledge to make judgements of it's legality or the right/wrong of it on a lawful level.

I went out with a guy for a while who hunted deer (he did it for food, donated, new england has huge over population problems) but in the end, it was still an issue of my inability to comprehend WHY it was fun for him, at the end of the day it turned my stomach.

So personally, it is what it is. I don't think I'll ever be able to understand the "fun" in hunting and CERTAINLY don't understand this girl's actions or her behavior after she has already killed (smiling and posing with them like seriously?)

There are probably PLENTY of reasons WHY this is legal and why it should be legal (hunting permits go back towards wildlife, overpopulation etc..)

my brain may comprehend it but my heart still says she's incredibly cruel.

 

[Dizzy]

I know this is going to be controversial....

But for ME I don't see much distinction between killing an animal for the trophy and killing an animal in the street for the buzz. I read about animals hung from trees or kicked to death by some teen and it evokes the same feeling inside me...

The power trip they must feel knowing they are taking the life for their own whim. I doubt they are too far apart.

I know people won't like that comparison.

 

[sassafras]

I do think it is fun to land a big fish, and I'm happy when I do, and have pictures with fish I've caught. I don't know if that makes me a big fat hypocrite, but at the end of it the fish either gets thrown back or eaten. I still think trophy hunting is weird.

 

[ACooper]

Hunting for food/other survival uses....sure thing, not an issue for me. Trophy hunting is not something I understand or could do....THAT would feel like murder to me personally.

When I see all the people who've posted how they'd like to kill her......specific WAYS they'd make her suffer before death.......wow, and no. She IS doing these hunts legally like many others. (no matter my thoughts on the morality of it)

They (people who are upset enough to threaten her) need to focus their attentions on making real change to the way these animals are dealt with if there is a legit problem (over population, etc)

On the other hand....they could be spared untimely death and instead languish in a circus/theme park or some such and have a MUCH better life right? *sarcasm*

 

[sparks19]

Meh... I won't say I'm totally unaffected but it just really doesn't bother me that much. The meat from these animals is going to feed people in villages that are in desperate need of food.

Hubby hunts and I'm very happy for the meat he brings home. They lived a better life and died a more humane death than the meat you get in the grocery store. I also enjoy fishing and you'll find many pictures of me holding up my big fish with a huge smile on my face I enjoy it and the fish are delicious. I have pictures of family members preparing the fish as well.

 

[Xandra]

I know this is going to be controversial....

But for ME I don't see much distinction between killing an animal for the trophy and killing an animal in the street for the buzz. I read about animals hung from trees or kicked to death by some teen and it evokes the same feeling inside me...

The power trip they must feel knowing they are taking the life for their own whim. I doubt they are too far apart.

I know people won't like that comparison.

Not a good comparison at all IMO.

I think there's a massive difference between a "conquest" power trip and sadism.
..

I'm not sure how I feel about it. I mean, logically, sure, go for it. I'm glad people are willing to pay into it to that extent; these animals would just be culled with 0 revenue to the reserve otherwise. And I don't bear the girl any ill will just because it "feels" wrong.

If you've honestly come to terms with the superfluous killing of animals for meat then I don't see how the death itself can be all that upsetting. I mean if it's sad for animals to lose their lives, but not as sad as you having to give up something trivial like taste... then it can't be all that sad.

I feel like I can almost understand trophy hunting, almost. It's fun catching animals (fishing or the few times I've "hunted" and caught a feral rabbit (unharmed)) even though I'm sure the animal is having a terrible time. It's exciting to see it out there and then be able to put your hands on it. So I understand how you can find an activity fun if you don't empathize with the animal.

I'm sure to her animals dying in hunting isn't sad. Animal death is inevitable and she associates it with good times with her family, excitement, meat for herself or grateful people, conservation etc. I read that she's been to Africa as a child and donated supplies to schools etc because she was too young to hunt and I'm sure she's grown up with it. So benefits of hunting and the support (from her family, game managers, villagers) are all very real for her.

Keep in mind she paid to TRANQUILIZE the rhino, I can't see her as some sadistic devil. Just someone with more experience and a different outlook than most.

That said... I've been to Tanzania and I've seen what that article described, lions lying 20 ft away without a care in the world:

No way could I feel good seeing a lion like that being shot for sport, but given the correct context I could forgive them for it.

 

[Laurelin]

My knee jerk is not pleasant but then I start wondering... Why is there the outcry with this or with hunting other animals- whales, seals, etc? Usually it seems to be because they're pretty or cute animals that westerners don't think of as 'food'.

If its done legally and the meat goes to someone even if ti's not her.... I can't really have a problem with it. I mean...I eat meat. Lions are cooler than cows but that's really the only thing I can think of that would make most americans perfectly okay with cattle slaughter but not killing a lion?

As far as trophies go, I grew up in a Texan family. So yeah... they take trophies when they hunt. I've eaten part of every taxidermied deer my family has. In fact I ate some last night... It was fantastic eating. Mmm venison burgers. My family all hunts as I mentioned and the meat is all used for sure! If the hunter doesn't keep all of it, it gets passed around the extended family. If the family ends up with even more extra it's donated or given to friends, etc. Or we trade.... my grandparents have cattle so we'll often get a cow to split between my dad and siblings and me. It's good stuff and I appreciate it not only as free meat but also meat I know lived a good life and was slaughtered/killed as humanely as possible.

I don't like taxidermy really. Not my style. But I don't think it makes someone more evil or the meat any less used because the hide was used for something or taxidermied.

I would prefer for most or all of my meat intake to be from hunting or local farming.

 

[RBark]

People like to hunt for the same reason that dogs like to chase balls. Why do dogs like to chase balls? It makes no sense. But the instinct is hardwired. The instinct to hunt is hardwired in us all.

I like to fish. Yesterday, I caught a 4' Leopard Shark. It was a hell of a fight and I was ecstatic. Then we released it. If I knew how to properly clean and fillet it (they have to be done within 5 minutes of killing otherwise the meat tastes bad, since they release urine through their skin and blood vessels) I may have kept it. But that wasn't the fun part, the fun part was "holy crap I caught a freaking shark!"

Other stuff I do keep. I caught a halibut, some lingcod, and rockfishes. I kept them all, and they were tasty. But what I remember the most about them is the hunt for them, and the fight to reel them in without them getting away. I don't mind too much the part where I killed them, but that wasn't the enjoyable part.

I strongly disagree with trophy hunting. But trying to portray hunters as people who enjoy killing is inaccurate.

 

[Xandra]

My knee jerk is not pleasant but then I start wondering... Why is there the outcry with this or with hunting other animals- whales, seals, etc? Usually it seems to be because they're pretty or cute animals that westerners don't think of as 'food'.

I think the main issue for a lot of people is that she isn't sad or neutral about being up close with the animal's dead body, but looks quite happy and perhaps proud about it. If she had posted pictures of herself posing and smiling with her beef steer after it got the captive bolt... pretty sure people would think that was messed up too.

 

[ruffiangirl]

I think people should stop getting their panties in a bunch, she is paying her money to do these hunts, she is doing nothing illegally. There is 0 difference between doing this and hunting deer, moose, ducks or geese for food, either way the meat is being eaten. Like pretty much everything the truth and rumours are being smooched together to push some asshats agenda. Wahh I don't agree with them killing those animals, just remember how few people agree with pitbulls being legal, and cropping and docking. People are acting like she's out in the savannah with a freaking machine gun shooting anything that moves.

Do I personally want to do it, no, and I don't want them hanging on my walls either, but I'm going to tell her she shouldn't, as long as it's legal, have at er.

I'm also going to add that I am also ok with seal hunts in newoundland, even the babies, and horse culling right here in my own province.

 

[Laurelin]

Maybe this is just the Texan in me but don't most hunters take photos like that? I've taken photos with fish I've caught (I don't hunt but will catch fish and eat them... in fact did that last weekend), I've taken other peoples' photos with their deer or turkey.

 

[sparks19]

I think the main issue for a lot of people is that she isn't sad or neutral about being up close with the animal's dead body, but looks quite happy and perhaps proud about it. If she had posted pictures of herself posing and smiling with her beef steer after it got the captive bolt... pretty sure people would think that was messed up too.

Really? people post pictures with their deer, moose, elk, etc smiling and posing with their "conquest" ALL the time. is it really that odd that something they worked for and a skill they have honed over time has come to fruition and that meat is going to taste GOOOOOD

Maybe this is just the Texan in me but don't most hunters take photos like that? I've taken photos with fish I've caught (I don't hunt but will catch fish and eat them... in fact did that last weekend), I've taken other peoples' photos with their deer or turkey.

pretty much this. Like I said, I have plenty of pictures of me smiling and posing with the fish I just caught and am about to fillet and eat lol