Comments on: Hunting to help http://online.worldmag.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/ A forum for discussion of news that arises at the intersection of Christianity and culture. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:37:07 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: outkast http://online.worldmag.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/comment-page-1/#comment-240871 outkast Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:22:03 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/#comment-240871 Update: My two brothers shot three more bucks today on our family farm. The count is now seven. 8) Update: My two brothers shot three more bucks today on our family farm. The count is now seven. 8)

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]]> By: outkast http://online.worldmag.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/comment-page-1/#comment-240773 outkast Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:38:22 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/#comment-240773 My father has shot four deer so far this season on our Virginia farm, and my two brothers are there all this week helping him to actually INCREASE the deer population -- the ones sitting in freezers and hanging from trees, that is! 8) BTW, I made "hapanero venison chili" (my own recipe) this past weekend, and everyone I've fed it to loves it! My father has shot four deer so far this season on our Virginia farm, and my two brothers are there all this week helping him to actually INCREASE the deer population — the ones sitting in freezers and hanging from trees, that is! 8)

BTW, I made “hapanero venison chili” (my own recipe) this past weekend, and everyone I’ve fed it to loves it!

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]]> By: mmacmurray http://online.worldmag.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/comment-page-1/#comment-240359 mmacmurray Mon, 19 Nov 2007 22:07:06 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/#comment-240359 Here in southern Maine, there are too many deer, probably due to fewer predators and less hunting. Some of the offshore islands have had to hire sharpshooters and have special hunting seasons to reduce the deer herds. However, in central and northern Maine, poaching has taken a toll on the deer population, and the hunters in those rural areas are having trouble finding anything to hunt. We also have the programs like Mumsee mentioned, where road kill that's in okay shape (deer and moose) is given to food pantries or soup kitchens. Here in southern Maine, there are too many deer, probably due to fewer predators and less hunting. Some of the offshore islands have had to hire sharpshooters and have special hunting seasons to reduce the deer herds.

However, in central and northern Maine, poaching has taken a toll on the deer population, and the hunters in those rural areas are having trouble finding anything to hunt.

We also have the programs like Mumsee mentioned, where road kill that’s in okay shape (deer and moose) is given to food pantries or soup kitchens.

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]]> By: hrw http://online.worldmag.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/comment-page-1/#comment-240349 hrw Mon, 19 Nov 2007 21:59:56 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/#comment-240349 Although I like to argue for the structural adjustments of the economy to help provide long term help for the poor, I have no problem with deer hunting especially for the rural poor. I can't prove deer are overpopulated but the generally perception is deer have migrated closer to urban areas where there is less predators and greater food. The expansion of the urban area is also responsible for greater contact. In the last year of my daily commute I have seen more deer than the rest of my life combined. Hydro right of ways act as a natural highway leading them into the city. Right now its mating season and I need to be careful at dusk not to run into bucks who have one thing on the their mind and its not looking both ways before crossing the street. However, the prize for urban adaption goes to the raccoon who now populate the city more than the countryside. Although I like to argue for the structural adjustments of the economy to help provide long term help for the poor, I have no problem with deer hunting especially for the rural poor.

I can’t prove deer are overpopulated but the generally perception is deer have migrated closer to urban areas where there is less predators and greater food. The expansion of the urban area is also responsible for greater contact.

In the last year of my daily commute I have seen more deer than the rest of my life combined. Hydro right of ways act as a natural highway leading them into the city. Right now its mating season and I need to be careful at dusk not to run into bucks who have one thing on the their mind and its not looking both ways before crossing the street. However, the prize for urban adaption goes to the raccoon who now populate the city more than the countryside.

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]]> By: TL http://online.worldmag.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/comment-page-1/#comment-240280 TL Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:31:36 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/#comment-240280 My husband is a hunter - he hasn't gotten anything yet this season, but still has time! At this time of year, we see dozens of dead deer on the highways and freeways in our area. We're talking 25-30 within a 35 mile stretch of freeway. And those are the ones we could see! If that doesn't say "overpopulation" I don't know what does. I have also hit one of those deer in the past, and did a lot of damage to my car. I say to the hunters - kill all you want - there will be more! Don't kill without using the meat, certainly. They have this meat donation program in our area, as well, and I think it's a great idea. I do know some people who like to hunt, but don't care for the meat. Now, they have another alternative on what to do with it. My husband is a hunter – he hasn’t gotten anything yet this season, but still has time!

At this time of year, we see dozens of dead deer on the highways and freeways in our area. We’re talking 25-30 within a 35 mile stretch of freeway. And those are the ones we could see! If that doesn’t say “overpopulation” I don’t know what does. I have also hit one of those deer in the past, and did a lot of damage to my car.

I say to the hunters – kill all you want – there will be more! Don’t kill without using the meat, certainly. They have this meat donation program in our area, as well, and I think it’s a great idea. I do know some people who like to hunt, but don’t care for the meat. Now, they have another alternative on what to do with it.

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]]> By: Pauline http://online.worldmag.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/comment-page-1/#comment-240264 Pauline Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:03:47 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/#comment-240264 Cheryl D., I'm not a hunter but over the last twenty years I've had lots of friends who are (women as well as men). And I've had venison in various forms, though usually sausage or stew. Cooked by someone who knows how to cook it properly, it's very good - and in sausage or stew I would have no idea that the meat happens to be venison. Last week our small group host (who is an avid hunter and whose house has more heads and antlers than I've ever seen in one place before, not to mention a zebra rug and a stuffed fox) served pheasant for dinner. We agreed it was similar to chicken, and I have no idea if I'd have known from the taste that it wasn't (though we were warned to watch out for birdshot, and one woman did find some in her serving). Cheryl D.,
I’m not a hunter but over the last twenty years I’ve had lots of friends who are (women as well as men). And I’ve had venison in various forms, though usually sausage or stew. Cooked by someone who knows how to cook it properly, it’s very good – and in sausage or stew I would have no idea that the meat happens to be venison.

Last week our small group host (who is an avid hunter and whose house has more heads and antlers than I’ve ever seen in one place before, not to mention a zebra rug and a stuffed fox) served pheasant for dinner. We agreed it was similar to chicken, and I have no idea if I’d have known from the taste that it wasn’t (though we were warned to watch out for birdshot, and one woman did find some in her serving).

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]]> By: mumsee http://online.worldmag.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/comment-page-1/#comment-240252 mumsee Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:38:15 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/#comment-240252 Erasmus 10, Around here the herds grow because of farming and easy access to food. However, the food is not always available. Currently they are down to eating my baby pine trees, not normally a favorite, because of the dry conditions (until last night's snowstorm). The dry conditions will take care of the excess through starvation and coyote predation of the weakened deer. A few years ago we had a plethora of deer but the local water fleas gave them a disease and it is thought that around ten thousand died in our valley alone during a few weeks of one summer. I understand the smell was horrendous from the rotting bodies. It is generally understood that it is a complicated issue. My view is that as we are contributing to the prolific reproduction through cutting trees, growing gardens, and growing fields of crops, it is more humane to also contribute to the thinning of the numbers through knowledgeable hunting. Harvesting the deer seems a lot kinder than the alternatives. My understanding is that in some parts of the county, road kill deer (when collected early enough and without a lot of damage) are used for prison food and food kitchens. Hunted deer can certainly be used in the same way. Erasmus 10,

Around here the herds grow because of farming and easy access to food. However, the food is not always available. Currently they are down to eating my baby pine trees, not normally a favorite, because of the dry conditions (until last night’s snowstorm). The dry conditions will take care of the excess through starvation and coyote predation of the weakened deer.

A few years ago we had a plethora of deer but the local water fleas gave them a disease and it is thought that around ten thousand died in our valley alone during a few weeks of one summer. I understand the smell was horrendous from the rotting bodies.

It is generally understood that it is a complicated issue. My view is that as we are contributing to the prolific reproduction through cutting trees, growing gardens, and growing fields of crops, it is more humane to also contribute to the thinning of the numbers through knowledgeable hunting. Harvesting the deer seems a lot kinder than the alternatives. My understanding is that in some parts of the county, road kill deer (when collected early enough and without a lot of damage) are used for prison food and food kitchens. Hunted deer can certainly be used in the same way.

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]]> By: Stephen http://online.worldmag.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/comment-page-1/#comment-240237 Stephen Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:13:54 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/#comment-240237 I certainly agree that hunting for food is generally well-managed, though I absolutely disagree that the definition of overpopulation has anything to do with whether or not they're in your garden. If your garden is in the middle of New York City, then yes, that sounds like overpopulation, but if deer were around there before your garden it sounds more like human overpopulation than deer. I certainly agree that hunting for food is generally well-managed, though I absolutely disagree that the definition of overpopulation has anything to do with whether or not they’re in your garden. If your garden is in the middle of New York City, then yes, that sounds like overpopulation, but if deer were around there before your garden it sounds more like human overpopulation than deer.

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]]> By: Bianca http://online.worldmag.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/comment-page-1/#comment-240223 Bianca Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:57:04 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/#comment-240223 Yes - feed them watercress and teach them Tantra Yoga. Yes – feed them watercress and teach them Tantra Yoga.

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]]> By: Luke http://online.worldmag.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/comment-page-1/#comment-240220 Luke Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:53:17 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/19/hunting-to-help/#comment-240220 There are inarguably better ways to help people. There are inarguably better ways to help people.

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