<p>My son and his friends want to go on a hunting trip this Christmas break. I think that this is unnessary and revolting. I was wondering how other people on this site would feel if their child wanted to go on a hunting trip.</p>
<p>If they want to kill some of my deer, which run around in my yard like squirrels, I’ll be happy to let them. As long as they leave a few choice cuts for the owners.</p>
<p>don’t invite the vice pres</p>
<p>I didn’t let my kid go to a paintball party when he was younger. I would strongly discourage him from going hunting, but I couldn’t stop him and wouldn’t go crazy trying. He went to a gun show with some of his dorm friends.</p>
<p>I would be very troubled! Inexperienced college kids with guns? And probably drinking too? Very very dangerous! Although I am not a fan of hunting, if you are going to do it right I think kids should be brought up with it and learn the very strict safety rules.</p>
<p>Is it a guided tour with experienced mature adult guides? Or are they going to borrow some family owned guns and head out lookin for bar?</p>
<p>My husband is a hunter. Like you, I had always found hunting “unnecessary and revolting.” I grew up in a family that detested guns, hunting, and most “outdoorsy” things.</p>
<p>When we got married, I thought my husband’s hunting was a thing of the past…we moved a great deal during those first years and never lived anywhere that hunting was an option. It was only when we moved to Kansas that he revived (and expanded) his interest in hunting. People come from all over the country to bird hunt here every November.</p>
<p>I still do not care for hunting, but I HAVE learned some things. Oddly enough, most of the hunters I now know have a far greater appreciation for and love of wildlife than I do. For many years, my husband would just go out hunting to “commune with nature,” rarely shooting anything. He still enjoys the trips, even if he is not “successful.” Also, most experienced hunters have a tremendous amount of respect for and knowledge of firearms. They KNOW what damage can be done with them.</p>
<p>When I thought about it rationally, I realized that as a non-vegetarian, I am really not morally superior to the hunters. Whether or not <em>I</em> kill an animal, consuming the product of that animal supports those who DO kill them. Though hunting is not something I would personally choose to do, I no longer stand in judgment of those who, for whatever reason, enjoy it.</p>
<p>My husband has tried to interest our sons in hunting, but so far, none of them cares for it. They will go with him on occasion, to spend time with him and support him, but I can’t see any of them doing this of their own accord in the future.</p>
<p>Now, about your son’s trip…</p>
<p>I’m assuming he’s a college student? To be perfectly honest with you, I would squirm a little at that trip, not because of any distaste for hunting per se, but rather because of safety concerns. I will <em>ONLY</em> let our sons go hunting with their father…NO ONE ELSE because I KNOW he is as careful and conservative as ANYONE could possibly be around guns and such. The idea of letting a group of young guys go alone, when there might be alcohol or even just a lack of experience with hunting/gun handling would not appeal to me. Is there a mature adult accompanying the group? To me, that would make a significant difference. Has your son ever hunted before? What is his experience level? These are crucial things to consider, IMHO.</p>
<p>~berurah</p>
<p>
It’s a deal. My dh will be right over… ;)</p>
<p>~berurah</p>
<p>I agree NJ-
it is something you have to be educated about- more than just picking up a shotgun .
Look at Cheney- he went to a controlled shoot & still someone got shot
I think it is reasonable to find a lot more about it-</p>
<p>If it were me I’d say, “No.” And then add “if you do go I will make/cause big trouble for you”. Just my subtle way of telling him I’m opposed to something he has in mind and willing to fight him on it. (And I get ugly.) This is what is meant by saving one’s guns for the big issues, let the other small things go. It is my opinion that my son is not of good enough judgement to walk around with a shotgun in his hand and no skilled older man present.Out of the question, I would fight this one.</p>
<p>“When I thought about it rationally, I realized that as a non-vegetarian, I am really not morally superior to the hunters. Whether or not <em>I</em> kill an animal, consuming the product of that animal supports those who DO kill them.”</p>
<p>That is one of my son’s arguments.</p>
<p>He wants to go on a tour.</p>
<p>
It’s a valid one, IMHO. I think that MANY of us, myself included, have a gut-level revulsion toward hunting. And yet, many of the animals that are raised for slaughter are treated much less humanely that those killed by an experienced and knowledgeable hunter. </p>
<p>If this is a guided tour, then I would be more comfortable with the whole thing. Truthfully, if your son were not raised to hunt, he will most likely not care for it anyway. My sons WERE raised to hunt, and THEY don’t care for it. I’m still concerned about the lack of experience with firearms though. My older two sons have been taught the safest of gun handling practices from a relatively young age.</p>
<p>~berurah</p>
<p>I get the impression that your son is not an experienced hunter. Does he take annual gun safety courses? Has he been taught to hunt by adults who are experienced in the rules of hunting and trained in gun safety? If not, I recommend against this tour. Paid tours that cater to inexperienced hunters are not the way to learn gun safety or how to hunt.</p>
<p>A better plan would be for your son to take a certified gun safety course and join a responsible gun club where he could practice shooting. If he’s interested, he could also participate in shooting contests and events.</p>
<p>I’ve posted on this subject before when my 13 yr. old was invited to a “hunting party”. He has alot of pressure from friends (and their fathers) to be around guns which H and I aren’t crazy about. We have let him go to a bday party which was at a shooting range where there was plenty of supervision and instruction. As far as going out hunting, I"d make sure that your son had instruction first on how to use a gun, and that there were experienced hunters going. I don’t understand the allure of hunting at all. If someone wants to stalk an animal, why don’t they do it with photography? Gives me the creeps.</p>
<p>It depends on what they are hunting. </p>
<p>I think deer hunting is a good thing. People who are unfamiliar with ecology have no idea what devastation the overpopulation of deer has wrought on the natural progression of our woods, wildflowers, and, therefore, on other wildlife (at least in the northeast).</p>
<p>I think hunting woodcock and shorebirds is revolting because they are birds in decline – why the heck are they still hunted?</p>
<p>I also think hunting the predator animals such as coyote (at least in our region) is also wrong. What is supposed to control deer? Just the cars and a few hunters??? </p>
<p>Moose hunting and bear hunting – also icky. What kind of a sport is walking up to a moose and shooting it? They don’t even run away! </p>
<p>Duck hunting is iffy. If I felt confident that the hunters could actually IDENTIFY the proper ducks I’d think it is probably OK. But I have seen duck hunters shoot at any old flying/swimming thing and then leave it in the water if it is, oops, a loon or an off season bird or a bird they already have their quota of. It’s disgusting really.</p>
<p>Pheasant, exotic quail or other farmed birds – whatever. They are not native birds, nearly all are released from game farms. If that’s what turns you on, well, go for it I guess. But take emeraldkity’s advice on that one – watch out for Cheney.</p>
<p>I am opposed to hunting on every level…it really gives me the creeps too, and seeing that deer hanging off the pickup truck with the gun rack…ick.</p>
<p>allmusic:
I completely understand that, but if you had ever been to a slaughter house you wouldn’t touch beef with a 10 foot pole…Believe me, that deer had a MUCH better life and death than anything you eat from the grocery store.</p>
<p>I’m a vegetarian, Weenie. 20+ years.</p>
<p>Read “My Year of Meats” and anyone will become a vegetarian. Blech on slaughterhouses. I</p>
<p>Ha! Yeah, Year of Meats would do it! I read that a long time ago, but I remember it clearly. </p>
<p>But I’d die if I had to be a vegeterian…</p>
<p>NRA Life Member here. Hunted and fished my whole life. Fortunately I had an uncle and grandfather that decided as long as I was in the woods or on the lake, I couldn’t get in much trouble. They were right. My dad wasn’t an outdoorsman. It just wasn’t his style, so I learned woodworking and a love of books from him. Most of my hunting doesn’t result in meat. Much of my fishing is catch and release. Still, I’d rather follow a bird dog than most things I have experienced in life. Underwater photography is the other thing I love.</p>
<p>If you really want to get grossed out, read the original, “The Jungle”.</p>
<p>As for a hunting trip with a bunch of guys, it would depend on whether or not they have experience, whether or not they drink, whether or not he’s over 18. Over 18 you really don’t have much to say about it. He’s old enough to experience whatever he wants and make up his own mind. After all, he’s old enough to go in the military and vote for president.</p>
<p>
bandit~</p>
<p>We have some great hunting dogs. Our English Setter and our black Lab are amazing together. We got a beagle pup last October for my oldest D, not for hunting purposes, but she’s a pretty serious natural hunter–and FAST too. My kids were pretty horrified when she caught a killed a squirrel in our backyard the other day. BTW, you and my dh would get along great–he’s an avid fisherman as well as a hunter. ~berurah</p>
<p>
This past season it was Predators 27, Curmudgeon 7. Drought equals starving predators equals desperate predators equals predators eating my sheep, goats, and fawns. I don’t hunt, never have (waaay to slow for me), but I (try to) protect my livestock and that oft times means a rifle when perimeter predator proof fencing fails (and it will never hold out a cat). I just need to get better at it. 
Last year, I got the best of them . This year they got the best of me. And so it goes. </p>
<p>Guns are like motorcycles to me. No booze and no idiots allowed.</p>