Sport Or Recreational Murder? by Brenda Shoss To subscribe to Kinship Circle Letters for Animals, email: subscribe@kinshipcircle.org Sunlight crisscrossed trees as the hunter silently stalked his prey. The web of light at dawn reminded him of similar treks with his Dad. They'd worn rugged boots and warm flannel shirts to hike in search of squirrels, rabbits or ducks. He still cherished their quiet fellowship in the woods. After shooting his first deer, he'd peered into the bewildered animal's eyes and cried. But Dad told him to forget the "silly old animal." In time, the little boy with tears evolved into the man without empathy. Animals were merely targets in the sport he'd learned as a child. A group of nesting ducks interrupted his reverie. The hunter aimed and pulled his trigger. A duck screeched, her wings arching into a fan before she slumped over. Within seconds, a male duck frantically circled the dying female. Ducks, the hunter recalled, mate for life. His fingers froze around his gun as he witnessed the pair's anguish. He never thought about the lives he ended. But somehow he understood that this dead duck's life mattered-to the other duck. Though his buddies would say he'd gone soft, he decided to walk away. In that moment he knew that blowing the life out of a defenseless animal was a lame excuse for a sport. Many hunters allege to be animal lovers. But unlike the duck hunter in this true story, few experience remorse. The U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census, report that 54 percent of people oppose sport hunting. A marginal eight percent of the population annually kill almost 250 million animals. Taxpayers support the public lands where 45 percent of these hunters go to kill. Most pro-hunting babble comes from Game Commission personnel whose revenue depends upon hunting license fees. Fish and Game agencies initiate a seasonal frenzy to promote hunting as wildlife overpopulation control. During deer season, we're warned about the herds of famished deer who will feast on crops and gardens when they're not busy colliding with cars. Yet prey species, such as deer, are deliberately augmented to maintain opportunities for hunters. Hunters argue that it is more humane to kill the surplus deer than let them starve. Many claim to to slay frail animals so the strong can thrive. Do you know any hunters who pursue anorexic whitetails over trophy-caliber bucks? Some game agencies alter terrain to favor target animals. For example, to lure waterfowl and deer to new tender edible growth, agencies ignite forest fires, clear timber, and flood areas. Manipulating an ecosystem to bolster one species can lead to the demise of another. The Federal Endangered Species Act asserts that "the two major causes of extinction are hunting and habitat destruction." Hunting wiped out the passenger pigeon and endangered the gray wolf, bald eagle, grizzly bear and Florida panther. Nature manages itself through habitat size, food and water accessibility, natural predators, and severe weather conditions. Hunting actually triggers herd growth. New animals migrate in or the remaining population rebounds due to food abundance. With fewer males vying for territory, mating becomes the primary focus of the herd and the birthrate escalates. Pregnant females left with an ample food supply tend to produce more offspring. Killing, in effect, creates a neverending population surge. As more residential/commercial properties render wild animals homeless, government authorized hunts are deployed to destroy "nuisance animals." In response to complaints about Canadian geese droppings, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recruited hunters to gun down migrating flocks. The Missouri Department of Conservation sanctions deer-kills in state parks where hunters are often armed with muzzle-loading guns. When the gun's single, close-range bullet misses a vital organ such as the lungs or heart, a wounded deer retreats into the woods to slowly die. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife plans to unleash hounds and hunters on radio-collared cougars to "study the effects of predation by cougars on elk populations." To boost elk herds for hunters, they'll kill up to 75 percent of the state's cougars. And in Salt Lake City, host of the Winter Olympics, the Uinta Basin Sportsmen For Fish & Wildlife intend to kill their state mascot, the coyote, in the "First Annual Predator Control Survey." This ruthless body-count contest will award hunters $2000 in prizes for fetching the most coyote tails and ears. Cougars and coyotes pose minimal risk to humans and livestock. Moreover, the arbitrary culling of predator populations has never been shown to increase prey-animal numbers. Urban development's destruction of wildlife habitat calls for humane measures. Non-lethal predator controls to safeguard livestock include guard animals, fencing, carcass removal, or non-fatal repellents. Options to minimize deer damage include landscape changes, scare devices, chemical repellents, and live trap and transfer programs. Migratory bird flocks can be contained through habitat modification, border collies or egg addling programs. Hunting exists because hunters enjoy killing. No one needs to hunt for food. Nine billion farm animals are intensively confined and slaughtered every year. And while you may not be able to directly control the cruel factory farming industry-you can oppose a blood sport that fosters violence. Some label hunting a noble family tradition. But children who stifle their natural compassion for animals grow into desensitized adults. According to psychologist Stephanie LaFarge, anational expert in court-mandated animal abuse counseling, "cruelty toward animals is a marker for potential violence toward humans." Roger Depue, former chief of the FBI's behavioral lab, says most of America's infamous murderers honed their fury with animaltorture. Though hunters may not become serial killers, numerous studies indicate higher rates of domestic violence. Respect for nature? You won't find it in the brutality and death central to hunting. A fair-play sport? Let me know if you spot an armed animal prepared to shoot back. Until then, recognize hunting for what it is: recreational killing. WHAT YOU CAN DO: 1.) Write to your state conservation department to oppose hunts in suburbs and parks where people and companion animals are at risk from stray bullets or arrows. In Missouri, ask for a moratorium on all types of deer-kills in public regions such as Babler State Park. Jerry Conley, Director, Missouri Department of Conservation P.O. Box 180 Jefferson City, MO 65105-0180 573-751-4115 · fax: 573-751-4467 Howard L. Wood, Chairman Conservation Commission, Missouri Department of Conservation P.O. Box 180 Jefferson City, MO 65105-0180 573-358-2255 2.) Write to oppose the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's cruel plan to study diminishing elk herds by enlisting hunters to kill up to 75 percent of the cougars in Northeast and Southwest Oregon. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Federal Aid 911 NE 11th Avenue Portland, Oregon 97232-4181 http://www.dfw.state.or.us 3.) Urge the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and the Governor to ban body-count hunts. Ask them to cancel the proposed contest that will reward hunters for killing the most coyotes between now and June. Governor Michael O. Leavitt 210 Utah State Capitol Bldg. Salt Lake City, Utah 84114 801-538-1000 · Fax: 801-538-1528 Email: governor@gov.state.ut.us John Kimball, Director Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Box 146301 Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-6301 801-538-4700 · Fax: 801-538-4709 email: wcomment.nrdwr@state.ut.us 4.) Voice your displeasure about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's slaughter of Canadian geese. Request that future migratory bird management policies include non-violent methods. Chief, Office of Migratory Bird Management U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior ms 634 ARLSQ 1849 C St., NW Washington D.C. 20240 email: canada_goose_eis@fws.gov