Hunting and Druidry

[Corwen]

My lurcher bring rabbits live to hand and I dispatch them. Ferrets bolt rabbits into nets or if that misses the lurcher catches. There is no distance running with rabbits and they would'nt be edible if the dog sherrded it. Guns wound,dogs do not!
Rabbits are hunted by foxes,stoats,rats,birds of prey, badgers, mink the list goes on, a dog is just another predator in the precaurious world of the rabbit.

I didn't say anything against hunting rabbits with dogs or with ferrets. However hunting otters, beavers, deer, hare and foxes with dogs (all of which are traditional pass-times in the UK though thankfully now banned at least in law) by chasing them for long distances often with the dogs operating a long way from their handlers is not appropriate in my opinion.

[Skyewolfe]

This is my humble opinion...hunting to use the animal for food, clothing, etc, is acceptable. However, hunting for trophy kills or just to say you killed something is wrong. An animal's life is as sacred as ours and part of the energy of the earth and of nature.

Look at how the eradication or near eradication of some species has impacted the web of life. In Yellowstone, the re-introduction of wolves has had far more impact than imagined. Originally, it was thought they would most impact the overgrown herds of elk. However, by keeping the elk on the move, the elk no longer overgraze an area which has allowed young trees to grow more which in turn has benefited the beaver which in turn has benefited fish and so on. Our thinking we know best where animals/wildlife are concerned has so often been wrong. I am purely amazed at how well thought out and integrated nature is. The goddess surely is wonderful.

[katie bridgewater]

This is my humble opinion...hunting to use the animal for food, clothing, etc, is acceptable.

Is it acceptable to hunt and eat / wear an endangered / special / rare / beautiful species? If not, how do you differentiate between what it is acceptable to eat and what it isn't?
A blanket statement like this can be used to justify making a nice warm snow leopard cloak, or eating traditional cod and chips regardless of the threat to these species.
Or do you mean it's ok for some 'tribespeople' to hunt in a traditional way but not urban people in wealthy countries. How do you square this with the fact that everyone comes from a traditional hunting culture, if not now, just a few generations back? And why should a hunting tradition only belong to a few ethnic minority people, as designated by urban wealthy politicians?

I don't think you can make a black and white judgement about what it is and isn't acceptable to hunt. Every kill must be considered for itself and the moment we make a catch-all rule, we fall into the trap of thinking some things are a 'right'.

[Skyewolfe]

This is my humble opinion...hunting to use the animal for food, clothing, etc, is acceptable.

Is it acceptable to hunt and eat / wear an endangered / special / rare / beautiful species? If not, how do you differentiate between what it is acceptable to eat and what it isn't?
A blanket statement like this can be used to justify making a nice warm snow leopard cloak, or eating traditional cod and chips regardless of the threat to these species.
Or do you mean it's ok for some 'tribespeople' to hunt in a traditional way but not urban people in wealthy countries. How do you square this with the fact that everyone comes from a traditional hunting culture, if not now, just a few generations back? And why should a hunting tradition only belong to a few ethnic minority people, as designated by urban wealthy politicians?

I don't think you can make a black and white judgement about what it is and isn't acceptable to hunt. Every kill must be considered for itself and the moment we make a catch-all rule, we fall into the trap of thinking some things are a 'right'.

Excellent points and I agree. I guess I did not write my thoughts as clearly as I should have given how angry I get from what I see as useless killing - that includes poaching, killing an animal just so someone can wear a cloak as you mentioned, or hanging a head on a wall. In this day and age, I see very little need to hunt and more need to be thoughtful about our land usage. Sorry to botch this conversation so badly.

[dreamguardian]

Gonna throw a spanner in the mix......

...... Anyone seen how other predators kill their prey? Nothing gentle or respectful in their acts. Rarely quick and pain free!

Birds of prey, for me are the most beautiful of creatures but brutal and deadly.

The epitome and paradox of life & death

[ShadowCat]

True Dreamguardian, but there's more to it.

Any predator will do the best he can, the quicker the kill, the less energy wasted and the more sure she will be of sustinance.

So, if we have the ability to only kill when we are sure of instant death and the luxury of not going hungry when we are unsuccessful because shops are filled with food anyway, then why not only aim to kill as cleanly, respectfully and quickly as possible.

[dreamguardian]

I wasn't being arragant and suggesting that we just kill any old how. But it can be easy to view nature as all lovely and Walt Disney but humans as somewhat nasty. I did say I'd throw a spanner in the works

I for one, as expressed in my posts earlier in this thread, I go for a swift and skilled dispatch.