Animal you wouldn't hunt

[Hank2211]

I really hate hunting female animals. That was just how I was raised.

I was raised the same way, and I expect most North Americans of my generation (old bu not that old) were raised the same way.

But let me suggest something here. We expect antis and animal rights types too get past their emotions and focus on the science. And rightfully so.

Well, science has made it pretty clear that there are times when it makes sense to take females instead of males. Take deer in North America. We are so squeamish we call female deer "antlerless deer," and we have seasons on them in an effort to keep excessive populations down. I have heard (but can't prove) that in some jurisdictions, if you want a male tag, you need to take a female first. In Africa, we always used to look for the stallion in any zebra herd, and take him out. Well, science is showing that that may not be the best long term strategy, and that it is often better to take out a female. When taking animals for bait, should we take trophy animals, or young males, which haven't had a chance to pass on their genes? Likely not.

My point, with the greatest of respect, is that we, too, have to get past our emotions when it comes to the decisions we make in terms of hunting. Or stop being critical of others for making their decisions based on emotion.

An animal is an animal is an animal.

 

[Desert Dog]

What I will not kill is just a matter of personal boundaries I set upon myself to put my own conscience at ease; I do not judge others or ridicule their own personal set of hunting morals as long as they follow the law.

I grew up with a grandfather who taught me how to hunt and fish. He grew up in a quasi-native American household, where he learned to hunt and fish. One constant philosophy that my grandfather always instilled in me was not letting a kill go to waste. If my kill provides food, clothing, bait, safety, predator control, or some positive impact on managing the species, I have no reservations about taking that animals life. Some hunters and anglers are willing to take the life of a beautiful creature just for a picture to post on the internet, but I am not among those.

On Northern bear hunts, they are always trying to sell you wolf tags as an added species. For some odd reason, I just can't kill em. I know it is predator control, but they look too much like my German Shepherd!

BTW, ostrich meat is EXCELLENT!!!! Far better quality than chicken or turkey.

 

[Nyati]

No cats !

Unless they are problem animals, or they try to hunt me.

Just my own thing, no problems if others do it.

 

[Pondoro]

I respect peoples choices here, as I hope you respect mine......but I would like to know the reason(s) for not wanting to hunt elephant...?

As a hunter who is hooked on hunting them.....please share your thoughts...?

 

[thriller]

As far as species goes there is nothing that I will not consider hunting. The only animals I will not "hunt/shoot" are those that I will not be used for meat or another purpose. I view waste as the only thing that can be wrong in this sport and should be avoided at all costs, and the only reason not to hunt a species or animal.

 

[Dragan N.]

I don't want to shoot a female that is nursing young. I think that would be the biggest issue for me.

I do have to shoot a cow now and then, sometimes just to euthanize. And it is damned hard to butcher them for meat when they are still alive! (See the lobster post). And I can tell you with certainty there is no resemblance between a cape buffalo and a cow other than a faint similarity in the odor, but it is different.

Zebra as a horse? Damned good reason to shoot them! I well remember a couple very ornery horses I've had negative experience with

As for baboons, first trip to Africa I thought no way would I ever want to shoot a primate. Well after being there a day and a half, I decided every stinking howling damned baboon needs to die!

Bob,
When you say you wouldn't want to shoot a female that's nursing young, is that due to conservation reasons- ie its very bad for an animal population to be shooting females with young or is it more ethical/moral you don't want to kill a mother and her young?

Would you have any qualms about shooting a female coyote that's nursing? I use a coyote as an example because in many parts of NA they are really overpopulated and considered a pest, which I'm sure you are well aware because you are a farmer if memory serves me right? Also some areas don't have bag limits or closed season for them.

Also if you want to reduce the population of a pest such as a coyote the animals that is best to go after is nursing females and their young. That has the biggest impact on reducing the population.

 

[sestoppelman]

I had the opportunity to shoot a giraffe in Zim last time I was there, for FREE, but I passed. Just to me the ultimate iconic African animal and one I have never had any desire to shoot, though as mentioned earlier I don't have a problem with others who feel differently. Same with Elephant. I probably will never hunt them, just no real interest, but at the same time realize the value of shooting some to pay for the others. Same with Cheetah. On my first safari, dik dik was part of my package and I passed on them too, mostly because I only had a .375 and it just didn't seem right.

 

[ActionBob]

Bob,
When you say you wouldn't want to shoot a female that's nursing young, is that due to conservation reasons- ie its very bad for an animal population to be shooting females with young or is it more ethical/moral you don't want to kill a mother and her young?

Would you have any qualms about shooting a female coyote that's nursing? I use a coyote as an example because in many parts of NA they are really overpopulated and considered a pest, which I'm sure you are well aware because you are a farmer if memory serves me right? Also some areas don't have bag limits or closed season for them.

Also if you want to reduce the population of a pest such as a coyote the animals that is best to go after is nursing females and their young. That has the biggest impact on reducing the population.

I was thinking more of zebra and bears, stuff that can be sometimes difficult to differentiate between males and females without time for a good look.

As for critters like coyotes, yes I understand and and would, but it would bother me to know the young are suffering and starving. I do prefer to dispatch anything more quickly and mercifully. But that would not stop me from shooting if the need arrose... In that case, if I found the den, I would prefer to deal with the young as well rather than just ignor them. But I would be practical as well.

 

[ActionBob]

On my first safari, dik dik was part of my package and I passed on them too, mostly because I only had a .375 and it just didn't seem right.

Now that is blasphemy! You should know a 375 is perfect for everything in Africa..... Just have to use solids on some of the littlest, and biggest critters

 

[matt85]

i put no species of animal above or below any other, ill hunt and kill anything i am legally allowed to kill (assuming i can afford it). in fact the more i admire an animal, the more i want to hunt them. example: i love warthogs and would love to own one as a pet if i could ever get my hands on a young animal but on that same note i LOVE hunting them and have no issue killing them. i place no distinction between "domestic" animals and "prey" animals outside of individuals (one dog can be a pet and another dog can be prey).

i respect others wishes not to hunt certain animals as long as they don't try to stop me from hunting those animals.

-matt

 

[Hogpatrol]

I wouldn't hunt the ones in my backyard. I'd get too much flack from the spouse.

 

[LivingTheDream]

Interesting Mike, so what I'm assuming is if you wake up while on safari just about anything you come across could be in mortal trouble! . I found gemsbuck to be a worthy adversary, not sure if the reason being the one I shoot was free range in Namibia.

Yeah it all depends how the mood strikes me. I mean if we are riding along and there are one to ten broken horned gemsbuck and the PH goes we need to thin the herd, then I am definitely your guy. Johnny, you had an amazing hunt! I am not knocking them as adversary, just the wallet is only so big and there are so many animals.

I think the big thing is as hunters we all have our thing. In my 20s there was nothing better then squirrel hunting. Nkw bow hunting deer is my addiction...and Africa is looking like it will be mistress for years to come. The point being as long as people are hunting legally, I support them!

 

[johnnyblues]

Yeah it all depends how the mood strikes me. I mean if we are riding along and there are one to ten broken horned gemsbuck and the PH goes we need to thin the herd, then I am definitely your guy. Johnny, you had an amazing hunt! I am not knocking them as adversary, just the wallet is only so big and there are so many animals.

I think the big thing is as hunters we all have our thing. In my 20s there was nothing better then squirrel hunting. Nkw bow hunting deer is my addiction...and Africa is looking like it will be mistress for years to come. The point being as long as people are hunting legally, I support them!

I hear ya brother. And please don't misunderstand I agree with you as long as folks are out there hunting legally and ethically. Africa had always been a dream for me. I hope God allows me to do it again in the near future. You hold on to that dream my friend. You will get there !

 

[LivingTheDream]

I hear ya brother. And please don't misunderstand I agree with you as long as folks are out there hunting legally and ethically. Africa had always been a dream for me. I hope God allows me to do it again in the near future. You hold on to that dream my friend. You will get there !

I want you to get back to Africa soon!!! For 14 days I was glued to the phone or computer waiting for hunt updates! That was better that any movie or TV series, I kept running the time zone difference thinking there should be an update soon, haha.

 

[johnnyblues]

I want you to get back to Africa soon!!! For 14 days I was glued to the phone or computer waiting for hunt updates! That was better that any movie or TV series, I kept running the time zone difference thinking there should be an update soon, haha.

Thanks my friend. I couldn't wait to post my updates. I felt an obligation to get it posted asap as I knew a lot of you were rooting me on. Still humbles me when I think about it.

 

[tarbe]

Still trying to come up with something...........

 

[BRICKBURN]

Still trying to come up with something...........

Keep searching. Someday you may find it.

 

[billrquimby]

Before my first trip to Zimbabwe in 1983 I thought I would never want to shoot zebra, elephant or baboon. After a bunch of mock charges in my first week in the Matetsi, I removed elephant from that list. I regret never having the opportunity to get even with one of those horrific six-ton rattlesnakes!

Three or four safaris later, I changed my mind about zebra. Where they are hunted often, they can be as wary as any African game animal (and more wary than many), so I shot one.

However, after close to two dozen hunts in five African countries, I still have not changed my mind about primates. I have no problem if others kill baboons and monkeys, but I will not.

Bill Quimby

 

[dory]

koala
panda
orangutang

Relatives of yours are they ???

 

[dory]

Must have gone to the same school as Tarbe !
Ive hunted for a living and you soon learn to put emotions aside .
Ill hunt anything if there is a reason to .