Canned Hunting

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An African Proverb once said, “Until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter.” The same goes for several other wild species around the world being hunted on enclosed ranches. Unless more people are informed about hunting on enclosed ranches it may easily be misinterpreted. Some may think the concept of a wild animal ranch is just a piece of private land with large animals that graze on it, when in fact that is wrong. This practice of hunting, otherwise known as a “canned hunt”, is one in which the animal is pin raised and then hunted on an enclosed ranch. “[T] he odds have been artificially manipulated against the animal so heavily that the notion of fair chase is subverted.” (“Canned and Internet”). If people understood the concept of a “canned hunt” there would be more laws preventing it.
The first countries to open enclosed animal ranches were Asia and Africa. When these ranches were first introduced to the United States of America Texas quickly started adapting them. Texas still continues to have one of the highest numbers of wild animal farms in the USA. Certain laws have been put in place to prevent hunting on enclosed ranches to make it illegal in twenty-two states. (“Canned Hunting”). These ranches argue that because the ranch provides guides, and a chance to shoot a record class animal for the hunter it is an ethical practice. Other organizations like The Born Free Foundation believe that it takes away from the traditional meaning of hunting, and closing animals within a range is not safe. These groups, along with many others, provide information on how hunting on an enclosed animal farm is not ethical.
Enclosed hunting ranches will most likely include guides, who...

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...the animal a fair chance of escaping. Without the open land, hunting is no longer a sport. It is similar to cheating in a game. Every odd is being manipulated in order for someone to take home a prize. The African Proverb had a point in stating, “Until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter.” Until a person knows the true story behind a hunt they should not deem it ethical.

Works Cited

“Canned and Internet Hunting Are Ethically Wrong.” Hunting. City: Publishing, 2008. Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.
“Canned Hunting in the United States." Born Free USA, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2013.
DeMello, Margo. Animals and Society: An Introduction to Human-animal Studies. New York: Columbia UP, 2012. Print.
“Disease raises concerns about animal farms in Iowa.” Thegazette.com. Gazette, 21 Sept. 2012. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

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