Recreational Hunting Ethical Issues

Introduction:

Recreational hunting is a legally practiced activity in all states of Australia, and is defined as pursuit and kill of animals for food or fun (Britannica Dictionary 2017). However, this definition does not encompass other established motivations such as conservation and pest management (Finch et al. 2014). Hunting has been a part of the Australian culture since pre-history, and in present times, was necessary for survival (Bengsen 2016; Finch et al. 2014). The perceived need to seek and kill food for oneself is commonly perceived as outdated and unnecessary largely due to the convenience of supermarkets and butchers (Dizard 1999), while the realities of meat production go unnoticed. As Vining, Merrick & Price (2008) note, consumers don’t associate the meat they buy from supermarkets or butchers with death, however, the same can’t be said for recreational hunters who source their own meat.

For recreational hunters, their participation is this activity is a union with the natural world, offering “an opportunity to live less by our intellect and more by our senses” (Franklin 2007, p. 37). Recreational hunters are careful to distinguish their activities from trophy hunters, who according to Gunn (2011, p. 74-75), kill “purely for the sake of acquiring prestigious evidence that they have killed an animal”. Emma Sears, a female hunter, says that recreational hunting to her is the “…the challenge” whether it be against the wind, other elements or the wild animal and that “it’s not all about the kill” (Webber 2016). Through these words, we can begin to understand that recreational hunting is more than just the practice of