Should Hunting Animals Be Outlawed?

James Mayden

MGMT 621

Professor Swim

10/31/2018

Should Hunting Animals Be Outlawed?

Endangered species protection has been considered a universal agreement all over the world. However, many people consider hunting thriving wildlife a controversy. Animal rights activists object to hunting animals and proclaim that hunting is immoral and unfair to animals because hunters use weapons such as bows or guns to kill them cruelly. On the other hand, hunting advocates declare that hunting is instinctually human nature and people should be allowed to hunt specific animals with the right legal ramifications. Personally, I support the right to hunt animals as long as it fulfills a basic living need such as for food or clothing. I also believe in the right to hunt animals to keep the ecosystem balanced from animal surplus.

Hunters and anti-hunters struggle to discuss the problem because the purposes and ideas are not thoroughly classified or distinguished clearly. Ideally, pro-hunters can be separated and identified by two categories: sustenance hunters or trophy hunters. (Causey, 1989) Sustenance hunters trail and stalk their prey in order to sustain their everyday standard of life such as the Indians or Inuit. (Sandel, 2012) Trophy hunting is identified as, “Sport hunters who take immense pleasure in the hunt itself and who kill in order to have had an authentic hunting experience” (Causey, 1989) This means the hunters are essentially killing animals not for their daily needs. I do not agree with this style of hunting because I believe it leads to an unhealthy outlook of the value animals provide.

In a separate argument Causey also mentions that, “Sports hunting apologists protest that sports hunting cannot be classified as immoral activities simply because there are standard rules accepted by hunters that support ethical judgments about hunting.” (Causey, 1989) Another environmentalist by the name of Charles List, claims that, “Sports hunting is ethical and moral under these standard rules because hunters are required to enter an unfamiliar environment that is not human controlled.” (List 2004) He also credits the hunters’ abilities such as courage, tenacity, discipline, and moderation as a sign of great respect to primitive values.

Controversies not only exist within the intent of hunting, but also in the trafficking of animals. Anti-hunting organizations believe that people should not have the rights to sell opportunities to hunt. In a publication written by Rosen and Smith, it states, “open hunt permission could cause illegal wildlife trading (from poachers) which include the trading of wildlife and animal products such as ivories, tiger skins, and live reptiles. (Rosen and Smith, 2010) Poachers are often considered to be a type of trophy hunter. These hunters illegally trap and kill animals to sell their body parts for monetary value. This type of hunting is immoral and is just as unethical as the lawful trophy hunter that kills prey for pleasure. I genuinely believe this type of hunting could enable a problematic impact on all forms of wildlife.