[missyme]

No I never lived on a ranch and of course I have leather what I am trying to say is that hunting for sport serves what purpose? is it like a game of golf? going to a horse race? What purposes does having heads of Deers, Bears, Cougars and Marlins on your wall other than vanity I am sure this is a "Guy" thing but it is a sport that most can live without...

[shaggy eel]

it is a sport that most can live without...

,,, six billion souls on the planet and you get to be the judge?

[CSM]

"what I am trying to say is that hunting for sport serves what purpose?"

Ever hear of father son bonding? Or would you prefer that your children never really bond with their father? If you have never hunted with your dad, then you have no idea of the bond that can occur while hunting or fishing!

[microgood]

No I never lived on a ranch and of course I have leather what I am trying to say is that hunting for sport serves what purpose? is it like a game of golf? going to a horse race? What purposes does having heads of Deers, Bears, Cougars and Marlins on your wall other than vanity I am sure this is a "Guy" thing but it is a sport that most can live without...

The purpose of hunting is to keep the wildlife populations stable and healthy. For example, in the Yellowstone region the elk population is closely watched because if there are too many elk they destroy their ecosystem. They can tell when there are too many elk in many ways, but one good way is to watch a certain disease they get in their mouth when they eat branches that are too big and devoid of nutrition, signifying not enough food. If left on their own, they would eventually get this disease in large populations. Because man is here, we must manage the size of herds to keep them and their ecosystem healthy, otherwise both suffer. You can do this through hunting, where the state actually makes money which can be used to support these programs, or outlaw hunting and have the state do it at a cost to taxpayers. But is has to be done, one way or another.

[Rytwyng]

I am sure this is a "Guy" thing but it is a sport that most can live without...

Do I detect a bit of anti-male hostility here?

Maybe we should outlaw shopping, and institute strict credit card control... and nobody needs to tear apart mother earth so women can wear shiny rocks on their fingers... maybe clothes shopping and jewelry and perfume and cosmetics and ridiculous credit card debts are "Girl Things" but we could all live without them.

How does it feel when it's the other way around?

[cavtrooper21]

I hunt because I enjoy it... I get to do something that is satisfying to me as a person. I work hard at being the best hunter that I can. I recently started practicing with a bow so I can bow hunt some day. I did this to increase the challenge. I also like venison, which I can't get it in stores and if it was sold in stores it would have the same issues that "store-bought" and "farm-raised" meats do now. I do not "trophy hunt" and I don't approve of "canned hunts".
You need to get a clue or remove your little self to DU.
BTW, in case you should decide to wip out the "defenseless animal" issue, and say that I would have a different attitude if my prey hunted me back... I've been there. At the time my "prey" was two-legged and armed at least as well as I was. I came home.

[crude77]

What purpose does it serve?

Well, for me it supplements the food the food that I am able to put on my table. Wild game is much better for you than beef by the way. It also provides many, many hours of companionship and common purpose between my father, my self, and my son.

As for the "heads on the wall". I have been hunting for a little over 30 years and have taken 21 deer (that's probably on the low side in comparison to others on this forum). To date I have put 8 racks up on the wall. Not because I don't enjoy having them up there, I do, but it is not the most important thing. Now that it's on my mind though I think I will try to get a couple more up on the wall this weekend.

[arm958]

What purposes does having heads of Deers, Bears, Cougars and Marlins on your wall other than vanity I am sure this is a "Guy" thing but it is a sport that most can live without...

I'll tell you one great thing about hunting: It ensures that millions of American men have sniper-capable firearms in their possession and that they know how to use them. I sleep better at night knowing that.

[Terriergal]

I am sure this is a "Guy" thing

I'm not.

It's a sense of accomplishment.

Try to get one worth mounting. See how easy it is.

[.38sw]

I am sure this is a "Guy" thing but it is a sport that most can live without...

Nope, not a guy thing. The NRA (National Rifle Association) has a "Women on Target" program. Many of their activities within this program are organized hunts for women. They are well-attended. I don't think that California has "rejected sport hunting", as I think you said in another post. There are plenty of people in California who hunt and fish.