I grew up in the mid-west; where a hunter learned to track his prey, and hunting meant taking a sandwitch, some ammo and warm clothes for a long walk. Getting a deer, pheasant, duck or rabbit meant food for the table. And as a person who worked his way through college to get my engineering degree; every single one of those animals were served and eaten. My culinary skills were not what they are now; so I ate some pretty lousy meals ... but my prey was not wasted on a chunk of plywood and my ego. My prey fed me.
Now, I love Texas; but most texans do not have a clue what hunting is. First off, using a feeder in any way, shape or form is held in utter contempt by a 'real' hunter. Hunting from a truck is the second lowest form of hunting; the third is raising the animal in a reserve with 7 foot fences.
What sport is there in training an animal to go to a spot for food, then shooting it some random time it shows up for a meal? What chance does an animal have on foot, with a 250 hp all terrain vehicle chasing after it, in a confined area? Trucks don't get tired, the prey is boxed in with no means of escape. A wounded, terrified prey who knows full well that they have no chance of survival (and they do know) yet, will still try to get away.
This makes this type of 'hunter' little more than a sadist, in my book.
As far as the online hunting, it was originally concieved to be used by disabled, wheel chair bound people.
It is not a very good idea, but was not meant for the healthy, able to walk, hunter to use. Of course something like this will always be abused by idiots. Good idea to shut it down.
"This makes this type of 'hunter' little more than a sadist, in my book."
As a lifelong hunter I agree with you completely.
In the eyes of non-hunters, this sadistic practice reinforces their stereotypical view of what hunting is: Killing for the fun of it.
Many non hunters believe that Bambi is just sitting in the woods waiting for you and that you just have a few beers, walk straight into the woods and shoot her.
As hunters you and I know that it's not about killing, but this whole sick business really hurts the image of hunting.
Disgusting!
I wouldn't call any one involved hunters either. Sadist is a bit farther than I would go. A guide is an entrepenuer. A game farm is just that a farm. The guy that plunks down a big chunk of change is some one who never learned to really hunt and probably doesn't have the time or land access to learn, but is interested in firearms and wants a thrill. A landowner who puts out a feeder for his own shooting probably is just looking to put meat in the freezer. I wouldn't call any of it hunting, but I have no ill feelings toward any of them.
How is this situation any different than buying steak at a store?
Essentially all the folks on this site are paying for is the right to see the meat or trophy they order killed. Sure, it may seem twisted to you, but to the folks who want hunting banned, YOU seem twisted.
You're falling right into the holier-than-thou trap the left wants you to. If they can ban this type of hunting, then they can ban ANY type of hunting.