Animal Bating
For most we think of hunting as tracking an animal down in order to kill it. For some this is the way they hunt, but for others they use unethical means to fill their tags. Animal baiting is a way to draw an animal towards the hunter; making the hunt significantly easier and less work. The problem with hunting with bait is it causes negative affects to the animal and the ecosystem. For example, bear bait is usually expired candy, donuts or other sweets that can be toxic to other animals. Wildlife such as coyotes, foxes, or hares may come across the bait leading to their demise instead of the bears. Also, as hunters are setting up their baiting sites they destroy habitats and introduce invasive plants (Humane Society).
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Canned Hunting
Imagine being placed in a restricted area, chased by mad men trying to kill you for fun. This experience of being trapped is felt by animals who are hunted by trophy hunters. Such hunts are referred to as 'canned hunts,' where an animal who is either native or brought in from somewhere else is hunted on private land (Peta). Often times these animals are bred in captivity for the sole purpose of being hunted (Schelling). Since the lions are raised around humans they lack their natural instincts to run away when confronted by a hunter. Especially if the lions were raised as cubs being petted by tourist. It causes the lions to become comfortable and playful around humans even while being hunted. Below is a video of lioness being canned hunted. This particular lioness did not run away nor did she attack her killers; instead she tried to play with them before being shot with an arrow.
Although the video has poor quality you can see the orange fencing that is holding the lioness within the area. Due to this enclosure, the hunter who fumbled with his weapon multiple times and even misfired an arrow, is able to secure the kill. All in all, canned hunting gives the animal no where to go, makes the hunt extremely easy for the hunter, and is a completely unethical way to hunt an animal.
The Suffering of the Animals
When hunting shooting the animal is only part of the process. There is the tracking and waiting leading up to the shot and then there is the tracking of the animal if it does not die immediately. In the video above the lioness' roars of pain can be heard as her body flails around in agony. And in one study 80 deer were collared, 22 were shot with a bow and arrow, but only 11 were actually recovered by the hunters; thus leaving 11 deer wounded and in pain until their inevitable death (Peta). So these precious animals are not only being hunted for the hell of it but are also enduing pain for a prolonged amount of time before their death. For example, Cecil the lion suffered for 10 to 12 hours before his death (More about Cecil). How ethical can pain and suffering for an animal be if its only for the hunters enjoyment and a trophy?