EDITOR:

I am writing in response to the recent letter from Diana Peach which expressed her opposition to hunting. Although I personally haven’t hunted deer, I have hunted ruffed grouse and many of my friends and family hunt deer and other wild game. There are many aspects of hunting that non-hunters may not have considered.

According to scientists who study animal behavior, intelligence and brain function, animals such as wild game animals don’t experience pain in the same way that humans or other primates do because they don’t have the same type of self-awareness. Their fear is not the same type of fear that we would experience, but is more rooted in instincts. Because animals have been depicted in movies and other forms of entertainment as having human emotions, some people feel sorry for animals that are hunted and killed. In reality, animals in the wild typically die from disease, weakness due to age, starvation or predation. There is no Hospice team that takes care of wild animals at the end of their lives. They die what we might view as a painful and sometimes violent death as a normal part of their life. Being killed by a bullet or arrow may well induce less actual suffering than a natural death. That’s not to say that humans, therefore, have a right to inflict undue pain on animals. Humane treatment of animals is of the utmost importance to every single hunter that I know. Eating an animal that a person kills is a privilege and so becomes a very meaningful and important part of hunting. Game meat is typically very healthy and sharing it with family and friends becomes a celebration of the hunting experience.

The culture of hunting is an excellent way for family members to have fun and make memories together in the outdoors. Hunting brings different generations together in a way that should be encouraged. Hunters have a personal stake in maintaining a healthy environment for animals and people and often have the most realistic understanding of how to achieve a healthy ecosystem. The sense of self-reliance and confidence that comes from spending time outdoors and hunting is a great way for people to deal with the stress of modern living. Learning gun safety and spending time on target practice teaches people self awareness, self control and gives people a practical understanding of the substantial dangers that guns can pose.

In summary, hunting has many benefits that a non-hunter may not be aware of. People who have not experienced hunters and hunting culture in real life are easily influenced by anti-hunting groups who purposely and incorrectly portray hunters in a very negative light. I’m happy to live in an area where hunting is a great tradition for many families.

Lisa Thomas

Gladstone