Poaching. - WritingForums.com - Writing Forums, Writing Challenges, Critiques and Help for Writers

Mermaid on the breakwater · 10-30-2007, 04:32 PM

Nothing makes my blood boil more than this. And I mean nothing. The poachers make me sick, and the demand for it makes me sick. Who else agrees?

Selorian · 10-30-2007, 05:12 PM

For this to be a good debate, the scope of the subject needs to be narrowed down. Poaching elephants for the sake of their ivory--bad. Poaching a deer to feed your family because you have no money and you don't want them to go hungry--wrong, but not so bad.

Olly Buckle · 10-31-2007, 04:52 AM

Nothing mermaid? Not gross sexual abuse, rape, genocide, terrorism, casual murder, bad grammar, nothing?

Mermaid on the breakwater · 10-31-2007, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olly Buckle

Nothing mermaid? Not gross sexual abuse, rape, genocide, terrorism, casual murder, bad grammar, nothing?

Nothing. I am talking about, people shooting lions for the sake of it and slaughtering elephants for ivory. Killing gorillas for their hand or whatever else. Killing tigers and hunting bears. It's all sicker than sick.

Baron · 10-31-2007, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mermaid on the breakwater

Nothing. I am talking about, people shooting lions for the sake of it and slaughtering elephants for ivory. Killing gorillas for their hand or whatever else. Killing tigers and hunting bears. It's all sicker than sick.

Perhaps you should have been more specific in th OP. What came into my mind when I read it was the guy who snatches the odd brace of pheasants or hunts rabbits on country estates. On this I have mixed feelings, if it's a case of doing it for profit I'm against it, if it's for food, to eke out a low budget, I would turn a blind eye.

As for big game hunting, I really see no justification for it. The best way to shoot big game is with a camera.

valeca · 10-31-2007, 07:52 AM

I could be wrong, Baron, but by 'big game', I believe you meant lions, tigers and bears (oh my). Was I right? I ask because 'big game' also refers to deer, elk, moose, etc., which would tie back into your low-budget point.

Again, I could be wrong, but I think what the debate about poaching centers around is 'Trophy hunting'.

It does seem clarification and terminology will play a big part here.

Baron · 10-31-2007, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valeca

I could be wrong, Baron, but by 'big game', I believe you meant lions, tigers and bears (oh my). Was I right? I ask because 'big game' also refers to deer, elk, moose, etc., which would tie back into your low-budget point.

Again, I could be wrong, but I think what the debate about poaching centers around is 'Trophy hunting'.

It does seem clarification and terminology will play a big part here.

Yes, you are right, and I think that MotB has clarified that to some degree.

Writer Kitten · 10-31-2007, 09:29 AM

I've poached before. Deer, rabbit, coon, groundhog, squirrel. I would do it again. Without even blinking.

Why? Because that's meat on my table and I have kids to feed and at one time, the only way we had meat on the table was if I, or my brother --when I was living with him -- went 'poaching'.

The game warden knew it. Hell, he helped me gut a deer after I'd twisted my ankle. Did he do anything? No. Because he knew that hauling me in would just add another trouble to a completely rotten situation, and that I only did it so my kids didn't go hungry. Did he admonish me to stop and warn me if he caught me again that he'd haul me in then? Yeah. He has a job to keep after all.

... He never caught me again after that.

Mermaid on the breakwater · 10-31-2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Writer Kitten

I've poached before. Deer, rabbit, coon, groundhog, squirrel. I would do it again. Without even blinking.

Why? Because that's meat on my table and I have kids to feed and at one time, the only way we had meat on the table was if I, or my brother --when I was living with him -- went 'poaching'.

The game warden knew it. Hell, he helped me gut a deer after I'd twisted my ankle. Did he do anything? No. Because he knew that hauling me in would just add another trouble to a completely rotten situation, and that I only did it so my kids didn't go hungry. Did he admonish me to stop and warn me if he caught me again that he'd haul me in then? Yeah. He has a job to keep after all.

... He never caught me again after that.

Talking about the mass slaughter of endangered species for financial gain really. Although your comments are worthy.

Thoth · 10-31-2007, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mermaid on the breakwater

Nothing makes my blood boil more than this. And I mean nothing. The poachers make me sick, and the demand for it makes me sick. Who else agrees?

well....kinda. I understand that poaching refers to killing animals threatened with extinction.

hunting populations that are not in danger is ok. Hunting endangered species is wrong, morally and legally.
My ancestors are American Indian and I must say, when I hear about hunters killing deer or bear just for fun, I want to hunt them down and put their heads over a fireplace. Hunters today seem to be drunk fools who should not allowed firearms.

Susie's Mom · 10-31-2007, 01:57 PM

Even worse, is someone who poaches "baited" animals. Last year, we put out ear corn for the rabbits and wild turkeys. One month before rabbit season began, a neighbor started shooting them. By the time season came in, they were all gone. Same with the squirrels. After seeing groups of a dozen wild turkeys as the norm, this year we haven't seen any. And these are not people who can't afford to buy food. The law is the law. None of us is above it. If you can't feed your family, go to a food pantry.

Mermaid on the breakwater · 10-31-2007, 02:14 PM

well said, Susie's mom. I have an air rifle and go out and shoot the rabbits with myxomatosis. Never take a shot at a healthy rabbit though. Just never wanted to.

Futhark · 10-31-2007, 03:24 PM

Though this doesn't really fall in line with the endangered species line of thought, I do want to make a general comment about the topic. I've had a great deal of trouble with poachers on my land. (I use my farm as somewhat of a game preserve, since every other person in the state likes to shoot at anything that moves.) Over the years, I've caught quite a few people trespassing, and nearly all of them were there to hunt. A couple guys even set up camp for the night. (Didn't catch them, though, but I found the still-smoldering fire pit the next day.) And yes, the borders to my property are posted. At about every fifteen feet.

Now, I can see Writer Kitten's point about putting food on the table, but I just can't see why it's so much trouble to ask before you sent bullets whizzing over my house. Personally, I have no problem with hunting for food. What I do have a problem with is people coming onto my land, and potentially threatening my life because they're either too drunk or too stupid to make sure the thing they're shooting at is a deer and not a person. It just pisses me off to no end that I have to wear orange if I walk out my door, even though the closest land to my house that's not my property is about a quarter- to half-mile away on every side (not to mention I live in a valley, so there is no line-of-sight to anyone else's land at all).

Okay, I'm gonna stop my rant now. Just couldn't resits throwing in my two cents.

Clarification: I'm not anti-gun. I own five guns, and I love them all. I am, however, anti-idiot. Even more anti-idiot-with-gun.

CroZ · 10-31-2007, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Nothing. I am talking about, people shooting lions for the sake of it

In some countries cats are like rats. So lions would be the equivalent of giant rats. If a giant rat was hanging around your kid's school route what would you have done?

Baron · 10-31-2007, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Futhark

Though this doesn't really fall in line with the endangered species line of thought, I do want to make a general comment about the topic. I've had a great deal of trouble with poachers on my land. (I use my farm as somewhat of a game preserve, since every other person in the state likes to shoot at anything that moves.) Over the years, I've caught quite a few people trespassing, and nearly all of them were there to hunt. A couple guys even set up camp for the night. (Didn't catch them, though, but I found the still-smoldering fire pit the next day.) And yes, the borders to my property are posted. At about every fifteen feet.

Now, I can see Writer Kitten's point about putting food on the table, but I just can't see why it's so much trouble to ask before you sent bullets whizzing over my house. Personally, I have no problem with hunting for food. What I do have a problem with is people coming onto my land, and potentially threatening my life because they're either too drunk or too stupid to make sure the thing they're shooting at is a deer and not a person. It just pisses me off to no end that I have to wear orange if I walk out my door, even though the closest land to my house that's not my property is about a quarter- to half-mile away on every side (not to mention I live in a valley, so there is no line-of-sight to anyone else's land at all).

Okay, I'm gonna stop my rant now. Just couldn't resits throwing in my two cents.

Clarification: I'm not anti-gun. I own five guns, and I love them all. I am, however, anti-idiot. Even more anti-idiot-with-gun.

Most land owners ha I know will give shooting rights to people who apply and who have a license for their gun. In many cases it's helpful in controlling pests such as rabbits. Anyone abusing the rights will have them withdrawn.