Growing up around the wilderness as a hunter has taught me to appreciate the animals and land that we live in.
The concept of ethical hunting is that a person respects the animals being hunted. They also follow the law and behave in a respectful. Ethical hunters are aware of the wildlife and are familiar with the places that they hunt. This also includes understanding the wildlife and their habitat while treating them with respect. Behaving in the right manner is a large part of hunting ethically,” and due to many hunters straying from these protocols, a bad look has been cast on hunters as a whole” From the deer endangerment program.
Many hunters are able to hunt on private property but are still accountable for their behavior, meaning respecting and appreciating the rights of landowners and only hunting in the area where the owners want you to hunt. You should always respect the decision of the property owner, this includes leaving gates the way you found them, and not destroying property and other livestock. Some things that would be considered that are unethical would be killing more than their tag works for, destroying land or trespassing.
While hunting you should be able to observe and respect any other hunters that may be in the area, this includes not going after an animal that other hunters are already going after. Additionally, know where the hunters are at all times to ensure the safety of yourself and others to not get in their way or to have them in your line of fire. Respecting people also includes non-hunters in the area. You have the responsibility to uphold the image of hunting, every time you go out in camo and orange you are representing the hunting community. Not only are hunters there to respect the wildlife but to also respect other people, by doing this you are doing your part to continue the values of hunting.
It is the hunter’s responsibility to know what kind of hunting license and tag they have for whatever species they plan to hunt. Each state may have different rules for what you can kill, for instance in Colorado you may only kill a bull elk if it has more than three spikes. You should always know where the property line is that you are allowed to hunt, if you unintentionally trespass there are different fines depending on your location.
To ensure gun safety and knowledge a hunter should take time to practice at a shooting range throughout the year to avoid wounding the game or missing completely. Practicing not only significantly reduces wounding the game but also increases your confidence in your hunting skills. Know your limits, if you are only comfortable and confident shooting to a certain distance, do not take dangerous chances in shooting from a longer distance, this could harm both you and the animal. You should always take your time and wait for a clean shot of the animal, a true ethical sportsman makes the effort to cause the least amount of pain and suffering for the animal even if that means sacrificing not getting an animal at all. Another way to ensure gun saftey is to always maintain and keep your firearm clean so that it is able to function properly. The buildup of residue and moisture due to sweat or pour weather conditions can impact a weapon’s reliability. If you are a new hunter you should plan on going out for the first couple of times with a more experienced hunter to ensure that you do everything right.
Yes, hunting is legal but it does not mean that everything you do in the wilderness is ethical, you should always make sure to leave the area better than you found it. This includes picking up trash even if it is not yours, leaving the natural land as you found it and if you happen to walk up on another hunter or hikers make sure to have good interactions. By doing these things you are giving a good reputation to yourself and others as well as setting a good example for other hunters.
My experience as a hunter has grown my respect for the sport, everyone that does is, as well as the wildlife and the places that they live. It has allowed me to go where not many people have gone before and has given me an opportunity to learn and to teach others about it. I have learned to respect the people who do not encourage it but also those who are willing to experience it. To me, hunting is not all about the kill but also about the places that it takes me and also the community of people. Every year I have gone out with my dad and has given me experiences that I never would have had without hunting.
