Alberta: Stop playing games, go out and hunt
by Kyle Orland 
{ Sep 25th 2007 at 11:00AM }
While you sit around the couch plowing through Halo 3 today, the Canadian province of Alberta would like to remind you that there are other, more worthwhile pursuits than shooting virtual creatures. Like shooting real creatures, for instance!Alberta declared Sept. 22 "Hunting Day" to promote the province's hunting heritage and reverse declining interest in hunting among the populace. That's all well and good, but what got us was Alberta Minister of Sustainable Resource Development Ted Morton's assertion, reprinted in a Reuters story, that "hunting is more fun (than video games) and a lot healthier."
More fun? While crouching in the bushes covered in mud for hours waiting for that perfect shot to come along might be some people's idea of fun, we haven't seen many people lining up at midnight launch events for new hunting gear. As for health, while hunting might be very beneficial for the hunter, it's decidedly less healthy for the prey being shot.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Sep 25th 2007 11:06AM
Healthier?,yeah tell that to Harry Whittington.
No thanks I don't like to kill animals for fun also I like more fishing.
Grant @ Sep 25th 2007 3:59PM
Killing stupid defenseless animals is for pussies.
Hunters should be proud for shooting something grazing in a field, and i have to agree not much fun. I have nailed a few just driving home late at night, and see deer carcass littered on the side of the highway every few weeks, quite elusive and challenging creatures huh?
Real men hunt each other.
or if you really feel the need to stalk something oblivious and just trying to live their life, I'm sure your ex-girlfriend hasn't noticed your car parked outside her house in the past few days, while you pretend to be invisible in your camo. Go and keep that up.
blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Sep 25th 2007 10:16PM
grant, did you ever see Hard Target? good movie
Kris M @ Sep 25th 2007 11:14AM
Ha! Ted Morton actually ran for Premier of Alberta last December. Can only imagine what holidays he'd have come up with were he in charge.
Check out the campaign theme song he used... :P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFoJGa439j4
GamerCrusader @ Sep 25th 2007 11:16AM
Being an Albertan, I can see the truth in this. I find nothing wrong with hunting for sport, so long as it is a species that is in no hope of dying out (Such as the marmot population). And from experience, yes, its healthier for you, mostly because you ARE getting fresh air, which you don't often get while spending all your time in the city. Sometimes its nice to go outdoors for a while, even if you don't bag anything all day. Just go do some target practice if you don't like the idea of shooting a live creature, just don't judge those who do, its culture as they say.
Tiago @ Sep 25th 2007 11:35AM
Slavery used to be a culture thing too.
Didn't make slave owners any less despicable.
Same goes for you "cultured" people taking lives for fun.
blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Sep 25th 2007 11:39AM
what the fuck? hunting is in no way related to slavery. people used to hunt to have food to eat.
jesus, direct your misplaced rage somewhere else. maybe at your father?
Tiago @ Sep 25th 2007 11:47AM
Not saying it's related.
It was just an extreme example that the "it's a culture thing" is a bullshit excuse with no weight at all.
Psaakyrn @ Sep 25th 2007 12:02PM
You know, humans are nowhere near dying out, but murder is illegal...
Then again, I guess that's what wars are for.
Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Sep 25th 2007 12:06PM
I agree with Blooh, Hunting was necessary for the survival of the human species so that commentary was totally uncalled.I respect your position towards hunting as a sport,I also think it’s wrong.
Well the reason why I don’t like hunting is that I’m killing an animal just because I can not as a must or a necessity, really I don’t need to eat a deer or the fur of a deer In fact I don’t need anything from that dear and having his head on the wall is just plain creepy basically the era of hunting has come to an end,the problem now is the distribution of resources but that’s off topic.
Also have you seen the weapons some freaks use to hunt?, night vision, stealth devices, sniper rifles etc for *uck sake are you going to a war does the damn Bear has some sort of Rocket Launcher or something? Just check the History channel or the gun channel from time to time.
If you really want to shoot at something in real life try paintball, all the exciting of run and gun without being tormented by your actions (In case you have a conscience) yet it hurts like you don’t have idea “My eyes! The goggles do nothing!”
Synner @ Sep 25th 2007 12:45PM
Paintball is fun, but God those things hurt. Quick Tip, not a good winter sport, the little bastards freeze and hurt about 10 times worse.
The thing is, why wou;d not being tormented by hunting mean you have no conscience? Animals aren't people or anything, and you've said yourself you like to fish.
Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Sep 25th 2007 12:57PM
I meant more like men hunting since paintball is about shooting people, that’s why I mentioned torment.
But thinking about yeah I will feel pretty bad after killing an animal that didn't do s*it to me I mean a wolf or an angry bear well it was self defense, Bears can kill people but Bambi’s Mom nah I couldn’t do it.
Also I meant fishing but not like capture them so I can eat them since most of the fishes in lakes don’t have a really good flavor and there are too skinny(plus the preparation for what I hear is a b*tch), I just like to hold them take a picture and let them go.
blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Sep 25th 2007 11:24AM
my dad used to hunt, it was cool. and his dad used to hunt, but that was for actual dinner food
tcc3 @ Sep 25th 2007 11:30AM
(sarcasm)
Hunting teaches kids how to kill.
(/sarcasm)
OnimushaSoki @ Sep 25th 2007 11:37AM
Mind you, I've got nothing against guns or hunting... but isn't this a confusing message to send to people(namely kids)? The tirade against video game violence has been going out since who-knows-when... and yet now it's a promotion to go use those well-practiced hand & eye coordination skills in those gun games in real life.
Shy of booze's inebriating efforts("ah cha cha cha, delicious"), I'm usually playing videogames to dip out of reality into a no-consequence scenario. And no one gets hurt... but the family/friends I opt to avoid anyway. :D
Anyhow, to wrap this up... I'll end with an open inquiry:
When you've got Bambi in your sights, can you call'em a homosexual expletive or yell "boom, headshot" without being booted from the forest?
thenino85 @ Sep 25th 2007 11:43AM
In before the self-righteous hypocrites.
Oh wait, sorry, my bad.
ZR @ Sep 25th 2007 11:46AM
"..we haven't seen many people lining up at midnight launch events for new hunting gear."
That's because, not surprisingly, hunters aren't that pathetic.
Mr Khan @ Sep 25th 2007 6:22PM
They've got their own devoted factions too, hunting has just as strong of a subculture as gaming
matt @ Sep 25th 2007 11:46AM
Man I agree, games are just to violent anyways. Why don't we just go blow a chickens head off instead. If we keep gaming then we might get the idea that it's alright to kill things for fun.
SYN @ Sep 25th 2007 11:52AM
extreme hunting sucks, the sequel was good, but buck hunter is where its at.
SYN @ Sep 25th 2007 11:53AM
and WHY THE HELL isn't there a home light-gun hunting game? don't they realize how well that would sell in canada/the southern US?
paradox @ Sep 25th 2007 11:59AM
As morbid as it sounds, sometimes hunting is a good idea, since in many areas, humans, with our infinite wisdom, have destroyed the populations of native predators, leading to population explosions of former prey animals such as deer. Believe me, I can't imagine taking any enjoyment out of killing a defenseless animal, but sometimes where there is unbalance, the balance must be restored.
Unfortunately, this doesn't really work either, since hunters want the biggest, healthiest individuals, not the weak ones that need to be removed to keep the population strong.
So it's a loose, loose situation with stupid humans to blame, just like all the world's problems.
OnimushaSoki @ Sep 25th 2007 12:23PM
"Believe me, I can't imagine taking any enjoyment out of killing a defenseless animal"
Killing insects however? Sure. :]
Synner @ Sep 25th 2007 12:25PM
Spoken like a true genius. First of all it's lose lose, if it's a loose problem, why not just tighten it up? And if you think all the worlds problems are created by man, please do your part to stop it and go kill yourself.
Hunting isn't much fun for me, getting cold and wet and then having to gut and clean something, just not my idea of fun. I think if it's your thing, have at it, and deer destroy a forest if not put in check, so sure, kill a reasonable number of them.
Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Sep 25th 2007 12:28PM
OnimushaSoki insects are different, I mean a flies are annoying as Hell and they try to eat us (Blood sucking) and sometimes flies have diseases and stuff same cockroaches they knew they were going to die. Also they live for what 3 days?
OnimushaSoki @ Sep 25th 2007 1:01PM
To "Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler)":
It's going to sound corny, but after seeing STARSHIP TROOPERS, I'm doing my part by stepping on them. ;)
Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Sep 25th 2007 2:06PM
Go Earth!
Also those friggin insects can kill people,Dead to those f*ckers.
Ben @ Sep 25th 2007 12:43PM
You know what sucks about hunting? Teamkillers. Those guys are a menace.
blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Sep 25th 2007 10:22PM
like Cheney?
Predatorian234 @ Sep 25th 2007 1:08PM
Poor defenseless animals?
Now granted, a deer lacks OFFENSIVE traits like claws, teeth, and any other form of weapon.
But to call them DEFENSEless is wrong.
A deer can smell you from 3 miles away. You fart, and nothings coming near ya for a couple of hours.
And even though deer are color blind, their vision is like motion trackers. If a deer is looking at you, and you wiggle your pinky even slightly, hes gone.
But anywho. I'm a hunter, and I admit, its healthier.
When your playing halo 3 what are you doing? Sitting down, eating cheetos, drinking energy drinks.
When I'm out hunting, I gotta walk a mile or 2 to my blind. Then if I hit something, and he runs, I gotta track the thing for as long as I got a blood trail. Farthest track was 10 miles. By the time I found her, I was so tired I had to call someone to pick me and the deer up (I usually gut it then carry it back).
It can be hard work. Granted its not like running a marathon or something. But its much better then sitting around.
I can understand why others don't like hunting. But whatever you do, don't think of us as cold hearted killers.
Most hunters don't hunt "for fun". Most hunters hunt for the meat.
Beef is steroid injected in order to yield more beef per cattle. Also, cows fat grows inside the beef.
Venison (deer meat) is healthy and natural. Also, the deers fat grows on the outside of the meat. Meaning an incredibly lean meat.
Ever put a burger on a George Foreman grill? All that nasty fat and crap comes rolling into that little tray.
Put a venison patty on there...and the tray is empty.
Hunting serves its purpose, and I surely hope its not coming to an end. Because if hunting comes to an end, you can almost guarantee that most wild life parks will close too.
There is an act called the Robertson-Somthing act (I can't remember exactly). But about 5% of all money made on all fishing gear, hunting gear, guns, and ammunition goes directly to wild life preservation.
I believe Tennessee used to have bald eagles, but they became extinct. Now they are back. Why? Not because of PETA. But because of hunters and the money they donated.
So don't down play hunters. We are good people.
Bluebrake @ Sep 25th 2007 1:50PM
To Word and Tiago and any other self-righteous heroes:
Are you both vegetarians? If you are, fine. If not, you should probably shut up about "killing poor defenseless animals" now before you embarrass yourselves further. Just because the actual kill is done by other people far away where you don't have to see it doesn't mean you aren't killing animals too. As for "the weapons these freaks use to hunt," do you know what kind of "weapons" they use in a slaughterhouse? The tools the hunters use are a lot more fair, I can assure you.
And Word... you don't like to kill animals for fun, but you like fishing. Do you think fish are vegetables?
Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Sep 25th 2007 2:41PM
Weird I could swear I reply you 2 times(Double post sorry) but they aren't displayed anywhere well believe me they were serious stuff dude.
If they are displayed later well Am in yur meilbox spamming yur accountz
Synner @ Sep 25th 2007 4:06PM
Don't let off the vegetarians so easily either. There are MILLIONS of field animals, mice, rabbits, moles, voles, etc that are killed every year by grain harvesters. So, unless you live on a subsistence farm growing all your vegetables by hand, then you are killing just as much.
If you don't like something fine, (I don't like to hunt) but why does everyone these days think that everyone else should subscribe to their belief system?
Jose @ Sep 25th 2007 4:34PM
What the hell kind of shooting sport actually DISCOURAGES headshots? It ruins the trophy, sure, but what are you supposed to scream after you get the kill? "BOOM! He'll bleed to death eventually!" Hardly!
Sean Newton @ Sep 25th 2007 6:16PM
Were I to go hunting, I'd bring along my 50 DTC or Beowulf (slight tweak to a BMG case, to make it CA-legal), and would take headshots if I felt I could make 'em. I don't really care about trophies, and the only folks who whine at you about headshots are the Elmer Fudd field+stream types. I'm more into tactical rifles, and would prefer the most humane shot possible rather than chasing some animal while it suffers. I suppose using the really large calibers makes me a 'freak' by the standards of the "aw, poor animal" crowd - but if you consider that the larger the bullet, the less suffering's involved for the animal... well, I'll lug my 24lb rifle out there to do my business. By the way - catch and release fishing? With hooks? I wouldn't even consider torturing a fish like that if I didn't intend to eat it.
Nick @ Sep 25th 2007 7:09PM
Well, people don't understand that hunting is actually for the benefit of the animal. When someone goes and hunts in Canada they need what's called a tag, it's basically a license to kill that specific type of animal. The revenue from the tags go directly to supporting reasearch on speiceis poplations, and if necessary, control. (When population become too much, and the ecosystem can't support any more of that species, they either a) eat up all the food and then they all starve to death or b) the government takes care of it, by either raising the tag limit or paying some hutners to go on a cull and basically shoot as many as they can find to down the numbers, if hunters don't take care of enough of that species in the first place.
And don't frigen get started on cruel deaths. Hunting is one of the most humane ways an animal can die. It's better than becoming sick or old, and then being torn apart by wolves/coyotes, or walking out into the middle of a highway and getting hit by a car and waiting for MNR to show up to put it out of it's misery.
Besides, out where I live 1/3 car acidents are because of animal strikes. I have no problem working real hard, getting some good exercise, spending time out in quiet forsets and taking home a full sized buck. Besides, I'd rather have a deer on my plate than on my windshield.