Wow, interesting topic...
First, dead is dead. There is no such thing as dead......but it was eaten, or dead.....but I made a hat out of it. Just plain dead.
Now, before anyone continues their rant about "senseless" killing, let me give you my point of view (I can't speak for anyone else)
There is no such thing as a "smart" or "dumb" animal. Simply put, our ideal of intelligence has no place in the animal kingdom. Now, certain animals are blessed with more God given survival instincts than others; but again, that has nothing to do with intelligence.
So why do I hunt varmints and predators? Well....none of your fucking business. However, I'll humor you.
I'll challenge anyone here that dares to say hunting predators/varmints is not sporting to join me in the field and see what it's really about. I'm not talking about being out deer hunting and seeing a dog and taking a shot of opportunity, or walking home and seeing a couple of coons and taking the shot. I'm talking about getting out in the field, grabbing a hand call, and triggering the feeding instinct of the nearest predator by convincing it that you are something that needs to be investigated/eaten/mated with/challenged. All while fooling the animal who's sense of smell is 10x that of any deer. No need for cover scent, hell I smoke on stands; once a coyote is down wind, your done, they can't be fooled.
Not challenging? I guess using over 15 different calls depending upon the time of year it is, or where they are at in their denning/mating cycle is all for nothing then.
Oh, and no, I don't eat them all.....sorry. The areas I hunt I am thanked by small game and bird hunters. Where I hunt I am saving the lives of hundreds of sheep, goats, cattle, and foals every year and am given thank you gifts by the ranchers who allow me access to their properties. Heck, 2 years ago I had one ranch lose 168 goats out of 240 in less than a year. last year and this year he lost only 6. I like to think that ranchers not upset because I didn't eat those coyotes or Bobcats.
Now, do I respect them as a game animal? Yes and no. When I am hunting them recreationaly, I sure do. I don't hunt them from Feb-Sept to give the pups a chance to grow and begin eating on their own. I don't hunt during mating season so I don't shoot any pregnant bitches. Hell, even during bobcat season I wait until our days are shorter and the areas I call are colder so I don't waste a tag on an unfurred bobcat. Yes, I save all my pelts, and yes, I save almost all my coyote pelts. Don't believe me? Ask my wife and she'll tell you that the pile of tanned furs in the closet is getting a bit out control. So if anyone needs a bobcat or coyote pelt, let me know, I can hook a brutha up.
Of course, in the spring when the young cattle begin hitting the ground and I get the calls form the ranchers, you bet your sweet ass I don't respect them. I hunt them hard, I hunt them to rid the ranch entirely if possible.
Coyotes can't and never will be extinct short of shooting them out of helicopters by the hundreds. Racoons are second only to feral cats on ground nesting bird predation, bobcats routinely take sheep, goats, and even deer when given a chance, and badgers......well, let me tell you, I care for my furs and trophis better than I care fo my clothes; so don't lose any sleep over wondering if it was laid to rot; it wasn't. And when it's back from the taxidermist I'll post photos of it so you can see just how much I truly respect what I kill.
Oh.....and you're gay
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