I’m not a big fan of hunting, never have been, though I have softened myself in recent years, and maybe even more so now since I’ve moved to Montana where hunting is near religion. I agree with Ganya, I have come to learn that there are many for whom a deer or two makes a big difference, and I am totally disgusted by the “killing for sport” crowd. I see a lot of stuffed animals around here (including a taxidermist in every town) and it just turns my stomach. But when I first met Beau in person, he was going through a very tough time (recent divorce, new residence, big bills, etc.) and he was completely broke. That deer meat in his freezer may not be dramatically claimed as a “life-saver,” but it sure was a big deal for him at the time. (note: his deer meat was supplied by a friend)

I myself will never go hunting, and I hope Beau will never get the urge to go again (though I do encourage the fly fishing!), but I am less willing to rapid-fire judge those who do. Also, after living in New Zealand, I learned about a lot of the damage deer do, not only their annoyance to local farmers, but to other species (one native NZ species was almost wiped out, because the introduced deer ate all its food supply). There’s also the lovely problem of lyme disease *squirm* Okay, I’m going on and on too much, but that’s my ten, twenty, thirty cents.

I have never been a vegetarian, I don’t care if someone else is. Every person is entitled to their own beliefs, be it to eat meat or not. And regardless of what the issue is, people are going to disagree and feel their opinion is absolutely perfect and the other is absolutely wrong.

I’m nowhere near as eloquent as I’d like to be on this, but really, it’s all up to the individual. I try to live a simple life, and not get all invloved with impact this, and politics that. I just want to exist, and that’s about it. Naive? Maybe. But I’m the one who has to deal with the ramifications.

Meh, I’m shutting up now.

Nah, if your diet is such that you need meat to stay alive and healthy, then unfortunately that’s what you have to do. I just think if you can get by at all without meat, that’s nicer.

We all make some footprint on the world; I’m well aware of the effects of packaging & transport etc,

I’m just not convinced they have as direct an impact on other animals as a bullet to the head. Didn’t know

so much about the milk & eggs issue though; -all- milk & eggs are produced in this way? Shit, no more omelettes for me thanks.

Okay if I was on a desert island starving to death with only a herd of bunnies nearby, I’d have to kill & eat them as a last resort to stay alive (in between keeping the signal fire going). I wouldn’t be happy about it, but it’s a survival situation. At all other times however, I’m fine with a baked potato n beans thanks.

> Finally, when it comes down to the very basics…deer are prey
> animals. Humans are hunter (and gatherer/grower) animals.
I can’t tell the difference myself. If deer had guns, now that’s a thought….

>It’s nature. It’s the way things were made to be.
Killing for survival, yeah. Gleefully picking up a gun at the slightest provocation, I’m not so sure about.

>to flat-out condemn eating meat and/or hunting
I’m not, see above.

>is to be ignorant of the larger issues.
Nice touch, I love you too!

Anyway, that’s my view on it; if you broadcast to the world how great it’d be to shoot deer then it’s bound to cause some reply, but it’s your blog!