The anti-hunter argument that hunting is morally wrong because it inflicts undue pain and suffering is often sensationalized and not fully understood.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is a staunch advocate of ethical, fair chase hunting.
A primary part of that hunting ethic is for sportsmen and women alike to practice, clean, care for and know their firearms or archery equipment inside and out.
And then once in the field, use precise, quality shot placement that strikes the animal in a location leading to death as quickly as possible.
The end-of-life alternatives to a quick, clean, ethical shot for big game and other wildlife can be much, much more difficult, enduring and drawn out.
Among those alternatives is sickness…such as chronic wasting disease, brain worm, hemorrhagic disease, bovine tuberculosis and other ailments.
Starvation…whether triggered by disease or by extreme snowfall or other conditions that limit or eliminate a food supply.
Being struck by a vehicle.
Or lastly and most painfully, being eaten alive by predators such as mountain lions, wolves, grizzlies, black bears, coyotes or other animals.
Hunters have a great love and a great respect for wildlife. They spend time on mountains, in the woods, on the water and traversing landscapes as they scout and study their quarry.
Hunting has a proven place on the landscape. It assists biologists in managing wildlife populations, provides key funding for nationwide conservation work, spurs the economy and fills the freezer.
Clean, precise shot placement is integral to the hunting ethic.
What’s the bottom line? When you take a step back and look at the big picture, it’s more than evident that Hunting Is Conservation.