Hunting Ethics
Ethics is the field of philosophy concerned with right and wrong and the actions of moral individuals. It investigates standards of behavior. Society at large or defined groups within the society may develop a code of ethics that defines what is proper, accepted or expected behavior for the society or the group. Societal or group norms or standards are further refined by personally defined codes of conduct. Ethics determine what we b=view as right and wrong and the way we act.
Hunting ethics are codes of hunter behavior and action. Some of these codes of conduct are generally agreed upon, while others may be regional or local norms. The core of hunting ethics, however, is personal. It is the way hunters behave when nobody is watching in a situation where they must make decisions without the assistance of a referee. Development of hunting ethics involves a complex interaction of socially and personally derived attitudes, skills, knowledge, and experience. It is strongly tied to hunter development.
Robert Jackson and Robert Norton proposed a model for hunter development upon the motivations and satisfaction of hunters and the priorities given to those motivations and satisfactions. Although their original model had five stages, a sixth one has been added here. They are listed from the earliest (lowest level) to the latest (highest level) they observed.
Shooter stage – The shooter’s primary motivation and satisfaction is governed by the use of their equipment. Success is most often measured in the number of shots taken. The negative side of this level of development is that the individual may shoot at inappropriate targets like protected species or animals that do not offer high percentage killing shots. Some may degenerate into practice shooting while in the hunting field.
Limit bagger – The limit bagger measures success against the standard of the bag limits codified by the site or agency responsible for the management. Numbers bagged is the key to satisfaction, and the limit bagger may violate laws or ethical constraints in an attempt to bag the limit. Greed, competitiveness, and over-shooting are potential pitfalls of the limit bagger. In addition, their measure of success may cloud excellent days of hunting with failure to bag the proscribed number of game animals.
Trophy hunter – According to Jackson and Norton, the trophy hunter is the first step in development of an ethical hunter. These individuals predetermine criteria for the fame they will harvest. Regardless of the personally defined restrictions, using them defines trophy hunting. Thus, the doe hunter who is looking for an older, dry doe as a quality meat animal is actually behaving as a trophy hunter. The biggest problem with the trophy hunter stage is that individuals may become so focused upon the quality of the trophy that they forget about other elements contributing to the quality of the hunt.
Method hunter – For the method hunter, the tools and techniques of the hunt are more important than the bag or the “quality” of the game taken. How game is taken is the primary measure of success. Generally, the method hunter has a deeper commitment to the chase and has acquired specialized equipment and skills to permit pursuit of his or her favorite methods. Lack of tolerance for users of other methods may be a problem with some hunters.
Aesthetic hunter – Aesthetic hunters, most often called the “mellowing out stage,” are motivated and satisfied primarily by the process of hunting. Their satisfactions are based upon the total experience. Bagging game and specialization in technique or equipment is important, but all of these are secondary to appreciation for the total experience of hunting. Jackson and Norton consider the aesthetic hunter to be ethically mature.
Giving something back stage – A sub-set of aesthetic hunters have reached the stage of giving something back to the sport of hunting. These are contributors to the future of hunting who are committed to the promotion, advancement and continuation of hunting. Generally, they are motivated by a sense of responsibility or gratitude for what the sport has done for them.
Defining Hunter Ethics
The nature of hunter ethics dictates that there be as many definitions as there are hunters defining it. When looking at a single characteristic that is essential to ethical hunting behavior, respect comes to mind. Respect can be subdivided for the sake of discussion. Self-respect is the foundation upon which the respect for others and for wildlife depends. Self-respect outlines the personal and internal reasons for ethical behavior. Respect for others includes respect for other hunters, respect for landowners, respect for non-hunters, and even respect for anti-hunters.
Respect dictates that the hunter make every effort to maintain quality relationships with others and to permit them the benefit of the doubt an rights to their opinions and actions. It also demands that they show character traits like generosity, tolerance, understanding, patience and willingness to support their beliefs with actins.
Aldo Leopold noted that the ethical value of hunting could be either positive or negative depending upon whether the hunter abided by his or her own convictions when the time came to act upon them came. He noted that hunting had no referees or audiences, and that the ethical outcomes were almost entirely internal.
Respect for wildlife and habitat results in development of “rule” for fair chase. These restrictions on hunter behavior modify the hunter-gatherer into a “sport” hunter, even though sport hunting (as opposed to subsistence or market hunting) still involves the harvest of wildlife for human for human use. It also includes development of skills and knowledge necessary to become a safe, responsible and effective hunter. These skills are varied and complex. Many of them are ancient survival skills. Others are restraints of the hunter-gatherer to avoid wounding or other problems. Respect for wildlife and habitat also includes involvement and commitment to issues relating to wildlife, habitat and environmental concerns. Hunters were among the first conservationists, and they should be in leadership roles in conservation affairs today as well.
Hunter Responsibilities
Every hunter shares certain responsibilities. Among those is the responsibility to project a positive image of hunters and hunting. Clearly, that includes practicing what we project; so, the image is true to the reality. Like it or not, every hunter is a representative for all hunters and for hunting. Policing our ranks and helping each other become better is part of the hunter’s role.
Among the responsibilities toward people are those toward other hunters. Clearly, respecting and abiding by all pertinent game laws is one of those responsibilities. Laws related to seasons, bag limits, shooting hours, equipment restrictions and so forth are designed to protect wildlife, protect people and provide for equitable sharing of commons resources. The behavior of hunters toward each other while afield is also part of that responsibility. Avoiding conflict or interference with other hunters, honoring their right to hunt, teaching others about hunting or skills, and respecting them as people and fellow sportsmen is important. Using proper etiquette in field behavior, including avoiding both criticism and confusing dogs provided by other hunters is important.
Responsibilities Toward Landowners
Responsibilities toward landowners go well beyond leaving gates the way you found them (see Hunter-Landowner Relations). It starts with requesting permission to use any private land for hunting, regardless of whether it is posted or not. When asking permission to hunt (before the season and in non-hunting clothes), accept the decision of the landowner graciously and with thanks regardless of their decision. Work toward developing a personal relationship with the landowner. Taking a real interest in their land and them as persons. Respect any restrictions they might place on your use of the land. If they do not voice any, ask if they have any restrictions they would like to place on our activity. Behave as an invited guest on the land, treating it as though it were land you were holding in trust. Leave things as you find them, but be sure to report any apparent problems if you notice them. If emergency actions are needed, offer to help – and mean it when you offer. Avoid causing any form of damage to equipment, fences, crops or livestock; and offer to make amends for any inadvertent damage you might do accidentally. Above all, watch the way you act and the things you say while a guest on the land.
Giving something back for the permission to hunt is often helpful to return trips. Lending a helping hand with a project, like raising rafters for a barn roof, mending a barn roof or putting in a wildlife food plot is usually appreciated, even though most landowners will not ask you to help. Staying in touch with cards or telephone calls during the off-season is also helpful, as is sending a gift for a special occasion or a holiday. Offering to share game taken on the land is sometimes appreciated. When making the offer, be prepared to spend the time making the game table ready (if legal) rather than offering an undressed and matted carcass. Skin or pluck the game, dress it and make it as appealing as possible. If the person is unsure how to cook the game, offer suggestions of ways you particularly enjoy. You may find a hunting companion as well as a host.
Responsibilities Towards Non-Hunters
The vast majority of people today are non-hunters. Their images of hunting and hunters are based upon their observations of hunter behavior. Hunters need to wear hunting clothing when they are actively hunting, and they may stop to eat, buy fuel or purchase other items during the day or on the way to or from the field. If they are well groomed, courteous and careful with their language, they still present a good image. Association of hunting clothes with purchases of alcohol or with obnoxious behavior damage the image of all hunters. Watching our appearance and our behavior helps.
Apparent disrespect for game irritates many non-hunters. Bloody carcasses being displayed openly or loose talk about gruesome details of lost, wounded or even harvested game animals is completely out of place. Be aware of the fact that the person sitting next to you may not want to have the details of your field dressing as a side order with their lunch. Promote the positive values of hunting to your family and to you as a person without the details of kills, blood and gore.
Responsibilities Toward Anti-Hunters
The opinions held by hunters and anti-hunters tend to place us at odds by the nature of those views. In spite of that, hunters have responsibilities toward anti-hunters as well. The items mentioned above for non-hunters are important with anti-hunters as well. In addition, hunters need to respect the right of anti-hunters to hold the opinions they do about hunting, even while we disagree pointedly with those opinions. When involved in discussion with an anti-hunter about hunting, feel free to disagree, but avoid being disagreeable. Strive to understand the nature of their concerns and motivations and avoid antagonizing them. Do feel free to defend your own right to an opinion about hunting and to voice the positive things hunting does for you.
Respect for Wildlife and Habitat
Respect for wildlife and wildlife habitat involves several interrelated factors. The sport in sport hunting is not based upon an athletic confrontation between “equals” but upon the principle of fair chase. While fair chase can best defined in many different ways, it amounts to regulating the actions of the hunter so the wildlife has an opportunity to escape or avoid the hunter. Fair chase may differ between hunting companions or in different parts of the country. One may feel that killing a gamebird on the ground or in a tree is not acceptable, while a companion may feel that any gamebird that is foolish enough to provide such a shot may be taken without prejudice. Some may feel that baiting of wildlife of any kind is taking unfair advantage of them, while others promote the use of bait stations to increase wildlife numbers or concentrate them for more effective harvest. Running wildlife with motor vehicles or aircraft, shooting deer at night with the aid of spotlights, herding waterfowl with a motor boat or hunting them from sinkboxes are both legal violations and agreed upon violations of the rules of fair chase.
One of the greatest responsibilities of all hunters is maintaining adequate knowledge and skill to take game effectively and with a minimum of crippling or wounding loss. Shooting skills, identification skills, shot placement and shot selection skills, and the ability to track and recover wounded wildlife are important ones. Ancillary skills are also important. Hunters should know how to use calls, decoys, camouflage, watercraft, knives, and other equipment safely and effectively. They should continue to learn new skills and refine old ones for their entire hunting career. Hunters must know how to care for game in the field and in preparation for home use. Knowing a bit about wildlife cookery is a bonus that might be appreciated at home.
Involvement and commitment to wildlife issues and the improvement of wildlife habitat is an advanced responsibility. It is never too soon to participate, and today’s hunter needs to gain back the high moral ground of our predecessors who led the conservation movement in the United States. Personal commitment and sweat devoted to local projects and support offered to projects affecting other wildlife is a positive step. Involvement with other conservation issues and evidence of your standing as a hunter-conservationist is an excellent way to enhance hunter images.
Skills for Ethical Hunters
Hunting requires skills, and ethical hunting requires a commitment to developing and honing those skills. Among the skills required is a deep and intimate knowledge of wildlife. The ethical hunter must be able to identify wildlife species effectively, even under poor light conditions or while moving. Often this skill is related to regulations as well as ethical considerations. In addition to the ability to identify wildlife effectively, hunters must understand how the animals they hunt behave. Understanding their behavior increases hunter success, makes evaluation of hits easier, and aids in the recovery of wounded animals. Understanding the anatomy of game animals is a tremendous aid to proper shot placement and making quick, clean kills.
Circumstances related to wounding and losing game are one of the greatest concerns about hunting by non-hunters. Hunter responsibility includes having skills to recover game animals and having the will to make every reasonable effort to do so. Game recovery, including hit evaluation, tracking or trailing, and the use of trained dogs are learned skills that demand effort and experience. The Game Recovery lesson aids in development of those skills.
Using trained dogs can make hunting more successful as well as more enjoyable. It is also ethical in that the dogs reduce losses of many types of game animals. The Hunting Dogs lesson goes more deeply into exercises to introduce new hunters to dogs, dog training and selection of a gunning dog.
Game handling and use is an important element in ethical hunting. Many states and federal law prohibit the wanton waste of game. Waste can come about by neglect, improper field care, failure to use good home care and preservation techniques or neglecting the carcass in the freezer until it is no longer fit for consumption. Proper game handling (See the Game Handling lesson plan) is the key to high quality table fare. Other parts of game animals are also useful. Feathers, skins, and other parts may be useful to fly tiers, flower arrangers, crafters, as well as making mementos of hunts gone by. Game carcasses that are prepared for use so they resemble a form that might be purchased from a store is moiré likely to be used at home. This preparation is the hunter’s responsibility.
Shooting skills are among the fundamental requirements of the hunter. Every hunter must practice to achieve a reasonable measure of marksmanship under field shooting conditions. They must also understand and stay within the limitations of their equipment and their skill with that equipment. Shooting beyond reasonable ranges (their personal limits or that of their equipment) marks hunters as tyros who have not learned to limit their shots to high percentage ones. This is observed in big game hunters taking shots beyond their skill level and by waterfowlers who seem to believe that they can hit anything they see. This skybusting behavior tends to reduce their effectiveness and to irritate all responsible hunters in the vicinity.
Proper shot placement and careful shot selection are the keys to clean kills and minimizing wounding rates. Shots should be placed to inflict maximum damage on the vital areas of the animal while avoiding the potential for a wounding hit – one in a non-vital area of in an area that does not effect a quick kill. Generally, shots should be limited to the heart-lung area or the central nervous system on big game animals. Broadside or quartering shots maximize the area of those vital regions presented to the hunter and allow the greatest margin for error. Shots intended to cripple or “break down” an animal should never be considered! Proper shot selection means the hunter has the restraint to wait until an adequate shot is presented before attempting to make a shot. Avoiding high-risk shots and selecting high probability shots is the mark of an accomplished and ethical hunter.
Interpersonal Skills
Although hunting is often a solitary activity or one conducted with a few close friends, the need for sound interpersonal skills is obvious. Every hunter projects an image to others that represents all hunters. Further, every hunter will have occasions to talk about his or her favorite activity either in its defense or to encourage others to become involved. Those who hunt on private lands will also find abundant opportunity to use those skills effectively.
Hunter Image
Hunter image is the perception of hunters and hunting held by other people. It is a projection, positive or negative, of who and what we are. What others think about hunters and hunting is more important in the political environment than facts. If facts and the image are clearly and accurately linked, public opinion is accurate and valid. If they differ, a damaging public opinion may arise toward hunters and hunting.
Actions and words by hunters observed by non-hunters are key elements in the formation of that image. Slovenly, boorish, callous, or insensitive behaviors are extremely harmful to the image of all hunters. Nine of the top 15 concerns about hunting by non-hunters related to wounding loss and suffering of crippled animals. Gory stories or laments about hit and lost animals reinforce those concerns and convince non-hunters that they are common circumstances and valid concerns. Filthy, bloody clothing, openly displayed carcasses, loud or foul language, and obnoxious behaviors tend to reinforce the insensitive idiot image some groups would like to project for hunters. “We have met the enemy,” as Pogo Possum said, “and they is us.” “We” is also the group that can do something about the image being projected.
Like behaviors that hurt the image of hunters and hunting, many behaviors exist that help that image. A wide variety of actions from hunter education and various self-policing programs for sportsmen attack the damaging behaviors directly. Conservation efforts, involvement of hunters in non-hunting programs and activities where their orientation as a hunter is well known, and recognition of the contribution of hunters to conservation of all species are positive. The most telling of the positive image builders, however, are personal. They involve watching your words, projecting yourself and hunting as a sensitive and responsible human being, and actively sharing he positive values of hunting to people, including the benefits to families and the positive effect on mental and physical well being. Programs like Hunters For the Hungry promote hunters are caring for people less fortunate than themselves. Finally, involvement with youth programs and the education and development of new hunters can result in creating hunters with high ethical standards.
Developing a Personal Code of Ethics
Hunting is unlike team sports where a referee watches for infractions of the rules or individual sports where judges sit on the sidelines and assess points or penalties. Hunting takes place individually without a referee or judge. It requires that he author of a personal ethical code be the arbiter and judge of the code as well. You are the only one that can build a personal code of hunting ethics. It should include the agreed upon and codified standards of hunters, but it should go beyond. It should capitalize on the benefits you derive from participating in sport hunting – aesthetic, physical, mental, re-creative, and tangible. It should flow from the experience and govern the nature of the experience. Keeping a journal of your experiences and your feelings can be a great benefit to you in developing that code and in your development as a hunter.
