Re: Christmas Day in Texas
Leg hold trapping of an animal: cruel, yes; necessary at times to protect property and life, yes. The "sport" depends on the animal involved and how trap-wary they are, but I draw the line at "recreational trapping" just for the fun of it (please in no way let anyone construe that I'm implying Cat's kill is recreational). Dispatching an animal in a leg-hold trap: a necessity, an arguable oblitation, not to be celebrated, but not to be shunned. I didn't think Cat was beating his breast over this.
I am struck with awe and amazement when I see these animals in the wild - as well as caution and fear, depending on their proximity. I have a very humorous story involving myself, a 12gauge shotgun, and a 400+lb black bear, but that's another story. These animals are predators by nature; the kill to eat. A lot of the "killing for fun" is a misinterpretation of killing animals that they will come back for later (foxes are well known for this). And, as long as men and predators interact, this argument will continue, with positions ranging from "kill'em all" to "you cowardly blood thirsty hunters". Answers depend on situations and truths are rarely in the extremes. It's rather silly for a flatland hunter to tell a Rocky Mountain cattleman how cruel it is to shoot those "poor wolves" if the flatland hunter routinely kills groundhogs to keep his field clear of holes.
Hunting is killing. Speaking personally, I don't celebrate my conquests or hang them on the wall; I find it demeaning on a number of levels. I grew out of the need to shoot everything that moved in the woods in my teens and start to enjoy what was around me that I didn't need for food and didn't pose a threat to my personal well being. A true hunter knows when, where, and how to take an animal. Cat dispatched an injured and suffering perdator who was outfoxed by a piece of steel, no more, no less. Blood rage on the part of hunters is worse that blood rage of "mere animals", if there is such thing, because we supposedly have better brains and reasoning abilites, which I feel we too often fail to exercise.
Peace out and Respect,
Wes