From: viking@iastate.edu (Dan Sorenson)
Subject: Re: Don't tell the anti-hunters
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 04:58:22 GMT

me@halfab.ka.sub.org  (Udo_Meyer) writes:

> viking@iastate.edu (Dan Sorenson) writes:

>> Animals can defend themselves.

>At once, if they are attacked.

	You obviously didn't try playing with a badger as I had suggested.
This is good, for the badger is commonly known (and as seen by me) to attack
objects without warning and without being provoked.  I actually saw one
come out of the ditch to attack my car every time I'd drive to school!  After
three days of this crap, I finally quit swerving.  Anyway, don't presume
that wild animals attack only if attacked or provoked; they are quite like
humans in that particular regard.  You might also take TV reports with a
grain of scepticism.  People capture crocodiles in Austrailia without harm;
people get killed and eaten by them too.  Need I mention the bear attacks
that are a regular part of National Park Statistics here in the USA?

>My opinion is, real hunters are only those who need it for survival.
>But in case of self-defence you are allowed to kill the aggressor.
>The thing I can't understand is the so called sports hunting, just for fun.
>I think, it makes man a beast.

	I don't believe so, and I also don't find this last to be a bad
thing in all cases.  As for sport hunting, that's what it is in nearly
all cases where imminent survival is not at stake.  It's just that some
of us choose to define which part of the sport we're after.  The trophy
hunter wants the biggest and best, hence he hones his skills so that he
can get the wise, strong, old buck.  The recreational hunter, like myself,
finds it enough of a challenge to just get within 50 yards of a deer, let
alone within black powder or shotgun range for an accurrate shot.  The bow
hunter is perhaps more demanding than either of the above, but in no
instances do I see man as a beast, but merely as a predator.

>> 	I notice you're from Germany. 
>Yes I am from Germany.
>(My postings sometimes go below the belt. I try to fix it.
> Maybe it is of my bad knowledge of english/american language and culture.
> But if one does not speak with the others, he will never become
> acquainted with them.)

	Hey!  Don't take offense -- I just merely wanted to point out your
location to bring in the next paragraph about arming the new immigrants
to your country who have been attacked.  I've nothing against Germany.
Heck, after drinking Hoffbrau Oktoberfest I'd like to visit again!  Your
command of english is rather good, as evidenced by your catching the
sarcasm in other posts and your well-written replies.  Again, no offense
meant in that note -- it was just a transition.

>> Given the recent strife there, I
>> could ask why the government doesn't give arms to the new immigrants
>> who are under attack.  It's the same principle, only animals are born
>> with their weapons.
>Not all animals are born with weapons. And many of them used as
>game animal (is my dictionary correct???) only can run or fly away
>(rabbits, deers, ducks ...).

	Yes, a game animal is one hunted for sport or food (or both).
These animals run the gamut from rabbits to bears, and not all have
offensive weapons.  However, speed, flight, and the like can be seen
as defensive weapons in the same way the incredible speed of the cheetah
is an offensive weapon.  I admit, there's not much danger of being gored
to death by a rabbit -- that's why others hunt bear, buffalo, boar, and
the more dangerous animals.  I choose to hunt stealthy animals and
leave the truly dangerous ones alone for now.  Still, a weapon does not
necessarially have to inflict direct harm on another in my usage above,
but it just has to provide a means of deterrence, or stopping the attack.
If you're after weapons in general, like fangs, claws, and the like, then
the rabbit and the human are about on par.  Naturally, humans learned
to fashion weapons to overcome their shortcomings in this area.

<Dan Sorenson, DoD #1066 |"I see angels on Ariels in leather and>
<z1dan@exnet.iastate.edu | chrome, Swooping down from heaven to >
<viking@iastate.edu      | carry me home."   ---    R. Thompson >
<ISU thinks I need more education, which they provide for a fee.>