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Next up is the moral and ethical question of this. It goes without saying that it's immoral and unethical, and (IMO) if we don't put a stop to the practice ourselves, the antis will come along and put a stop to it for us. They probably won't stop there though. They'll either try to ban all hunting in South Africa at the very least....... and possibly elsewhere as well, or they'll try to stop all Lion hunting throughout Africa. I actually regard the canned Lion issue to be the biggest threat to Africa sport hunting in existance.

No offense taken by me and THANKS for the info re; breeding, etc. My point is what you state here. When we do not or cannot police this sort of stuff ourselves {hunters}, gubmnt gets involved and that always seems to bode ill for all...

Problem is, I still think this decision is dangerous for all hunting in SA.

Sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees. I seriously wonder if as hunters we see that way on the game ranching industry. Regardless how long animals are left to live on fenced game farms, such operations are farms and non-hunters I've spoken to {read, non-hunting General Public} frequently see such operations as totally unsporting, unethical and ridiculous in their own right. Not meaning to step on toes here at all, just playing "devil's advocate" as so often it is the General Public that winds up making decisions for the rest of us, and their decisions are guided by, all-too-often, anti-hunting organizations who command the airwaves. I have hunted in Africa on unfenced land and on a ranch of 5,000 acres and am familiar with quite a number or game ranches. Without being too critical, I can say that I understand why some might see fenced ranches of this or similar size to be only a step away from canned cat hunting. HUNTERS might not see it that way, but others do. My own opinion is that a person need only hunt in wide open, unfenced areas like here in Idaho or in Africa and they may be able to see the sentiment.

As for trophy legitimacy, I've always supported the division between unfenced and fenced hunting. Some might squeal, but fences make a big difference IMO...

I support game ranch hunting. But I consider it an agricultural activity. I do not consider it the equal of hunting here, say, for elk in north Idaho, or of open ground hunting elsewhere in Africa. In fact, I think it is a bit laughable to compare "adequately enclosed" g/r hunting in South Africa to any hunting here in north Idaho. The challenges here are exponentially greater and a trophy taken here is, IMO, indicative of a completely different level of effort and skill. Obviously, size of ranch makes a difference, but even on a fenced ranch of say, 10,000 acres, the herds are contained, cannot escape hunting pressure, etc, and that alone changes things. I do not mean to beat up on game ranch hunting as I support it 100%, just trying to say that many outside the hunting world see no difference between canned lion hunting and fenced game hunting of any kind and if we look at it, I think we have to agree that fences make some difference, and the mere addition of fences might be the "hole in the fence" that might let the anti-hunters IN. I have to wonder if this decision is going to be used to hurt the g/r industry.

Anti's do not care about game numbers, genetic pool, etc. Here we fight daily the attempts by some to force "wildlands" and "wilderness" legislation down our throats, legislation that if successful would seriously hurt game numbers and wreck the many years of successful management of State and hunting public. They will use any opportunity to gain control over land, especially using the uninformed masses, and I hope this decision is not one more arrow in their quiver. I DO see differences between canned cat killing and the game ranch industry, but the vague similarity that exists...the fence...combined with a court's meddling, might make mayhem for hunting.

I have to admit I loath this practice and it's purveyors with a vengance, and as far as I'm concerned, I have no more pity for the breeders than I'd have for a pimp who had been nicked for peddling his trollops.

Great analogy. If all hunters felt the same way about them, the canned cat killers would have been run out of business and a court case never would have seen the light of day.
Your info on the size and scope of canned lion shooting is distressing, but indicates that MANY must like it just fine. All I can say is, WOW...

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Edited by 9.3x57 (18/06/09 11:17 PM)

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