In defense of hunting

Opposition to modern hunting boils down to a dislike of hunting practices, real or imagined, and/or of hunters as a group. Dislike of an entire group is bigotry and nice Americans are supposed to have given this up. Until the bit at the end, hunting has the same appeal as tracking or bird watching. So the objection is about killing.

Humans can’t perform photosynthesis. Living things must die in order for us to exist. “Moral” vegetarianism is merely a prejudicial system of ranking different living species. Bugs, plants, fungi and microbes have as much of a “right” to their lives as birds, mammals and fish. Which is to say none – rights are a legal construct, and laws are things only humans care about. Nature is about zero-sum games.

There is honesty in harvesting one’s own food, whether by rifle or shovel. Honest food appeals to many people. Ethically, there is no difference between a vegetarian picking vegetables and a hunter bringing home game.

Incidentally, recall that your own body is inhabited by billions of beneficial, commensal and harmful microorganisms. If hunting disgusts you, I recommend you never study your body’s own immune system.

This story was originally published August 15, 2015 at 8:36 AM with the headline "In defense of hunting."