Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU To Think That Hunting Is More Ethical Than Golf?

170 replies

DioneTheDiabolist · 02/04/2021 23:24

I am having this discussion atm and I totally think I'm right. My reasons are:
Golf courses are a waste of land.
And water.
And chemicals.
And manpower.
Golf contributes nothing to anyone except golfers, their sponsors and bookies.

Whereas hunting needs people to look after the land, promoting conservation and natural biodiversity.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Alexindiamondarmour · 02/04/2021 23:40

Just putting aside the fact you’re killing defenseless animals for sport when hunting. How is that ethical?

SarahAndQuack · 02/04/2021 23:41

I don't think you're right about natural biodiversity. A lot of sites where people hunt are kept very un-diverse on purpose (grouse moors, for example), and natural predators are killed - including endangered species. I'm also very conscious this year that pheasants are overrunning everywhere. I know a lot of shoots haven't gone ahead as planned, so there are masses of them, and they'll be competing with other species for food.

I think there surely have to be better options than 'hunting or golf'!

StCharlotte · 02/04/2021 23:42

Whereas hunting needs people to look after the land, promoting conservation and natural biodiversity.

Just like golf then. Only without the death.

ErrolTheDragon · 02/04/2021 23:44

Do golf courses support much wildlife... what happens if they get moles or rabbits or badgers digging in?

I rather think this is 'which is the lesser of two evils' territory rather than 'more ethical'.

Original poster
DioneTheDiabolist · 02/04/2021 23:45

Loads of defenseless animals are killed to create and maintain golf courses. I cant think of many animals that golf courses allow to thrive.

OP posts:
Twistered · 02/04/2021 23:46

Not getting the comparisons at all here Grin

Henrysmycat · 02/04/2021 23:49

Jesus!!! The lols on a Friday evening. Hmm “Hunting is more ethical than golf.” “Stealing is more ethical than working”.... and then add a whole bunch of bullcrap to justify it. Sounds like a year10 debate competition.

WhenSheWasBad · 02/04/2021 23:49

Well the “wasted” manpower is paid employment for a largish number of people.

Can’t get too hot and bothered about golf courses.

Original poster
DioneTheDiabolist · 02/04/2021 23:50

There most likely are better options than Golf or Hunting, but this is the discussion I'm having.

OP posts:
JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows · 02/04/2021 23:50

Well one has a purpose to kill animals, the other is a means of exercise and fun. So I know which I think is more moralHmm

stayathomer · 02/04/2021 23:51

I think this is officially the strangest title on mn ever. (Correct me if I'm wrong, I'd be interested to see!)

Maraudery · 02/04/2021 23:52

It depends really.
Hunting is very rarely about anything but the sport of it. There are far more efficient ways to kill the animal the must hunts eg foxes, deer. Lots of the hunted animals are purposefully bred for people to hunt eg deer, pheasant etc.

If it was about keeping the countryside, you would deliberately breed more animals the area isn't suited for, and those present you would sterilise (what happens for deer) or kill in a much more efficient way. I live near a huntjng area and the litter of shot etc, and injured but not dead animals is definitely an environmental problem

There's a reason its a sport not a service

I do know of some small scale rabbit Hunting, that doesn't fit the above but in general its never the Hunting that people mean

Ellpellwood · 02/04/2021 23:52

The course my dad plays was built in 1920 on a scrubby hill on the Pennines. It's too far from anything to be built on, mowed by one bloke, with a couple managing and living in the clubhouse down in the village.

How is that a waste of, erm, "chemicals"?

WhenSheWasBad · 02/04/2021 23:53

Loads of defenseless animals are killed to create and maintain golf courses. I cant think of many animals that golf courses allow to thrive

You could say the same about gardens. Apart from birds lots of people’s gardens don’t particularly support local wildlife. I love a well manicured lawn but it’s not really helping the local wildlife.

Nor is it feeding me. I’ll bet gardens “waste” more land than golf courses.

ToManderleyAgain · 02/04/2021 23:53

@DioneTheDiabolist

Loads of defenseless animals are killed to create and maintain golf courses. I cant think of many animals that golf courses allow to thrive.
In this country? Which species of animal do you mean?
Ellpellwood · 02/04/2021 23:54

Frankly you could argue we should level the All England Tennis club (Wimbledon) and build some nice flats for rich landlords to charge £3k a month for.

Maraudery · 02/04/2021 23:55

Any repurposing of country land isn't ideal, but id prefer a golf course to housing etc of it can't remain green belt.

The local golf club to me has wild verges, and owns surrounding land to "protect" the course that is mostly left wild. Obviously it would be nice if it was just country but I can't think of anything major commercial or residential having less impact really.

ErrolTheDragon · 02/04/2021 23:57

In this country? Which species of animal do you mean?

Moles, and probably rabbits I'd think. Not on all courses, but some are so pristine they must be getting rid of them.
Few golf courses look much good for birds either.

VanGoghsDog · 02/04/2021 23:58

You are being unreasonable to try to compare two totally unrelated things. They're both idiotic. HTH.

DahliaMacNamara · 02/04/2021 23:59

I suppose it depends where the golf club is. The ones near me are out in the countryside. You could call it a waste of farmland, though actually a number of wealthier farmers/landowners round here have shooting on their property. There are more of those than there are golf clubs, and a lot of work goes into maintaining a supply of birds to be shot at by those who can afford it.
Ugh. No, YABU, for sure.

therestissilence · 02/04/2021 23:59

I'm inclined to take your post seriously and consider it, only because I hate the hypocrisy around hunting. I don't like hunting, but I like the meat industry a lot less. In all honesty, an animal being ripped apart after a chase bothers me much less than an animal kept in a crate all its life. But like I said, I don't much like hunting either.

DdraigGoch · 02/04/2021 23:59

Well I've never eaten a golf ball but I can imagine that it doesn't come close to the offering from the game merchant in Chester Market. So if I want to keep eating delicious things then someone is going to have to shoot it.

vimtosogood · 03/04/2021 00:00

I can't see golf putting food on the table if I'm honest, but it's not the biggest waste of land I can think of. That would be cities.

SarahAndQuack · 03/04/2021 00:01

In this country? Which species of animal do you mean?

People definitely kill moles and rabbits - you can poison moles and it's frankly a bit grim. Plus you turn a large area into short-clipped grass so amphibians die/can't thrive; birds can't nest or feed. And the amount of water used to keep the grass lovely is a bit unethical.

But I don't follow why we have to compare one to the other.

DdraigGoch · 03/04/2021 00:02

@WhenSheWasBad

Loads of defenseless animals are killed to create and maintain golf courses. I cant think of many animals that golf courses allow to thrive

You could say the same about gardens. Apart from birds lots of people’s gardens don’t particularly support local wildlife. I love a well manicured lawn but it’s not really helping the local wildlife.

Nor is it feeding me. I’ll bet gardens “waste” more land than golf courses.

My garden helps feed me.
Swipe left for the next trending thread