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Original poster

New man but he shoots as a hobby ...

374 replies

jumpinjax · 07/08/2023 10:27

He seems lovely but he's told me from the outset that he shoots as a hobby.
I don't have any major feelings about shooting one way or another , because I know so little about it but now told me that he's going on a big game shoot in Autumn and I don't know what I feel ... except maybe pity for the animals.
Would you get rid straight away?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
CosyCoffee · 07/08/2023 10:29

I couldn't tolerate that. Kindness to animals and to humans go hand in hand in my view.

anon12345anon · 07/08/2023 10:29

Yes. That's a deal breaker for me.

Lindy2 · 07/08/2023 10:30

Target shooting - fine.

Killing animals for fun - grotesque.

I tend to avoid having grotesque people in my life.

TomatoSandwiches · 07/08/2023 10:31

That's not something I'd be comfortable with.

Smartiepants79 · 07/08/2023 10:31

Big game? Meaning what? Deer? Or rhino? There’s a huge difference.
Many people here will tell you they could never be with someone who hunts lickle animals. Unless they are a vegetarian they can’t really comment.
I’d not go out with someone who hunts endangered species but if I really liked the person I don’t think I’d be put of a person who goes to organised shoots in this country. It’s not that different from the slaughter of animal for food.

Hoppinggreen · 07/08/2023 10:32

Does he eat everything he shoots? If not then it would be a no way for me

liveforsummer · 07/08/2023 10:32

I wouldn't have an issue with this. I can see how you would if vegetarian or vegan though. The game will have had a much nicer life and quicker death than the steak or chicken on your plate.

Imanalias · 07/08/2023 10:32

Absolutely a no-go for me. No excuse for this being anything other than cruelty.

liveforsummer · 07/08/2023 10:32

Smartiepants79 · 07/08/2023 10:31

Big game? Meaning what? Deer? Or rhino? There’s a huge difference.
Many people here will tell you they could never be with someone who hunts lickle animals. Unless they are a vegetarian they can’t really comment.
I’d not go out with someone who hunts endangered species but if I really liked the person I don’t think I’d be put of a person who goes to organised shoots in this country. It’s not that different from the slaughter of animal for food.

I assumed birds (game birds) if it's rhino/big cats yes, I'd have a problem

mistermagpie · 07/08/2023 10:33

Come on, there's a difference between animals being killed for food and for sport. So I don't think the argument that anyone not ok with hunting should be a vegetarian, that's just silly.

TomatoSandwiches · 07/08/2023 10:33

I'd be ok if it were for food but not hunting animals for sport and I say that as someone who grew up having to dispatch sick or injured animals.

Smartiepants79 · 07/08/2023 10:33

Everyone saying “no way” - I’m
interested to know if you eat meat or not…….?

manontroppo · 07/08/2023 10:33

I hope all the people saying it's a dealbreaker are strict vegetarians....can't see how shooting is worse than eating meat.

sodthesodoff · 07/08/2023 10:34

It's incompatible with my values

Clay pigeon shooting or at targets. Fine. It's not my thing but I appreciate the sportsmanship

Shooting at live animals for fun. Nah. In the bin.

Cazzovuoi · 07/08/2023 10:34

It depends.

Licensed hunting to control population i.e deer or antelope etc. would be ok for me if they butcher and eat the catch afterwards.

Hunting big game for fun like giraffe, elephants, lions and rhinos? Absolutely not.

manontroppo · 07/08/2023 10:34

mistermagpie · 07/08/2023 10:33

Come on, there's a difference between animals being killed for food and for sport. So I don't think the argument that anyone not ok with hunting should be a vegetarian, that's just silly.

What's the difference between food and sport? You don't need to eat meat to live and thrive. Do you care about the leftover chicken breast you threw in the bin because you didn't manage to cook it before it went funny?

continentallentil · 07/08/2023 10:35

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with shooting as long as the animals get eaten (often they don’t).

But if you eat meat it would be hypocritical to be that bothered about it, especially if you eat mass-farmed meat where the conditions the animals are kept in can be really poor.

Smartiepants79 · 07/08/2023 10:35

mistermagpie · 07/08/2023 10:33

Come on, there's a difference between animals being killed for food and for sport. So I don't think the argument that anyone not ok with hunting should be a vegetarian, that's just silly.

Why? The animal is still dead. And has actually lived a much worse life and experienced a much worse death.
An how do we know the animal isn’t going to get eaten? I think most hunts in this country involve using the catch for food after.

RoseslnTheHospital · 07/08/2023 10:35

Target shooting, just a hobby, no issues with it at all. Shooting animals.... well, I don't need to know anything more about it than that simple fact, and it would have been an immediate no from me. Absolute deal breaker. Going on a game "hunt".... wow. I'd dump him from a great height and run far far away.

sodthesodoff · 07/08/2023 10:35

Smartiepants79 · 07/08/2023 10:33

Everyone saying “no way” - I’m
interested to know if you eat meat or not…….?

Can't answer for everyone else but no I don't.

Also don't drink milk as I think milk production is unethical.

Gotta have some values in life.

anon12345anon · 07/08/2023 10:36

Smartiepants79 · 07/08/2023 10:33

Everyone saying “no way” - I’m
interested to know if you eat meat or not…….?

I'm a vegetarian.

Cazzovuoi · 07/08/2023 10:36

@manontroppo what poppycock.

I need meat to live and thrive because my autoimmune disease gets flared by most vegetables and all grains and cereals.

Smartiepants79 · 07/08/2023 10:37

sodthesodoff · 07/08/2023 10:35

Can't answer for everyone else but no I don't.

Also don't drink milk as I think milk production is unethical.

Gotta have some values in life.

Show quote history

And I respect that.
But a meat eater frothing at the mouth because it’s bambi being killed is just hypocritical and I struggle with that.

Middlelanehogger · 07/08/2023 10:37

If you grew up in the countryside you have a different attitude to this. It's not about laughing as you slaughter a defenceless helpless being. It's closer to a feeling of being part of nature / part of the circle of life somehow. There are painful deaths in nature without humans. It's hard to explain.

I would talk to him a bit more and ask him what it means to him, how he feels when he's shooting, what is meaningful to him about it.

I grew up in a hunting family (although my father doesn't shoot for ethical reasons) so I get the perspective, although I also have met very annoying city types who rock up and want to bag as many species as possible and just seem to fundamentally miss the point, so I'd advise trying to figure out where he's coming from before making a judgment.

Mothercareyschickens · 07/08/2023 10:38

It's a deal-breaker for me.

I'm a vegetarian that doesn't drink milk.