Prince William goes 'deer culling' in Balmoral

[vera99]

What's wrong with these people? I can maybe understand the need for occasional culling (though it is most often for the human agency not a concern for the animal) but to go out and enjoy stalking these magnificent creatures get them in the sights of your guns and kill them - that's just sick.

PS. King Charles was a big fan of fox hunting

AIBU? - Yes this is actual nature conservation activity and William is showing concern and leadership in participating in the shooting.

YANBU? - No this is a sick perverted hobby of the super-rich who glory in the pleasure killing of defenceless animals.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11300807/Prince-Wales-visits-Balmoral-goes-deer-stalking-Scotland-trip-Queens-funeral.html

"Deer stalking is the act of culling ageing stags that would otherwise die in the winter, with William shooting his first when he was 14 years old, something that is said to have left him delighted at the time.
The activity, which has been a shared passion among generations of the Royal Family, was encouraged by William's father King Charles III, while Princess Diana used to jokingly call him 'my killer Wales'.
William is not thought to have been joined in Scotland by his wife Catherine, who is herself a keen markswoman, and their children. A spokesman for Kensington Palace declined to comment."

An ethical viewpoint

I expect this is why they are always keen to be actively involved in hunting and killing, and why young children are made to enjoy it too. It is so thoroughly weird, but the usual high handed belief that the upper classes know best. Generally, humans are rubbish at managing nature and have managed to trash the planet to the point of it being nearly game over. For us, at least.

There was a bit on TV recently about the deer on the Balmoral Estate with the head gamekeeper there - he explained the culling very well and why it was necessary. I am lost though as to why William thought it a good idea to do this at this time.

Nature is plenty brutal enough on its own without having humans shooting for sport. And it is sport - thats why people pay to do it.

These big estates that care so much about keeping deer numbers down - why are they not involved in the campaigns to reintroduce apex predators? I wonder...

Managing estates, that’ll be useful to him. 🙄 The kid will grow up barely having to wipe his own arse. He’s not going to be managing anything.

Killing animals or hurting them would be a red flag in a normal child, though.

So which predators in the UK are feeding on deer to take down their numbers.

There are 1000s of invasive species of deer thought the UK causing millions of pounds worth of damage in every single county. Where are these mystical predators?

The forestry commission, farmers ect spend 1000's culling these pests every year. Usually in the early hours before visitors and public see due to faux outrage.

Given this hasn't come from an official source, I'd take it with a pinch of salt tbh.

Likely to be just yet another smear from California ...

Deer need to be culled and this is one of the few efficient and relatively humane ways to do it.

Its also cheaper for our struggling economy if the toffs spend their own money doing it, versus government environmental funds having to be spent on it. This frees up money for things like healthcare and education.

Toturing a pet cat, yes. Going grouse shooting with your parents and eating the grouse, no.

That kid is less of a hypocrite than yours eating supermarket chicken while you bleat on about fluffy little animals.

Ridiculous. It's actually detrimental to the health of deer to give supplement feed and is not advised. You're clearly ignorant of Scottish regulations

Octomore

We no longer have wolves in the UK so deer lack a natural predator.

As a daughter of a farmer it's an acceptable part of life just like billions of children throught out the world who understand where their food comes from.

It's pathetic pearl clutching parents who enforce the fear and worry in their children with their misdirected beliefs. Nature is a fact if you want to instill into your children from day one it's horrific then no wonder they get scared later in life.

He isn't doing it for conservation reasons. He enjoys it. If it was truly about culling, I can't imagine the future King of England being called upon to do it.

about small children. I would rather my child know about the connection between an animal and meat, than eat meat with no awareness of where it comes from.

@Kissingfrogs25 showing your ignorance here. The estate manager/gamekeeper will have a very good knowledge of the deer herd and will often have "pre-selected" the ones that need to be culled before the stalk even starts. And it's a stalk, not a chase! There should be absolutely NO chasing or terrifying the deer, that's a failed hunt if they take off! They are a prey animal and bloody fast so the approach is vital. The ideal is to sneak up and take the deer down in one clean shot and it won't even realise it's dead before it hits the ground.

Rewilding do you mean adding wolves and bears into the mix?

They might keep down thr deer, fox and rabbit numbers but what happens when the wolf and bear umbers get out of control?

What about the cattle and sheep?
Wolves and bears won't get the memo your not allowed to touch them.

Deer do need culling to keep the herds healthy, there isn't unlimited grazing for them, and the weak, older ones are shot {Usually by skilled gamekeepers} and die instantly.
The venison has a value it's not like it goes to waste.
But if someone is a poor shot, no way should they be part of a culling team.

It needs doing cleanly and professionally.

If large predators were around, deer numbers would be naturally kept lower, but as things stand, they can overpopulate the land they are on.

If you read the thread, you'll see that my view is that apex predators should be reintroduced and reforestation undertaken. It would be a length process, but the sooner we start the better.

Culling is necessary in the meantime, but we should stop feeding the deer in winter (make it illegal as a PP suggested), and only professional stalkers should be shooting them. The PoW is not a professional.

I would apply the above to the sport of pheasant shooting too. Pheasants are bred and released purely to be shot. It's got nothing to do with nature at all.

Keeping a population of animals high in order to sell shooting rights is not conservation and is not good land management. No estate that feeds deer has a leg to stand on when they claim it's all about essential culling.

It’s a country thing isn’t it? As long as it’s a necessity I can’t see the problem.

He isn't doing it for conservation reasons. He enjoys it. If it was truly about culling, I can't imagine the future King of England being called upon to do it
yes, let's have a government department to police how people enjoy themselves.
I'd go for meat and dairy eaters who don't give a fuck about where their meat comes from (as long as it's killed behind closed doors)

We don't eat meat. And even if I had small children, I would not expose them to killing as a sport and make them witness hundreds of injuries and death. I wouldn't be delighted they enjoyed it. Most 7 year olds are feeding the ducks and if they found it fun to kill large numbers of them, I'd be concerned.

@Octomore you actually said an army officer isn't a professional with a gun?

If you try reading the thread, you'll see that I've talked about that already

There’s been a huge increase in deer population where I live (rural Scotland) recently. We are having problems locally on the roads. Just a few weeks ago there was a young family killed due to an accident when a number ran out on the main road in the dark. Thankfully the shooting season has started and so the numbers are now being controlled.

Meat gets sold locally too, which is far better than sourcing it from supermarkets where animals have been travelled before slaughter.

As a daughter of a farmer it's an acceptable part of life

I eat meat and fully understand that means animals die.

It’s the enjoying it part that I have a problem with. What does it say about a person if their idea of a good day out is going to kill animals?