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

This? YABU, do you know anything about the countryside op?

Do you eat meat? Wear leather? Consume dairy products? Wear clothes from fast fashion retailers? Easy to point but can you say that you live your life 100% in balance and harmony with nature, the poor, the rest of the world? I mean based on your op, I am guessing not.

For every argument made for the culling of deer or other animals, I could reasonably make pretty much the same argument for culling human beings.

how the fuck would anyone know the age of an animal in a shoot?

Are you being actually serious here? Of course the gamekeepers can tell if they are looking at a young animal or old animal just in the same way as if you pass someone walking their Labrador in the park, you can tell if it's a puppy, adult or elderly.

There is animal management, then there are bloodsports. With bloodsports the way you know it is a bit wrong is the performance, the rituals and the need to dress up.

The best way to care for wild animals is to remove the weak and sick from the herd. The royal family have a lot of respect for all animals and their estates are managed with animal welfare as one of the highest priorities. Your post shows a complete lack of understanding of ecology and animal welfare in the wild. Would you prefer this?
www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/27/dutch-rewilding-experiment-backfires-as-thousands-of-animals-starve

I'm very invested emotionally in foxes but that translates to all living things and am a vegan btw and seeing Charle's well-known previous have every reason to suspect deer culling lives in the same place of their 'killer' brains. Just imagine William trialled some of the ways suggested below but no got to get their kicks.

www.veganlifemag.com/deer-under-attack/#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20contraceptive%20measures,they%20are%20far%20less%20populated.

However campaigners like Lesley aren’t against controlling deer population: they just want to see a genuinely humane alternative to shooting the animals. Focus needs to be on management – the alternative for many deer is a lingering death. Lesley says: “In the last few years, it’s quite exciting, there actually is an alternative. It’s called GonaCon it’s an immune-contraceptive that can be injected, darted into the deer, it’s been used in the US on various mammal species.”

This method of control would be welcome from the animals’ point of view:
evidence suggests that whilst most deer are shot, this doesn’t actually confirm a pain free death for the deer and some will not die instantly from the wound and be left to suffer. According to an ongoing survey with The British Deer Society, 88 per cent of deer are killed with one bullet-leaving a number requiring multiple gunshot wounds. Simon Leadbetter writes: “Assumptions about suffering can be made. Some wounded deer may recover, but that they must suffer in some measure is incontestable. There are then 12 per cent which required additional bullets for dispatch – suggesting at the least a greater likelihood of suffering, though both bullets may be fired in quick succession. The fortunate 88 per cent majority will probably die quite quickly, though the BDS research assumes rather than demonstrates or records this.”

Well, no. This argument is not acceptable.

Estate management is not all about toffs waving guns around . The gamekeepers and ghillies take their roles very seriously.They are not upper class but regular working people. Because of them the environment is kept balanced and well maintained. All of the venison is used- it doesn’t go to waste.

Its what would have happened when we were hunter gatherers. Whilst there is no NEED to do this now, it’s required to keep a balance of nature. We also no longer have bears and other predators help numbers controlled. Maybe you would happier if these were reintroduced, however that it’s a much more savage way to die.

@Kissingfrogs25 you've really, REALLY illustrated you have no idea what you are talking about there!! 😂
Yes an experienced stalker CAN tell the age of a deer. And the sex, and if it is ill. And how fast do you think people run!?! 😂 stalking is done very, very slowly!! Over hours. The whole point is you don't want the deer to know you are there because they fuck off a lot quicker than a person on foot can follow! On a good stalk the deer is shot without ever knowing someone is hunting it. It takes serious skill, understanding of the quarry and takes into account weather and environmental factors.

@DomesticShortHair . I have also reported your post.

William for sure is very much indulging in pure blood sports. Not wildlife management.
There is a world of difference.
Children die on hunts, and no one likes to ponder too much on that fact, the royal family are supporting blood sports and death.

How is this ever acceptable to anyone in 2022?

Deer culling is necessary. It's also kinder to cull the older deer who would otherwise starve to death.
How do you know William enjoys it? You seem to be basing your argument on a daily mail article, for that alone you are unreasonable.
Look up how chickens and pigs are killed for meat in this country. You'd be better focusing your energy and complaints in that area.

Oh dear. Sorry for any offence caused. I never suggested turning guns on people! Just a tongue in cheek comment that if it's ok to cull animals it's OK to cull people for the damage they cause. NOT serious.

Children die on hunts?!? Eh!?

Deer do need to be culled. My preferred way of doing it would be the reintroduction of formerly native apex predators to the UK.

Across Europe, wolf and lynx populations are gradually recovering and proving beneficial to the ecosystems they live in. They were previously hunted to extinction in the UK by humans, and I think a managed reintroduction here would be fantastic.

Well given the OP is using a vegan mag to argue their point, why are we surprised they can't see further than the daily mail?!

Deer culling is a hugely important conservation activity. The meat is also eaten quite widely after the deer have lived a natural life, they cull deer of a certain age. 80% is eaten in the UK in restaurants alone so one of the most sustainable meats that there is really.

Deer have a massive impact on the environment for many reasons, mainly due to the huge population which is around 2 million and rising around 30% per year. Ecologists and conservationists agree it is necessary. Without deer culling the nightingale would be at threat for example. 40% of woodland in this country has ‘unfavourable’ herbivore damage, predominantly from deer. This means that woodland isn’t regenerating, saplings are being killed and established trees are ring barked killing them. It has a huge impact on the biodiversity of this country.

Its presumably easier to easier to criticise something you have absolutely no understanding of than to spend two minutes researching it though.

I live rurally on an estate right next door !! I can tell you now no one gives a flying about the age!! What a hoot that you seem to think they do!
Cheap disinformation that you are peddling.

Because of them the environment is kept balanced and well maintained.

Sadly the ecosystem in upland areas of Scotland is anything but well balanced and well maintained. The scale of the erosion alone shows how badly overgrazing has affected the land. A lot of rewilding is needed.

I could no more kill a deer than a fly but deer culling is a normal countryside practice. There are lots of websites related to the practice of it and they can tell the age of the deer.

I am assuming op you’ve never had to deal with wild deer. They do need culling, th4 population increases hugely and can cause a lot of damage. They actually can conceive at about 6 months old, and there is no such thing as sibling relationships, so they conceive with deer from their own pack at a avery young age and the population can exponential explode. It’s very different to fox hunting. It’s estate management.

All of the three deer parks close to me are Royal Parks. Entry is free to the public. The maintaining of the parks is funded out of the Royal purse. There is a lot of damage done to the park environment by dogs each year. Over 1,500 deer have been killed by dogs and traffic over the past five years in my local parks

twickenham.nub.news/news/local-news/over-1500-deer-dead-in-richmond39s-royal-parks-in-last-five-years-official-figures-reveal

Children die on hunts?
Do you know what deer stalking is? There is a lot of sitting around waiting- it is not the place for young children and your statement clearly shows you have no idea what you are talking about.
It is absolutely not like fox hunting. Do you actually think there are people on horseback chasing deer over the countryside?? 😂

Kensington Palace declined to comment. That says it all really - why didn't they use some of the conservation arguments elegantly detailed here? and educate us towny plebs.

What are your sources proving he "gets kicks" and "enjoys" it OP?

Spoken to him have you?