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

Here is another wee child that died on a hunt
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/yorkshire-hunt-pony-death-girl-b1922666.html?amp

Do you know how bloody dangerous and chaotic hunts are? Do you have any idea of the reality of a proper hunt?

That's not deer stalking though?

Where I live in central England the deer population has exploded (left unculled over lockdown) and though beautiful to see they are causing great damage to a finely balanced ecosystem. Normally they supply excellent quality venison for local butchers and restaurants. Hopefully the population will be reduced to sustainable levels soon by carefully planned culling.

That one, I would say the parents were negligent.

Who lets a two year old on a pony by themselves let alone on a hunt?!

Yes, it’s well known that you can’t get an ambulance for love or money in the Cotswolds because of the sheer volume of near-fatal blood sports incidents they’re tied up with. If you pop down to Gloucester Royal hospital you’ll see them queuing outside A&E with their tweed-clad cargo.

Given that humans have driven all the native apex predators to extinction it's our job now.

Bullshit.

Given that humans have driven all the native apex predators to extinction, we need to look at how we can reverse that process and reintroduce our native fauna, including apex predators.

Human intervention via 'culling' does not result in a balanced ecosystem. Too many estates have a vested interest in maintaining excessive deer populations.

It wouldn’t matter though would it? You have absolutely no interest in being educated at all.

Please provide the statistics to back this claim up @Kissingfrogs25. I'm a student nurse and my shifts in a&e have so far proven the departments are overflowing due to a huge amount of people with sore fingers and who don't know that a cold isn't an a&e matter. I've not come across 1 patient who sustained injuries in the course of stalking, let alone enough to overflow a department!

For those claiming it is hyperbole clearly have no idea at all of the reality
Here is another child that lost his life:

www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/uk-sport-news/boy-13-dies-after-pony-24927790.amp

Establishing the credentials of the Windsors being superlative conservationists who have animal welfare as a high priority.

So you would prefer the old sick deer to starve to death, being shunned by the herd and occasionally attacked by the dominant stags. Okay, I bow to your compassion

This. William only puts down dying deer from a deep compassion for all animals.

He will only swat very elderly flies. You will often find him in Trafalgar Square putting suck pigeons out of their misery.

He put down my cat and we didn't even realise a chipped tooth was terminal. Frankly, we had a hard time getting him to leave, he kept eyeing up granny.

Absolutely spot on.

They do need to be culled because otherwise they starve, as well as eating the bark from trees which kills a disproportionate number of trees.

What's weird is that in some countries the deer population is managed by (i.e. they're killed by) gamekeepers/ foresters (the same people who fell diseased or damaged trees and do all the other forest management/ maintenance) and in others its seen as sport, even elite sport.

You clearly didn’t read that one. He was racing his pony not hunting

I do think people who are squeamish about killing other species need to get over themselves. (I include myself in that. Also, it's scenario dependent, killing that produces food and doesn't threaten an endangered species is more acceptable.)

😂😂

Unless we decide to reintroduce a large predator like lynx (I honestly hope that we do) deer need to be culled otherwise the overgrazing is going to wipe out dozens of our native species. Totally don't understand how anyone gets enjoyment out of such an act though.

Deer are a problem in the U.K. their numbers are out of control. They damage habitats that will lead to the death of vital wild spaces and other important species. Same for things like grey squirrels, they’re not cute fluffy animals, they’re wreaking havoc on the other species.

you need to consider all the other creatures that suffer and die as a result. I don’t like hunting and couldn’t do it, but I appreciate those who have to keep numbers in check.

This is Conservation. It’s not like killing lions and then posing with them for fun, this is a job that has to be done for the same of wildlife. You need to understand the balance of nature and how humans have fucked it up.

I understand the need to reduce the population of deer but hate the fact that some people see it as a form of entertainment and enjoy killing them.

You're confusing deer culling for conservation purposes with sport shooting. Deer numbers certainly need to be reduced and culling is an important part of this, although predator reintroduction would undoubtedly help too.

Shooting estates are very opposed to reducing the numbers though as it would reduce the income they get from clients. People will pay large amounts of money for the experience of shooting a stag. They won't pay for the much less glamorous but more important task of keeping numbers down by routine culling of breeding age females.

Deer have to be culled in the U.K. because there's no natural predators. If you don't they end up starving, destroying trees etc. We haven't got wolves or bears now

The "animal charity" is the League Against Cruel Sports who aren't exactly impartial in their views.

Because they know it is hugely unpopular and shameful.

www.ipsos.com/en-uk/attitudes-hunting-2017

A new national poll commissioned by the animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports finds that majority of the British public are still in favour of keeping a number of activities banned in the Hunting Act illegal.

When asked whether each activity should or should not be made legal again, 85% say fox hunting should not be made legal again, 87% deer hunting, 90% hare hunting and coursing, 99% dog fighting, and 94% and badger baiting.

It sounds like culling may be necessary, but whether it is or not doesn’t have any bearing on whether it’s an appropriate hobby for the heir to the throne. I would think it’s time for the family to move their image away from this kind of thing. Presumably they can find someone else to do it.

Also, everyone call in it disgusting, are you all vegans or never drive cars? Or do pigs that turn into sausages not get your compassion?

you are aware that a lot of deer who are shot will also be eaten? Does that make it more palatable for you? Eat a deer, save a cow.