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

It would be much better if we forced someone who would get really upset by it to cull them.

Oooof. Mind bleach required stat 🤣

@Kissingfrogs25 why do you keep linking to children dying on fox hunts when we're talking about deer stalking? I'm enormously upset that a two year old died on a fox hunt but dear god, who puts a two year old on a pony and sends them into any sort of uncontrolled environment?

Culling is needed

Venison is a healthy low carbon red meat

Where I draw the line is incompetent marksmen and selling hunting rights for profit which often go hand in hand

If the deer need to be culled, fine.
Do it with a marksman...not a posh bloke with a shotgun.

Maybe it should be left to the skilled people then that it’s not an enjoyable ‘sport’ for.

Those that take photos grinning inanely at the camera like there’s literally nothing between their ears because they fancy ‘having a go’, like it’s bungy jumping or skydiving, no thanks. Feeling clever that they’ve killed a defenceless animal, even if you argue it’s necessary, it’s not clever and not something to feel proud of if you actually have a brain. Getting that rush of excitement, like many have described after doing it is nothing short of psychopathic.

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

But we're not discussing hunting are we? It's stalking. If stalking was chaotic, they would be hugely unsuccessful.

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.

Of course all of these should be banned EXCEPT for deer hunting. Deer hunting is a conservation practice, the rest have no place in conservation at current so of course should be illegal. And most people who understand the countryside, who live in the countryside, work in it, fully understand that.

A shotgun is a tool. And for all you know PW is a very competent shot.

It’ is outrageous that it continues unabated. William really doesn’t care about public opinion or wildlife. Complete hypocrite!

It is literally one of the only things that made me admire Meghan, her refusal to go to shoots and hunts. All credit to her.

Tbh your OP and subsequent posts show no understanding of wildlife or the countryside. It's just another in the daily bashing of Will and Kate.

Is starting daily threads 'stalking' humans more humane? Hmm, I'm sure there's a thesis in there somewhere 🤔

He will be an excellent shot, he will not be alone. This won’t be done Willy nilly.

Exactly - he doesn't give a shit - they want to be monarchs with the respect of all the people and don't seem to get that hunting is the red line for a good proportion of the population. They are not just another rich family after all. That's as shocking as the actual act have they learnt nothing?

A friend had to go to A&E with her husband's tackle stuck in her finger, does that count?

(Fishing tackle, obvs)

That is pony racing - nothing to do with blood sports! There are now no mounted blood sports as they were banned so riding accidents are just that, riding accidents. Nothing at all to do with deer stalking.

Crikey OP you have some strong views which is admirable particularly regarding animals. However how do you suggest we do cull the population of deer which very sadly does need to be done. It wouldn't have made the news if journalists hadn't been following them so they didn't exactly make it into the glam event suggested elsewhere.

Gamekeepers are most certainly not toffs!

Unfortunately the deer population is out of control (we have problems in the south too) and a cull is the only way this can happen. Sad but true, otherwise too many are on not enough land to sustain them throughout the year fighting for food and territory.

Ohh that depends @FamilyTreeBuilder - did it result in an overflowing department!?! And I think it only counts if there was a rush of joy and euphoria at the thought of killing an animal.

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.

Oh deer. 🤔

Yes but letting deer and other species starve to death is the right thing to do because their numbers are out of control thanks to human intervention eh! Much better that you and Meghan prefer our countryside to be decimated and for lots of species to starve to death eh @Kissingfrogs25. Or is it easier to ignore that long cruel death?

No I don’t understand how anyone can take pleasure in killing an animal even if it is something that needs to be done. It’s perverted. I get upset if I step on a snail accidentally and was upset by the slug thread!

I didn’t realise that Chris Packham, who is unsurprisingly vocal about hunting, had had a Land Rover Discovery firebombed outside his home. Could have been absolutely horrifying and tragic.

Here in the country shoots whether pheasant or deer - hunting etc it all rolls into the same thing.

Blood sports and the death of animals for entertainment.

It has nothing at all to do with management or conservation. It is so far from that as to be a total joke!!!
It is tweed, jolly jokes about dead and dying animals,, indulgent lunches with fine wine for the day. Pure entertainment

Exactly. I have a relative who used to be a gamekeeper. They would eat pigeon to feed themselves and their community because they were poor and so was their community. This lack of understanding is so snobbish.

Your hatred of the royal family is massively damaging your argument. Most large estates will have deer culls. The country park very loc to me and only a mile from the city centre will do it.

I am all for the reintroduction of bears and wolves to create a more natural way of population control.

Then in a few years we could listen to every deer lover on here demand the bears be shot because they've started hunting the humans for food 😆