Pig Hunting Ethics

[taperxz]

Dogs or no dogs? That is the question.

[ladiver]

Looking forward to the answer.

[deckhandmike]

What do dogs and ethics have to do with each other? Legal hunting is legal hunting. Hunting with dogs is way more work than cruising around a private ranch with a quad.

[taperxz]

What do dogs and ethics have to do with each other? Legal hunting is legal hunting. Hunting with dogs is way more work than cruising around a private ranch with a quad.

Because i have been asked which way i want to hunt hogs. So i posted this here to see what reactions and opinions i get.

[Sleighter]

I think as long as there is a biologically sound reason to hunt an animal: control numbers, decrease depredation and loss of agriculture, meat, etc. that it doesn't matter how the animal is tracked and killed as long as it's humane.

Put simply, if the animal needs to go, and it's done with minimal suffering on the part of the prey, then I think it's ethical.

[ElvenSoul]

Total cat discrimination

[Bull Elk]

No dogs for me.

[180ls1]

What do dogs and ethics have to do with each other? Legal hunting is legal hunting.

Ones morality should not be defined by what is legal or not. I am sure you agree but i just wanted to point that out.

I see no issue with dogs or no dogs, is hunting without dogs probably more ethical? In most circumstances i would say yes but its still an ethical way to take an animal IMO.

[Don@Tahoe]

Pigs ball sacks make great ball hitch covers, you have to stretch them a little bit for the 2" inchers, but they work pretty good....

[Scott72]

Ok I'm new to here and never post. I would say with dogs. I have done it twice on pigs and it was awesome. If you have not done it you have to try it once. It was also a lot more work than gust driving around and shooting them. Just my opinion.

[Divernhunter]

I have hunted without dogs.
I would like to be in physical shape to hunt with dogs.
I hunted bear with dogs and it is not as easy as it sounds.
Sporting---Certainly YES

If you get a chance to do it I would say take it.

[lewdogg21]

Lol Don you are scaring me. With dogs is my vote. I can't experience dogs on bears or cats now so I would like to see them on pigs before that is banned. The most fun hunting is seeing your hard work and training paying off when your dogs are "on".

[zio707]

I used to help my grandfather push bucks out of the thick brush with dogs, it was really exciting seeing 'em pick up the sent and take off barking as they worked the area. I have no quarrels hunters with using dogs while pig hunting.

[bigboarstopper]

I like it.

I think it's all perspective. A hog who is shot with a rifle may or may not know it was even being hunted. Shot from hundreds of yards away somone could say it isn't fair. Getting within hundreds of yards of an animal is all that is necessasary to kill an animal in modern times. A huge difference from just a few generations ago. Up until the age of gunpowder hunting was limited to bow or spear at close range where the hunter didn't have the luxury of safety and silence as they do today. On the flip side accurate rifles make for precision shots and quick death making the argument that it is more ethical.

With dogs the hog can be bit and even killed by the dogs depending on its size. Dogs can and have been hurt or killed pursuing wild boar. Rare as it happens people could say its more ethical to shoot them as it reduces the pain and suffering if the two parties tangle. On the flip side, hunting with dogs gives a hog an oppertunity to escape by using its intelligence and speed. Many people like myself think this is more ethical as it allows the boar to use more of its brains, strength and natural abilities to face off an adversary it has evolved to face. The hog knows exactly what the intent is when the dogs show up barking essentially giving a true representation of fair chase as this senario exists or existed naturally with wolves and lions for mabye millions of years in nature. The hunter in this situation must pursue wherever this event happens. It can go for hours and miles over mountains and down steep rugged brushy canyons. This can test the hunters physical abilities. It definitely tests the hunters mental abilitiy when presented with a wild boar in fight or flight mode as the hunter attempts to make a shot after physical exertion (or stab in other states) in close quarters. With these added physical and mental tests a hunter faces in this situation compared to a rifle shot from hundred yards away many think it's more ethical.

[TheDadLife]

Well put BBS. Never really saw it that way.