Hunting as a sport [View All]

[ashling]

What criteria should there be for an activity or pastime to be considered a sport?

The implication of calling something a sport, imho, is that there is, at the very least:
1. a fair playing field, ie rules thatapply equally to all involved, and
2. all involved in the activity are involved by thier own free will

Hunting fails on both counts.

Around here, hunting deer is a big time thing for the hunters and the local economy. I don't think, however, that it is tops on the deers list of activities.

Every, grocery store, convenience store, gas station, and the local evil mega conglomerate (your home for cheap plastic crap) has bags and bags of "Deer Corn" stacked out front.

This is purchased in great quantities by these "sportsmen/women" so that they can befriend these animals with a free lunch. Once the deer have bee conditioned to come to the same place every day at the same time, the hunters set up thier little portable outhouses with gunslits for windows. Then they dress from head to toe in camoflauge gear (including camoflauge underwear) so that they will go unnoticed as the deer come in to feed.

Today I noticed on the Texas Parks and Wildlife site that they are considerin regulating "remote controlled hunting." There are actually businesses promoting remote controlled hunting including aiming and firing a rifle by computer.

Now the hunters don't even have to leave the house.

If this is really a "sport," there at least need to be cheerleaders. I am rooting for the deer.

Give me a D - give me an E - give me another E - give me an R -

GooooOOO DEER!