Canned hunt

Last updated

A canned hunt is a trophy hunt which is not "fair chase", typically by having game animals kept in a confined area such as in a fenced ranch (i.e. "canned") to prevent the animals' escape and make tracking easier for the hunter, in order to increase the likelihood of the hunter obtaining a kill. The term has been used for driven grouse shooting, in which large areas of Britain are farmed for red grouse. [1] According to WordNet, a canned hunt is a "hunt for animals that have been raised on game ranches until they are mature enough to be killed for trophy collections." [2]

Contents

There have been criticisms of this method of hunting from both hunters and animal welfare advocacy groups. "Canned hunting" and "vanity hunting" are derogatory terms not generally applied by the practitioners of activities so described.

Legislation in the U.S.

Canned hunting has been banned or restricted in 20 states of the United States, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. [3]

In 2006, Alabama was the most recent state to pass legislation banning many forms of canned hunting. [4] In 2007, a bill in the New York State Legislature to ban all canned hunting of certain "exotic" animals was defeated by legislative inaction. [5]

Criticism

A number of groups object to the practice of canned hunting for reasons such as cruelty to animals or that it takes away the hunting ethics known as "fair chase".

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) criticizes canned hunting. In a statement, the HSUS called canned hunts "cruel and brutal activities", in which the hunted animal has "absolutely no chance of escape". It went on to say that animals have been "psychologically conditioned to behave as a target by life in captivity", among other objections. [6]

Some hunting groups, especially those who focus on hunters' ethics, also object to canned hunting. [7] These objections are on the grounds of "fair chase", the idea that an animal has a fair chance of escaping the hunter, and it's not too easy for the hunter to kill the animal. It is believed that canned hunts remove these elements.

Hunting groups such as the Pope and Young Club and the Boone and Crockett Club do not accept animals killed in canned hunts for inclusion in their record books. Boone and Crockett Club refers to the activity as a "canned shoot", as they claim that there is no hunting involved. [8]

Safari Club International no longer accepts animals killed in canned hunts for inclusion in its record books and award categories.

In 2014, 62 cities representing every inhabited continent participated in the first-ever global march against canned hunting, organized by the Campaign Against Canned Hunting. [9]

In the news

In 1997, the Journalist Roger Cook exposes the evils of canned hunting in an edition of The Cook Report entitled "Making a Killing".

In 2005, internet hunting became a major news story when a man in Texas set up a webcam and remotely controlled gun to allow hunters to shoot from their computers. According to the Humane Society, most internet hunts involve game ranches where animals are kept penned, making them essentially canned hunts. [10]

On August 15, 2006, Troy Gentry, half of the country music singing duo Montgomery Gentry, appeared in federal court in Duluth, Minnesota, charged with canned hunting. Federal prosecutors allege that Gentry bought a bear named "Cubby" from Lee Marvin Greenly, shot the tame bear while it was in an enclosed pen, tagged the bear as if it had been killed in the wild, and then arranged for the editing of a videotape of the alleged "wild" kill. [11] Gentry and Greenly were said to face a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a $20,000 fine if convicted. On November 27, 2006, Gentry pleaded guilty to a charge of falsely tagging the bear. Under the plea agreement, he agreed to pay a $15,000 fine, give up hunting, fishing and trapping in Minnesota for 5 years, and forfeit both the stuffed bear and the bow used to shoot the animal in 2004. Gentry posted a statement on the duo's website on November 9, 2010, apologizing for his actions.

A lesser known incident occurred in late 2003, two years prior to the infamous hunting accident, when then-Vice President Dick Cheney participated in a canned hunt at the Rolling Rock Club in Ligonier Township, Pennsylvania. Cheney and nine companions killed 417 out of 500 ringneck pheasants, of which the Vice President killed 70, and an unknown number of mallard ducks. [12]

In 2006, the South African Minister of Environmental Affairs, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, announced new laws to stop the practise of "canned hunting" in his country. [13] The South African Environment Minister announced long-awaited restrictions on lion hunting, declaring he was sickened by wealthy tourists shooting tamed lions from the back of a truck and felling rhinos with a bow and arrow. This comes in response to the imbroglio created over the potential canned hunt of the African rhinoceros 'Baixinha.'[ citation needed ] Dismissing threats of legal action by the hunting industry, Marthinus Van Schalkwyk said the new law would ban "canned" hunting of big predators and rhinos in small enclosures that offer them no means of escape. In addition, lions bred in captivity would have to be released into the open for at least two years before they could be hunted. Van Schalkwyk said a previously proposed six-month delay would not give lions enough time to develop self-defence instincts. "Hunting should be about fair chase ... testing the wits of a hunter against that of the animal," he told a press conference. "Over the years that got eroded and now we are trying to re-establish that principle." [14] This measure was later overturned. [15]

In May 2007, a much-reported hunting trip involved the killing of a 1,051 lb (477 kg) pet pig in an alleged canned hunt. The pig was named "Monster Pig" by the media and was thought to be a feral hog, but it was soon discovered that the pig, previously named "Fred", had been someone's pet and was then sold to a hunting facility only a brief time before he was killed. On May 3, paying customers Mike Stone and his 11-year-old son Jamison hunted the pig in a 150-acre (0.61 km2) fenced enclosure. Jamison shot Fred a total of eight times over a period of three hours. [16]

A June 2007 story on CNN detailed canned hunting in South Africa and includes a video of a canned lion hunt where the animal is shot against a fence. [17] On November 30, 2014, CBS's 60 Minutes broadcast a story ("The Lion Whisperer") about one man's sanctuary in South Africa for 26 lions, raised in captivity, which he rescued from the fate of canned lion hunting. [18] In November 2015, the Professional Hunters' Association of South Africa (PHASA) voted to disassociate itself from the practice of canned lion hunting in South Africa. Unless the conservation value of canned lion hunting is demonstrated to PHASA, the organization will remain against the practice and, under penalty of expulsion, no PHASA members will be permitted to participate in canned lion hunts. [19] In November 2017, PHASA came under fire over the body's reversal of its 2015 policy against the hunting of captive-bred lions.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunting</span> Searching, pursuing, and killing wild animals

Hunting is the human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, and killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to obtain the animal's body for meat and useful animal products, for recreation/taxidermy, although it may also be done for resourceful reasons such as removing predators dangerous to humans or domestic animals, to eliminate pests and nuisance animals that damage crops/livestock/poultry or spread diseases, for trade/tourism, or for ecological conservation against overpopulation and invasive species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big five game</span> African game-hunting species

In Africa, the Big five game animals are the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and African buffalo. The term was coined by big-game hunters to refer to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot, but is now more widely used by game viewing tourists and safari tour operators. They are examples of charismatic megafauna, featuring prominently in popular culture, and are among the most famous of Africa's large animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bait (luring substance)</span> Attracts prey when hunting or fishing

Bait is any appetizing substance used to attract prey when hunting or fishing, most commonly in the form of trapping, ambushing and angling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seal hunting</span> Personal or commercial hunting of marine mammal

Seal hunting, or sealing, is the personal or commercial hunting of seals. Seal hunting is currently practiced in nine countries: Canada, Denmark, Russia, the United States, Namibia, Estonia, Norway, Finland and Sweden. Most of the world's seal hunting takes place in Canada and Greenland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trophy hunting</span> Hunting of wild animals for trophies

Trophy hunting is a form of hunting for sport in which parts of the hunted wild animals are kept and displayed as trophies. The animal being targeted, known as the "game", is typically a mature male specimen from a popular species of collectable interests, usually of large sizes, holding impressive horns, antlers, furs, or manes. Most trophies consist of only select parts of the animal, which are prepared for display by a taxidermist. The parts most commonly kept vary by species but often include the head, hide, tusks, horns, or antlers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bowhunting</span>

Bowhunting is the practice of hunting game animals by archery. Many indigenous peoples have employed the technique as their primary hunting method for thousands of years, and it has survived into contemporary use for sport and hunting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boone and Crockett Club</span> Non-profit organisation in the USA

The Boone and Crockett Club is an American nonprofit organization that advocates fair chase hunting in support of habitat conservation. The club is North America's oldest wildlife and habitat conservation organization, founded in the United States in 1887 by Theodore Roosevelt and George Bird Grinnell. The club was named in honor of hunter-heroes of the day, Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett, whom the club's founders viewed as pioneering men who hunted extensively while opening the American frontier, but realized the consequences of overharvesting game. In addition to authoring a famous "fair chase" statement of hunter ethics, the club worked for the expansion and protection of Yellowstone National Park and the establishment of American conservation in general. The club and its members were also responsible for the elimination of commercial market hunting, creation of the National Park and National Forest Services, National Wildlife Refuge system, wildlife reserves, and funding for conservation, all under the umbrella of what is known today as the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Safari Club International</span> American hunters rights organization

Safari Club International (SCI) is a US organization composed of hunters dedicated to protecting the “freedom to hunt.” SCI has more than 40,000 members and 180 local chapters. SCI members agree to abide by the organization's code of ethics, which includes making a positive contribution to wildlife and ecosystems, complying with game laws, and assisting game and fish officers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big–game hunting</span> Hunting of large animals

Big-game hunting is the hunting of large game animals for trophies, taxidermy, meat, and commercially valuable animal by-products. The term is often associated with the hunting of Africa's "Big Five" games, and Indian rhinoceros and Bengal tigers on the Indian subcontinent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opposition to hunting</span> Movement against hunting

Opposition to hunting is espoused by people or groups who object to the practice of hunting, often seeking anti-hunting legislation and sometimes taking on acts of civil disobedience, such as hunt sabotage. Anti-hunting laws, such as the English Hunting Act 2004, are generally distinguishable from conservation legislation like the American Marine Mammal Protection Act by whether they seek to reduce or prevent hunting for perceived cruelty-related reasons or to regulate hunting for conservation, although the boundaries of distinction are sometimes blurred in specific laws, for example when endangered animals are hunted.

<i>Løvejagten</i> 1907 Danish silent film

Løvejagten was a controversial 1907 silent film by Danish producer Ole Olsen and director Viggo Larsen. The short ten-minute movie caused an enormous public protest in Denmark because it depicted the actual shooting of two captive lions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Boddington</span> American hunter (born 1952

Craig Boddington is a multi-media outdoor journalist, TV show host, author and retired Marine.

Abe Walsh is an American author who has written extensively about his hunting, fishing and back-country adventures. He has written for over 25 magazine titles, and authored or ghost-written several hardcover books on the subject. He has also appeared on-camera on television hunting shows.

<i>African Hunting Holiday</i> 2008 film

African Hunting Holiday is a 2008 British documentary by Louis Theroux.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professional hunter</span>

A professional hunter is a person who hunts and/or manages game by profession. Some professional hunters work in the private sector or for government agencies and manage species that are considered overabundant, others are self-employed and make a living by selling hides and meat, while still others guide clients on big-game hunts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killing of Cecil the lion</span> Lion that lived in the Hwange National Park

Cecil was a male African lion who lived primarily in the Hwange National Park in Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe. He was being studied and tracked by a research team of the University of Oxford as part of a long-term study.

Fair chase is a term used by hunters to describe an ethical approach to hunting big game animals. North America's oldest wildlife conservation group, the Boone and Crockett Club, defines "fair chase" as requiring the targeted game animal to be wild and free-ranging. "Wild" refers to an animal that is naturally bred and lives freely in nature. "Free-ranging" means an animal that is not restrained by traps or artificial barriers, so it has a fair chance of successfully escaping from the hunt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green hunting</span>

Green hunting is the practice of tracking and shooting game animals with non-lethal tranquilizer guns or bows and subsequently releasing the captured animals alive. Green hunting would typically be performed when tranquilization of the animal is necessary for veterinary, monitoring or species translocation purposes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunting in the United States</span>

Hunting is a significant subsistence and recreational activity in the United States. Regulation of hunting began in the 19th century. Some modern hunters see themselves as conservationists. American hunting tradition values fair chase, which values the balance between the hunter and the animals. A 2006 poll showed that 78% of Americans support hunting. 6% of Americans have hunted. Hunting is most popular in the Midwest.

References

  1. ↑ Rebirding: Rewilding Britain and its birds. Benedict Macdonald, 2019, Pelagic Publishing. p. 171.
  2. ↑ "Canned hunt: Definition with Canned hunt Pictures and Photos". Lexic.us. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Canned Hunting". Christinabush.com. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  4. ↑ http://www.hsus.org Archived November 16, 2015, at the Wayback Machine The Humane Society of the United States
  5. ↑ Benjamin Klein, Bill to ban canned hunts falls prey to the legislative clock Archived February 24, 2015, at the Wayback Machine , Legislative Gazette, June 25, 2007.
  6. ↑ "Canned Hunts". Issues Facing Wildlife. Humane Society of the United States. Archived from the original on June 16, 2006. Retrieved August 4, 2006.
  7. ↑ "Canned Hunts: Unfair at Any Price | Animal Legal & Historical Center". www.animallaw.info.
  8. ↑ "Boone and Crockett Club Position Statement". Boone and Crockett Club. Archived from the original on September 18, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  9. ↑ Your African Safari, "Campaign against canned hunting in South Africa: interview with Chris Mercer"
  10. ↑ Humane Society Wildlife Abuse Campaign, "Fact sheet on Internet Hunting". Archived from the original on October 28, 2008.
  11. ↑ "Country star accused of illegally killing tame bear". Archived from the original on August 21, 2006. Retrieved August 16, 2006.
  12. ↑ "Cheney faces heat for 'canned hunt'". Today.com, Jeannette Walls with Ashley Pearson, December 18, 2003. December 10, 2003.
  13. ↑ "Huntersouthafrica supports Dart safaris". Archived from the original on October 23, 2006. Retrieved October 22, 2006.
  14. ↑ Nullis, Clare (February 22, 2007). "South Africa bans hunting caged lions". Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  15. ↑ "South Africa Resumes Canned Hunting".
  16. ↑ "Eight Shots, Three Hours, One Death: The Story of a Canned Hunt". Archived from the original on June 6, 2007. Retrieved June 1, 2007.
  17. ↑ "CNN "Shooting Lions in South Africa"". Cnn.com. June 8, 2007. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  18. ↑ Clarissa Ward (November 30, 2014). "The lion whisperer". CBS News. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  19. ↑ "PHASA Distances Itself From Captive-Bred Lion Hunting".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.