I started fishing at age 7, and have been trapping, and hunting since age 13. I have had success in all these areas due to my dedication of learning the outdoors. In the case of hunting, I spent many hours learning to observe animal movements and their tracks and learn as many of their habits as possible. This has made me not only successful at hunting, but also has given me a deeper understanding of how animals try to survive daily life the best they can.
The same holds true with trapping. A lot of people think of trappers as people who go out laying traps anywhere they can in hopes of catching animals. Nothing is further from the truth. They also believe the media and movie versions of what trapping is and what traps look like. Trappers have to know the habits of the animals they pursue in order to be successful. "The laying traps at random" doesn’t work, and has to my knowledge never been done by anyone trying to successfully and humanely trap any animal. Also the traps as shown in media coverage are not traps used today. The toothed trap has been outlawed where I live since the 1940’s, and has been in most of the country as well. The traps I use today are smooth jawed footholds, snares, or cage traps. The foothold catches the most attention as being a cruel, inhumane method of trapping. This is totally false. I have heard all the claims to animals having broken legs, or chewing their legs off to get away. In fact if I had a dollar for every time I have heard it I would be a wealthy man. I have been caught in every size foothold trap I own and have suffered NO broken bones. My wife and I give trapping demonstrations in schools and any other event we are invited to, and at these events I always stick my fingers in a set trap to prove the misconceptions about trapping are false. It sure raises their eyebrows. We also had a poodle (a tiny teacup weighing 2 ˝ pounds) step in a trap designed to catch coyotes. She didn’t suffer any broken bones and in fact only limped for 2-3 minutes.
There are far more cruel ways for an animal to die than trapping or hunting. Starvation because of over population or diseases of many kinds that slowly cripple and kill animals are far worse. I have witnessed coyotes with mange so bad they didn’t have a hand full of hair left on their bodies or deer with fibrous tumors so thick and large it made you wonder how they could stand to live.
Just some of the diseases wildlife suffers from being overcrowded are:
1. Tularemia is a bacterial disease that is also contagious to humans. It can be transferred to humans from handling a diseased animal, from tick or fleabites, drinking contaminated water or by inhaling contaminated dust.
2. Sarcoptic mange is fatal to wild animals and has been reported to be the reason red fox populations have declined in a number of states. It is contagious to humans and domestic animals as well. It is caused by a mite biting and causing an irritating itching that causes animals to dig until their hair comes out and sores appear.
3. Roundworms are a potentially dangerous parasite commonly found in the small intestine of raccoons. The larvae are known to infect humans and other animals. The eggs are most commonly ingested in raccoon feces by inhaling the dust while cleaning up after they have been removed from a house or chimney. A few eggs are of little threat to a full grown adult but in the case of over exposure or children central nervous system damage does occur along with eye damage and it can even result in death.
4. Giardiasis commonly known as beaver fever, is a tiny protozoan that is a parasite. It is contagious to humans and domestic animals. It causes abdominal pain, diarrhea and nausea for weeks in people. It can be spread from unwashed hands to mouth, contaminated water, unwashed salad greens, or handling a contaminated animal.
5. Lyme Disease is a bacteria transmitted by ticks to man and wild animals. It causes nausea, fevers, and achy joints.
6. Rabies has and always will be one of the worst wildlife diseases. Human deaths have declined to an average of one to two per year, but the toll on wildlife is on the increase once again. It costs millions annually to control rabies with major outbreaks still occurring.
To me any of these diseases are crueler to an animal then trapping or hunting them.
I have heard claims that fake fur is as beautiful as natural fur and more environmentally friendly. I don’t know how anyone could make such an obviously ignorant claim. Natural fur is a renewable resource replaced with animals being born every year. Fake fur is made from acrylic or polyester, which are made from non-renewable resources. The ingredients in acrylic material are, coal, air, water, petroleum and limestone. The ingredients in polyester are, coal, air, water and oil. I don’t know where the claims of environmental friendliness come in, the main ingredients are obviously fossil fuels and clean air and water. The by-products are contaminated air, and water, not to mention toxic waste.
One of the major waste products of manufacturing acrylic material is acrylic acid. It is described by the EPA as a colorless corrosive liquid. The effects on the environment and life depends on how much is present. It can cause burning of the eyes, shortness of breath, allergies, and long term exposure can cause kidney and lung damage.
I would like to ask a few questions for those people who don't believe in the use of animals, and I want you to think carefully about your answers.
1. What are your clothes made of?
2. What are your shoes, belt or hat made of?
3. Do you drive a car?
The reasons I ask these questions is to make you think. If you want to know why I asked it is simple.
1. Clothes all are made at the expense of some type of wildlife even if it is considered a pest.
2. Most shoes, belts and hats are made of some type of leather. Felt hats are made of sheared beaver fur.
3. Cars kill millions of bugs a year, a stretch but still life that deserves a chance. Also the fuel is made of decomposed plants and animals.
Check into the ingredients of products, then look up those hard to pronounce names on the internet and see where they originated.
I hope this explains to everyone reading, these are the reasons I love to hunt and trap. We do use the most of every animal taken. I was taught a long time ago not to hunt, fish or trap if I wasn’t going to use what I had been blessed with the ability to take. I am not a ruthless killer or inhumane and yes I do truly love animals. I personally am thankful that I have been blessed with my abilities and the teaching of many men and women far wiser then I will ever be. I hope I have made some of the readers stop and think if even for a few minutes.
