Elk Hunting – The Ethics Issues
As with any modern-day hunting activity, there will always be ethical issues
attached to it. Elk hunting is not spared. The debate on this has spawned as
long as some form of legislative body has been in place and will definitely go
on as long as there are differing opinions on game hunting.
One key issue is the hunting season itself. Avid elk hunters are aware that
seasonal hunting gives the best opportunity for a good hunt, whether for meat
or for trophy. However, in recent developments, all-season hunting has been
made available, meaning hunters are able to choose the time that suits them the
most and go hunting at any time of the year. This is the result of game farms,
where farmers allocate hectares of land to breed and raise elk and other game
animals, for the sole purpose of allowing hunters to pay and hunt within these
encroachments.
Activists believe this has made elk hunting too much of a sport without taking
into consideration the biological needs of the elk population. This includes
interfering with and manipulating of the natural breeding and birthing cycle
and process. This in turn will result in less superior elks, more prone to
cross-animal diseases and other genetic implications.
The other pertinent issue would be the purpose of hunting them. Different
hunters are into this activity for different reasons. Apart from the lean meat
that wild elks provide, there are hunters who are in it for the endurance-like
challenge, with end-result of either taking away with them the meat or just the
trophy, which ultimately are the head and antlers. In some cases, such as in
“research captures”, the elks are tranquilized and only the antlers removed.
The age of the elks hunted also varies. This aspect may be an issue among some.
The meat-hunters will go for elks that have just matured into young bulls or
cows and occasionally yearlings or calves are hunted as well. For trophy
hunters, the more matured bulls provide the best yield. Occasionally, hunting
for cows means that the yearlings’dependent upon them will lose their provider, for nursing and protection.
Weakened calves or death among the still-nursing, abandoned calves will be
almost eminent.
Another issue raised by many is the method of hunting or killing of the elks.
While it is well known that primitive weaponry is no longer used, it is often
debated whether modern-day weaponry such as rifles and tranquilizer guns are
more humane. Reality is, a hunt means stalking and immobilizing it, or ideally,
killing the elk the fastest possible way. However, in many cases, injury not
resulting in instantaneous death of the hunted elk does occur. In many cases,
the use of high-powered rifles results in a direct hit of vital organs.
However, the elk is either still able to move about, resulting in the hunter
having to hunt for a wounded, suffering elk. In some instances, where terrain
and weather may hamper the hunter, it may take hours or worse, days before a
wounded elk is found. By then it would probably have died a fairly agonizing
death.
Other concerns raised by certain parties are the ecological impact of such
activity. This includes the trail of human litter, where irresponsible hunters
may leave behind gear or rubbish brought along into the wilderness while
hunting.