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Q:
This is an ethics question.
I hunt a tree line for the most part. It is approximately ten feet wide, and surrounds a two acre field planted this year with corn. There is a house in front, but centered away from the tree line. There are four apple trees about fifty yards behind the house, and running parallel to the back wall of the house.
I've been scouting the area, and it seems the deer come out of the corn well away from the tree-line, and visit the apples on the ground for a tasty treat. then they continue on past the house, and then cross the road into the neighbor's field. Well away from any stand I could put up.
How ethical would it be for me to simply wait at the corner of the house, and pick one as they traveled towards the property line?
I am a meat hunter, not a rack hunter. I'm out of work like so many others today, and may depend on the venison to survive. I know this isn't "sporting," but then again I'm not hunting for sport.
But is it ethical?
Question by ZRocketman. Uploaded on October 08, 2009
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Answers (28)
i would take one of them
If you have permission to hunt near the house then do it. I'd do the same if the choice was to feed my family or let them go to bed hungry.
As long as your not shooting from the living room in a lounge chair, shoot away.
I would consider you ethical and lucky enough to be able to pull a truck up to the kill.
You are showing that you have ethics on your mind by even asking the question and by putting it forward to others for thought.
The only unethical things I could see would be proximity to a public road or occupants of the house (if it is being lived in). If you have permission and it is a clear, safe shot I don't really see the problem.
What makes this different(or less ethical) than shooting from some of these very elaborate 'stands' that some of these plantations have?
As stated above, with permission, shooting away from the house and road,...go for it. Fill that freezer. If legal, come back and do it again the next day, if you need the meat. Shoot straight!
Agreed. As long as it's a safe shot, you have permission, & you're legal there, go for it. Good luck & have a safe hunt.
Man I love fresh TENDERLOIN!! If all is safe and you have permission, shoot away my friend!
Put 'em down.
You have permission to hunt or own the land and a hunting license then fire away.
I have 2 pop up blinds and a couple deer stands. I would use the blinds in your case. However, what sounds to me, the owners of the Apple Trees and Corn Field have a problem of deer eating all what they have or may have. Get permission from the person who owns/lives at the house and perhaps you can open a back window and shoot out of it from there? As far as ethics are concerned I don't see a problem in the service your providing and it's not like your road hunting or spot lighting.
I say Good Luck and fill your freezer with meat to feed your family!!!!!
I agree! If you have permission and are very careful with your shots, and a license no reason not to do it. Feeding your family is your biggest concern.
KILL KILL KILL!
well if you have to feed your family and your not going after a big buck i'd say go for it and if you got permission shoot away and offer land owner some meat if you get one.
If you have permission to hunt the property I'd find nothing wrong with using the foundation shrubs around the home as a natural blind!!!!!
Harvest the venison good man with a clean conscious!
As long as everything is in order, enjoy the meat and feed the family. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.
Sounds like you've done your job of scouting the area and the best spot happens to have a home near by. I'm also assuming those deer aren't hand fed by the homeowners.
id say it is just as ethical as hunting deer out of a blind by a food plot so i dont see anything wrong with the idea
You gotta hunt deer where they are...if that means a back yard, then so be it. However, keep in mind that your actions, the shot, the kill, and the field dressing may all be visible to the public, which may bring about unwanted attention.
If you have satisfied the law, gotten permission to hunt the land, and intend to eat what you kill, I don't think there's any ethics left to ponder. What I hear called "ethics" in this context is really sportsman's personal handicap, like in golf. You're not hunting for sport.
you depend on the meat your probably going to be help managing the deer a bit by taking some does Go for the venison my friend
If houses are made out of wood, then what is the difference between hiding behind a house and hiding behind a tree?
If there is no law against shooting close to the structure, and it is safe to do so, by all means, go ahead. My folks had six kids, and I'll bet you we shot at least 10 deer under similar circumstances. It is certainly ethical to provide for your family.
In most states it is illegal to hunt in our around dwellings (either occupied or not). Most animals feel safe around dwellings that they have not been pressured by in the past. I know that you are unemployed and are looking for feeding your family, but I would have to say that the rules (and laws) of hunting would still have to come first. Your family would (and will) have to respect you more if they know that you will do the right (and hard) thing even in times of need.
I agree with 3Dpro, in pa it is illegal to hunt around dwellings, also bagging a deer doesn't mean you have to be in a stand or hiding behind a house, get downwind, use a ground blind or hump or bush or whatever you can find to conceal yourself a little and since your out of work,(hope you can get a job soon), maybe you could still hunt that tree line with your stand and get your family involved in doing a little deer driving for you. Best of luck!
3Dpro,
I have checked GA state law and have not found (yet) any reference to 'hunting from dwellings'. Some local municipalities/counties do have restrictions regarding this but not in mine. The GA law prohibiting discharge of a firearm 50 yards or less from a public road would cover most 'dwellings' and I mentioned that in my previous post. That law does not allow shooting ANY direction while being that close to a public road. There are also some laws pertaining to shooting near a property line in some places. So the best thing for all of us is to not be ignorant of state or local laws concerning discharge of firearms.
I personally feel that it is ethical because in order to survive in a bad economy like soo many of us are doing you can hunt for food and on the other hand you can still keep the racks as a trophy and reminder of why you hunt to survive and give thanks to your creator for putting these magestic creatures on this land for us to hunt as long as you do not get greedy and start poaching keep it in season.
heck yea if you need deer meat to survive i would do it
Post an Answer
You are showing that you have ethics on your mind by even asking the question and by putting it forward to others for thought.
The only unethical things I could see would be proximity to a public road or occupants of the house (if it is being lived in). If you have permission and it is a clear, safe shot I don't really see the problem.
What makes this different(or less ethical) than shooting from some of these very elaborate 'stands' that some of these plantations have?
If you have permission to hunt near the house then do it. I'd do the same if the choice was to feed my family or let them go to bed hungry.
As long as your not shooting from the living room in a lounge chair, shoot away.
I would consider you ethical and lucky enough to be able to pull a truck up to the kill.
As stated above, with permission, shooting away from the house and road,...go for it. Fill that freezer. If legal, come back and do it again the next day, if you need the meat. Shoot straight!
Agreed. As long as it's a safe shot, you have permission, & you're legal there, go for it. Good luck & have a safe hunt.
Man I love fresh TENDERLOIN!! If all is safe and you have permission, shoot away my friend!
Put 'em down.
i would take one of them
You have permission to hunt or own the land and a hunting license then fire away.
I say Good Luck and fill your freezer with meat to feed your family!!!!!
As long as everything is in order, enjoy the meat and feed the family. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.
Sounds like you've done your job of scouting the area and the best spot happens to have a home near by. I'm also assuming those deer aren't hand fed by the homeowners.
id say it is just as ethical as hunting deer out of a blind by a food plot so i dont see anything wrong with the idea
You gotta hunt deer where they are...if that means a back yard, then so be it. However, keep in mind that your actions, the shot, the kill, and the field dressing may all be visible to the public, which may bring about unwanted attention.
If you have satisfied the law, gotten permission to hunt the land, and intend to eat what you kill, I don't think there's any ethics left to ponder. What I hear called "ethics" in this context is really sportsman's personal handicap, like in golf. You're not hunting for sport.
you depend on the meat your probably going to be help managing the deer a bit by taking some does Go for the venison my friend
In most states it is illegal to hunt in our around dwellings (either occupied or not). Most animals feel safe around dwellings that they have not been pressured by in the past. I know that you are unemployed and are looking for feeding your family, but I would have to say that the rules (and laws) of hunting would still have to come first. Your family would (and will) have to respect you more if they know that you will do the right (and hard) thing even in times of need.
I have 2 pop up blinds and a couple deer stands. I would use the blinds in your case. However, what sounds to me, the owners of the Apple Trees and Corn Field have a problem of deer eating all what they have or may have. Get permission from the person who owns/lives at the house and perhaps you can open a back window and shoot out of it from there? As far as ethics are concerned I don't see a problem in the service your providing and it's not like your road hunting or spot lighting.
I agree! If you have permission and are very careful with your shots, and a license no reason not to do it. Feeding your family is your biggest concern.
well if you have to feed your family and your not going after a big buck i'd say go for it and if you got permission shoot away and offer land owner some meat if you get one.
If you have permission to hunt the property I'd find nothing wrong with using the foundation shrubs around the home as a natural blind!!!!!
Harvest the venison good man with a clean conscious!
If houses are made out of wood, then what is the difference between hiding behind a house and hiding behind a tree?
If there is no law against shooting close to the structure, and it is safe to do so, by all means, go ahead. My folks had six kids, and I'll bet you we shot at least 10 deer under similar circumstances. It is certainly ethical to provide for your family.
I agree with 3Dpro, in pa it is illegal to hunt around dwellings, also bagging a deer doesn't mean you have to be in a stand or hiding behind a house, get downwind, use a ground blind or hump or bush or whatever you can find to conceal yourself a little and since your out of work,(hope you can get a job soon), maybe you could still hunt that tree line with your stand and get your family involved in doing a little deer driving for you. Best of luck!
3Dpro,
I have checked GA state law and have not found (yet) any reference to 'hunting from dwellings'. Some local municipalities/counties do have restrictions regarding this but not in mine. The GA law prohibiting discharge of a firearm 50 yards or less from a public road would cover most 'dwellings' and I mentioned that in my previous post. That law does not allow shooting ANY direction while being that close to a public road. There are also some laws pertaining to shooting near a property line in some places. So the best thing for all of us is to not be ignorant of state or local laws concerning discharge of firearms.
I personally feel that it is ethical because in order to survive in a bad economy like soo many of us are doing you can hunt for food and on the other hand you can still keep the racks as a trophy and reminder of why you hunt to survive and give thanks to your creator for putting these magestic creatures on this land for us to hunt as long as you do not get greedy and start poaching keep it in season.
heck yea if you need deer meat to survive i would do it
KILL KILL KILL!
Post an Answer