The ethical predator discussion · TradBowhunter-Ethical Predator

The ethical predator discussion

HOW THE IDEA OF THE ETHICAL PREDATOR RAISED MY AWARENESS

Ethics. The discussion about the ethics of man go back as far as the Greek empire and probably earlier. Having read the Nicomedian Ethics by Aristotle, and the discourses of Socrates as recorded by Sysyphus, for Socrates never wrote anything down. He was a talker and spoke at great lengths discoursing the ethics of man, among other things, you could say I know a thing or two about ethics. Then again maybe nothing at all.

Aside; Socrates was put to trial over his supposed moral infractions of the times. He was found guilty and given a choice of either going into exile, far from his beloved Greece, or committing suicide by drinking poison. It was and still is a questionable verdict. Any moral issues against him were here say and the case in the Greek senate was a weak one. The real reason he was turned in was that he could out talk anyone at the time, the Socratic line of questioning was simply unbeatable and he pissed off more than a few powerful men.

What exactly this has to do with archery I’m not quite sure, but I needed a way of starting this discourse. When I spotted a fb post by Grant about the ethical predator, something seemed right after scanning the post. Let me regress and give some backstory and maybe this might start making sense.

About ten years ago my wife and I took a month to enjoy the South Island of New Zealand And visit an old friend who, if I remember correctly, we danced on the tabletops of Harringtons Bar in San Francisco with about thirty years ago. Needless to say to say we were all piss drunk and lucky to remember anything at all about those nights close to closing time.

While there we met her boyfriend at the time and he is an avid hunter and eager to tell his tales of the hunt. One story revolves around him spotting a trophy sized antelope across a ravine from his position. According to Bob an antelope has 8 power eyesight similar to his 30.06. If the animal was to spot him it would disappear Into the bush. Bob also implied that they were on equal footing because of that tremendous eyesight. He unshouldered his long gun and put the animal in the crosshairs. At which point I asked, sarcastically, if the antelope had a rifle too. Which brought on a look of wtf are you talking about. I went on to say, then you were not on equal terms there by garnering another look that said what are you some kind of tree hugger dumbass. I sort of slammed closed his story without realizing it. However it got me thinking about the hunt that seemed to me to be more about killing than hunting. The antelope didn’t stand a chance.

This brings on the crux of this commentary. Modern tech has shifted the hunt to the kill. This goes for guns as well as the advent of compound bows, scopes, sights, range finders and accuracy and the power to kill at a distance. A good friend is well versed in both categories. A deadly accurate compound able to drop a goat or wild pig at over three hundred feet and an equally accurate 4000 psi 30 caliber air rifle capable of even farther shots. The arrows he uses in his compound are skinny when compared to your average carbon arrow. With micro perforated vanes and wicked broad heads so air pressure and wind have minimal effect on its flight and ability to penetrate a pigs wire like hair and near metallic skin to wreak havoc on the internal vitals, lungs and heart. Baring that, the chosen animal would simply bleed to death. Sure its hunting, I suppose, but a whole lot more like just killing. This is where the ethical predator comes into play. What Grant teaches is more towards actual hunting with stalking and getting close enough to use a single string bow. No small feat that and the animal, deer, pigs, goats or mouflon sheep have a chance, instead of no chance at all.

Of course it’s all a matter of opinion and choice. I had the pleasure of flinging sticks with a friend this morning and though he agreed with me to a certain extent he was of an opposing opinion on the ethics part. Modern tech has the ability to kill faster and more accurately, that being, in his opinion, more humane and the chosen animal suffers less. I’m sure all of us have our own opinion on this subject which makes the subject a conundrum. My guess is go with what your heart says. Personally I’d go with the ethical predator point of view. Thank you Grant and Jenn

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