Why such a need to kill animals.

[LBM]

Why is there such a need to kill animals by so many hunters. Looking at the confiscated sheep thread and amount it happens with them.
There is still a bit more of a season so sure more under size rams will be taken with the panic of it shutting down.
Now the illegal elk deer, moose and other animal numbers are starting to add up. Maybe things are different now days, was always
taught to identify your target, but seems now its shoot first check later with so many. Elk arent going to ever be a legal 6 point
when there shot when only a 4 point.

[Harvest the Land]

I have a need to kill animals because I'm hungry and really like the taste of wild game meat and so does my family; and I really like to know where my food comes from and how that animal was living its life before I killed it. (I need to have a connection with the meat I am eating)

I for one (and most of the hunters I know) ALWAYS check to make sure everything is legal AND that there are no folks in the background that could be in the line of fire BEFORE I take the shot.

How come you don't have such a need to kill animals?

[srthomas75]

I don't think the op doesn't have a need to kill animals. It's more of a question on the "desire" or "urgency" of some folks to pull the trigger before they have confirmed that they are shooting at a legal animal. But that does bring up a question of morals or ethics in those people. At what time does it become ok to shoot first and then check out the finer details later? To me that's a poacher mentality.

[Dannybuoy]

That's a funny question to post on a hunting forum ... and I don't mean ha ha ha funny .
You hoping for a catch & release hunting program ? Or how about just shooting creatures with a camera ?
Not sure what kind of response you were looking for here LBM

[LBM]

That's a funny question to post on a hunting forum ... and I don't mean ha ha ha funny .
You hoping for a catch & release hunting program ? Or how about just shooting creatures with a camera ?
Not sure what kind of response you were looking for here LBM

Quit simple really why such a need by so many hunters to kill something.
Why are short underage sheep shot, why are elk in a 6 point area being shot when they are under that size
why are mule deer being shot as whitetails or vs versa why in a 4 point mule deer area are bucks being shot
under that size, why are moose over the 2 point size limit being shot in the GOs
Why is a person on a quad being shot in a moose season , why is person being shot well bugling. Why does someone
cross a fence onto posted land to shoot something.
Want me to give more reasons or do you understand the question now, Why such a need by so many hunters to kill something.

[Dannybuoy]

Quit simple really why such a need by so many hunters to kill something.
Why are short underage sheep shot, why are elk in a 6 point area being shot when they are under that size
why are mule deer being shot as whitetails or vs versa why in a 4 point mule deer area are bucks being shot
under that size, why are moose over the 2 point size limit being shot in the GOs
Why is a person on a quad being shot in a moose season , why is person being shot well bugling. Why does someone
cross a fence onto posted land to shoot something..
Want me to give more reasons or do you understand the question now, Why such a need by so many hunters to kill something.

I doubt the examples you are pointing out are from a need to kill something but rather from mistake , stupidity , ignorance and probably a few more reasons
The only time I hear of the need to kill mentality is the city folks that feel the need to kill squirrels . coyotes, bobcats , various birds "Just because"
Wolves are fair game .... as most will never see one anyway ....

[boxhitch]

Quit simple really why such a need by so many hunters to kill something.
Why are short underage sheep shot, why are elk in a 6 point area being shot when they are under that size
why are mule deer being shot as whitetails or vs versa why in a 4 point mule deer area are bucks being shot
under that size, why are moose over the 2 point size limit being shot in the GOs
Why is a person on a quad being shot in a moose season , why is person being shot well bugling. Why does someone
cross a fence onto posted land to shoot something.
Want me to give more reasons or do you understand the question now, Why such a need by so many hunters to kill something.

Each point can be explained away somehow, either mistakes in counting tines or judgement length, or mistakes in identification,
I don't think someone turning in a short sheep for CI has bad intentions

Things like jumping fences or shooting beef have more purpose, more intent, and point to a general disregard for others property, goes with the theft from camps , trucks, boats etc
There is also likely a small portion that just want to blast something, anything, to experience the kill, the bullets effect, the blood, can just hope it is short lived.

The point about what is appropriate for size/ age is purely judgemental, if the 'bou was legal I don't see the problem, we know the breeding is still getting done or there would be no leh opp.

To make a moral judgement of someone elses legal kill is also a problem

[mod7rem]

Each point can be explained away somehow, either mistakes in counting tines or judgement length, or mistakes in identification,
I don't think someone turning in a short sheep for CI has bad intentions

Things like jumping fences or shooting beef have more purpose, more intent, and point to a general disregard for others property, goes with the theft from camps , trucks, boats etc
There is also likely a small portion that just want to blast something, anything, to experience the kill, the bullets effect, the blood, can just hope it is short lived.

The point about what is appropriate for size/ age is purely judgemental, if the 'bou was legal I don't see the problem, we know the breeding is still getting done or there would be no leh opp.

To make a moral judgement of someone elses legal kill is also a problem

I completely agree.

[mod7rem]

Quit simple really why such a need by so many hunters to kill something.
Why are short underage sheep shot, why are elk in a 6 point area being shot when they are under that size
why are mule deer being shot as whitetails or vs versa why in a 4 point mule deer area are bucks being shot
under that size, why are moose over the 2 point size limit being shot in the GOs
Why is a person on a quad being shot in a moose season , why is person being shot well bugling. Why does someone
cross a fence onto posted land to shoot something.
Want me to give more reasons or do you understand the question now, Why such a need by so many hunters to kill something.

Simple human nature. Lots of variability in how humans think and react to situations. Calm or excitable, rational or irrational, thoughtful or impulsive, etc. It shows in everything humans do, not just hunting. You could take a large group of people that all love backpacking. Some will litter their garbage in beautiful places, others wouldn’t dream of doing it and will pick up others garbage. Some will steal if low risk of getting caught, others won’t. We’re all wired differently.
Although I think some people do things intentionally in the moment, disregarding the threat of consequences, I want to believe that most of the short sheep, 5 pt elk, whitetail looking mulie’s, etc, etc are not done intentionally, but more because of excitable, irrational, impulsive reactions.

[VLD43]

Why is there such a need to kill animals by so many hunters. Looking at the confiscated sheep thread and amount it happens with them.
There is still a bit more of a season so sure more under size rams will be taken with the panic of it shutting down.
Now the illegal elk deer, moose and other animal numbers are starting to add up. Maybe things are different now days, was always
taught to identify your target, but seems now its shoot first check later with so many. Elk arent going to ever be a legal 6 point
when there shot when only a 4 point.

I think a lot of this comes down to ego. Guys go out hunting and possibly spend a lot of money getting there. They have to come home with something to justify the expense. They also want to be included in the group of hunters who are successful. I can see hunting for meat, but at the end of the day, if you don't harvest anything you are surely not going to starve. Another angle that might apply here is work ethic. I have heard lots of guys state they only hunt for meat and will shoot anything that is legal that crosses their path. So they go out and shoot the first spike or fork they see. Then one day a five point steps out in front of them. They harvest that animal and proceed to brag about it like they had targeted that particular animal, instead of it actually being a lucky opportunity. So why did they not pass that animal up as their just hunting for meat. Why shoot a potential trophy animal when you just want meat? I have seen many hunters over the years who shoot the first thing they see and then complain or make the statement to selective hunters about how lucky they are shooting bigger bucks. It never dawns on these guys that hunting an older mature animal takes a lot more effort , skill and a certain degree of luck. Mature animals don't get to where they are by being stupid. They are very cautious and calculating. They have lots of experience avoiding predators whether human of animal. There are hunters out there who will never have the skill sets or ability to hunt mature game animals. I very much enjoy hunting, and have come home many times with out game, but a great experience. Putting the effort in to harvest mature game animals teaches you a lot about yourself, and helps you hone your skills. Not for everyone though.