High fences, canned shoots, and Frankendeer have no place in Fair Chase hunting.
There has always been more to hunting than killing. Hunting is skill, tradition, conservation, and ethics. It’s pulling on frozen boots at dawn above the treeline. It’s feeling the wind shift on the nape of your neck and watching the herd disappear into the next county. It’s enjoying a pack of Gummi Bears with a grandchild around a warming fire. And, on occasion, hunting does mean killing.
As different hunting practices and modern technology intersect with tradition, the very definition of hunting is challenged, forcing hunters to confront difficult questions about Fair Chase, wildlife management, and the public perception of our beloved pastime.
The Erosion of Fair Chase: Canned Shoots
At the heart of this debate lies the concept of Fair Chase, a principle that emphasizes ethical and sportsmanlike conduct in hunting. Among other things, it dictates that hunters should not have an improper or unfair advantage over game animals, ensuring that the animals have a reasonable opportunity to escape. The earliest recorded use of the term Fair Chase is in the fifth article of the Boone and Crockett Club’s constitution, adopted in 1888. Granted, the concept of Fair Chase can sometimes be ambiguous and open to interpretation. However, practices such as “canned shoots” directly contradict these principles.
A canned shoot involves pursuing and killing big game animals kept in captivity or released into an escape-proof environment. These operations reduce hunting to a mere exercise in killing, devoid of the skill, challenge, and respect for wildlife that characterize true sportsmanship. One of the most basic tenets of Fair Chase is ensuring an animal has a reasonable opportunity to escape. If it does not, the hunt cannot be considered ethical. The non-hunting public often struggles to distinguish between canned hunts and legitimate hunting, leading to a negative perception of all hunting activities and undermining support for wildlife conservation. The Boone and Crockett Club’s position on canned shoots is clear: we oppose them because they contravene the Fair Chase principles. As a result, the Boone and Crockett Club will deny any potential record-book animal entry into the Boone and Crockett Club records if the animal was killed as part of a canned shoot.
High Fences: Murky Ethical Ground
The use of high fences in hunting operations presents a more complex ethical dilemma. While not all high-fenced properties are inherently unethical, the intent behind their use often determines their impact on Fair Chase. Some landowners use high fences to manage wildlife populations, control breeding, or prevent the spread of disease. However, others employ them to create artificially high densities of game animals, guaranteeing success for hunters and reducing the experience to a staged event.
The ethical implications of high-fence hunting depend on various factors, including the size of the enclosure, the habitat quality within the fence, and the management practices employed by the landowner. If the intent is to provide an unrealistically high chance of success, reducing the experience to more of a shoot than a hunt, it is understandable why many feel this is not hunting. Conversely, suppose the high fence serves primarily as a management tool, and the animals retain a reasonable opportunity to elude hunters. In that case, the ethical concerns may be lessened but certainly not eliminated. Like canned shoots, any animal killed within a high-fence operation is not eligible for entry into the Boone and Crockett Club records.
High fence operations, be they canned shooting outfits or game farms, also present another risk to hunting and wildlife by potentially spreading chronic wasting disease (CWD). The transportation of live, captive cervids to these operations and game farms is a significant factor in CWD’s spread. The Club supports federal and state/provincial/tribal agencies seeking to reduce the spread of CWD and other diseases to both captive and wild cervid populations because the release or escape of captive animals from canned shooting operations into wild, unfenced habitat is a very real threat to the continued health of native wildlife.
Genetic Manipulation and the Man-Made Wall Hanger
A controversial practice that threatens the integrity of hunting is the genetic manipulation of game animals to produce abnormally large antlers. This practice, often driven by commercial interests, involves the use of hormones, blood thinners, and excessive minerals and protein to alter the natural development of animals. The resulting “Frankendeer” are then sold to hunters in artificial hunting situations, further blurring the line between hunting and commerce.
Beyond the ethical concerns, the genetic manipulation of game animals raises significant questions about the impact on the species themselves. The introduction of altered genes into wild populations, the spread of diseases through the transport of captive animals, and the overall devaluation of natural wildlife are all potential consequences of this practice.
The Importance of Public Perception and Responsible Hunting
In an increasingly urbanized and media-saturated world, public perception plays a crucial role in shaping the future of hunting. The non-hunting public often lacks a basic understanding of hunting and may be easily swayed by emotional appeals or misinformation. Therefore, it is essential for hunters to conduct themselves responsibly, ethically, and transparently to maintain public support.
This includes actively opposing unethical practices such as canned hunts and genetic manipulation, promoting Fair Chase principles, and engaging in conservation efforts that benefit wildlife and their habitats. By demonstrating a commitment to ethical hunting and wildlife stewardship, sportsmen can help counter negative stereotypes and ensure that hunting remains a viable and respected activity for generations to come.
Ultimately, the future of hunting depends on the choices we make today. By embracing a strong conservation ethic, promoting Fair Chase principles, and educating the public about the true values of hunting, we can ensure our vital role in wildlife conservation for generations to come.
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