Minx, the Magazine - Issue Four, Volume Two

Canned Hunting
What comes to mind when someone mentions hunting? Great outdoors? Tree filled forests? Man versus beast? Meat for your family? Being one with nature? Survival of the fittest?

What else comes to mind? Selecting your prey from a menu? Going into a fenced in area, to 'hunt' a sedated animal? Shooting the animal in the body, over and over, as to not damage the head or 'trophy'? Removing the trophy and disposing of the remainder of the carcass? What you have just read are aspects of a sport sometimes called 'canned hunting'.

There are ranches that cater to 'hunters' who will pay for the privledge to hunt rare animals, for a cost. The animals are raised just for this purpose, and there are big bucks, so to speak, to be made. The more rare the animal, the higher the price tag. Since the animals are constantly in close proximity to humans, who feed and care for them, they usually do not know to fear the others who carry rifles, cross bows, and other assorted weapons of choice.

The animal is lead into a fenced in area, usually no larger than an acre. The 'thrill of the hunt' usually begins with the hunters in a jeep, driving up to or around the increasingly frightened animal. The shots are aimed at the body only, as to not damage the trophy, causing the animal to be only wounded. If the animal is fortunate enough to be shot in the heart, he will die quickly, though this is not common. Usually, he must be shot over and over, and the merciful death is slow in coming. Finally, the dead beast is hauled onto a truck, cut open, skinned, and beheaded.

I watched an interview about this method of hunting once and heard comments from the hunters similar to, "Well, it is man versus beast, and the stronger of the two won. I do this for the thrill of the hunt." I certainly would like to be witness to this same hunter being stripped naked, weaponless, and put in a cage with a wild boar. Let's see who wins then. Let's record his statements after that battle.

Currently, 'canned hunts' are not allowed only in Connecticut, North Carolina, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Please, write to your Congressional Representative, requesting that he/she support banning "canned hunts'.
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Citizens', Farmers' & Hunters' Coalition
Canned Hunting

Pigeon Shoots
I have been to arcades and amusement parts, where I shot wooden cutouts of ducks with an airgun. If I shot a certain number, and I won a prize. I have been to shooting clubs where the target is paper, with the outline of a human torso and head. I used a handgun and aimed for the center of the target. At my parents rural property, in Southern Virginia, I have used a rifle to shoot clay pigeons from the sky. The rifle bruised my shoulder and my ears were ringing afterwards. Plus, hitting what I aimed for didn't seem to be one of my talents. But, the challenge of hitting a moving target could be appealing, if not for these physical drawbacks. Any other ideas?

How about a live pigeon shoot? The pigeon is placed in a box made from a strip of canvas, two sticks to stiffen the ends of the canvas and two boards on either side. The shooter yells, "Pull", and the live pigeon is released. The bird flies, disoriented, out of the box. The shooter shoots the bird, killing it immediately (25%), maiming it (50%), or missing it altogether(25%). The maimed bird may fly off into the surrounding woods, to slowly die. Children gather up the birds, dead or unable to fly, from the field, dumping the bodies into a barrel, where the survivors suffocate under the weight of the others. Gee, not my idea of a good time. I'll stick with the wooden ducks.

This practice is illegal in all states but still widely practiced in Arizona, California, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Pigeon shoots violate state animal cruelty laws.

Cruelty Comes to California -- Live Pigeon Shoots
Animal Cruelty Officer Files Lawsuit to Stop Pigeon Shoot

What can I do?
Report any knowledge of these activites to the authorities. If you live in a state that allows these barbaric 'sports', contact your State Legislators to support bills against these practices.