In a very distant past, hunting was the only available means of obtaining fresh food. Humanity moved quite a bit since then and the question “What does hunting represent today?” comes off only as a natural.
Some people will say that hunting is a sport. Others will tell you that it is a hobby, while a number of people will argue that hunting is nothing more than unnecessary cruelty.
That’s all fine, but depending on these answers, different people will raise their kids in different ways, and that’s the point when hunting becomes the focus of heated debates.
We will give you a few pros and cons of letting your kids go hunting and let you make your opinion.
Pro: Hunting is healthy
Hunting is a physically engaging activity, and it also takes place in the naturalistic environment, so the health benefits of hunting should not be a point of any discussion.
While kids should not be forced to carry a heavy load and all the hunting equipment, it is well recommended to encourage them to spend some time in nature and take long hikes.
It is worth mentioning that hunting is not only connected to physical health, but it also stimulates the mental activity.
Against: Hunting is not the safest activity around
Guns don’t hurt people, but the chances of something going wrong are significantly higher when they are present. And there is a huge amount of things that can go wrong during the hunting session.
It should be obvious then that guns and kids do not make the most fortunate couple. Add in to the mix all the other dangers, such as wild animals, and you will see from where all the concerns about child safety are coming.
Pro: Hunting does not have to only be about the killing
The pull of a trigger is the final outcome of any successful hunt, but for the numerous families out there, it is so much more than that – a great opportunity for some quality time together in nature, bonding, preserving old traditions with the latest 3G trail camera.
Furthermore, while hunting is not the ideal educational environment, it does offer a great backdrop for extending kids’ knowledge about nature, orientation, and the wildlife.
Against: Hunting is an inherently violent activity
No matter your personal stance on killing off wild animals, you need to take into consideration that not every kid will agree with you.
Yes, everyone who eats meat is consciously encouraging the killing of animals, but the question still remains: Do kids have to watch the whole act, or even participate in it?
Forcing such harsh reality on children who cannot take it is not going to make them stronger. It will do just the opposite.
Pro: Hunting can be used for teaching gun safety
We already mentioned that guns, being weapons, pose a safety risk wherever they are present. Unfortunately, hunting is not the only place where your kids will be exposed to firearms.
Hunting, however, can be used for teaching children about gun safety. Witnessing the hunt can also show kids the devastating consequences firearms can have and discourage them from using weapons outside such environment.
It is obvious that hunting has its share of both advantages and disadvantages. Because there cannot be an obvious winner in such a debate, the final decision should be left to kids.
If they are willing to follow you and you provide them with a safe hunting environment, taking a hike through nature should not be harmful.
Gabriella Diesendorf
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