Locavores and former vegans hunting deer

[Lallans]

I thought this was an interesting new phenomenon, or new in Canada at least. The newspaper story is too long to post here, so I'm just posting the link:

http://www.nationalpost.com/Living/4113161/story.html

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Here in the Shenandoah Valley hunters give much of their venison to the local homeless shelters to feed those who most need to be fed.

[Gryphon noir]

Vegetarians that I have met in Vancouver seem to break down into two main groups: those who don't eat meat for ethical reasons, and those who cite health reasons. Among stricter vegans, the environmental aspect is also promoted, particularly by groups like Earthsave.
More often than not the "ethical" group tends toward a sort of religious fervour about not eating animal products, and anthropomorphising is very common. Recently there was an add on the city buses with a picture of a cow with the bi-line "Milk comes from a grieving mother."

I've been very active in food security issues and teaching in my neighbourhood, and I find that people are getting excited about the sheer power of being able to grow some of their own food. Many, but not all, of our local gardeners are vegan or vegetarian, but there is also a growing sentiment that it is as much the source of the meat as the meat itself that is seen as problematic, from ethical, environmental and health perspectives.

I think if I had access to wild meat, I would probably eat it, especially if I trusted the person who hunted the animal and dressed it.

[azwildcat96]

I think if I had access to wild meat, I would probably eat it, especially if I trusted the person who hunted the animal and dressed it.

If you want something done right, do it yourself!

[Gryphon noir]

If you want something done right, do it yourself!

Good point. That would probably be a defining line for me, since really don't miss eating meat. Need and desire are strong motivations, and if those were strong enough, one would want to do it do it right.

[azwildcat96]

As a hunter, I think this is great! There is a new series on the Travel Channel (Sunday nights) called The Wild Within, that seems to follow a similar mentality, and video documents the travels and the hunts.

[Tobus]

Great article. Those are the main reasons I hunt too. Getting back to primal roots, eating meat that's natural and chemical-free, and doing it in a sustainable way. I'm glad to see others (especially those who were formerly opposed to it) discovering that it's a good thing.

I would worry, though, about TOO many people getting into hunting. As our Scottish ancestors discovered a couple of centuries ago, it's very easy to over-hunt an area, and very difficult to bring game populations back. One would presume that modern regulations would keep wild game populations sustainable and healthy, but that doesn't always work as intended.

[Lallans]

Great article. Those are the main reasons I hunt too. Getting back to primal roots, eating meat that's natural and chemical-free, and doing it in a sustainable way. I'm glad to see others (especially those who were formerly opposed to it) discovering that it's a good thing.

I would worry, though, about TOO many people getting into hunting. As our Scottish ancestors discovered a couple of centuries ago, it's very easy to over-hunt an area, and very difficult to bring game populations back. One would presume that modern regulations would keep wild game populations sustainable and healthy, but that doesn't always work as intended.

Overhunting is not likely to be an issue here in Canada. And I'll leave it at that.

[I originally put in a bunch of stuff about gun control, social engineering etc etc but now I'm deleting it since it would never do any good here and I'm fairly certain any debate about it would cause the string to be taken down].

[cormacmacguardhe]

As someone who was vegan/vegetarian for many years, and has gone back to eating meat for health reasons, I am seriously thinking about the possibility of taking up hunting for the first time. My age does cause me to hesitate, I am 62. I was not brought up in a hunting household, although I believe that my father hunted before I was born. I have eaten bison, and recently found elk meat at my local co-op. These meats taste so much better than beef that I may not go back to it.

[BoldHighlander]

As someone who was vegan/vegetarian for many years, and has gone back to eating meat for health reasons, I am seriously thinking about the possibility of taking up hunting for the first time. My age does cause me to hesitate, I am 62. I was not brought up in a hunting household, although I believe that my father hunted before I was born. I have eaten bison, and recently found elk meat at my local co-op. These meats taste so much better than beef that I may not go back to it.

They're better for you (lower cholesterol*) too!

*...though Texas Longhorn beef is reputed to have lower cholesterol than skinless chicken.