How Sport Hunting Works

As times change, so do the needs of human­s and animals. The evolution of species and advent of new technology keep us on our toes and often influence the way we go about our daily lives. Hunting has not been untouched by the changes brought about with time.

At one point, man had to hunt out of necessity. Preying on animals was the only way to get food for nourishment, fur and hide for clothing and materials, and bones for tools. But as man evolved, so did the world around him. Hunting became unnecessary with the start of farms and as more sophisticated ways to preserve food were invented. Today, if you never wanted to hunt, you'll still have a plentiful variety of meat available to you through your local grocery store.

As hunting is no longer a necessary means for survival, its presence in our society is under scrutiny. While some want to maintain the time-honored tradition, others want to see a pastime they feel is unfair restricted by law. Hunting has evolved into a sport and gained a fan base and an opposition. Those who enjoy the sport can find its positive attributes, but anti-hunting organizations see it as cruel treatment of animals.

­When sport hunting -- with the use of a gun or bow -- the individual goal is usually a trophy. Trophies include pelts, heads, antlers or other body part of the game. Parts are sent to a taxidermist, who cleans, stuffs and preserves the remnants into the trophies we often see mounted in lodges and homes across the country.

Whether you're an avid sport hunter or an animal advocate, now would be a great time to put on your orange hunter vest and read the rest of the article. What better way to form an opinion than by considering both sides of the topic?