Utah allows the
hunting of black bears, and is currently updating its bear management guidelines. There is strong support for
bear baiting, which is the practice of placing enticing food in a spot and waiting in hiding for the bear to wander up and then killing it. How brave and heroic. There are also multiple bear hunts during the year, including spring hunts where many mothers are killed, leaving newborn bear cubs orphaned and, essentially, dead as well. Utah also allows the hunting of cougars, elk, deer, pronghorns, moose, Rocky Mountain goats, rabbits, bighorn sheep, bison, sandhill cranes, and a whole flock of different kinds of birds. Have a thirst for killing? Please come to Utah (although Utah certainly isn't alone in this regard).
Now, I don't have a problem with all kinds of hunting. The
Word of Wisdom gives us some helpful direction in this matter:
12 Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;
13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
14 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;
15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.
Hunting for food is so ingrained in our culture, and essentially every culture on Earth, that I don't have any meaningful objections. I also admit to eating my fair share of meat, meaning I can't point to hunters as violating the tenet that meat is really only to be used sparingly and in times of winter or famine without also indicting myself. I am, however, trying to make a conscious effort to reduce my meat intake.
Unfortunately, a substantial amount of hunting that goes on here in Utah has nothing to do with procuring food and raiment, and thus must be condemned. Do bear hunters eat the bear meat? How about cougar hunters? Do you think Sarah Palin is landing the helicopter to gather the succulent wolf meat after her
aerial hunts? How important to our society is the availability of moose and bison burgers? What wine goes best with sandhill crane, do you suppose?
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