"Beyond the Divide" WTF

This thread hasn't been used in nearly a month. Why would you bring this up again.

I just reread some of the thread and from what I saw most people (on the animal rights side) weren't necessarily against keeping the "feral" populations down through hunting to preserve native habitat, but were against the idea of this practice being turned into a sport.

Most people that are on Unleashed are here to promote kindness and compassion to animals. And that is ALL animals including those deemed "feral". Most of us also recognize that these "feral" animals are damaging the eco system and this is a big problem.

I personally am not necessarily against hunting for preservation of other wildlife or for consumption (where there are no others realistic alternatives available such as rural or remote populations) but if hunting becomes a game, which it sounds like this TV show is promoting then I have a huge problem with that.

And let's not forget who is responsible for actually introducing these species to this country in the first place. Human beings. All I ask out of hunters is to show complete respect for a living being and try to minimize suffering as much as possible.

"Tune in next week-I am sure you'll love it, also bring the kids for this one as they will learn a thing or two about society-and not sure where the bogans are you refer to? Maybe you were watching one of the fishing shows-not our show."

....
Sure! Lets gather our children around to watch this amazing show about a couple of genius turd-brains taking the lives of innocent/gorgeous creatures! While we're at it, lets buy our kids some guns! May as well, seeing as they'll be learning the tricks of the trade of murder!

Seriously though, who the hell are these people!? A couple of stupid whack-jobs if you ask me.  

@ Robb. Unfortunately the Brittish made many mistakes by introducing so called pest animals into our country. These innocent animals will never be fully eradicated unless big dollar payouts are introduced. Then maybe the pest animals may go the same way as the Tassie Tiger etc. What's got me thinking is, that maybe this is were the animals are supposed to be now? We brought them in (I didn't personally), and maybe that is how Australian wildlife pans out? Survival of the fittest? I'm confused on this subject as in one mind I believe in eradicating ferals and leaving our native species intact, but in the other mindset I see these creatures as living sentient beings that deserve respect. After all, our flora is quite screwed up, and you don't ever hear of hunters or people that go on about invasive ferals say that they are going out bush to pull some weeds.
Lastly your comment about farmers doing it tough. The farmers that are knowingly cruel (and there is a lot of them) eg: sending our animals overseas to be slaughtered by disgusting practises, then if they recieve their earthly karma and things fall downhill, lose their farm, commit suicide, etc etc for them. I won't lose any sleep over it. It wasn't my karma.

Folks I can see you love all things living and if the ecology was balanced then more power to you all.
Trophy hunting certainly would not be seen by many here as anything but bad and I'm sure you will not agree with a hunters view on it, but here goes. . . . .

There are an estimated 250-300,000 Sambar deer in Victoria alone, their numbers are increasing at a rate that sees our Government needing a way to reduce numbers.
Now I am sure you think that the deer are wandering around Green meadows grazing at will with their fawn at side, totally unaware of hunters or the dangers they bring? An easy kill for anyone willing to walk up close and destroy their gentle existence. Am I close? Within the ball park?
Sambar deer are one of the most cautious animals God has put on this earth, it has hearing that we can barely contemplate and a sense of smell equal to a hound dog. A sambar will reel and flee at the smell of a humans foot print that was placed the day before. "Flee" is a misleading term, generally they will melt into the bush and simply disappear to a safer place & good luck to it I say as we all wish to live another day, do we not?
Now a Sambre stag is another story again. If it has lived long enough to have grown antlers of a "Trophy" size we are talking of a very smart animal that more times than not will evade most hunters and only leave hoof prints to show of it's presence.
To secure one of these animals takes YEARS of training in the bush, an ability to remain silent, travel slowly, remain down wind of your quarry (if you know where indeed it is!) & then SEE the creature let alone get the time to position yourself to harvest it through scrub & trees.
We advocate only taking a shot when we have an opportunity to guarantee our aim is good and only after positive identification of the deer.
Yes we are talking of killing an animal, yes it would be seen as cruel by many but if we have done our job cruel is what we NEVER wish upon an animal.
So why trophy hunt? Well if a hunter can hone his skill to be able to succeed a take a good stag then you can bet he is good enough to get a LOT closer to other game and that means a much higher percentage of food going home not knowing it has even been shot.
By the way if you think deer do no harm to the Australian bush you best see how they uproot multiple small trees, strip the bark off many others & cause soil erosion. Then there are the farm fences damaged, crops & masture eaten and stock attacked by Fellow deer.
If we are going to kill our own meat then are we not obligated to do so in the fastest & most humane way possible?
Thanks for your time.
P.S. Am I a "Moron"? I hope not. I volunteer my time to the CFA, I fought the fires in Dunally Tasmania in January without pay, I saw home and lives shattered. I fought Black Saturday as you sat at home commenting on how awful the situation was, (did you go out and help the survivors?) We are foster parents that DO the work others are only willing to acknowledge but not get involved. Blood donor, organ donor (and yes if they are up for grabs you are welcome to them if needed). We are all just different breeds of cattle, eh?
Cheers big ears.

PPS  If you really want to know what I think is inhuman and needs our help then best you see what our Kiwi cousins are up to, then shout and scream to whoever will listen. on this front I will stand shoulder to shoulder with you and proudly!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s84cuG5LjEo

What an odd world we all live in? Before I start let me get one thing clear i dont like animal crulet and am not a fan of animal testing.
that being said dont be so hypocritical. There is not a person on the planet that has not benefited in some way from humans use of animals. Modern medicine woud be non existant without use of animals. How many of you so called avtivists volenteer for human drug testing?? Anyone. What about the cosmetic industry all the women out there that cry Freedom while making sure you look the best covered in makeup that was either made from or tested on animals. Just stopfor a minute and look around you I bet there at least 10 items around you that will have a connection with animal testing. I dont support it but I do understand it. We all want better lives, better medicine, cheaper cosmetics etc and there is a price. The way I see it if you  dont live naked  under a tree you are being hypocritical to say you are against animal testing. More you pretent not to know about what you cant see.
The least cruel person you will find is the hunter. Hunters have an understanding that you wont get when you  buy a steak at coles. They dont kill randomly with no skill and they are in no way cruel. The animal knows nothing its fast and painless. There is more cruelty when lion kills a zebra by chasing it down and chocking it to death. But thats just nature right!
Interestingly none of  you mentioned the recent documentry on the Artic or the inuit people who live there hunting to survive and wearing animal skinns to keep warm. Why is it bad for a hunter to kill a deer or goat for food  but a  eskimo does not rate a mention after he kills a seal for food?? Part of the problem in todays societyis that we are living in a bubble and have no real idea of how life is. You say you are worried for your kids but if you want your children to have an understanding of  the world and make good choices they need to know what is real verses what is fake. Life and death are real most of the rest is fake. I think if you are going to make a choice on something you need to know both sides. What you should do is take a year away from your suburban lives with dishwashers  and latte's and move to a farm. Live from and with the  land and enviroment for awhile. See what real life is all about. Teach your children yourselves instead of letting someone else do it.
At the end of the day what I am saying is there is nothing wrong with  a hunting show. Better something real than another episode of the block, downtown abbey or other rubbish that passes for entertainment.
Lest we forget you can always change the channel if you dont like it.

Did you know there's a way to control what you watch on TV? It called the remote. If you don't want to watch a show change channels

Beyond the Divide is a great program. I do not think there is anything wrong with harvesting feral species such as deer for meat in Australia. So long as the hunter tries to kill them swiftly and uses the meat. There are probably too many ferals in this continent to make much of a dent through hunting, however. It certainly does no harm as long as the hunters follow the rules.