Going Hunting?

[Eichhörnchen]

This might be a good moment to reflect on how this all does point up cultural differences between us over here (and maybe that includes most other Europeans, I don't know) and you guys in the US.

You have the "frontier" history which necessitated a skill with firearms, knives etc and which skills have been celebrated and passed down from father to son (and daughter) and continued on in your recreational hunting activities. We don't have that tradition here: civilian use of weapons here is usually through the medium of gun-clubs and youth organisations such as the Cadet Corps, where instruction in proper use is given; our Dads didn't pass gun safety sense on to us.

We don't have this same widespread tradition of hunting (killed of most of our bigger critters in the past anyway) so shooting skills tend more to be focused on target shooting or gamebird shooting (a whole other subject and one which is a great tradition). We don't have the vast wild places anymore; I would guess that if stag shooting in the Highlands continues then it would be as a highly regulated sport for wealthy individuals.

[Dread Knot]

Originally Posted by Eichhornchen

This might be a good moment to reflect on how this all does point up cultural differences between us over here (and maybe that includes most other Europeans, I don't know) and you guys in the US.

You have the "frontier" history which necessitated a skill with firearms, knives etc and which skills have been celebrated and passed down from father to son (and daughter) and continued on in your recreational hunting activities.

This is also why the founding fathers wisely included Constitutional protections for the right to arm bears.

However, for some inexplicable reason the bears have for centuries failed to avail themselves of this God-given right. Perhaps the Constitution needs to be re-written in Ursine.

[Eichhörnchen]

Would've made the Yogi Bear cartoons a lot more interesting...

[Dread Knot]

Originally Posted by Eichhornchen

Would've made the Yogi Bear cartoons a lot more interesting...

"I'm gonna kick Mr. Ranger's butt today Boo-Boo!"

[Wolferz]

Sport hunting would be a lot different if the animals shot back.

[Thomen]

@Rockstar
I completely agree. That is why I am not just jumping in there and start blasting away. My Old Man sent me his books and course material when he took his Hunters Ed and license in Germany. I have to say, the requirements are for the license are completely different, and in Germany require much more knowledge than it does here in the US.

@Aktungbby
I got something similar, but mine came out of a pawn shop, rather a kit. I shoots fine, but I need to replace the sights since the former owner totally screwed those up.

@Eichhornchen
I do agree for a large part with what you said, but I think a big portion of this is not just "hunting will be for the rich" or lack of land, but also personal and public interest. I grew up around firearms in Germany; my dad made a point out of teaching me the proper safe handling, shooting and maintaining the firearms when I was around 12 or so. Until last year, last time I really handled or shot a firearms of any kind was in '94 when I was still in the German army; after that point I kinda lost interest until I my wife gave me a handgun for my birthday last year.

Traditionally hunters were seen on scale from suspect to murder, at least in the larger German population areas. So that might has to be taken into account when one discusses spread of hunting in Europe and Germany in particular.

[Eichhörnchen]

It sounds as though public attitudes in Germany to legal gun ownership are similar to ours: that it's out of the ordinary except for farmers and gamebird/clay shooters, in other words countrymen or those aspiring to be countrymen basically.

Sure there are a lot of less than wealthy country-dwellers who enjoy a spot of pigeon-shooting on farmland (I know plenty) but hunting? I don't know that anyone does it over here anymore. As you suggest, most people would regard other types of gun-owners (rifle, pistol etc) with suspicion.

[Dread Knot]

Originally Posted by Eichhornchen

As you suggest, most people would regard other types of gun-owners (rifle, pistol etc) with suspicion.

That's increasing the case here in the US. I remember watching one kid react with revulsion to a deer in the tailback of a hunter's truck as if he had just seen a blue whale dragged into the maw of a factory ship. Cover your fresh game with a tarp I guess.