The concept of ethical hunting has been around for some time and it is important that all hunters have an understanding of its principles and practise these when in the field.
Ethical hunting means that a person knows and respects the game hunted, follows the law and behaves in a way that will satisfy what society expects of a hunter.
Ethical hunters are familiar with the places they hunt, the wildlife that live there and the way they should behave when hunting. The father of the 14-year-old girl, Dan, said that his daughter, Abi, was subjected to abuse on social media after she reportedly shot a protected animal in error.
The 14-year-old girl reportedly shot an elk she believed to be a deer during a hunting expedition with her father. The state’s deer season is legal in the location where the father and daughter were hunting, officials said. The father reportedly contacted the Department of Conservation after looking at his daughter’s carcass. “We think we just shot an elk,” he said.
It’s unusual that an elk would be in their county, which is roughly 200 miles from where a wild elk herd was reintroduced. Until Dan sent him a photo of evidence, conservation officer Doerhoff was unconvinced that the elk existed. “The dad sent me a photo to my phone and it was very clear that, yes, that’s an elk,” said Doerhoff. “You don’t expect to see something like that. I’ve learned to never say never.” “She saw antlers, she saw the body.
She thought it was a deer and took the shot,” said the department’s regional supervisor, Strother. “This young girl probably had never seen an elk in the wild before. The dad certainly did the right thing by immediately calling us.” Since their tale went viral, Dan said that his daughter has been the subject of online hate from internet forums. A Facebook group said “STOP Trophy Hunting NOW” posted about the story, saying, “Idiots and their offspring with guns in the woods, don’t even know what they are shooting at.” “Don’t come at my daughter saying lock her away,” argued Dan. “Wow. If my daughter gets fined, I’ll pay it and move on. So be it. We’ll deal with it.” Dan added that he hoped his family would be permitted to consume the animal’s flesh and antlers. “I’d make sure everybody around my family would have some of that,” White said. Dan was also told that no parts of the elk will be returned to him or the family by personnel, according to Strother.
If the meat is found to be free of disease, it may be given to low-income families. Some people were divided over whether the youngster should be penalized for the elk’s death. “The elk is a protected species. As there is no elk season, shooting it is illegal. Age or ignorance is not a defense for breaking the law. She made a mistake, there are consequences,” said one user. “The fact the dad asked to get the trophies from this animal is just really in poor taste. Your daughter illegally shot a protected elk, no you do not get the trophies from an illegal action. She shouldn’t go to jail but if there is a fine it is definitely justified.” “She’s 14. She’s learning still. Her dad did the right thing in calling immediately however,” added another person. “The elk had no tag and they even said they didn’t have any reports of elk in the area so it was odd to even see one out there.”
