General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMoronic Hunters Shoot and Kill Rare Albino Moose
My, don't they look proud. But after shooting this rare albino moose near Belle Cote in Nova Scotia last week and posting the pics to social media the trio has sparked considerable outrage, particularly among the region's Mi'kmaq indigenous community.
This moose was known to the local Mi'kmaq people for years, but they refrained from killing it because they consider all white animals to be sacred what they call a "spirit animal." Even hunters, aside from these clowns, don't shoot albino animals for fear that it'll bring bad luck and despite the fact that it's not illegal. These guys breached a kind of unwritten code of conduct that has also upset many in the hunting community.
Mi'kmaq hunter Danny Paul spoke to the CBC about the incident:
We know the significance and we've been teaching that to the non-native population for almost 500 years about the importance that this and other white animals played in our lives. We are not to harm them in any way, shape, or form because they could be one of our ancestors coming to remind us of something significant that's going to happen within our communities. It was so disrespectful having seen it put on the social media, and it's been an outcry and our people are outraged.
<snip>
http://io9.com/these-moronic-hunters-actually-shot-and-killed-a-rare-a-1442896269
pipoman
(16,038 posts)jberryhill
(62,444 posts)Look into the "white tiger" scam sometime.
Albinism is a congenital defect which in many animals is crosslinked to other maladaptive characteristics. It is not some spiritual blessing imbuing the animal with magic powers.
While shooting this moose was unnecessary, the desirability of albinism for animals used in entertainment, particularly tigers, has led to exceptionally cruel breeding programs to produce mutants of this variety.
pipoman
(16,038 posts)or most any other albino game animals I am aware of. The white tigers are bred in captivity.
Bottom line is we should either protect them, and I doubt there would be any meaningful opposition to doing that, or we don't complain when it happens..
Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)I would have no objection to protecting unusual color patterns on game animals because of their religious significance, but the killing of said animals via regulated hunting will not affect the species' herd health.
pipoman
(16,038 posts)It seems I've seen a lot of piebalds in hunting mags..
Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)The black white-tail is known to be a strain occurring exclusively in SW Travis County (Austin) in Texas. Very uncommom, but for hunting purposes it is like any other of its brethren white tails. But the next time I see a tiger-striped feral hog...
Brickbat
(19,339 posts)flvegan
(64,419 posts)jberryhill
(62,444 posts)Before we march in with Hitler and the eugenicists here, and taking general objections to hunting of any kind into account...
If hunting is permitted at all, then it makes perfect sense to hunt the way that other animals hunt. Taking special care to avoid hunting ones which are infirm, beyond breeding age, or, in this case, having a genetic defect, does the hunted species no good.
Again, I understand and respect your general objection to hunting. But if animals are going to be taken, then it makes zero sense to take some kind of precautions to leave behind ones which have genetic abnormalities cross linked to maladaptive characteristics.
pipoman
(16,038 posts)Brickbat
(19,339 posts)Paulie
(8,462 posts)What about the head???? That's the trophy...
pipoman
(16,038 posts)Paulie
(8,462 posts)Or is this going to be more of those old bear skin rugs with the head attached?
pipoman
(16,038 posts)the hide looks incomplete without the neck skin. I think taxidermists usually want most of the front of the animal hide for a head mount.
A little trivia to squirrel away for a pub quiz.
alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)Gman
(24,780 posts)and change their names.
ZombieHorde
(29,047 posts)I know there isn't a lot of superstition surrounding cows in the US, but getting worked up over knocking on wood and black cats seems a bit silly to me.
Auntie Bush
(17,528 posts)I hope these stupid assholes get run out of town in a wooden box.
pipoman
(16,038 posts)your average moose hunter's first response to seeing the animal would be to watch it, imo
Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)Brickbat
(19,339 posts)pipoman
(16,038 posts)flvegan
(64,419 posts)But I have to like that some hunters have given a value (thanks, bros! :rollseyes to at least one animal. Ego is funny, even still.
Yeah, cuz pulling the trigger somehow makes you a "hunter" you dumbfuck. LOL!