Tracking

When many hunters go out looking for big game, they hope to drop the animal in its tracks after being shot. However, sometimes this does not happen and hunters are spending hours tracking their animals. Tracking is the science of observing animal tracks and trails. This is used when trying to find animals to hunt. It is also used to find a dead animal after it is shot. Following an animals track, trail, or signs is called spoor. Spoor is the feathers, scratching posts, kills, drag marks, sounds and many other things to identify where an animal is going. Blood is one of the main things hunters follow when tracking a shot animal in the woods. They also look for drag marks and foot prints. Trackers look for spoor in obvious places like thick brush and opened clearings. It is easy to track shot animals in the winter because the bright red blood is easy to identify in the white snow. Injured animals tend to bed down.

When tracking a wounded animal, it is crucial to wait at least 30 minutes and up to even 4 hours. If you start tracking too soon, animals could get an adrenline rush and chances of finding the animal are slim. Take it slow and mark spots of blood with flagging tape every 25-50 yards to trace the trail from far distances. Be sure to pick up the tape when you're done. You should walk on the side of the trail so you do not mess up the signs. If you lose the trail and can't find anymore blood, go back to the last place you saw blood and scout around that area. When tracking a wounded animal it is easy to get caught up in just looking at the ground, trying to find that next speck of blood. You should be aware of what is 100 yards out in front of you because if the animal is bedded down and you spook it, be ready to shoot.

Curtis, Rick. “Outdoor Action Guide to Tracking Animals.” Princeton. N.p., 2010. Web. 7 Jan. 2011. http://www.princeton.edu/‌~oa/‌nature/‌tracking.shtml.
“Tracking Animals.” Wikipedia. N.p., 30 Nov. 2011. Web. 7 Jan. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/‌wiki/‌Tracking_(hunting)>.

Texas Heart Shot



Texas heart shot of a coyote.



Texas heart shot is a hunting term that means shooting at the tail and butt region of an animal. The hunter usually aims for the femoral artery. This artery is in the leg that goes from the hip to the knee. After the bullet or arrow goes through this artery, it then usually goes through the heart or lung. Many hunters do not use this shot because it is hard to make it a successful one. The Texas heart shot usually harms the edible meat of the animal. The point of this kind of shot is to break the animals spinal cord and other large bones in it's body. This enables them to move if they are not yet killed.

 The Texas heart shot is a very controversial issue. Most people, even hunters, see it as unethical. Many hunters only use this as a last resort shot if a wounded animal is running away from them. On discussion forums of many outdoors web sites, hunters talk about the Texas heart shot. Some admitted to actually killing an animal this way, but really regret it. Trying to clean a deer after the bullet has gone through the whole body, is very difficult and a huge mess. Most of the meat is not even usable at this point. A few hunters do think this kind of shot is ethical. They say it's a very fast way to kill an animal and it gets the job done. They do believe it should not be one's primary shot while hunting. Hunters think it is ok to shoot coyotes this way because their meat has no use.

Jordan Outdoor Enterprises. “Texas Heart Shot?????” Realtree. N.p., May 2010. Web. 6 Jan. 2011. http://www.realtree.com/‌forums/‌showthread.php?t=1950.

Popik, Barry. “Texas Heart Shot.” The Big Apple. N.p., May 2010. Web. 6 Jan. 2011. http://www.barrypopik.com/‌index.php/‌new_york_city/‌entry/‌texas_heart_shot_hunting/.

“Texas Heart Shot.” Wikipedia. N.p., 21 June 2010. Web. 6 Jan. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/‌wiki/‌Texas_heart_shot>.



Treeing and Coursing

Treeing is a method of hunting where dogs chase animals until the point they are forced up a tree. Usually a hunter follws them on foots. They are then able to shoot the animal. It is mainly used for raccoon, black bear, and cougar hunting. Sometimes the prey is killed by the dogs or the dogs are killed by the prey. The dogs follow the scent of the animal and bark continuously. Dogs are trained to bark and not directly attack the animal.


Coursing is the persuit of animals by a dog. They catch their prey by constantly running and chasing until the animal is caught. They use sight to catch the animal rather than scent. It is the oldest practiced form in the western world. The most common coursed animals in America are:

• hares
• rabbits
• foxes
• jackrabbits
• coyotes

In the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Spain, they have competive coursing where 2 dogs are used. In America usually 3 dogs are used. In some countries is has recently become illegal to course animals except rabbits and rats. Only up to 2 dogs are allowed to be used to chase  the prey into the path of a hunter with a gun.

“Coursing.” Wikipedia. N.p., 13 Dec. 2010. Web. 5 Jan. 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/‌wiki/‌Coursing.

“Treeing.” Wikiepedia. N.p., 19 Dec. 2010. Web. 5 Jan. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/‌wiki/‌Treeing>.

Roadkill

Roadkill is an animal or animals that have been hit and killed by a motor vehicle. Many animals and pets are killed each year. When the animals lay on the side of the road, it is considered a form of road pollution. It is up to the state troopers and department of transportation to remove roadkill from streets. Roadkill can be eaten and it is said that there are many roadkill recipe books.

Schools from all around did a study on about 2,000 animals that were roadkill. 81% of deaths were mammals. The following shows how many mammals are killed each year:

• 4.1 million squirrels
• 26 million cats
• 22 million rats
• 19 million opossum

• 15 million raccoons
• 6 million dogs
• 350,000 deer

Accidents with animals can increase the chance of endangered species to become extinct, death of people, and pets. Most accidents happen at night because many animals are nocturnal. The glare of bright lights tend to make animals freeze rather than run away. The best way to reduce chances of hitting animals is to drive a little bit slower at night and scan both sides of the road while driving. Some places in the United States, Canada, and Europe have these things called wildlife crossings. They are tunnels under or over roads that animals can travel through to avoid going on roads.

You should be aware of animal crossing signs in wooded areas.

“Roadkill.” Wikipedia. N.p., 3 Jan. 2011. Web. 4 Jan. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/‌wiki/‌Roadkill>.

Trapping

Animal trapping is the use of a device to catch an animal. Animals are trapped for many different reasons. It was the very first form of hunting that started back in the neolithic age. Trapping is very controversial because many see it as very cruel. There is regulated trapping to control species. Many use traps out of season and for long periods of time. These people get fined and their trapping licenses taken away.

There are five types of traps that are used. They are foothold traps, body gripping, snares, cages, and glue traps. The foothold trap is the most commonly used. When the animal steps on the trigger, their foot gets caught so they cannot get away. There are different sizes for different animals like bears and beavers. Today's traps are made so they reduce injuries to the animals. Anti-fur people people claim that animals will chew off their leg to get out of the traps. Trappers say they will bleed to death before that even happened. Body gripping traps are used to kill the animal almost instantly. The trap is made to close on the neck of the animal which closes the trachea, and usually breaks the spine. These come in many sizes. Snare traps are easy to make and set in large numbers. They trap an animal around the neck or body and tightens around the animal. Cage traps are baited traps that catch live animals in cages. They have a trigger at the back and when stepped on, the door closes keeping the animal unharmed and inside. Many use these to catch unwanted pests and then release them unharmed in different locations. Glue traps are used to trap household rodents. They are made by attaching extremely sticky material to cardboard. Bait is then set on top. They can be released from these traps unharmed.

The main reasons people trap are for fur, food, and and damage prevention. Someone who traps for fur is called a fur trapper and they make a living out of trapping animals. The fur is then used in clothing and other items. It is considered a profession all around the world. In many areas of the United States and Europe it is illegal to trap certain animals for their fur. Popular animals of fur trapping in America are raccoons, lynx, wolves, and bobcats. Instead of folks going out with a gun to hunt animals, they also trap them. It is like the easy route of hunting. The most common animals trapped for food are opossum, raccoon, and rabbits. Trapping is also used to prevent damage. Many farmers use traps to catch predators that have been stirring trouble with their cattle. They are also used to catch animals that are causing damage to personal property.

 Many unwated animals are also trapped. These animals must be released. Some non-targeted animals are cats, deer, and livestock.


This is a dog that has no left paws after being caught in a trap.



“ANimal Trapping.” Wikipedia. N.p., 8 Jan. 2011. Web. 7 Jan. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/‌wiki/‌Animal_trapping>.

Poaching

If you think hunting is bad, how about poaching?

Hunting is legal when in season and people use the whole animal after it is killed. Poaching is a different story happening in the United States as well as around the world.

Poaching is the illegal taking of animals when they are endangered or not in season. People have poached elephants just for their tusks and left their bodies there to waste away. Poachers have sold parts of animals on the black market like tiger bones and claws. Poaching does happen in the United States too. It is very common in Oregon to poach mule deer. Trophy animals can bring thousands of dollars for poachers who sell the mounted heads to people who want to decorate a home, office, or business. The number of mule deer killed illegally is about equal to the ones killed legally. Bald Eagles are also commonly poached in America. That is why they are on the endangered species list. Another commonly poached animal in the U.S. is the black bear. Their gall bladders are worth more than illegal drugs in the Far East. The reason is because black bear gall bladders and paws are used in medicine in China. I'm sure the Chinese can find other things to use in medicine that don't include poaching animals for certain body parts. The worthy parts of the animals are kept and the rest decays away. Poaching is used as a way to make money. People want clothing and household items made out of real animal fur like zebras and lions.



A Black Bear after it's gall bladder and paws are removed.



Animals suffer when they are poached. What happens during hunting? Most animals are killed instantly and suffer no pain. Rhinos get tranquilized and their tusks get removed. When they awake, they are in pain and bleeding all from the face or other areas of the body. That is common with a lot of safari and wild animals.

If hunting was really that bad, they would have referred to it as poaching.

 “Poaching.” Wikipedia. N.p., 11 Jan. 2011. Web. 23 Nov. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/‌wiki/‌Poaching>.

Hunting: Right or Wrong?

Hunting is a very opinionated subject. Many people believe it is natural and part of their heritage. Others think it is very dangerous to the environment, biology, and ecology. Everyone has their reasons for which side they stand on.

There are many reasons why men and women are strongly against hunting. Many people think is is environmentally destructive and extremely cruel. Some think it will ruin the food chain. Killing off too many of one species will result in the decrease of many other species. Less than one percent of hunters do not even eat what they kill according to the National Rifle Association. It is also believed that those that hunt are more violent than those that do not hunt. Kids that were involved in school massacres were either young hunters or from families that hunted and had access to guns. Trapping is also very cruel. Animals suffer in pain in tiny little cages. Sometimes even pet cats and pet dogs get caught in these traps. Conservationists manage species so they believe hunting to control population is an excuse to kill.


There are many reasons why men and women do hunt. Some hunt for meat. The meat is more lean and healthy than from the store because there are no additives. It is free and you can obtain a lot of meat from just one carcus . Others hunt because they love the challenge. Having to load up all their gear and head out to the woods or swamps is a challenge in its self. After finding the right spot, they have to wait for the right prey to come out. Hunters do not want to shoot something too small and waste away a tag. Sometimes there is not  even anything good to take a shot at. Some believe it is their duty to control the population of species. Without hunting, animals will over populate. The love of being outdoors is definitely another reason people go hunting. Being outside is peaceful and relaxing to many. The sound of crackling branches, smell of pines, and the sun coming up at the crack of dawn is unlike anything someone could imagine or even search on the Internet. Being in the woods on a frosty morning waiting for the biggest buck to get a shot at is thrilling. Humans would not even be on this earth if our ancestors did not hunt to survive. These are things non-hunters won't ever understand.

Works Cited

Chau, Yong. “Interview with Anne Muller, President of the Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting.” Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. N.p., 2006. Web. 12 Nov. 2010. <http://ic.galegroup.com/‌ic/‌ovic/‌ViewpointsDetailsPage/‌ViewpointsDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Viewpoints&prodId=OVIC&action=e&windowstate=normal&catId=&documentId=GALE%7CEJ3010504217&mode=view>.

Clark, Ward M. “Why Hunt?” Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Wildfowling Magazine, 2004. Web. 12 Nov. 2010. <http://ic.galegroup.com/‌ic/‌ovic/‌ViewpointsDetailsPage/‌ViewpointsDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Viewpoints&prodId=OVIC&action=e&windowstate=normal&catId=&documentId=GALE%7CEJ3010504206&mode=view>.