Hunting Ethics

Lead Hunting Ammunition

The topic of non-lead hunting ammunition has become one of the most polarizing topics discussed in today’s hunting community—and beyond for that matter. The “beyond” might be even more of a concern, but let’s focus first on our own ranks. Much of this debate is rooted in concerns about the ramifications of a misguided and unnecessary ban on lead ammunition for hunting, though an equal portion is driven by a concern for individual birds that die from lead poisoning.

Defining Modern Hunting

For Modern Hunting, the heart of our message must be conservation—the first love of hunters, and expressed in the Fair Chase ethic. By Simon Roosevelt, B&C Regular Member Excerpt...

Can It Make You a More Ethical Hunter?

By Keith Balfourd, B&C Professional Member Excerpt from the Summer 2018 issue of Fair Chase Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think so. It appears that some product manufacturers these...

If There’s No Chase, Is the Hunt Still Fair?

By Robert D. Brown, B&C Professional Member Excerpt from the Summer 2018 issue of Fair Chase A few years ago I published an article in Fair Chase titled, “I’ve Walked the Line...Have...

The Origins of Fair Chase

The earliest recorded usage of the term "Fair Chase" is in the fifth article of the Boone and Crockett Club’s constitution, adopted in February of 1888. At this time in history there were no laws governing the taking of game for food or for sport. Water-killing deer (driving deer with hounds or pushers into lakes where shooters waited in boats to either shoot, club or cut the throats of deer) was a widespread practice, especially in the Adirondacks.

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What is Your Fair Chase?

By PJ DelHommeSure, it’s legal, but is it right? With a high-powered rifle and a pile of optics worth more than my twelve-year-old truck, I assumed filling a couple pronghorn tags in southwestern Mont...

Fair Chase Hunting Equals Happiness

SCIENCE BLASTS By John F. Organ, B&C Professional Member Gordon Batcheller still hunting for moose in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Excerpt from Fall 2019 issue of Fair...

TECHNOLOGY: Please Enjoy Responsibly

What if the hunter success rate increases to 30 percent? The population can only sustain 10 elk harvested, but if there is 30 percent success, that means 30 elk are harvested from that popula- tion with 100 hunters out.

Just Eat It

Recently my wife and I attended a documentary on the disturbing amount of food waste in our country and the world, titled, “Just Eat It.” I didn’t see a connection with hunting ethics until I was in a discussion at our recent annual meeting of the Boone and Crockett Club in Nashville. Many members were lamenting the bad press that hunters get, i.e., “Cecil the lion,” and the fact that study after study has shown that only about 20 percent of the non-hunting public approves of trophy hunting, whereas 70-80 percent or more approve of legal hunting if its purpose is to produce food and/or to enhance wildlife management.