Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Ethics?

Is it sporting to kill elk/bears/deer over water in an arid climate in your opinion? Two friends are always at each other over it, it gets pretty comical. I could care less either way,

We sit over water holes to dove hunt. I see nothing wrong with sitting on a water hole

Just like sitting on a crossing.

I have zero issue with how one chooses to legally hunt.

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How far away from guzzlers on NM federal lands does one have to be when hunting BG?

Food plots,corn /bean fields?

Can’t park or camp within 300 yds. of any man made water, but no regs regarding distance while hunting.

Thank you SLM.

I thought I remembered there was a distance from them a person had to be but couldn't remember how it applied. Parking and camping 👍

I have zero issue with a person hunting over a waterhole in a desert. I think it is perfectly ethical.

I don’t do it because I am impatient as all get out, and get bored sitting in one spot. Same reason why I don’t bait bears.

Ethics are personal.


I grew up in SD and have done most of my hunting in Wyoming. The idea of baiting deer with feed and shooting them over a salt block or pile of corn is crazy to me and seems unethical. That comes from the influence of the rules and what is considered fair chase in the areas I spent most of my time. By that same token, pheasant hunting the ditches and road hunting is legal in South Dakota so I also am very comfortable with road hunting. I probably drive more than I should for deer too. Most people would find that lazy and unethical based on the rules where they spend most of their time. I shot a lot of fork horn mulie bucks when I was a kid. Didnt like shooting does and was always around the fork horns. Feel bad about that now and prefer to watch them walk around. I would watch them 98 times out of a 100 and eat the tag before I shot another of them. Lots of rambling for no real reply other than each to their own and what is normal for the area. If you dont like it, dont do it and maybe you will set a trend.

That’s me, don’t have the patience, but it can be productive in dry years for sure.

Those two are a hoot when they get into the conversation regarding “ethics”. One is somewhat of a purist ( but hypocritical IMO)with all hunting and the others philosophy is as long as it’s legal he’s killing it.

No! It’s not unethical to look for the animal that you’re hunting in the most likely places it could be. I don’t halibut fish in lakes or pheasant hunt in old growth forests.

Locating naturally occurring necessities like food, water, mineral licks, etc are all important components of hunting because by finding those places you narrow down where your prey might be.

I'm sure those boy's are a hoot to take fishing...

It’s ok, if they shoot one-handed.

Fishing and bird hunting come up regularly between them.

I know people who adamantly believe shots over 300-400 yards are unethical, but have zero issue trespassing if that is where the critters are. Same with some who adamantly demand everyone should utilize the meat of "good" tasting animals but have zero issue wasting meat of animals that they don't feel are eating, regardless of whether the law says they have to or not. Definitions of what is "enough" edible meat off a carcass is equally contentious.

The interpretations of hunting ethics is as broad anything else in psychology.

I hunt ducks and geese over water. I can’t see a bitch being made about someone finding a water hole in arid climate and hunting by it.

YMMV

🦫

Especially if they are fly fishermen.