Hunting for the 'good' hunt – alignment of recreational hunting with ethics

This paper examines how differences and shifts in ethical norms and pluralism regarding standards of hunting may constitute a challenge to recreational hunting in many Western countries, as seen by the case of Denmark. Hunting... [ view full abstract ]

This paper examines how differences and shifts in ethical norms and pluralism regarding standards of hunting may constitute a challenge to recreational hunting in many Western countries, as seen by the case of Denmark. Hunting is a popular leisure activity in many European countries as well as in the US, parts of Africa and Australia and New Zealand. At the same time, hunting has come under pressure, and objections have been raised against e.g. modes of hunting and purported breaches of animal welfare. Taking the Danish case, a highly urbanized, affluent society with a relatively high proportion of hunters (3% of the population), where many are new to hunting, and where hunting is relatively accepted but also increasingly questioned, the Danish Hunters Association has stated that “hunting should take place with a broader ethical view”. Non-legally binding, so-called “Hunting Ethical Rules” are in place to guide participants.  The paper examines these rules and tries to see which ethical perspectives and key values they may espouse and discusses the rules in the light of existing knowledge of public values regarding wildlife, and in view of recent developments in wildlife migration and wildlife management in Denmark. The paper argues that if recreational hunting should be more ‘robust’ viewed in light of uncertainties and value based disagreements, it probably needs more than a code of conduct; hunters also need to address underlying ethical questions of hunting. Evidently, these questions are also something those opposing recreational hunting should be willing to take up, if a mutually beneficial dialogue should persist.