Ex-Vegan Makes Case For Hunting Animals In Latest Voices Lecture

By Nolan Cleary, Managing Editor

It’s considered the most controversial sport in America. Hunting is an activity that’s divided America for hundreds of years. Animal rights activists across the country have taken a strong stance against the controversial practice.

For some, however, hunting has become a tool for a more positive purpose; wild life conversation. Katrina Talbot is a wildlife biologist at the Department of Environmental Conservation. Talbot argues, there are other reasons for people to hunt.

Talbot is an advocate for the North American Conservation Model. The tenets of the model argue that wildlife belongs to everyone, not just wealthy hunters. To ensure this, Talbot advocates for some wildlife to be supervised by the government.

Talbot also advocates regulating the animal selling market, to ensure that poachers and other hunters can’t make a profit off of illegal practices. Talbot argues that while many hunters break laws for greed, not all hunters should be associated with those engaging in unethical activity.

“You cannot paint all hunters with the same brush. Just with any group of people, in any demographic, not everyone has the same motivations. Not everyone looks the same, it’s a very diverse group of people.” Talbot said.

According to Talbot, different hunters choose to hunt for different reasons. Some hunt for tradition, others for an organic meat supply, and some who would like to spend more time with their family.

Talbot is a former vegan herself but said she gave her lifestyle up after she couldn’t resist the taste of meat. She argues that while hunting in many instances does lead to the deaths of animals, their deaths are usually more humane than those who live on a farm.

“I know that if all goes well, that animal led a stress-free, quick death, which cannot be said for more farm-raised industrial meat,” Talbot said.

Talbot also suggested hunting animals for food could lead to major health benefits. “[Organic meat] doesn’t have any of the antibiotics, or the chemicals, or eating pesticide-ridden food, it’s just all and all much healthier, much leaner because most wildlife is not fat. So, it’s just a healthier source of food for you and your family.” Talbot said.

Habitat management is also apart of hunting as well. According to Talbot, many wildlife experts fear more wild animals in urban situations and lives could lead to more problems not just for humans, but animals as well.

Many deers are killed by passing vehicles every year. Wildlife experts hope their actions can avoid that. “You can consume deer that you hit by a car, but most people don’t and it goes to waste, whereas before they had the chance to go into a roadway, that animal would go to use and feed someone’s family,” Talbot said.

Talbot also argues animal overpopulation and disease control as reasons for hunting animals. During the Q&A section, Talbot said she was interested in animals since she went to college.

Talbot went on to work as a field technician in the U.S. Forest Service. Talbot says the experience helped her find her calling.

“I was developing a program to help people co-exist, not only living there but as tourist recreating in bear country, with really large apex predators,” Talbot said.

Talbot is also optimistic that more people could be taking up hunting. “There’s a huge uptick in interest. Some of that could be because people have more time on their hands, but I think a lot more people are really getting interested in it in general.” Talbot said.