Question: Is hunting ethical?

Is hunting ethical? This entry weighs the arguments on both sides of the question — that hunting is ethical, and that it is not — covering conservation, tradition, animal welfare and the ethics of killing for sport.

Position 1 of 2

Read this position →

Yes, hunting is ethical

Proponents of this position hold that hunting can be carried out ethically: that killing an animal for food or population control is morally no different from other meat production, and that regulated hunting sustains habitat and long-standing cultural practice.

Hunting for food does openly what meat eating does out of sight
Regulated hunting sustains the habitat and populations that a blanket ban would leave unfunded

Position 2 of 2

Read this position →

No, hunting is not ethical

Those who hold this position argue that hunting cannot be justified: that it inflicts death and fear on animals capable of suffering, that the recreational pleasure taken in it is itself a moral problem, and that food and conservation can be secured without it.

Killing an animal that could have been left alone needs a justification recreation cannot supply
Conservation and food can be secured without licensing people to kill for pleasure