Hi so recently i have been thinking a lot about my food (as usual) but mainly where it comes from. I find something dastardly about going into a supermarket and buying prepacked meat and such, now i know for many that this is the only way to get their hands on quality protein but i live in quite a rural area and its quite possible for me to sustain my diet by simply eating what i can fish and hunt for. So i was wondering what views Wiccans would have on killing and eating animals, does it not go against "harm none then do what you will"? as i would be taking the life of an innocent creature of earth? It does seem to me more natural than going into the supermarket and having it all laid out for us. Any of your views would be greatly appreciated.
In my opinion that does not apply. Food sources are a part of our life cycle. During earlier periods animals were killed for food and for sacrifice. Your intention is not solely to harm, but to survive.
I would always go to the supermarket, although there are many horror stories, most of the species killed for our food are killed quickly, if you hunt for your own food there is a potential that they won't be so fortunate, so you may risk making the animal suffer even more.
As Brysing has said, not only do you have to get licences, but many of these species may carry diseases that could potentially harm humans. Alongside that you have problems with e-coli, if you don't fully know what you are doing.
If you are interested in going down this path then do a lot of research, but many of the larger game, such as deer, may actually belong to someone who doesn't want them killed.
Widdica32 thank you for those words, that makes sense to me. yes its true there is mainly rabbits where i live but most of the farmers near me are more than happy with you hunting them. there is also grouse and other game birds roaming wild. I would never take down a deer as its only me and i could never consume enough of it before it went bad. It just seems like a more natural way to gain protein. somebody once told me that if the slaughterhouses had glass walls everybody would be vegetarian. i'm quite adept at gutting and skinning so that's not a worry but i do worry about having a bad shot one day and the poor creature running off and dying slowly. i'm still using supermarkets regularly but something about row after row of butchered meat puts me off.
Regarding hunting animals for food,from what I learnt in Wicca,the Horned God is a God of hunting (among many other things),so I don't think its bad,though hunt the animal in a merciful way,leagly of course!
If this is your only choice to obtain meat I recommend praying for the animal when you are done and thanking the Earth and the animal for giving its life for you (I'm aware that Native American tribes did this)
And like everyone else said be careful of disease,I'm sure there must be other ways for you to obtain meat without hunting however get the liscensces if you want to hunt!
As many have already said , there is legalities and disease to worry about. But I am not aware of anything that any form of paganism has against hunting to survive and live its no different from cutting up a tree to have heat yes some believe a blessing is in order upon such a thing ,it is my belief the same goes for hunting .
Tinyorbit, you have grouse and other game birds roaming wild? I doubt that! Most birds are protected in England; and grouse are specially raised for expensive "shoots".
I have seen beasts killed, both by a slaughter house and Halal. Both were humane. It's a supermarket for me!
If someone is going to shoot a Grouse for sport then i don't really care about the legality of it at all. How can one own a bird that belongs to the earth? if i shoot it then it will be to eat not for sport. Please don't make out that i am writing a falsity i know a Grouse when i see one friend.
