Most people see deer as beautiful, innocent creatures. But some see deer as nothing more than meat, and they delight in stalking them and murdering them -- wrenching them away from their offspring and forest friends. (Photo: Gil Paradis/Wikimedia Commons)
Most people see deer as beautiful, innocent creatures. But some see deer as nothing more than meat, and they delight in stalking them and murdering them — wrenching them away from their offspring and forest friends. (Photo: Gil Paradis/Wikimedia Commons)

Planning to stroll along a trail in the forest today?

If so, carry a bell or other noise-making device, and wear a colourful vest, authorities are saying. Because people with rifles are licensed to murder innocent wild animals from today through Oct. 16 and again from Oct. 29 to Nov. 11. And some of them may shoot at anything that moves.

I don’t know why authorities in Quebec and other jurisdictions still allow this barbaric, primitive practice. I don’t buy the “cull” explanation. And as an advanced civilization with plenty of domestic animal carcasses available in our grocery stores to eat, there is no good reason to snuff out the lives of innocent, gentle creatures like deer.

Let’s be clear: hunting and killing wild animals is not “a sport.” It’s murder. And if you kill a deer in the forest for the supposed fun of it, you are a murderer.

It is time for authorities to ban this primitive practice, except for people who can legitimately prove that they have no other means of survival.

— Jillian