Interesting debate
I sometimes do work for a company that rears game fowl then takes them out for rich americans to shoot. (Which makes me a hypocrite, before anyone points it out. Look, work is too scarce at the moment to look at the ethics of everyone we do business with.)

This company rears the birds in sheds. The only freedom they get is the last few moments of their life before they're blown to bits by some posh toff with a gun. After the shoot the birds are shovelled into a pit in the ground. This is obviously unacceptable behaviour. And if you were to say to me that you enjoy pheasant shooting then (without knowing any more) I would unfairly pidgeon-hole you into this group of cunts.

Killing for food? Absolutely fine. People have been doing it for millenia and I will harshly criticise anyone who complains about it before tucking in to their sunday joint. But those who just kill animals for the senseless pleasure of it deserve a good shoeing.

The same goes for fishermen who throw back their catches. Besides the ethical concern it's just wasteful. But that opens another can of (ha, ha) worms.
(MrC. Having the most boring username on b3ta since 2004, Thu 19 Feb 2009, 15:25, 1 reply)

Sorry looks like I've started something here lol
I am aware about this sort of behaviour and it is totally wrong. Mass murder. All it does is give those who would like to see our sport banned. Please know that the vast majority of fieldsports folk are not like this - a real sportsman will be more than happy with a brace or two for family and friends.
(Sir General ***WoW***, Thu 19 Feb 2009, 15:32, closed)

That's good to hear
I've been unfairly lumping innocent shooters in with the "toffs with guns" crowd. However, if you do happen to see a fellow sportsman killing for fun instead of food, give 'em a good shoeing from me, will you?
(MrC. Having the most boring username on b3ta since 2004, Thu 19 Feb 2009, 15:40, closed)

There's a several times world champ at clay shooting
whose name rhymes with 'Gorge Dickweed' who is (or so I've heard) one of the guilty ones.
(Sir General ***WoW***, Thu 19 Feb 2009, 15:51, closed)

Toffs with guns
Are a delicacy. Naturally because they can shoot back and work as teams.

However, their ability to keep a pure blood line makes them rare, so hunting is kept to a minimum.
Most are owned by the queen.
(FunOnABun Smears lard on you!, Thu 19 Feb 2009, 16:06, closed)