I hear what you're saying, -and I've got this Warm, Humane, Fuzzie side about me too. I'm Filled and Bubbling with it! Contrary to some appearances, -such as when I've talked quite hawkishly on Iraq, etc.

But for me, -this doesn't extend to the Call and Neccessities for Survival. One's gotsta do here what they've gotta do!

I of course advocate doing so in as entirely Quick and Humane way as all possible. In that here I feel precisely as you do!

I'm out Surviving now,- (Combo Standard Survival and having found myself Homeless for a while), -(Doing quite OK and Well at it too!), -but I havn't had Occassion or Neccessity to actually Hunt, Trap, etc. But I'd do so if I had to. And I'm for myself getting to "Know Up"!, -on this overall Field, -even if I weren't now so Surviving!, -in its own Right and Importance, -in any event and regard.

(On my Survival Situation itself, -I entered this considerably Rusty on actual Details, Equipment, etc, -I'm somewhat embarrassed to have to say! -But well endowed with the Resourcefulness, Spirit, Sense, and Knack of it all! I just so Apply it, -and do so quite very well. The Proof is in the Pudding, -and the Pudding is that I've been out here Successfully Surviving, -and very Well so, -even now here in a Northeast U.S. winter, -for 7 months now. As such, -this former Newbie feels Qualified to talk Authoritatively on Survivi-Prep. Though I still remain a bit Rusty, -on many of the actual Brass Tacks Prepparations, Equipment, and Details! I've recently Resolved to Rectify that though, -here in this New Year, -as some of you know. Also, I saw "War Clouds" looming ahead for awhile, -and so had made at least some "Preparations for War"! Am again Doing Quite OK and Well! Don't overly worry bout me! Thats it all in a nutshell.).

I'm NOT against Hunting, -There is so much Worthwhile, Good, and Great about it! I'm also *Not* opposed to Hunting Purely for Sport. Though I don't care to personally do so for that, myself. My Pro-Hunting is *Not* limited to only Survival and Food.

I encourage at least reading up, and equipping up on it, -on Guns and Ammo, Animals and the Outdoors, Tracks and Tracking, etc. So that you'd be Ready to Go! Should a Survival Situation so arise! and perhaps so override some of your inhibitions.

But precisely out of my Warm Fuzzy Love and Regard for Animals, -I just personally don't care to Hunt. Much the same as I just don't care for Coffee! I know well that there's some Mighty Good Coffees in the world! And I really Well Regard and Respect that! But nonetheless, -I'm just not a coffee drinker! (Hawaiian Punch is my Beverage of Choice!).(Brings to mind a motto of mine, -"The ((Original)) Star Trek is my Soap Opera!, Hawaiian Punch is my Beer!").

But I personally wouldn't hesitate to Hunt or Trap, for Food and Survival.

I once helped somebody slaughter and gut a cow. I was a good bit Uncomfortable and all at the actual slaughter, -but had No problem whatsoever, -at the skinning and gutting itself. (Same for Biology dissections back in hi school. I never understood all the Squeamish Crowing about it, from many a fellow classmate.).

At my own present Campsite, -I've recently pitched a nestful of rat or ratlike infants, down the hill. No problem or Hesitation whatsoever, -but I nevertheless Well Respected, and Did Feel, -for these Animals! (I've gotta do what I've gotta Survival do! I've gotta keep such Animals, -who incidentally of course try to compete with me for my Food Supply, -at bay. Utilizing such an oppurtunity to reduce their population some, -is one of my Survival Do what I have to Do's.)

However, -weeks earlier, -I also came across a nest of older ones, -very small but certainly beyond infanthood. (Bodies, not counting tail, no more than two inches long.). I couldn't and didn't kill them, -at least not directly or knowingly. They were just staying there in one spot, -obviously wondering what was going on, -preferring just to be back in their Nest. To get Back to Normal!, as oppossed to the uncomfortable enuff abnormalacy they now found themselves in. I just set them over within a nearby rockpile, -I had recently built. Gently and all, of course. Out of their nest now, -they probably eventually died there. If so, -thats all to the Well and Good, -in that they otherwise would have only eventually grown, -to join with what others there be there, -in Competition for my Food Supply! Then I Would have Really Regretted and Rued!, -the day back when, -when I *Didn't* "Do What I Had to Do!". And of course also for the other various reasons we don't want this particular Animal around, -did I do this over. But Humanely and all speaking, -I just didn't wish to kill them! At least not outright.

I've thought of just feeding them to some nearby Cats, -on both occasions. -Shudda, -but didn't. These Cats get a lot of my "reject food", -as well as some good food, -from me anyway.

Again, -I'd "vote" for you're "Getting Up the Steam", -not that you're weak, -to Do what you may thereby Have to Do, -in a potential Survival Situation. Once again, -as quickly and Humanely as all possible!, -of course!

(Skinning Rabbits or other Animals alive, however, -I feel to not only be utterly Repugnant!, -but also Utterly UN-Neccessary! In most cases anyway.). [color:"black"] [/color] [email]Chisel[/email]