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Faced with destroyed crops, city in Chiba encourages hunting as business

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Game meat is quite tasty if harvested, cured, and prepared correctly.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Every meat eater would benefit from slaughtering an animal themselves... how nearly all people lives as little as maybe 100 years ago, and how maybe half of the world's population still lives today.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

No mention of rifles, long bows or anything like that. Are they planning on taking down a wild boar with some kind of leg trap? While I understand the need for managing these animals, I fear there could be an increase in "hunting" accidents going forward.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Rifles are not permitted, they use shotguns here. A rifle bullet can travel a hell of a long distance and people could get accidentally injured or worse by a missed shot.

Trapping animals, depending upon the type used of course, is a very inhumane method of killing an animal, particularly if the person who set the trap is not in the area when the animal is caught. Some animals will chew through their own bones to free themselves.

It's understandable the need to cull herds, but making it sound like a way to make money to a bunch of amateurs is NOT the way to go about it!

More than 4,000 wild boars and deer were captured. But the city's three meat processing plants could not catch up with the amount of game caught, and most of it had to be destroyed.

You have 3 meat processing plants in the city, and you can not handle this? There is something wrong with the management of these companies. If the city thinks it's so "profitable" these companies would bust their arses to get the business.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

You have 3 meat processing plants in the city, and you can not handle this? There is something wrong with the management of these companies. If the city thinks it's so "profitable" these companies would bust their arses to get the business.

Depends on the size of the meat processing "plants."

0 ( +1 / -1 )

As Yubaru mentioned, shotguns are used here for hunting (unless you've had a shotgun license for 10 years, only then are you allowed to apply for a rifle license). I'm in the process of getting my shotgun license. At first I didn't like the idea of hunting with shotguns as it seemed like a person couldn't make a quick kill, but then I was taught about rifled shotgun slugs as an alternative to rifles. I used used to hunt in New Zealand, simply because the country is filled with introduced animals and there are no native predators. I lived semi-rural, so hunting was a normal activity, including for my father, who I learnt from.

I can't say I agree with trapping for large animals though, as it can be quite cruel. We use instant kill traps for ferrets, stoats, weasels, and possums in NZ, but I don't think people are allowed to trap for larger animals because of the same issue that Yubaru pointed out.

The natural predator for Japanese deer and boar was the Asian wolf, but that became extinct in Japan 300 years ago. I actually would prefer wolves be introduced as a way to balance the ecosystem, but that option will never be allowed. Therefore, humane hunting is fine. The hunting license system is quite extensive in Japan, but the actual process to become licensed for a firearm is about the same in New Zealand as it is in Japan (though the Japanese test is easier than the NZ test for a firearm's license).

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Just guessing, but the meat processing plants could be chicken processing plants and not be designed to handle boar. There are quite a few chicken factory farms in Chiba.

Hunters have a lot of trouble getting rid of meat. They can give it away, but it is hard for them to sell it because of food hygiene laws. It is probably not very easy to transport an angry live boar to a licensed slaughterhouse.

They use traps as well as guns. They have cage type traps and leg traps. I don't think there are any available figures on how many dogs and cats get caught in these traps as city offices don't even seem to know where traps are placed.

Chiba boar and deer produce excellent, tasty meat.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Just guessing, but the meat processing plants could be chicken processing plants and not be designed to handle boar. There are quite a few chicken factory farms in Chiba.

Chicken processing and "4" legged meat processing plants are different!

http://www.chefmeat.co.jp/

0 ( +0 / -0 )

.....and boar (pork) has to be frozen for a while to kill off the trichinosis parasite.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

First overfishing, next pesticides, now go out and kill anything that moves, big or small. Japan could of been a wonderful, beautiful country.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The over-abundance of feral deer and boars causing environmental damage (as well as damage to farms)could readily fit into a "securing protein for the future" program.

This (securing protein), is often mentioned by the Antarctic whaling community as necessary for Japan's food independence.

A ready made solution exists here on dry land through an active, animals as resources management program, while at the same time, helping to negate the destructive environmental consequences of too many deers & boars.

Perhaps the govt subsidies for the Antarctic follies could be diverted to setting up such initiatives.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

There are a lot of wild boar in that area of Chiba. I’ve seen many. I don’t think this is such a good idea though. The need professionals who are trained, experienced and skilled to cull these animals. Opening it up to anybody who has a will to kill sounds quite dangerous to me.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

As long as they are well trained and legal areas limited (with illegal hunting punished to the maximum extent of the law), then I can understand and even support it. However, knowing the number of accidental shootings here, I wonder if this will be handled well.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

.....not to mention the likelihood of boars 'fighting back'..... those are beasts not to be messed with by amateurs....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Depends on the size of the meat processing "plants."

So beef 'em up.

Thanks, I need that laugh!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Actually I have both a NZ shooting licence and an Australian shooting licence, the hoops to get a Japanese licence are appalling. I tried but my ring binder couldn't manage the paper work. Maps of the house? A safe check, it's a safe? Inter poll check, A target test? Most animals I've seen are moving at a high speed. If you want to gather your own food in Japan I suggest a large mallet and armour.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

this sounds pretty cool, gonna look into it

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I have two guns in Japan with which I hunt deer and boar. Delicious and no lack of them!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

.....and boar (pork) has to be frozen for a while to kill off the trichinosis parasite.

No, it doesn't.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Let's hope there are no Dick Cheney-like hunting accidents. Amateurs and guns are a deadly mix.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

the hoops to get a Japanese licence are appalling

You haven't heard about the process of getting a German hunting license then, have you? Anyway, not too many people want to do it, so if Chiba is becoming more supporting towards potential hunters, I presume they'll be supporting of the necessary processes. All of those steps are very well justified, btw, Japan is not a country that goes easy on people wanting to have guns in house.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Noticed how hard it is, complicated at every step, that's fine but reached my limit of going in circles for a 3 year licence only to repeat the process. Much easier to go to the toy shop get an airsoft gun and shoot paper animals. Actually cheeper to fly back to Australia or NZ and harvest wild deer or pigs. Safer too don't generally have 70 year olds blundering around.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

in hawaii they hunt pigs with dogs and a knife. also heard that some people trap them by burying a 55gal steel drum at an angle and throwing in a bunch of rotten bananas/mangos or what have you. once they go in, their hoofs don't have the purchase to back out.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

But there aren't any restaurant with boar meats. Boar Burger/steak would be good stuff.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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