Thread: Deer in Southern areas?

There's an interesting episode of Meateater, where Steve talks about the folly of the hunter's idea of "if I don't get to eat it, it's wasted" He then points out a list of possible scenarios where other creatures we share the planet with benefit from energy in an animal carcass. I'll admit, it's much easier in an American context where there are large native scavengers and preditors, but I'll give it a go.

The deer you shoot and only take backstraps and fillets creates a massive colony of insects, and some carrion birds feed on it. Other native birds then feed on all the insects, they become fat, and fertile, and have a more successful nesting season. Their offspring spread out, distributing nutrients further around the forest, creating growth for Kereru and other browsers. Some become prey for Falcons, helping them to have successful nests. Nature doesn't really "waste" anything, and at the current population levels in some places, this way of thinking about it might be beneficial.

In saying that, I also see the benefit to hunting perception of eating as much as we can. There are also alot of guys out there who have no problem taking no meat off a stag and just walking away with his head. Life is complicated.