Hunting and Illegal Violence Against Humans and Other Animals: Exploring the Relationship

This study examined the relationship between hunting & illegal violence among college males. Although similar on many sociodemographic characteristics such as age & social class (parents' education & occupation), hunters were more likely than nonhunters to be white & Protestant. They also were more likely to have grown up with a family member who hunted. Hunters were about twice as likely to have been violent toward nonhuman animals; however, one type of violence -- killing wild or stray animals -- accounted for this difference. Regarding violence toward people, hunters were more than twice as likely to have damaged or destroyed private or public property during their last year in high school but were no more likely during that year to have fought with other persons. Thus, at least for this sample, hunting related to harming animals in the wild & to property damage but not to other forms of animal abuse or violence against humans. The paper discusses possible explanations for this result & limitations of the study. 6 Tables, 17 References. Adapted from the source document.