Yeah, TX, unlike the humans the animals in this case can't reason, they're just protecting themselves.
Even though I don't own any firearms, I got no problem with subsistence hunting,
of non-threatened species, but your comment about the camaraderie aspect never occurred to me before.
I see that as related to, although a little a different pursuit, than outright trophy hunting.
After all, it's the source of the cliché "the thrill of the hunt", right?
But to poach for the sake of profit,
especially threatened/endangered species, is unforgivable.
I get the desire to have tangible evidence of a significant life experience, but that's still an entirely different category than poaching, and I believe even trophy hunters who understand their environmental responsibilities would draw the line at poaching.
As far as I'm concerned anybody who suffers the tables being turned while poaching was justly served, and luring targets out of sanctuary is just as bad, right up there with baiting.
Which should only be done with crows, flies, and roaches.
And chihuahuas.