An ethical hunter is not just a sportsman or sportswoman.
The hunter is also a naturalist whose interest lies in all animals. The ethical hunter is as thrilled by the site of an osprey as a bull moose. The true hunter knows and studies nature's ways.
The hunter's pursuit of game is always governed by the "fair chase" principal. This principal demands that a hunter always gives his or her quarry a "fair" chance to escape. In fact, hunters acknowledge that most of the time, their quarry should get away.
When hunting big game, an ethical hunter will always attempt to get close enough to the quarry to ensure a quick, clean harvest. Never will an ethical hunter shoot indiscriminately at a flock of game birds in the hope of hitting one. The ethical hunter always selects a single target -- a single bird, or a single spot on a big game animal.
The ethical hunter will go to extreme lengths to retrieve and humanely dispatch wounded game, and to ensure game that appeared to be missed wasn't injured. Of course, the ethical hunter will pass on the long-range shot that might cripple instead of killing.
Hunters owe it to the game they pursue to take considerable practice before a hunt. They will learn the distance at which they can shoot effectively. They will ensure their firearms are properly sighted in, and they will use the most effective ammunition for the game they seek. And the ethical hunter will always retrieve all game and ensure full use of their harvest.
Ethical hunters do more than just ask permission to hunt on private property. They discuss concerns with the landowner, offer to help out with chores, and care for the land, buildings, stock and crops as if it were their own.
Ethical hunters obey game and fish laws -- all of them -- and insist their hunting companions do the same. They report lawbreakers without hesitation, and cooperate fully with conservation officers.