Yes, left to their own devices the populations will self regulate. But the mechanism of that self regulation, in the absence of any predation, is starvation and disease. The animals will not stop mating and reproducing simply because they are not being killed by predators or hunters. They will continue to reproduce and eat. The prime example is the whitetail deer. In the state of Alabama there are approximately 1.5 million deer. Wildlife biologists suggest taking 1/3 of that out to maintain a healthy herd. That means removing 500,000 animals. Other than hunting, how would we accomplish that?
As for marksmanship, I think you are wrong about that. The people that I know that hunt are very picky about their firearms and their ability to hit what they are aiming at. I go to shooting ranges all over the eastern half of the USA, and it is
very rare that one is empty. More often than not, I have to wait for an open bench from which to shoot. In the month before deer season, the number of shooter goes way up. Almost every one I have seen is accurate to at least 200 yards.
I am not going to claim that there are no wounded animals and bad shots out there. But I will maintain that hunting is far more humane than the typical life of the animals raised for your local supermarket. And certainly more humane than the increasing number of animals killed by cars every year.
Here is more info: A deer population that rises out of control has the potential to harm in a number of ways. Most directly is through an increase in deer-automobile collisions. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, some 1.5 million vehicles collided with deer in 2003, causing nearly 14,000 injuries and over $1 billion in vehicle damage.
Meanwhile, an overabundance of deer could threaten forests, and therefore other wildlife, across the country. According to one study, wild American ginseng and other forest-floor plants are in danger of going extinct because white-tailed deer eat them faster than they grow back. Another favorite food of deer, saplings, is also being eaten in devastating amounts.
(from
http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/...he-controversial-benefits-of-hunting-them.htm )
Also, there are several programs that donate meat from wild game to food banks, homeless shelters and the like. One program, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, has donate 1,600 tons of venison and other big game. This is high protein, low fat meat without the steroids, antibiotics, and other chemicals found in typical grocery store meat. And it feeds those that are
least able to afford quality foods.
