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Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame *Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_Century 13th century] ==Definitions== *1 a : a person who hunts game : b...'
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*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_Century 13th century]
==Definitions==
*1 a : a [[person]] who hunts game
: b : a dog used or [[trained]] for hunting
:c : a horse used or adapted for use in hunting with hounds; especially : a fast strong horse [[trained]] for cross-country [[work]] and jumping
*2 : one that searches for something
*3 : a pocket watch with a hinged protective cover
==Description==
'''Hunting''' is the [[practice]] of pursuing living [[animals]] (usually wildlife) for [[food]], recreation, or [[trade]]. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poaching poaching], which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted [[species]] contrary to applicable [[law]]. The [[species]] which are hunted are referred to as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_(food) game] and are usually [[mammals]] and migratory or non-migratory [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamebird gamebirds].

Hunting can also involve the elimination of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermin vermin], as a means of pest control to prevent [[diseases]] caused by overpopulation. Hunting advocates state that hunting can be a [[necessary]] component of modern [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_management wildlife management], for example to help [[maintain]] a [[population]] of [[healthy]] [[animals]] within an [[environment]]'s ecological carrying [[capacity]] when [[natural]] checks such as predators are absent. In the United States, wildlife managers are frequently part of hunting regulatory and licensing bodies, where they help to set rules on the [[number]], [[manner]] and conditions in which game may be hunted.

The pursuit, capture and release, or capture for [[food]] of fish is called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing fishing], which is not commonly categorized as a [[form]] of hunting. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trapping_(Animal) Trapping] is also usually considered a separate [[activity]]. Neither is it considered hunting to pursue [[animals]] without [[intent]] to kill them, as in wildlife photography or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdwatching birdwatching]. The [[practice]] of hunting for plants or mushrooms is a colloquial term for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foraging foraging] or gathering.

The aspects of [[skillful]] tracking and acquisition of an elusive target in the pursuit of game have caused the [[word]] hunting to be used the [[vernacular]] as a [[metaphor]] (such as "bargain hunting") sometimes with the killing aspect also implied (such as "hunting down corruption and [[waste]]")[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter]
==See also==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter-gatherer Hunter-Gatherer]

[[Category: General Reference]]