I would assume his intent was to kill the animal on the first shot, however nothing ever goes exactly as according to plan. As a hunter I have found myself in nearly the same situation many times before. Many times I have had to break the necks of wing-shot fowl by hand. But I did it as soon as I retrieved the downed animal to minimize its suffering as did Jericho. Of course I do not condone animals suffering and I always try to make a clean kill on the first shot, but I hardly consider this torture.
tor·ture [tawr-cher]
noun, verb, -tured, -tur·ing.
–noun 1. the act of inflicting excruciating pain, as punishment or revenge, as a means of getting a confession or information, or for sheer cruelty.
This is Dictionary.com's definition of torture. Now did Jericho shoot the hind end of the rabbit as punishment or revenge, or for sheer cruelty. I think not. Additionally, I did not find humor in the animals 'suffering'. In the old testament, Genesis 9:2-3, God says to Noah; "And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things." I personally take every word of the old testament to be the God given truth and first and foremost above mans law. Although I dont condone suffering of the innocent, including animals, I see nowhere in the Good Book any mention of applying additional effort to ensure the comfortable death of the prey. Im not saying go out and take any available shot on an animal or intentionally make a poor shot but accidents happen and I dont think Jericho or myself or anyone else for that matter should recieve any flak for them, especially if the situation is appropriately dealt with afterword.
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