cybershooting

The act of using a remote-controlled robot and a mouse to hunt animals, it is an extremely controversial union of technology and gaming. Here's how it works: Some drump is sitting in his den looking at his computer screen displaying an image of a wild hog. Thinking he's never going to get a good shot at the wild hog, the beast finally moves into the rifle's sight and he fires...with the click of a mouse. The hog, oblivious to the remote-controlled 30.06 rifle pointing at his neck, is hit and killed.

Legislators and the public, who advocate this practice is unnatural, unfair and immoral, are moving to ban it saying "The creatures of this earth have a hard enough time sustaining themselves while we're after them when we're physically present. They don't need to die by the click of a mouse." Fueled by a Web site that charges dollars for 20-minute target-shooting sessions (in which up to 10 rounds may be fired), there are two cameras connected to the rifle which is mounted atop a pan-tilt motor. Users control the movement with four arrows and when the prey appears on the computer screen, they click on a "fire" button. People as far as Hong Kong, France and Peru are taking part. Apparently they are shooting exotic and imported game (in Texas) because regulations for native species--such as the white-tailed deer--require the hunter to physically attach a tag to the animal before it is moved.

The State Parks and Wildlife Department has proposed regulation banning the practice for native game animals, and Rep. Todd Smith has filed House Bill 391 to prohibit using or operating such computer-assisted remote hunting equipment to hunt any animal or bird.

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