Hunting As Capitalist Embodiment

In my class Native American Peoples, we discussed the use of animals and ecosystem by past Native peoples. You might ask what would make such a conversation so relevant or exciting? In turn, I would answer that it is fascinating because Native Peoples behaved in this area completely different then we do now. They held nature to be the same as and one with them. Every tree they cut, they knew would come back around in the circle of things. To consume animal flesh was to join the forces of life. And not only did they know this, but they respected this. Every kill was a clean one. Every piece of meat was a used one. And never was an animal hunted for sport or for 'economic reasons'; because there was no need to. In a sense, they were our first socialists, long before Marx or Engels changed political discourse.

Well now those people are unfortunately mostly gone, due to our own little version of hunting on them. But when we drove them out, we also drove the notion of hunting for need out with them. And instead, we turned hunting into a capitalist venture. The North American continent was not fought over  for ideas or for glory. It was fought over money, resources, and raw power. The French fur trade dominated, and also destroyed, ecosystems across the continent. But it made money! So it was justifiable. Right?

Well now we've taken it one step farther: we tax and charge for the slaughter of animals. And our politicians justify it by saying that this money is being used to conserve the forest or to send your kids to college. Here in the United States, I think we know this to be absolutely false. In FY 2009, the United States committed 20% of GDP to military and "defense" spending. Do you know how much went to education and infrastructure? Combined, a total of 6%. 6%! How interesting.

The point here is that I believe hunting used to be something good and understood. And no doubt, bushmen and what Natives there are left understand and practice this. But as a whole, society has completely forgotten what it is like to "hunt", and I mean truly hunt, an animal. And therein is the moral justification for not doing so.

Question: Do you believe that hunter-gatherer methods could even be perverted to capitalist ends? Or is it a socialistic practice by definition?