A very interesting topic, and one that is sure to get heated if the past is any indicator

I noticed you used two words, "hunting" and "harvesting."

I may point out that the state of Nevada uses both in regards to the taking of big game, and I too, can see the differences.

My example, if you draw a Bighorned sheep tag, you are not eligible to apply for 5 years, if you "harvest" an animal, you are not eligible for 10 years.

I like that wording and have no problems using it.

Here is my take on the subject. Hunting is the pursuit of something, be it a game animal, new job, house, whatever. However harvesting would have to do only with something that has lived in the past. We harvest crops, birds, fish, and in this case, wild game. I feel that in regards to wild game hunting, the hunt should be the fair chase of the animal, and the obligation to harvest it in the most humane manner that you know how.

Ethics do play a large role in this factor. I will "hunt" past legal shooting hours but, will not "harvest" after that time. There is nothing saying you can't stay in the field after shooting light, to put the final stock on an animal to see where to set up in the morning.

I won't harvest an animal with anything other than is legal, nor will I hunt an animal with anything that is other than legal, ie: helicopters, planes, ATV's etc, depending on the rules that are stated in the regulations for the peticular animal I may be hunting.

I also feel that ethics have a lot to do with what you feel is fair to the animal. I don't like the idea of chasing deer with dogs, nor hunting over planted food plots for the specific purpose of bringing in game (with the exception of baiting predators including but not limited to bears, mt lions, and coyotes). Even if dogs or food plots were legal, I would still opt not to harvest and animal because then hunting simply would not be fair chase.

I honestly don't know of any other way to describe my take on the ethics of hunting, as this is a very general subject and admittedly has a lot of gray areas from place to place.