Cecil the Lion: Controversy Hurting Domestic Hunting's Image?

Some hunters are worried about the outcry over the killing of Cecil, a popular lion in Zimbabwe, that may be hurting the sport's image in the U.S.

"In my opinion, he's doing more harm to public opinion on hunting than any anti-hunter could ever do," said Mark Duda, executive director of the public opinion research firm Responsive Management, referring to the Minnesota dentist who shot Cecil with a crossbow after guides allegedly lured lion out of a national park. "And it's too bad because it hurts … ethical, legal hunters who contribute to conservation and care deeply about wildlife."

Not all hunters think the Cecil controversy had damaged the domestic sport. However, none defended the way the lion at Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park was reportedly killed, according to NBC News.

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