Translation of article at the website of: Danmarks Naturfredningsforening = something like The Danish Nature Conservation Association.
Interview med kronprins Frederik | Danmarks Naturfredningsforening
You can read about what kind of association it in English Here:
DN english | Danmarks Naturfredningsforening
In the latest issue of their magazine, which is not online yet, Frederik is interviewed about how he took Christian with him on a hunt.
Crown Prince Frederik encourage the Danes to take their children with them out in the nature. He says in an interview in Natur & Miljø (the assciation mag) that he tries to pass on he delight for the nature to his children Prince Christian and Princess Isabella:
"It's my duty! Children do not know that the nature is out there unless we adults take them away from cartoons and games and show them what nature can be used for", says Crown Prince Frederik.
The Crown Prince says that he got to learn about the nature from his father, Prince Henrik:
"His influence has been very big, because he has an extensive knowledge about the nature - a knowledge that he shared with me".
To the Crown Prince being out in the nature with the children is something quite special. Through his children he rediscover the childish delight in exploring the nature:
"I get them to smell, listen and taste the nature and I think it's absolutely fantastic to see the joy in their faces when they hold a beetle or see a deer", says Crown Prince Frederik.
Common experiences in the nature creates a certain bond between parents and children, is the opinion of the Crown Prince. That's why Crown Prince Frederik also encourage other parents or grandparents to give children and grandchildren an experience in the nature.
"I know that time is short in many families with children. But still: Take the children out with you. It's good for both the children and for yourself".
And from Starlounge we have more details from the magazine interview:
Prins Christian med til at skyde en and | MSN Starlounge
Prince Christian will turn five in October, but he has already been on his first hunt with Crown Prince Frederik. And together they shot a duck.
"He has taken part in shooting a duck, which we plucked and roasted ourselves. It tasted heavenly", says Crown Prince Frederik.
Crown Prince Frederik took Christian with him to show him where the food comes from.
"My children will as so many other children rather have spaghetti bolognese, but I insist that they learn where the food come from and not least about the pleasure of food that taste of nature. That require that they go out", says Frederik.
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Now, I know this is a controversial subject.
I've never hunted myself, (except wild dogs but that wasn't in DK and they were considered vermin), but I know quite a few who do.
There are if I remember correctly about 70.000 registered hunters in DK.
That means that practically everybody know at least one who hunts. As such there is no opposition against hunting worth mentioning and certainly not outside the major two or three cities.
In fact the hunting associations work closely with the conservation associations, Dansk Naturfredningsforening being probably the most influential. Programmes about hunters and hunting are shown in every graphic detail on prime time TV. Just like the slaughter of animals on hobby farms are shown on prime time.
It's not an abstract phenomenon. However many children in the cities grow up without much knowledge of the nature. A knowledge that was common until about a generation ago, where practically everyone had relatives who were farmers somewhere.
But back to the point; while there is no opposition against hunting for the sake of culling a number of animals or remove sick animals. Many, including myself, are against hunting just for the pleasure of hunting.
I have no qualms what so ever about deers or foxes being hunted, if it serves a purpose but I cannot see any purpose in breeding say pheasants only to shoot them. Such people ought to hunt with a camera instead if they want a trophy.
It is on this background and based on the general perception of hunting in Denmark that this article ought to be viewed.
I know, I know, this is text stuff, but I hope some of you read this far.