Hunting Plc Business Information, Profile, and History

3 Cockspur Street
London
SW1Y 5BQ
United Kingdom

Company Perspectives

The Hunting community is committed to the protection of the environment no matter where in the world we operate. We aim to use renewable resources wherever possible and develop manufacturing processes and procedures such that any impact on the environment, if any, is reduced to a practicable minimum. We take the view that sustainable development is in the interests of all our stakeholders and include environmental issues in our planning and decision-making. Policy is developed at a corporate level and encourages each operating unit to: Develop and implement their own procedures whilst conducting regular reviews to ensure that they are maintained and refined; Reduce waste, emissions and promote the use of recycled materials; Pay special regard to the environmental issues and requirements of the communities and locations in which we work and live; Be involved in and understand the particular environmental issues relating to the industry in which we operate; Promote employee awareness of their own responsibilities and encourage participation in voluntary environmental projects.

History of Hunting Plc

Hunting plc is one of the world's leading providers of specialist services to the oil and gas industry. The London-based company is a leading supplier of tubular goods, particularly for the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico offshore oil and gas exploration markets, and is the world's top supplier of oil platform accessories. Hunting is the world's leading--and oldest--oil and gas tanker broker. The company, through subsidiary Gibson Energy Ltd., is also involved in oil and gas marketing and distribution, moving more than 90 billion barrels of oil and gas per year, and operating more than 260 miles of pipeline, 27 terminals, and storage facilities with a capacity of some two million barrels. These operations, which generate nearly 70 percent of group sales, are focused in large part on the Canadian market. Hunting is also Canada's second largest retailer of propane gas, with a capacity of more than 200 million liters per year. Hunting has long held direct interests in the oil and gas exploration and drilling markets, with production focused primarily in the southern United States and in the Gulf of Mexico. Another Hunting division produces drill rods for fiber optics and other communications applications. Into the mid-2000s, Hunting successfully completed a streamlining effort, which saw it shed most of its diversified operations in order to focus more tightly on the energy services market. Nonetheless, the company maintains a strong international presence, with operations in some 100 countries. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Hunting is controlled by the founding Hunting family, which owns nearly 30 percent of the group's stock. The family is represented by Chairman Richard H. Hunting. Day-to-day operations are overseen by Chief Executive Dennis L. Proctor. In 2004, Hunting produced revenues of more than £1.25 billion ($2.4 billion).

Oil Transport Pioneer in the 19th Century

The Hunting family was one of the pioneers of the international petroleum trade, becoming one of the first in the world to recognize the future importance of petroleum-based fuels, and particularly the need to provide specialized transportation for crude and refined oil products. The Hunting family's interest in the shipping industry itself dated to 1874, when Charles Hunting founded his own shipping firm in England. Hunting's son, Charles Samuel Hunting, is credited with steering the family company into the oil business. The younger Hunting spent a good deal of time traveling about the world in order to research the nascent oil industry. Hunting's interests led him to pursue various investments, including exploring for oil in Russia, establishing London's first oil refinery. Hunting's interest soon turned to the newly developing oil market in the Gulf of Mexico. These interests led the Hunting family to invest in a new, specialized shipping vessel, and in the 1890s, the Hunting company became one of the first in the world to feature dedicated oil tankers in its fleet.

Into the early part of the 20th century, Hunting, later joined by sons Percy and Lindsay, built up one of the world's largest independently operated fleets of oil tankers. The outbreak of World War I cut short the family-owned company's expansion, however. By the end of the war, most of the company's fleet had been destroyed. Into the 1920s, Hunting was forced to rebuild, now under the leadership of Percy Hunting. During that period, the company entered the tanker brokering business as well, acquiring Gibsons. That operation, founded around the start of the 20th century, was initially meant to provide fixing and handling services to Hunting's own fleet. Before long, however, Hunting Gibsons emerged as a world-leading broker for the oil and gas markets, and also helped establish Hunting as a major player in the energy services market.

Through the 1930s, Hunting explored new areas of operations. The aviation sector appeared to be a natural extension for the company, and by the end of the decade Hunting had established itself as an internationally known name in aircraft manufacture. The company specialized in building small, wooden-frame aircraft, and developed a number of its own aircraft designs, such as the Proctor, and the BAC 1-11, which became one of the top-selling British aircraft internationally. The company's aircraft manufacturing operations played a major role in the British military effort during World War II. In addition to production of its own designs, Hunting also produced a number of third-party designs, such as the Mosquito and the Oxfords. By the end of the war, the company had boosted its aircraft division, acquiring Percival Aircraft Ltd. in 1944. That purchase also gave the company a small Canadian subsidiary. In the meantime, Hunting also had launched its own aviation operation, notably providing aerial survey services.

Postwar Diversification

Hunting recognized a new opportunity in the immediate postwar years, that of offering air transportation services. As such, the company became one of the first independent British companies to offer civilian passenger transport in the second half of the 1940s. Hunting Air Transport quickly built up a fleet of aircraft, including eight Viking aircraft, and became one of the United Kingdom's major domestic carriers by the early 1950s, flying nearly 60,000 passengers per year. The company also added international flights, notably between London and South, Central, and East Africa. Into the 1950s, Hunting also began offering direct flights between the United Kingdom and destinations on the European continent. As an offshoot, the company became a ticketing agent. In 1947 and 1948, for example, the company worked with the Canadian government to arrange flights for some 8,000 people emigrating to Canada in the aftermath of World War II. The company formally launched a dedicated ticketing subsidiary in 1952.

By then, too, Hunting had decided to convert its aircraft production from wood-frame construction to new all-metal designs, including company-developed Prince aircraft for civilian transport. That design also was adapted for use in military applications, notably for the Royal Air Force at home, and for a number of foreign air forces. The Prince also was redeveloped as the Sea Prince for the Royal Navy. Concurrent with the growth of its aircraft manufacturing operation, Hunting built up an aircraft maintenance arm, under the Field Aircraft Services name. That company also added subsidiaries in Canada, South Africa, and Rhodesia. At first focused on Hunting's own air transport operations, Field soon began providing services to other airlines, such as the British European Airways, as well as a contract to overhaul the United States Air Force's European-based Dakota fleet.

Meanwhile, Hunting had continued building its operations in the oil industry. In 1951, the company expanded into the Canadian oil marketing and distribution market, establishing Gibson Petroleum Marketing. That company grew into one of Canada's largest distributors of oil and gas, operating pipelines, terminals, and storage facilities. Gibson Energy also established itself as one of the country's top retailers of propane gas. Elsewhere, Hunting's oil and gas exploration efforts had paid off with the launch of production of crude oil in Texas and Arkansas. The company also found a way to combine its two primary markets of energy services and aviation, more or less creating a new field of geophysical prospecting. That business was based on the company's earlier aerial survey operations, which into the 1950s extended throughout the British Commonwealth, and included subsidiaries in London, East Africa, Canada, Pakistan, South Africa, and Rhodesia, as well as partnerships in Australia and New Zealand. With a fleet of more than 38 aircraft, Hunting emerged as a leading provider of aerial services. In the early 1950s, the company's Canadian operations pioneered the use of aircraft in geophysical prospecting. Hunting recognized the importance of this field, particularly given the global population explosion into the second half of the century, and the need to develop new resources to support this population. As such, Hunting rolled out its geophysical prospecting operations onto an international scale, with the creation of a dedicated subsidiary, Hunting Geophysics, in 1953.

By the end of the 1950s, Hunting also had begun to look beyond its core businesses for growth. In 1957, for example, the company decided to extend its engineering expertise into the growing field of heating and ventilation, forming a new subsidiary Hunting Mhoglas. By the early 1960s, the company had expanded into plastics manufacturing as well, and in 1962 the company created a new subsidiary, Hunting Light Industries, to contain its various diversified engineering and plastics businesses. Other operations grouped under Hunting Light Industries included the Field Aircraft Services group, including its African subsidiaries. The Hunting group itself was by then controlled by Pat Hunting, son of Percy Hunting.

Hunting increasingly sought outside capital to fuel its expansion, giving rise to a fairly complex organization--by the end of the 1960s, the Hunting family's interests were represented by three publicly listed companies, each of which also maintained significant shareholdings in the others. During the 1960s, the company also began retailing petroleum products, especially in Canada, where it became one of the market leaders. This was especially true in the retail distribution of propane gas; by the end of the century, Hunting claimed the number two spot in the Canadian market for this segment.

Restructured and Streamlined for the New Century

Hunting added a new service component in the 1960s when it began providing drilling equipment and support services to the North Sea offshore oil industry. That operation was launched as a joint venture, Hunting Barnard Oilfield Services, in 1967, controlled at 60 percent by Hunting. This business, which later came under full ownership by Hunting, became a significant part of Hunting's operations into the 2000s.

Into the 1980s, the Hunting group of businesses included the three public companies, Hunting Gibson, Hunting Associated Industries, and Hunting Petroleum Services. Under the leadership of Clive Hunting, the company began to streamline its rather complex ownership structure. In 1985, for example, Hunting Gibson acquired the Hunting Group, which had remained the Hunting family's private investment vehicle for its controlling stakes in the three publicly listed companies. By 1989, Hunting had completed its reorganization, merging the three publicly listed companies under a single publicly listed entity, Hunting plc. Following the restructuring, the Hunting family's control of the company was reduced to just 30 percent. At the same time, the family stepped down from direct oversight of the company's operations, instead taking up the chairman's position, first under Clive Hunting, and then, into the 2000s, under Richard Hunting.

Hunting's exposure to the defense and aviation industries left the company vulnerable in the early 1990s. The collapse of the Soviet empire and the end of the Cold War caused a dropoff in defense spending around the world. The outbreak of war in the Persian Gulf also led to a downturn in the aviation industry. Pressure on these operations continued throughout the decade, and by the late 1990s Hunting had decided to abandon the aviation business, selling off its aviation holdings by 1999.

Hunting's reorganization continued into the first half of the 2000s, which saw the company exit most of its defense operations in 2001 and the disposal of most of its other diversified businesses, such as operations in automobile parts manufacturing. In this way, the company transformed itself from a diversified "mini-conglomerate" into a company dedicated to the energy services market. As such, the company launched a series of acquisitions into the mid-2000s. In 1998, for example, the company acquired Landell Industries, which expanded Hunting's position in the Gulf of Mexico market.

In 2001, Hunting acquired two Canadian oil services companies, Thread Tech Energy Systems and Columbia Fuels. The former provided oilfield tubulars and connections, while the latter focused on propane equipment supply and services, in large part on Vancouver Island. Other acquisitions followed, including 2002's purchase of Roforge, in France, which manufactured steel valves for the global energy, refining, and petrochemical industries. In 2005, the company added operations in Aberdeen, Houston, and Singapore through its purchase of Cromar Ltd. The addition of Cromar expanded Hunting's energy services profile, adding new areas such as a wireline pressure control, perforating tools, and other specialized equipment. Hunting continued to build on its heritage as one of the world's oldest and leading providers of services to the international energy industry.

Principal Subsidiaries

Aero Sekur S.p.A. (Italy); Canwest Propane Ltd. (Canada); E. A. Gibson Shipbrokers Limited (England & Hong Kong); Gibson Crude Oil Purchasing Co. Ltd. (Canada); Gibson Energy Ltd. (Canada); Hunting Airtrust Tubulars Pte Limited (China and Singapore; 50%); Hunting Energy France S.A.; Hunting Energy Services (International) Ltd.; Hunting Energy Services Holdings Inc. (United States); Hunting Oilfield Services (International) Pte Ltd. (Singapore); Hunting Oilfield Services (UK) Ltd.; Hunting Performance Inc. (United States); Hunting Pipeline Services LLC (United States); Hunting Specialised Products Limited; INTERPEC SAS (France); Larco SAS (France); Moose Jaw Asphalt Inc. (Canada); Roforge SAS (France); Tenkay Resources Inc. (United States).

Principal Competitors

Baker Hughes UK Ltd.; Kvaerner E and C plc; Canadian Superior Energy Inc.; M. W. Kellogg Ltd.; Paladin Resources plc; Expro International Group plc; Saipem (UK) Ltd.; Halcrow Group Ltd.; SLP Engineering.

Related information about Hunting

globalizeHunting is the practice of pursuing animals to capture or kill them for food, recreation, or trade in their products. Hunted animals are referred to as game animals, and are usually large mammals or migratory birds. The killing of other humans is most often called execution (judicial), homicide (illegal), genocide (an entire people or culture) or war (legalized, between political entities).

By definition, hunting strictly speaking excludes the killing -though the same techniques may be used- of individual animals that have become dangerous to humans and the killing of non-game animals, domestic animals, or vermin (or "varmints") as a means of pest control. Hunting may be a component of modern wildlife management, sometimes used to help maintain a population of healthy animals within an environment's ecological carrying capacity. Wildlife managers are frequently part of hunting regulatory and licensing bodies, where they help to set rules on the number, manner and conditions in which game may be hunted or "harvested."

The pursuit, capture and release, or capture to eat of fish is called fishing, which is not commonly categorized as a kind of hunting, although many hunters may also fish. Neither is it considered hunting to pursue animals without intent to possibly kill, as in wildlife photography or birdwatching, or to "hunt" for plants or mushrooms.

Hunters in World of Warcraft

See World of Warcraft

History

Ancient roots

Before the widespread domestication of animals, hunting was a crucial component of hunter-gatherer societies, and is a theme of many stories and myths, as well as many proverbs, aphorisms, adages and metaphors even today.

Persistence hunting may well have been the first form of hunting practised by paleolithic humans. The evolution of the distinctively human sweating apparatus and relative hairlessness would have given hunters an additional advantage by keeping their bodies cool in the midday heat.

During the persistence hunt an antelope, such as a kudu, is not shot or speared from a distance, but simply run down in the midday heat. The hunter then kills it at close range with a spear.

The persistence hunt is still practised by hunter-gatherers in the central Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa.

Even as animal domestication became relatively widespread, hunting was usually a significant contributor to the human food supply, even after the development of agriculture. The supplementary meat and materials from hunting included protein (literally "the most important") food, bone for implements, sinew for cordage, fur and feathers for ornament, with rawhide and leather also used in clothing and shelter. The earliest hunting weapons would have included rocks, spears, the atlatl, bow and arrows.

On Ancient reliefs, especially from Mesopotamia, kings ar often depicted as hunters on big game such as lions, specially from a war chariot, another virile status symbol; The cultural and psychological importance of hunting in ancient societies is represented by deities such as the horned god Cernunnos, or lunar goddesses of classical antiquity, Greek Artemis or Roman Diana. Taboos are often related to hunting, and mythological association of prey species with a divinity could be reflected in hunting restrictions such as a 'reserve' surrounding a temple. Euripides' tale of Artemis and Acteon, for example, may be seen as a caution against disrespect of prey or impudent boasting.

Hunting is still vital in marginal climates, especially those unsuited for pastoral uses or agriculture.

With domestication of the dog, birds of prey and the ferret, various forms of animal-aided hunting developed including venery (scent hound hunting, such as fox hunting), coursing (sight hound hunting), falconry and ferreting. in time various dog breeds were selected for very precise tasks during the hunt, reflected in such names as pointer and setter. Hunting may be used to kill animals who prey upon domestic animals or to extirpate native animals seen as competition for resources such as water or forage.

As hunting moved from a subsistence activity to a social one, two trends emerged. One was that of the specialist hunter: rather than a general masculine task, hunting became one of many trades pursued by those with special training and equipment.
The other was the emergence of hunting as a sport for those of a higher social class. Here in middle English the word "game" finds its meaning extended from a sport to an animal which is hunted.

As game became more of a luxury than a necessity, the stylized pursuit of it also became a luxury. Dangerous hunting, as for lions or wild boars, usually on horseback (or from a chariot, as in Pharaonic Egypt and Mesopotamia) also had function similar to tournaments and manly sports: an honourable, somewhat competitive pastime to help the aristocracy practice skills of war in times of peace.

In most parts of medieval Europe, the upper-class (aristocracy and higher clergy) obtained as proud privilege the sole rights to hunt (and sometimes fish) in certain areas of a feudal territory. The modern hunting dog represents the combined efforts of generations of mankind in a way that is virtually unparalleled, except perhaps in the cultivation of grapes and production of wine. Ultimately, the rising middle class or bourgeoisie adopted the practice and retained its image.

Generally hunters also took two separate paths, recreational and trophy hunting. For example, many old (often zoomorph) deities are either predators or prey of man.

Often a hunting ground, or the hunt for one or more species, was reserved or prohibited in the context of a temple cult. The Fourth Council of the Lateran, held under Pope Innocent III, decreed (canon xv): "We interdict hunting or hawking to all clerics." pre-Aryan Bhils in Rajasthan's premier kingdom Mewar), because of their traditional knowledge of environment, techniques etcetera, but thus could be closer than most subjects to the ruler, who would often hunt big game (preferably the emperor of Asians wildlife, the (Bengal) tiger) in majestic style: on the back of an elephant, often commandeering extra helpers as drivers to scare the game out of the grass or jungle till it came within gun reach. As hunting was an important princely past-time, worthy hunting lodges were constructed (not unlike feudal Europe).

After European guests of these princes had enjoyed the honour of taking part in these elephant hunts, some colonial Sahibs started organizing their own, and tiger numbers especially dwindled alarmingly. Later, independent republics and neighbouring Himalayan monarchies (as Nepal) acted to curb such massively disturbing 'expeditions', in the name of conservation, although the threat of extirpation, and of extinction by poaching remains real for many species and habitats.

Safari

A safari (from Swahili word meaning a long journey) is an overland journey (especially in Africa).

Safari as a distinctive way of hunting was popularized by US author Ernest Hemingway and president Theodore Roosevelt. It is a several days or even weeks-lasting journey and camping in the bush or jungle, while pursuing big game. Nowadays, it's often used to describe tours through African national parks to watch or hunt wildlife.

Hunters are usually tourists, accompanied by professional local guide, skinners and porters in more difficult terrains. A special safari type is the solo-safari where all the license acquiring, stalking, preparation and outfitting is done by the hunter himself. Among trophy hunters, those who outfitted the safaris themselves would receive the greatest admiration.

On the rise, even before integral ecotourism was, is the animal-friendly version known as photo-safari, where the only shots aimed at wildlife come from camera lenses.

United Kingdom

The most controversial form of hunting in the United Kingdom is fox hunting. Originally a form of vermin control to protect livestock, it became a popular social activity for the upper classes in Victorian times, and a traditional rural activity for riders and foot followers alike. Some animal welfare supporters feel that the suffering caused to foxes, horses and hounds are cruel and unnecessary, whilst proponents argue that it is a rural tradition, culturally and economically important.

Similar to fox hunting in many ways is the chasing of hare with hounds. Sight hounds such as greyhounds may be used to run down hare in coursing with scent hounds such as beagles used for beagling, the hunting of hares on foot. Other sorts of foxhounds may also be used for hunting deer or mink. Hunting deer by foot without hounds is called game stalking.

The shooting of game birds, especially pheasant and grouse, is a popular sport in the UK, with the British Association for Shooting and Conservation saying that over a million people per year participate in shooting (including game shooting, clay shooting and target shooting)www.basc.org.uk/content/shooting. The open season for grouse famously begins on August 12, the so-called Glorious Twelfth.

United States

North American hunting predates the United States by thousands of years, and many Native American hunters retain key hunting rights through legal treaty as part of a long, cultural tradition. It is common for rural Alaska Native communities to obtain 50-90% of their daily protein from hunting.

Regulation of hunting is primarily performed by the individual states, although additional regulations are imposed by the federal government in the case of migratory birds (such as ducks and geese) and endangered species. Hunters of protected species require a hunting license in all states, for which completion of a hunter safety course is a pre-requisite (although individuals over a certain age may be grandfathered in).

Typically game animals are divided into several categories for regulatory purposes. Typical categories, along with example species, are as follows:

Big Game: White-tail deer, Moose, Elk, Caribou, Bear, Big Horn Sheep
Small Game: Cottontail, Grey squirrel
Furbearers: Red Fox, Mink
Predators: Mountain Lion, Coyote
Upland Game Birds: Grouse, Chukar, Pheasant
Waterfowl: Mallard duck, Canada goose

Hunting big game typically requires a "tag" for each animal harvested. Specific seasons for bow hunting or muzzle-loading black powder weapons are often established to limit competition with hunters using more effective weapons.

Hunting in the United States is not associated with any particular class or culture. Current regulation of hunting within the United States goes back to the 1800's, and most modern hunters see themselves as conservationists and sportsmen, along the lines of Theodore Roosevelt. The Boone and Crockett Club is an excellent example of this: founded in 1887 to discourage commercial hunting, promote conservation and the "fair chase" ethic of hunting "individual animals in a manner that conserves, protects, and perpetuates the hunted population."

Local hunting clubs and national organizations provide hunter education and help protect the future of their sport by buying land to set aside as habitat or by lobbying in Ducks Unlimited and Delta Waterfowl.

Each year, nearly $200 million in hunters' federal excise taxes are distributed to State agencies to support wildlife management programs, the purchase of lands open to hunters, and hunter education and safety classes. Since 1934 the sale of Federal Duck Stamps, a required purchase for migratory waterfowl hunters over 16 years old, has raised over $700 million to help purchase more than 5.2 million acres (20,000 km族) of habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System lands that support waterfowl and many other wildlife species, and are often open to hunting. A key task of Federal and state park rangers and game wardens is to enforce laws and regulations related to hunting, including species protection, hunting seasons, and hunting bans. Some animals (such as wild rabbits or squirrels) may be utilized for fur or meat, but often no use is made of the carcass. Common varmints include various rodents, coyotes, crows, foxes, feral cats, and feral hogs. Some animals once considered varmints are now protected, such as wolves.

Wildlife management

Hunting can be an important tool for wildlife management. Some environmentalists assert that introducing appropriate predator animals would achieve the same benefit with more efficiency and less environmental impact, but some livestock owners disagree, seeing human killing as more explicitly selective. Often a hunter will use a combination of more than one technique, and some are used primarily in poaching and wildlife management, explicitly forbidden to sport hunters.

Baiting is the use of decoys, lures, scent or food to attract animals
Blind or Stand hunting is waiting for animals from a concealed or elevated position
Calling is the use of animal noises to attract or drive animals
Camouflage is the use of visual concealment (or scent) to blend with the environment
Dogs may be used to help flush, herd, drive, track, point at, pursue or retrieve prey
Driving is the herding of animals in a particular direction, usually toward another hunter in the group
Flushing is the practice of scaring animals from concealed areas
Glassing is the use of optics (such as binoculars) to more easily locate animals
Scouting includes a variety of tasks and techniques for finding animals to hunt
Spotlighting is the use of artificial light to find or blind animals before killing
Stalking is the practice of walking quietly, often in pursuit of an identified animal
Still Hunting is the practice of walking quietly in search of animals
Tracking is the practice of reading physical evidence in pursuing animals
Trapping is the use of devices (snares, pits, deadfalls) to capture or kill an animal

Trophy hunting

In the 1800s southern and central European hunters often pursued game only for a trophy, usually the head or pelt of an animal, to be displayed as a sign of prowess. This is perhaps the most common practice of modern hunters worldwide.

Trophy hunting is the most controversial aspect of hunting for opponents of hunting, who argue that modern economics or vegetarianism should eliminate the need for most killing of animals, if not animal domestication entirely. They see such killing as an issue of morality, citing British fox hunting as an especially inhumane "blood sport."

Hunting in North America in the 1800s was done primarily as a way to supplement food supplies. In modern times, trophy hunting persists, but is frowned upon by some when it involves rare or endangered species of animal.

Economics of hunting

A variety of industries benefit from hunting, and support hunting on economic grounds, beyond the ecological arguments of hunter-gathering and pastoral use of marginal habitats.

In Tanzania it is estimated that a safari hunter spends 50-100 times that of the average eco-tourist, and at a lower environmental impact. They argue that these hunters allow for anti-poaching activities and revenue for local communities www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1076/is_5_41/ai_54895821/print.

In the United Kingdom the game hunting of birds as an industry is said to be extremely important to the rural economy: The Cobham Report of 1997 suggested it to be worth around 贈700 million, and hunting and shooting lobby groups now claim it to be worth over a billion.

Hunting is also a major industry in the United States, with many companies specializing in hunting equipment or specialty tourism. The Outdoor Channel and OLN are cable television channels where programs such as Hunter's Handbook TV teach hunting safety and showcase new hunting destinations or products such as recreational vehicles, specialty clothing or firearms.

In the U.S., proceeds from hunting licenses contribute to game management programs (especially at the state level) including preservation of wildlife habitat. Some organizations such as Ducks Unlimited and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation provide sizeable funds to the enhancement and preservation of game animals, thereby augmenting or even exceeding government efforts. Within American industrial forestry, deer are often considered pests, and hunters a key political ally to be used against more restrictive environmentalists.

Depictions in popular culture

In addition to positive portrayals of hunting and hunters on television shows aimed at hunters, hunting is also frequently portrayed in movies and popular culture as part of a broader social commentary.

Some of the most widespread depictions of hunting have been through animation, particularly in movies such as the 1942 film Bambi and through Looney Tunes cartoons featuring Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd. Such anthropomorphism of prey animals or "varmints" is frequently used as social satire, with the audience intended to sympathize with the hunted animal and the socially powerful hunter portrayed as incompetent or a macho buffoon. At the other end of the spectrum Ted Nugent portrays the hunter as a rock and roll iconoclast.

Hunting may also be depicted in a matter-of-fact way, as in the 1990 film Dances with Wolves or the 1970 Little Big Man which contrast modern hunters with a romantic noble savage. Hunting is portrayed as necessary subsistence, as is the case in many Alaskan Bush communities today.tunt.blogspot.com/2005/03/30-hunting-for-subsistence.html

Varmint hunting of prairie dogs is depicted in John Ross' novel Unintended Consequences. Hunting is central to many works by Ernest Hemingway and even used as an extended metaphor in the new age self-help fiction of Carlos Castaneda's Journey to Ixtlan.

Chronology

Key Dates
1874 Charles Hunting establishes a shipping business in England.
1944 Percival Aircraft manufacturing operations are acquired.
1952 The company launches Hunting Geophysics Ltd., pioneering the aerial geophysical prospecting market.
1957 The company diversifies into heating and air conditioning engineering.
1962 After further diversification, such as in plastics manufacturing, the company launches Hunting Light Industries.
1967 The company begins providing services to the North Sea offshore oil industry.
1989 The Hunting family merges its three publicly listed holdings into a single publicly listed entity, Hunting PLC.
1999 Hunting exits the aviation market.
2001 Hunting exits the defense market and completes the disposal of its diversified operations to become a focused energy services group; the company acquires Thread Tech Energy Systems, and Columbia Fuels, both in Canada, as part of an acquisition drive to boost energy services operations.
2002 Roforge in France, which supplies valves to global energy industries, is acquired.
2005 The company acquires Cromar Ltd. based in Aberdeen, with subsidiaries in Houston and Singapore, which provides services and equipment to the energy market.