I am a hunter.

Answer

Firstly, understand well that hunting for sport and to wile away time is not permissible. It is evil. If there is a real need, hunting will be permissible. The animal will be halaal if shot with an arrow on which the Tasmiyah is recited at the point of releasing the arrow from the bow. Bullets are not classified as arrows, hence the meat will not be halaal even if Tasmiyah is recited when shooting. However, if the bullet-shot animal is found alive and slaughtered, then it will be halaal.

If the hunter, after having shot the animal as above, finds the animal alive, then he must slaughter it as usual. If he does not slaughter the live animal, the meat will be haraam.

If the hunter, after having shot the animal as mentioned above, reaches the animal and finds it has died as a result of the wound inflicted by the arrow, then the meat will be halaal.

If the intention is only ‗food', not sport, then hunting is permissible at any time.