Strange Topic.Most people dont shoot because they want to help the enviorment, and by shooting one pigeon your not saving others.
I went on a dove shooting trip last year in argentina in which i shot 750 doves in one day.I did not eat any of them and i did not need to eat them to survive.I go shooting becuase i love shooting, but i dont hate animals because i shoot a few partridge,ducks or pigeons ect.

Things like the fur trade and bullfighting make me sick, as that is pure cruelty.I do love animals, but i dont think shooting them is cruel is it is done for the right reason.I personally would not shoot a bear or elephant but i do alot of bird shooting.I dont normally eat what i shoot, i do it just for sport, but this does not mean i hate animals as a result.

I love clay shooting, and pigeon shooting is just a harder form of the sport,plus its like a mini adventure everytime you go.If i do help the enviroment as a result, so much the better.
Sly fox, i think you are on the right lines about respecting animals by eating them, but yo can still respect them without eaing them.As long as you dont go shooting songbirds or anything youll be fine.