chasing and killing of wild animals by people or other animals, for food or as a sport, sport that involves the seeking, pursuing, and killing of wild animals and birds, called game and game birds, primarily in modern times with firearms but also with bow and arrow. In Great Britain and western Europe, hunting is the term employed for the taking of wild animals with the aid of hounds that hunt by scent, whereas the sport of taking small game and game birds with a gun is known as shooting. In the United States and elsewhere the term hunting is used for both hunting and shooting. In fox hunting (q.v.), the kill is made by the hounds.