AFTER seeing the agony hunting bought to the animals he targeted, Yeppoon's Shane Newell decided to hang up his bow and arrow.

The 60-year-old said news of the recent illegal hunt of Zimbabwe's favourite lion, Cecil, last week, reminded him why he gave up the sport.

"I have given up hunting altogether, mainly because to me, it is unnecessary," Mr Newell said.

"The right to hunt is an unnecessary right given the suffering that it causes, even with big guns.

"I appreciate the thrill of hunting but personally, my thrill compared to an animal's suffering...it is a no brainer."

The internet lit up with condemnation for hunting the past week after Cecil was killed by American dentist Walter Palmer.

Cecil was allegedly lured from a reserve and shot with a crossbow and suffered for a significant amount of time before meeting his death in early July.

Mr Newell said if it were up to him, he would make bow hunting illegal.

"You can shoot animals with heavy weapons, you do not need to stab them with a light arrow that is just going to cause them an enormous amount of agony for a long period of time," he said.

"I know and accept the argument that the culling of animals pays for conservation efforts in African countries...but what I do not accept is that it is okay to impose such horrendous suffering on that animal for that purpose."

Mr Newell pointed out his view on large game hunting is a personal one, based from personal experiences, but hopes people do take it into consideration.

"It was very difficult to get a clean kill shot...that means often the game escapes and if you are ever able to track it down, which is quite often not the case, it means they are off suffering for hours."

"The bigger the game the less likely that one arrow is going to bring him down."