This is a real thing in the world.

Y'know—for kids!

I saw a commercial last night for the Duck Hunter, a new toy/game in which you set off an adorable little flying duck into the air—then SHOOT AT IT TO KILL IT! KILL IT! KILL IT! I couldn't yet find video of the advert (which features a dad and his son, naturally, enjoying Duck Hunter together and well away from any female things), but here's a dispatch from the Consumer Electronics Show, in which the correspondent is very excited about this adorable killing toy.

[Transcript and game image below; more demonstration video here.]
Target recommends it as a great Christmas gift! "Manufacturer's Suggested Age: 8 Years and Up."

Although hunting isn't a part of my personal culture, I sort of get the hunt-kill-eat variety; only one generation separates me from my people who raised and butchered their own livestock and poultry. Hunting purely for sport, on the other hand, I just flatly loathe. The thrill of killing is something I find distasteful and cruel—and, if I'm being honest, not a little bit frightening. Which is why Duck Hunter gives me a case of the creeps: It's skeet shooting with the added benefit (!) of getting to feel like you're killing a living thing. Joy.

Hi, this is Dan for Tech Digest and Shiny Shiny and I'm here at CES 2009 Unveiled. And I normally—I'm gettin' a little bit sick of these, uh, polystyrene flying objects, but this one [holds up Duck Hunter duck] is a little bit different—because it comes with [holds up Duck Hunter gun] a gun! Now this—what you do here—this is the Duck Hunter: You set it off [sets off duck to start flying, but doesn't let it go; its wings flap and make a loud chirping sound], like that, which is loud [turns off duck]; it then flies; you then take the gun, and you shoot it.

Now, when you shoot the thing, first of all, when you hit it once—let me see if I can do it. [turns duck back on; points gun at it and shoots; turns duck off] Ooh! There we go. It stutters—and if you do that three times, the thing crashes and dies to the ground. So you get the genuine killing experience, which is fantastic!

Um, it'll be out around the springtime; it's gonna retail at $29, which I think is bloody good value! I'll have three! And there is also an extreme pack as well, with all sorts of bits and pieces for $10 more, but I say get the bargain [one]. Look out for it.