This is just an absurdity. Stealing a yukkuri's hat to use as bait for a mine? Inefficiency at its worst. If you want to kill it, and you're close enough to steal its hat, you're close enough to spear/knife/stomp it for a quick kill (and field rations, if you went the stabby route).
Cruelty is one thing, but cruelty with waste thrown in is another.