Last Rites---Your Rituals

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Thank....whoever.....maybe myself that this deer did not end up dead on the highway I hunt near. That is all deer are to me. They are a threat and a pest.
 
There was an article in Wildlife in North Carolina magazine a couple years ago on this very subject. There were a lot of cool ideas in the article. The one I remember the most is a native American tradition to bury the heart back in the woods at the site of the kill. The idea being that the spirit of the animal stays alive in the woods. I have done this several times since reading the article.

coastie shep-
That comment was just rude and led everyone to believe you are obviously not a believer. Which is fine, for you, but your comment and the way you said it was disrespectful.
 
I never really thought about this until now, most animals I shoot are in the pest catagory (hogs for example) and the only thanks I give was for God giving me the skills and abilities necessary to accomplish my task. With deer after making sure the animal is down and expired I take a little bit to examine my shot placement, the effect of the bullet and the overall condition of the animal. At that time my heart generally returns to its normal rythm and I take a minute to appreciate everything that has let me up to this moment. I also pause and reflect upon the natural beauty of my surroundings and my good fortune of living and experiencing that day.
 
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First, jimmyraythomason, the OP stated:

What are your rituals if any, and your opinions?
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Opinions. Sorry, but if his opinion is that your religious reverence is hookie, then he's entitled to it an its on topic based on the original post. FWIW, I didn't see it as mocking, but I guess opinions can vary.

Me, well, I usually am overcome with a bit of emotion about the beast I'm about to put down immediately after I pull the trigger. Then I walk up and enjoy a moment of silence and take in the beauty of earths bounty and say a short prayer to myself on behalf of the deer.

Strangely (for me at least) I don't get the same emotional charge out of killing birds as I do deer. Perhaps that's just the nature of the hunt- pick them up and toss em in the pocket and keep moving on. Never really thought about that till I read this post and drafted my response. Not sure why, but that's a topic probably worthy of further exploration (and its not just a size deal, as I don't feel the same reverence when I shoot a feral hog or a coyote).
 
I sit back, replay the shot over and over in my head, and breathe deeply while enjoying the feeling. I never really thought about it before reading all of your posts, but I'm a Christian minister and yet, I don't thank God. As much as I know people will resent this, I actually agree with Costie when he said "I made the shot" (or something like that). I'm not going to pajoritivally say or imply that others are wrong, I just never thought about it like that and probably won't in the future. I'm glad y'all posted because it's good reading. I'm also glad I read it because it made me think of that (above) for the first time. Thinking is good so I thank ALL of you who took the time to post. Because you made me reflect, and reflection is also a good thing.
 
I don't know if there is a god or not, so take it with a grain of salt, but... I would tend to think that an almighty being would have more important things to do than help you aim your gun (or throw that football, or win that stock car race, etc.) and it seems to me that constantly invoking Him trivializes the relationship.

But as always, what other folks do is not really my business, as long as they're not taking risks with the game animals or my safety.
 
Hey Robert, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. I think what most people mean when they say they thank God, or any other diety is that they are thankful to be part of the ecosystem. I don't say "thanks" for helping me aim my rifle, but pause to reflect on the complexity of the life I took. In the universe, life as complex as a large mammal is quite rare. For me to harvest that animal I feel that I owe it a debt of reflection.

BTW, any and all opinions are welcome, not just those that are parallel with mine. If you shoot,gut, clean, and eat the animal thats just fine as well.
 
What are your rituals if any, and your opinions?
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My only real ritual is to check the entrance and exit holes for shot placement and replay the shot in my head. I also find that I cannot stand over an animal without putting hands on it and admiring its coat. Then, as Art said, it's down to the business of getting the meat.

I don't begrudge anyone their rituals, as long as they don't begrudge me mine (although I'll admit to wincing at the sight of folk that either feel the need to consume some raw element of the animal or who treat it like a Halloween prop).
 
Our ritual when hunting with good friends up Nort' involve discussing how we worked a plot pushing woodcock and grouse, talking about the how the dogs worked the birds, how tough the hunting was or how many birds there were, all while we're at the trucks dressing birds out. Great comraderie. We had fantastic woodcock shooting last week, ruffed grouse was tougher unfortunately.
Personally I'm more concerned about ending any suffering of game and thankful when it's recovered and sliding into my game bag.
 
One commonality of my ‘ritual’ is at the beginning of the hunt when I say a small prayer to keep us all safe during the hunt and to guide our shots straight and true should we get the opportunity.

After that I guess for me it depends on the critter, as countertop said. Small 'eatin’ critters' such as squirrels and birds of any kind don’t get much attention. Varmints and pigs get a brief cussing for their existence followed by a well wishing for their journey to wherever varmints and pigs go after the shot.

Deer and game critters get a bit more of the respect. When I was younger I think I took more reverence, maybe I have become callous. I hope to bring it back full circle when I teach my daughter to hunt.

As others have stated I too take the time to examine the shot placement and do a bit of an autopsy during the cleaning but it is typically down to business with the knife.

The other commonality of my ‘ritual’ is at the end of the hunt when dinner is on the table; I again say a small prayer to keep us all safe and to guide our lives straight and true should we get the opportunity.

I guess in hindsight I bracket the hunt with reverence and get down to the business during the hunt.

~z
 
I think what most people mean when they say they thank God, or any other diety is that they are thankful to be part of the ecosystem. I don't say "thanks" for helping me aim my rifle, but pause to reflect on the complexity of the life I took. In the universe, life as complex as a large mammal is quite rare. For me to harvest that animal I feel that I owe it a debt of reflection.
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nicely put HGUNHNTR
I also reflect on the beauty of the animal I took and appreceate that I will gain sustenance from the animal.
 
I stop and thank the critter for feeding me and my kids. And I thank the weapon used for helping me to put food on my table.
 
I always thought it was proper to thank god for the opportunity to harvest his animals. It was God, after all, that put the animals there for me. I always feel a slight amount of sadness at the life that I ended, but thats the way it is. I am a meat eater, and wild animals are meat, so I eat them.
 
I do the same pre-meal prayer as if I was eating a ChikFil-a sammich. Other than that, it may involve the solemn rituals of lighting a grill and mixing-up some garlic-butter. Did I miss the actual thrust of the question? Sorry. God's animals are God's animals, whether you harvested them or someone else did. I'm not gonna do some extra ritual or dance because I shot a rabbit.

Les
 
Mine

The older I get, it usually goes like this.
Why the crap didn't you fall right where I shot you. Now I have to get help in dragging your sorry butt outta this mess you did fall in. I know it's not really your fault but this little pipsqueak gun is about all I can manage to tote into the woods and I'm not quite as good a shot as I once was. I'll feel better about you once I get what's inside out and what's outside off but right now I just feel like shooting you again.
 
Thankful...

...for being created as an American, where I am free to have this opportunity. For having been given the means. For having been given the ability to walk. Given eyesight to see. Given a career that would allow it. That I didn't die in my sleep last night, or that one time, when I was younger. That I was given the time to put towards it. I say thanks, for a family that gave me an exposure to this. A loving father who indulged his interested son. For giving me the health to participate. Given a safe passage down the highway. For the air in my lungs. For an accident free hunt. For giving me the experiences that developed the hunting knowledge I have been given. For putting me in the right spot at the right time. For keeping me from messing it up. For making it all happen. For making it all possible.

The thanks never end.
 
...for being created as an American, where I am free to have this opportunity. For having been given the means. For having been given the ability to walk. Given eyesight to see. Given a career that would allow it. That I didn't die in my sleep last night, or that one time, when I was younger. That I was given the time to put towards it. I say thanks, for a family that gave me an exposure to this. A loving father who indulged his interested son. For giving me the health to participate. Given a safe passage down the highway. For the air in my lungs. For an accident free hunt. For giving me the experiences that developed the hunting knowledge I have been given. For putting me in the right spot at the right time. For keeping me from messing it up. For making it all happen. For making it all possible.
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That about sums it up for me. I used to get more emotional when I was younger, like being sad about taking the life even though it was food etc. Now I'm just appreciative that I am allowed the freedom to take part in the ecosystem and experience for myself the full circle of life, from the forest to the table. A whole lotta folks don't get the opportunity for many different reasons, I'm thankful every year that I am able to participate.
 
I'll have to side with CoRoMo in his statements, as far as his reflections. As far as eating the raw meat of the heart, and drinking the blood of the dead animal, God tells us not to drink the blood of any of His animals, it is to be a heathen if one does. JMHO Thanks for having this thread on here, its given me time to reflect on my past days of hunting with my family.;)
 
k4swb you cracked me up with your post. I often times wondered about those guys who shoot goats and sheep in the high mountains on for it to roll off a cliff and fall a thousand feet to be pre tenderized. Hauling that sucker out must be a chore and a half.

Perhaps I am weird or the only one. When my family eats game I look at the package and can identify the animal that we are about to eat. While cooking or grilling and throughout dinner. I can remember with amazing detail almost everything about the hunt. The sights, smells, experiences, the blood trail, every detail about the hunt. Most of the same feelings return and I reflect on a happy time spent in the woods. More so if one of my children were with me or took the shot themselves. I once again give thanks to the animal and the blessing of being part of being a hunter.

Does anyone else have this or is it just me?
 
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