Personal moral dilemma on hunting...need help

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knuckles

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Ok, as some of you may know from a previous post, I am supposed to go hunting for my first time this year. I have been quite excited about it and looking forward to it since the time I decided I wanted to try it. Now, I have to admit, I am having second thoughts. The guy I am going with went out a couple of weekends ago and bagged a four point buck. The other day he was over and handed me a trash bag with a shoulder in it. I have to admit, I felt real funny about that. I am not sure why, but I suddenly thought 'I don't want to eat that' and then immediately after that 'why would I shoot an animal I don't intend to A) eat and/or B) mount for trophy purposes'?

In any case, the last thing I what this thread to turn into is hunter vs. non-hunter bash session. Instead, I would like whatever you all can offer to help me overcome this mental obstacle. I think hunting would be fun. The camping out, hanging out with my close buddies, sitting around the campfire at night, the hours of solitude in nature, reflecting or just thinking about nothing and anything else I have missed (since I really have NO idea what I am talking about). I just think that I should eat what I kill, and if I have no intention of doing that maybe I shouldn't hunt...?
 
Personally, I only hunt what I'll eat. If I'm unwilling to kill it, cook it and eat it, I won't shoot at it. Of course, this is up to each hunter. Some hunters go for trophies and that's fine too. To each his own.

But if you're having trouble with the thought of actually harvesting an animal, I'd suggest bringing a camera into the field instead of a gun. This way, you can participate in the other things you mentioned (camping out, hanging with your friends, etc.) without the guilt or personal doubt of shooting an animal.
 
Go, enjoy the hunt and if you don't intend to eat it, then give it to someone who will.

On the otherhand, one of my most fond memories from hunting as a young man was after the kill and after we started processing the deer, to take some of the backstrap slice it into medallions and saute in butter and olive oil with a crushed clove of garlic, black pepper, onions and mushrooms. If that doesn't get you past the "shoulder in the sack" thing, then I am not sure I can help.

Nearly everyone "feels" a little funny when you start to process the kill, especially as you open a deer up and see what kind of damage you did to him. That's OK, that's why the Indians had their hunting rituals.
 
I have no interest in hunting for the sake of the kill, but I enjoy venison and understand the need to keep the local herd's numbers down from a conservationist's perspective. The only hunting I really enjoy is quail hunting, and unfortunately fire ants are making that less and less available.

I would suggest that if you kill a deer you get it packaged up appropriately and either keep the meat for your own use or give it to someone needy. For the most part it's healthier than what you can buy in the store.

I might end up hunting this year -- depends on whether my father-in-law does or not (if he does we'll get his meat). If I do, then I'll kill it (which I don't mind but my wife wants no part of) and my wife will clean it (which grosses me out but doesn't bother her at all). Prolly though, it'll be another year without a hunt.
 
I too only hunt what I can consume, or what others consume. I personally think it is not right to hunt for pure sport or trophies. I have really strong morals when it comes to killing animals. Hell my girlfreind even laughes at me because I wont even smash a bug. Call me what you want, but I just dont feel right doing it.

As far as deer hunting, I dont think I could shoot a deer, unless I was starving of coarse. But thats me. I dont really care if other people do it, if its there thing. Well as long as there not pouching or doing immoral things. And reall I dont have the patience to deer hunt anyway. I do love upland hunting though.

Anyway, if you dont feel comfortable, dont do it. Its not a big deal. I think Mr. Weebles had a very good idea, with the camera thing.
 
I dont like taste of it ,so i only jerk the meat.you dont have to eat it if you kill it .you can give it to someone how will eat it.you might want to stew it,
 
+1

Go, enjoy the hunt and if you don't intend to eat it, then give it to someone who will.
Click to expand...

I don't know about in your area, but there are a lot of homeless shelters that will take the deer if properly field dressed. You should look into that. This way, you can go hunting, enjoy all that you are looking forward to, and feel good that not only is the deer going to be eaten, but it will be eaten by thoes who are hungry, and might not have anything to eat.

Just my $0.02
 
Just do not waste the kill. Like others have said, give to a homeless shelter etc. I am not a hunter myself, love venison though and eventually would like to try. My personal feelings are that you use what you kill, anything else is both wasteful and dishoners the hunt/animal.

Chris
 
Hey - there's no law that says you have to kill something. Seriously - most of us LOVE all the things you think you'll love about hunting (campfires, nature, giant greasy breakfasts, etc). For me, they're the highlight.

I hunt, and, when things go right, I kill.

But you can certainly GO hunting. IF and ONLY IF the stars line up and you have shot on a deer, then you will have to make the decision. In fact, if you're hunting alone (that is, without someone else right beside you), you could probably get away with this for years before anyone ever noticed. :D

It's all one process to me - plan, hunt, wait, kill, clean, cut-up, eat... but you are certainly free to go out in the woods with a gun and make your decision then.

An aside - it can change from time to time. I have a wonderful uncle back home who dropped by my folks' house one night during deer season while I was there. It's not a big deer we're talking about, but my family hunts for meat - antlers are a bonus.

"Hey, Uncle D! See anything today?"
"Yep. Saw a gorgeous six point while I was back in the hardwoods by Ferris' swamp."
"Did you get a shot at him?"
"Nah."
"Huh. Was he running or was he too far away?"
"He strolled right in front of me."
Abby blinks. "Just didn't want to shoot him?"
"Nope. Thought I'd let him walk. Good lookin' deer."

Same uncle shot a spike two days later. Moral of the story - I don't know for sure, but sometimes even people who hunt a lot don't feel like doing the killing part.
 
There's neighbors, friends, co-workers wanting venison, but no time to hunt or ability to hunt. I have retired friends, who can't hunt, but love wild game. They always get a Christmas present.
 
Me personally, I don't think the killing part of ANYTHING, should ever be fun and I think we as a society would do well to remember that.

Sometimes killing needs to be done for food, survival or defense but taking pleasure in the actually killing just seems wrong to me. I don't take pleasure in the fact that some poor cow took it in the forehead for my burger and I actually think hunting might be a good experience for us all simply to understand what is involved in our survival, circle of life. This is one reason why I want to do this someday. Not sure I could plug bambi though.....maybe duck first. I could kill a duck....a duck is just a fish with wings. :D

Chris
 
Do you suppose it had to do with it coming to you in a trash bag? I know, it's probably what he had that would hold the thing, but....

If you have never hunted before and you have never lived on a farm, then all your life, meat has come to you either packaged up in sanitary little styrofoam trays (that even have a little absorbent towel in them to soak up nasty excess blood) or cooked on a plate (or in a McDonald's wrapper):neener: Your reaction to killing a deer is probably about the same as you'd have if you suddenly had to wring the neck of the chicken you were going to eat for dinner. :barf: :barf: :barf:

So it could be the presentation of meat in a very unusual way that caused you to react as you did; it could be the idea of eating a wild animal that is weird; could be you are resistant to trying new foods at all (are you a picky eater?); or it could be other issues all coming into play when he handed you a shoulder in a trash bag :rolleyes:

Nobody really knows how they'll react to killing an animal until they do it. For me, it was no big deal. I enjoy hunting and I VERY much enjoy wild game. Personally, I'd recommend cooking that shoulder and giving it a try. Venison shoulder, marinated in wine and herbs, and slow cooked, would be YUMMY. Just remember that because it's wild game, you will want to cook it differently than you would a roast beef.

One fun book, which has good recipes, is Ted Nugent's Kill It and Grill It which one of our grown children got my husband for Christmas last year. Good ideas on how to cook wild game, and of course, Nugent's own wackiness thrown in too.

Last point: not everybody in the whole wide world has to like hunting. If you want to go out with your buds and enjoy their company and sit in a treestand with a camera and hunt that way, that is a perfectly acceptable thing to do. And if a picture of a beautiful herd of does grazing in the morning mist is something you'd rather have on your wall than a buck's head, that is OK. Do what makes you happy. Life is too short to stick yourself into somebody else's expectations.

Springmom
 
Thank you all very much! I was dreading having to tell my friend that I didn't want to go after all, as I know he is looking forward to our trip too. I now won't feel bad about not eating what I kill (should I not like it, but will try), since you all have provided suitable options. I'll go this one time and, assuming I bag something, see how I feel about it and use that as a basis to determine if I'll be back. I think that is a best-of-both-worlds approach!

Thanks everyone for your responses, you have all been very helpful and I'll be sure to update this thread in December after we get back...! :D
 
Knuckles,

I have brought as many (probably more) tags home in my pocket than I have on a carcass. The kill is a small part of the experience of the overall hunt. Go and enjoy. If you kill something, fine. If you don't, so what? You'll have a good time either way.
Oh, and take a small camera along, too. Chances are, your trip will be one for your Memory Book.
Best of luck!

Poper
 
Do you suppose it had to do with it coming to you in a trash bag? I know, it's probably what he had that would hold the thing, but....
Click to expand...

That was also my first thought. Even though a new hefty sack right out of the box is clean, we normally don't think of them as something in which to store food. Also, a whole shoulder is a bit much to comprehend when you are used to dealing with smaller portions of meat at the grocery store.

I would recommend that you:
a) go hunting,
b) field dress your kill with the help of your buddies, and
c) let a professional processor reduce your kill into tasty steaks and other cuts

Load up the freezer with portion sized cuts of venison all wrapped up in white butcher paper, and you will probably have a different take on the experience.
 
for those who like hunting but don't like the meat, you can donate meat to needy families.

i think their is an organization called hunters for homeless or something. . .i could be off on the title. either way i'd start by contacting your local elks club or something.
 
I agree with Abby's Uncle D. I was out yesterday morning and tried out a new deer grunt call. An 8 pointer showed up and I called him back twice to within my 20 yard marker for my crossbow. He was majestic all puffed up, searching and sniffing to find the other deer. I let him walk and it was my best day ever of hunting. Its hunting, not shooting.
Go and just enjoy being out! Shoot if it seems right to you at the time.
 
In Connecticut, there is a program called Hunter's for the Hungry. I believe there are similar programs in other states as well. The meat is used for helping the less fortunate. You could also give the meat to friends.
 
I agree with springmom and the others about the way it was presented to you. If it's cooked correctly, and you like meat, you'll love venision. You do need to cook it right, though.

The jerky suggestion was a good one. I've taken the inner lions and backstraps out of more than one deer and made jerky out of the rest. YUM

You can buy a hand grinder cheap. I usually bone out shoulders and grind them up. Anything you use hamburger in can be made with deer burger.

If I don't plan to eat it, I won't kill it. I felt the same when I fished obsessively. It's not my job to feed the neighbors. I don't mind giving away a few fish or chunks of deer, but most of what I kill is for my family's use. I've thrown back plenty of fish and I've let plenty of deer walk.

Abby,
I think your uncle's a smart guy. A spike is much better eating than a 6 pointer. :D
 
Ever heard that the travel is more important than the destination?

The hunt is more important about the shot.

If you havent grown up around hunting, you probably should feel a little off. Your about to undertake a unique and alien act, feeling wierd is part of feeling human.

Do it, take a breath. The animal you shoot is giving you a gift, a very wonderful gift and its your responsibility to take that gift and use/enjoy it well.
 
I think everyone has covered the gentle aspects of nature and hunting.

The bottom line remains, if you are willing to eat meat you should be willing to go hunting. I realize that sometimes we have hang-ups but I assure you that you will find it personally fulfilling when you realize that you have done what millions of men have done. You have provided for yourself and become closer to the animal that feeds you and your family or friends.

I've donated many a deer and I love the hunt. The kill is very important to me, as is the hunt. Get out there and have fun.
 
I would recommend that you:
a) go hunting,
b) field dress your kill with the help of your buddies, and
c) let a professional processor reduce your kill into tasty steaks and other cuts

Load up the freezer with portion sized cuts of venison all wrapped up in white butcher paper, and you will probably have a different take on the experience.
Click to expand...

EXACTLY!!!!

I'll shoot 'em, and I'll field dress 'em, but if I try to do the butchering, well, I'll butcher it, all right, and I don't mean in the good sense :what: :neener:

I disagree with the statement that if you're going to eat meat you need to be willing to hunt. In human communities from time out of mind, some people were hunters and some were not. Those who weren't didn't have to starve; they got to partake of the kill and they contributed to the community in other ways. Cut the OP some slack and let him get into this at his own speed...or decide that it isn't for him, at his own speed. He'll figure it out on his own, but not if he doesn't go at all.

Springmom
 
My son killed his first deer a few of years ago at 12 yrs. old, but he had been hunting with me since he was 8. I let him pick when he wanted to actually shoot a deer. In those years sometimes I took the shot he didn't take and sometimes we just watched the deer graze by and enjoyed nature.
 
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