Questions from a non-hunter

[mtnbkr]

I hunt because I like the outdoors, I like wild game, I like the idea of getting my own food and being self sufficient, and I enjoy "the chase". I've gone as far as drawing down on animals and not taking the shot because I didn't need the meat. However, I fulfilled every other aspect of hunting I enjoy by doing that. As far as I'm concerned, it's a successful hunt when I can outsmart the animal and get to make the decision to shoot or not, even when I don't shoot.

I too feel a twinge of sadness when I kill an animal.

Chris, I'm going to be hunting not far from you this weekend. Wanna join us? You don't have to hunt obviously, but you can hang out and soak up the atmosphere. If you like to fish, there's a decent trout stream there, but it may be too late in the season for trout (don't quote me though, I'm not a trout fisherman).

Chris

 

[mohican]

Basically I just want to know what the draw is for hunting animals (and again, just a neutral question). I........ My friend's 13 year old daughter is all excited to go hunting with her dad in KY, even though she's never shot a living thing before, and I suspect it may have negative consequences on her psyche (or maybe not!). .

Negative consequenses on her psyche?

Are you trying to get in touch with your female side?
did you type this while watching LIFETIME or E?

She'll be fine
I hope someone doesn't ruin it for her by asking whether it bruised her psyche :banghead:

all kidding aside, and others have probably said it better, but

It's the dawn breaking, and light creaping over the hill

It's because deer are like Tolkiens hobbits, appearing out of nowhere in silence, and dissappearing in like silence (when you let them walk)

It's the comraderie of hunting with friends and family, some of whom you may see only during hunting season

It's the moment of truth, when years of experience and confidence from a summers worth of practice at the range culminate with a crosshare or a front/rear sight aligning with vitals

It's just you and a muzzleloader, out in the snow, as distant as you can get from moderntimes, for a day or two.

and finally, it's getting a buck, painting it's nose bright red, and telling the Kids "sorry about Christmas, guess who I just shot..........."

 

[mustanger98]

Are you trying to get in touch with your female side?

Hey Mohican, High 5 on that one. Actually, it reminds me of this t-shirt at the gun shop. The picture is a good-lookin' blonde with a rifle and a monster buck. The caption reads "Yeah, I Hunt Like A Girl".

and finally, it's getting a buck, painting it's nose bright red, and telling the Kids "sorry about Christmas, guess who I just shot..........."

BWAAAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[Berek]

Basically I just want to know what the draw is for hunting animals (and again, just a neutral question). I can understand wanting to do it for food needs, population control etc but at what point does it actually become 'fun'?

I find that, while maintaining a familial and human tradition, there is a sense of earning. When I hunt, I hunt. I don't sit in a "tree house" over a feeder that was all set up by a guide. I go out, find signs, determine the when and where. When/if I harvest a deer, I feel that all of the work I put into it was earning it. Espeicially during archery season. Compared to going to the grocery store and buying meat from a chained animal, hunting gives a greater sense of worth as well as respect for the animal. Beside the Hindu, who openly respects a cow? Or chicken, pig or farm raised turkey? You don't earn those, you buy them.

If nothing else, I enjoy going out and watching nature. Birds, squirrels, fox & whatever.

All three of the basic conflicts exist. Man v. nature, Man v. beast and Man v. himself. Man v nature because of the weather and terrain to be overcome. Man v beast as you have to track the animal and be where is is going before it. And finally, Man v himself as there are things a person will find out about themselves (advantages and disadvantages) when he hunts (not sitting over bait).

I know, long winded, but there it is. I feel that hunting has given me a better respect for the animals and a greater appreciation for them, as well.

Berek

 

[AnthonyRSS]

If you do believe in God, then surely you believe that he made us different from the animals, and gave us dominion over them, as Dfaugh stated.

I hunt for all the reasons listed, and I thank God when He gives me meat.
I shoot does more often than not, there are a lot of them around these parts.

 

[IDriveB5]

lots of great posts here, i enjoyed reading all of them. im planning on going bowhunting for the first time next season with my uncle. also interested in doing some upland and waterfowl hunting.