Do you feel a little (or alot) of remorse for killing a deer?

What? No pictures? I'd have to see pictures to believe you. A picture of you and your trophy goes a long way on this site.

 

I don't know, it doesn't seem like a pad of paper is as cool of a kill as killing one with a rubber band. I mean, I'm not an elitist fly hunter or anything....I'm just sayin'.

 

It wasn't a head shot, was it!? I heard a pad of paper is like throwing an axe through an animal ...

 

I'm sick of fly hunters trying to divide us into groups.

Anyway, here's the full story...

It was a nice cool, rainy morning. The temp in our office was set to 74. The pitter-patter of rain drops on my office window was very soothing. This was rudely interrupted by incessant buzzing sound. I knew what it was as soon as I heard the sound. I had been watching this fly all summer. He was certainly on my "hit list". At first, I ignored him and hoped he would find his way into someone else's office. Let him become their problem. He left, but soon came back. This process repeated itself throughout the morning. I was able to pattern him and positioned myself near my office window. He seemed to visiting the window like clockwork, about every 15 minutes. He "read the script" and I was waiting for him. He started banging against the window and I saw my opening. I "smoked him" at 1'. He dropped on the spot. I immediately texted my buddy on the other side of the building, "BBD!". Big-bug-down for you losers that don't get the lingo. I texted a few more buddies while I waited for my co worker to get there. Once he got there, he helped me wash the guts off the window. We are going to celebrate tonight!

 

The only pics I have are of me hunched over the fly, holding it by the wings. We didn't wash off the blood and it had guts hanging out. They weren't "high quality" photos of my "trophy", so I didn't want to post them.

 

I have zero remorse when I take a deer because it's not for the sport but to feed myself and my family.

 

Need to add Fly Hunter Pro Staff now

 

Not a bad idea, but I fly hunt for the love of the sport, not for commercial reasons. I don't want to ruin it with sponsors.

 

This describes what I was saying better.

 

no remorse what so ever! But very thankful for what God has blessed me with!

 

No remorse, it's all part of the game.

I will mention, that I don't feel like a deer is some cute and cuddly Disney creature either..... I see them as a renewable and harvestable resource on my property when managed properly..... not really that much different than timber and other resources I also manage on my property.

 

I felt bad for making a bad shot on my first doe ever, but that wasn't remorse either so I guess my answer is still no.

I feel surreal after smoking an animal with my bow, but remorse is about 100th on that list, which starts with elation.

 

in my opinion, that feeling that most of us hunters get is what separates us from those select people that groups like PETA love to rant and rave about, giving all of us a bad name. For me its not so much remorse. When you arrow that buck you've been scouting all summer what do you do? fist bump the guy in the stand filming you then call up your buddies with bragging rights. we all feel something, a mixture of emotions, but i think for each of us its a different amount of those emotions making our own unique little mixed up feeling.

 

I've wounded one deer In 25 years of bowhunting. A big reason why I've only wounded one deer Is because I'm VERY picky on my shot opportunities. NEVER do I take questionable shots or shots that are out there. I'm this way because I don't want nothing to do with Increasing a chance to wound a deer. Most people say "It's part of hunting and It will happen sooner or later". True that but It won't happen very often If you don't let It. I don't feel remorseful/sad when I kill something but Instead VERY thankful. I have the utmost respect of any animal that I'm hunting. Anyone who hunts with me finds this out very quickly.

 

It seems to be situational, and there's no rhyme or reason to the situation. I can't say I've ever NOT felt at least a little remorseful after killing an animal. It certainly doesn't stop me, however.

 

I'm with Oh so bad chevy.You put it in perspective very well, my Brother of the Woodline!

 

I feel something - not sure if it's "remorse," per se. I think it's more of just an appreciation of the situation.

When I walk into the woods, I know that I'm on their land. It doesn't matter whose name is on the deed - it's their home all the same. They don't know boundaries. They can't read Posted signs.

After a full season of preparation, you finally get the inside track on a big buck, and you eliminate him. Do I stop myself and think about it? Absolutely.

I think about the fawns he's sired, the life he's led. I think about what would've been, had fate not intervened, and I intercepted him. What he is, and what he might have become. I think about all the other hunters he's eluded, his hangouts, his habits, the broken tines, the rips in his ears, every scar on his tattered body. They're warriors. They're survivors.

Just like a human, a whitetail is a resident of his own woodlot. He's got family, memories, habits. The other animals, they know him. If you don't understand and appreciate what you're doing out there, you're missing out on the best half of the hunt. The more you know about him, the more emotionally attached you become. This is an animal that you've put yourself to sleep at night thinking about. You've pictured him 1000 times, wishing, wondering how it might go down. If it ever does.

Killing a big buck is the end. The book closes on him, never to re-open. It's finality in its purest form.

 

If I felt like this, I couldn't kill one

 

You should script movie intros.

Too deep for me. They are animals. Their lives revolve around not getting killed and chasing tail. If it wasn't for the latter they would be much much better at the former. Sure they are to be respected, but if I revered them on the level you describe, why even kill it and close the book?