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

I feel bad keeping a small brook trout let alone alone an animal such as a deer that reaches maturity.

 

Not in the least bit! As a matter of fact it's just the opposite. I'm elated! I do feel remorse though, I feel it when I see an animal dead on the highway.

 

I have to say I agree with you, but I just never really think of it at the time. I get more excited.

 

I feel remorse if I burn the tenderloin! I always feel thankful that I am able to spend time in God's outdoors utilizing the bounty he has provided for all of us.

 

I killed my first deer ever last night a doe. I felt grateful, re leaved, fulfilled not regretful. I do realize and understand I have taken a life and destroyed a beautiful peaceful creature. I may have had a moment of doubt in this but I am ready to do it all over again. I harvested a pile of nice meat .This is something I have wanted to do my entire life and have now done it for the first time at 39. Killed tracked it gutted it skinned it and butchered it with the help of some good friends and my little brother.

 

Congrats, Bro! I hope you took pictures!

 

X 2!! Well said my friend

 

You nailed it, you must appreciate the animal more than the hunt.

 

This for me...

 

I am really confused why some of you guys hunt. Why would you do something you know you are going to regret? Is this just with hunting, or do you do things all the time you know you are going to regret, even before doing it?

 

I am really confused why some of you guys hunt.  Why would you do something you know you are going to regret? Is this just with hunting, or do you do things all the time you know you are going to regret, even before doing it?

I think some of you are confusing regret, with sympathy though.

 

Congratulations!

 

Vito,
I am on board with what you are saying here. When I first hear the word Remorse I don't instantly hear regret eventhough regret is it's first definition in most dictionaries. I think sympathy and compassion with a contrite heart is a better way to describe my feeling!

 

After reading the thread and looking up the exact definitions of remorse and regret, then I don't think I feel those two emotions as much. Because going by those definitions, after shooting the deer, I would think, "Man, I wish I wouldn't have done that!" I never feel that, or else I wouldn't have shot it in the first place. I do feel a great deal of sympathy, however. I have said it many times before, that actually hunting and killing deer takes the backseat to chasing them, learning about them, interacting with them and competing against them. Of course, I still like shooting them or else I wouldn't carry a bow every time I go out, but that's a different argument.

I feel more question than remorse or regret. I'm fortunate enough to be in a situation where I don't need to eat deer meat to live. I love the taste of it and my family and I eat it willingly and as much and often as we can. But when I walk up on a dead deer, I question my intent. I spend hundreds of dollars in food plot seeds, countless hours maintaining those plots, endless time scouting hanging stands, etc. I question why I spend so much time, effort and energy into shooting an animal that I don't need to sustain my own life. I am different in a lot of people in that I really don't care so much if I kill a deer every year. I derive almost as much enjoyment from filming someone else hunt, shooting photos, celebrating another's kill as I do when I shoot a deer. So, looking over a dead deer that my dad or brother could have shot makes me think, "Why did I shoot it? I just like being out here in the woods, my brother or dad could have shot this deer and it could mean more to them than it does me."

But it's always the same, the feeling of humility and thankfulness and understanding a unique balance that Mother Nature and God are one in the same. And that taking a life from Nature almost makes you a bridge between Nature and God that provides a cool way to experience the bittersweet emotions of taking a life. Plus, it's exciting, rewarding, I enjoy the moments up to the shot and the emotions following, blood trailing, finding the deer, etc. I also like to show off the pictures of it so my Facebook friends will think I am awesome and a great hunter, which is very important to me. But I never wish I would have never shot the deer.

 

That explanation makes a lot more sense, Cody. I figured most were confusing regret and sympathy.

 

I think many people are in the same boat when it comes to hunting and taking an animals life. I feel a great deal of excitement that my hard work paid off, and yes, after many deer down, I still get the shakes everytime. I have no remorse, but I do feel a certain strange feeling briefly. I am excited, thankful, but there is a feeling (might sound like a sissy!) of maybe compassion for the animal. Sucks that it died, but that is how God designed it. Man is greater and higher on the food chain than animals (unless its shark week!) I love bowhunting! I simply say a prayer and thank God for my successful hunt. Regret and Remorse are too strong of terms, but I think we understand what was meant.

 

I dont feel any regret. There are however so many other emotions that we as hunters go through when we know we made a good clean ethical shot that will swiftly kill the pursued animal...Even these words can't describe the feeling...total excitement...extreme adrenaline rush...sympathy...thankfulness for the lord above to place that animal in that spot at the right moment and let you take its life for the soul purpose to keep the circle of life in tact...to feed your family and friends and rejoice in the gift of life that the deer meat will help you to live on and become stronger, physically, mentally, emotionally and hopefully morally.

 

no, I do not feel any regret/remorse at all

 

Gratitude and thankfulness that I had an opportunity to do something that I wish everyone could do just once.

 

yeah, a little bit. But its food, so I get over it quickly