Reading the responses in GMMAT's thread really surprises me. I guess I wouldn't have suspected so many hunters on this forum felt that way. Having respect for the animals we pursue is one thing, but to read how many guys have feelings for them is very surprising. No doubt our society has gone soft, but its disappointing to see it spread to the hunting community. I'm not saying to go out and kill, kill, kill without respect for the game. And yes, you don't have to kill something to have a satisfying hunt. Buts let not forget what we are out there doing and what the end goal is. If we weren't there to kill, we wouldn't bring a weapon. Fawns are DEER, does are DEER, bucks are DEER, and the deer we hunt are WILD ANIMALS.
Whenever I kill something, and it is not always WILD ANIMALS, I appreciate the fact that I am ending a life that doesn't want to end. Every living thing will fight to keep living. That tells me something. When I stop appreciating, and considering, the fact that I am ending a life that doesn't want to end, then I will stop killing things again. Do I care if someone thinks that makes me soft? Not really .
I've never felt remorse for any animal I've killed. I have the utmost respect for them, and their very essence of beauty while both alive and dead. Hell I'd say hunters have more appreciation than most of the population for nature and the creatures that make it. I don't know if there will every be an occurrence in which I'll feel sorry for killing an animal. The only time I've ever felt bad about hunting is when I shoot a deer and make a bad shot and can't recover it. Hell, I'm dedicating my life to the very animals that I hunt by becoming a wildlife biologist... I see it as doing a favor through population management to make a healthy deer herd.
I have felt remorse. I will not attempt to hide that fact. But one thing I can assure you, is that I am not "soft". Read up on some Native American cultures and how they prayed that some animals would "allow" them to kill them when the time was needed. If that ain't developing a kindred relationship prior to the kill, then I don't know what is one. Were the Native American cultures soft? You can have a balance between blood and compassion, in fact that is the way I prefer it. And guess what, I will keep on hunting until the day I die. I guess you can call me the guy who wears the pink panty's and hunts.
I couldn't agree more... to each his own and who would I be to judge? Everyone has had different experiences that form who they are as a person and a hunter. I'm one of the least judgmental people you'll ever meet.
So if you have feelings, or feel anything after you kill an animal, you shouldn't hunt? LOL I think feeling something shows that we are humans. Yes, I kill...and several to many each year. Yes, there are times when I feel a little bad about some of them, and yes I now choose to shoot or not shoot at times based on that. Doesn't stop me from hunting and loving it, and never will. You've probably never shot a doe and had the fawns stand overtop of her bawling - or if you have and it doesn't pull on your heartstrings some, you might have bigger issues. I agree that to each his own.
I get what you're saying. The choice is solely up to the hunter. Some of the reasons sound hypoctritical to me, thats all. Anytime someone choses to post their opinions or feelings on a public forum, they open themselves up to criticism or differing opinion. No one had to tell anyone here why they choose to pass, but THEY chose to tell everyone when they posted.
I think everybody here realizes hunting is not for everyone. If that was your point then i must have missed it. . .my bad.
Brett, I think you're confusing respect and remorse. Believe me, I respect every animal I hunt or kill, but never have I or will I feel remose for that animal. If I do, I'll quit.
In hindsight, maybe I shouldn't have started the thread. The Disney Effect is a big issue in my area and is one of the reasons we have an exploding population of deer. Its frustrating at times and perhaps that is why I chose to post what I did. Some of the opinions I read where similar to what I hear from the nonhunting community. What I posted is how I feel...but it might have been better to keep it to myself. Like mentioned, why others chose to hunt is none of my business. I don't hunt solely for selfish reasons, I also like to think of myself as a steward of the resource. I will shoot a deer based on what is best for the area I hunt in. When others make hunting decisions based on emotion and not science, and those decisions adversly affect the resource, it can be frustrating at times. Also wanted apologize to anyone I offended. That was not my intent.
Dan, maybe I am, but in a way I think they were remorseful at the same time. Anyways guys, BEST of luck to you, and may the hunting season be a good time of the year for all of you!
I posted in Jeff's thread that i too felt some remorse but it realtes really well to what Brett was saying, more of an extreme respect for the animal. What kills me is when guys take their game and almost brag more about the fact that they ended a life more than show appreciation for the game they just killed. I 100% love to hunt deer (favorite activity in the world) but sometimes its the barbaric behavior that I see that triggers the "i cant believe im actually associated with that" instinct in me.
As I said in the other thread. I KNOW I feel respect, even though it may feel remorseful for a second or 2. I say this because I have heard the "bawl" (rifle kill when I was very young), and I have also spined deer which needed to be finished. On those spine shots I gave it nothing more than a well, now that happened and I have to finish the deer. Knives, second arrows, and bullets have been fired in those instances. It did not bother me in the least that I had to finish the deer off, and respect was given just like the quick kills.
I have an uncle and after 25 years of deer hunting he laid it down. Said he just didn't have the heart anymore to kill. I wonder if he had an encounter that triggered this. I often wonder if he's my real uncle, it's definitely not in me. I don't think twice shooting a 1.5 yr old doe or a 6.5 yr old buck. When I'm stocking the freezer I'm not picky.