I think we're on the same page here, we're just articulating it in different ways~ That's why I like Lee Rue and Alsheimer so much, they make a living doing both:d I think you're misunderstanding GMMAT and I on our opinions of the actual harvest
I'm not misunderstanding at all. I haven't read a whole post on this thread since page 2. I just saw bits and pieces, and decided to tell what I liked about hunting:d
the thrill of the kill, well....It is the thrill or excitement I get after I successfully kill something? And for me personally, I found out that for deer hunting, this thrill (while great for both) is 1000x better after a bowkill than a gunkill...I have done both, likely will do both again...but I know what gets me goin more. I think it would be comparable, for me, to hitting a homerun and hitting a grandslam to win the world series...both are awesome, but one sure is a heck of alot better. But again, this is just for how I personally feel after taking a deer, doesn't mean anyone else should have similar feelings about it. If one doesn't experience this, regardless the weapon, why not hunt with a lense? Right or wrong, I get a HUGE thrill out of killing an animal, to each his own. Respect, satisfaction, triumph, success, all come to mind for that moment of ecstasy after success. I do know one thing, if I ever loose that thrill or excitement after a kill...I will hang up the bow and pursue other hobbies....but I seriously doubt that will ever happen.
I often wonder why everyone goes to this knee jerk reflex description of gun hunting........I have gun hunted for 22 years and killed more deer then I can count.......95% of them have been in bow range, many closer then some of my bowkills. My farthest gun kill is just over 60 yards. My gun stands are my bow stands......I couldn't see 200 yards with binocs from my gun stands......let alone shoot something. Try sitting on the ground in the woods with a smooth bore 870 and open sights and get back to me on how "easy" gun hunting is Is popping 300 WSSM rounds at a deer 300 yards away from a heated shooting house my idea of excitement??.........it wouldn't be my first choice...........but to paint all gun hunters with this broad brush is ignorant at best. Ask some guys who hunt out west if their idea of a challenging exciting hunt is parking your ass in a treestand for hours and days at a time and waiting for a deer to walk by and they will laugh in your face. Everyone is different and hunts differently..........enjoy what you enjoy and be happy for others if they are enjoying what they do. I shot this buck with my 870 a couple years ago at 5 yards (notice the high entry).........heard him crunching the icey leaves and watched him walk in behind other deer and work his way right to my stand which was tucked into a spot with about 30 yards of sight max...........he was so close I could see the steam coming from his nose......call me crazy but I was damn excited and plenty proud.
[soapbox rant]Just a general observation directed at no one in particular. When I hear or read people say they "enjoy" or "like" killing something it gives me the creeps. That always sounds weird to people coming from someone who has been killing animals more then half his life.........but it truely is my LEAST favorite part of hunting. I just accept it as part of the deal. Killing, pleasure, fun, and thrill, are words that just don't go together IMO.[/soapbox rant]
Just an observation... You cannot write this: And then follow it with your soapbox rant and your "magic experience" confessional. One could argue that you are trying to persuade rather than accept. But you're still in my book. Awesome shot on that buck! Certainly, location will aid the formation of opinions...
If one DOESN'T enjoy the killing aspect, why hunt with a lethal weapon? Would they not then draw the same pleasure from "hunting" without a kill? I am just having a hard time understanding this. When you shoot a buck,heck doe for that matter, you don't get all choked up, excited, and a heart rate going faster than hummingbirds wings out of joy from your success? Are you not happy after a successful hunt? That constitutes a thrill to me, and seeing as it follows the death of an animal, thrill of the kill only seems fitting. Its not like people who actually enjoy the end to a successful hunt are savage beasts ready to drink blood or anything, we are just overrun with joy and adrenaline when everything lines up for that perfect shot...it is, gasp, "thrilling". Maybe I should go to meetings, Hi my name is Trevor Embry, and I admittedly, enjoy the end to a successful hunt. When I chase animals with a lethal weapon, I enjoy when I actually become successful in my goal. AKA, animal killers annonymous. Atlas, how can the words killing and fun NOT go tegether...It brings me, and I figured by default most everyone else, alot of joy to actually be successful in hunting. No one is saying bowhunting is magical, just that it is more exciting than poppin one with the rifle, to me anyway. I still really enjoy muzzleloader hunting and was sad I didn't get to take it out this year, I love waiting for that huge cloud of smoke to clear....but even it doesn't hold a candle to the joy I get from bowhunting...Like you said, everyone hunts for their own reasons, mine has nothing to do with any "magical experiences", but it sure has alot to do with fun, happiness, and hoping for success.
The kill is my favorite part ..... hands down ....I guess i creep you out, Atlas .... you guys that say you don't like the kill part ....hunt for 20 years and do not kill your intended target and see if you will keep going .... or better yet, take out a paint ball bow and blast a deer with a paint ball ...... you will have everything the hunt has to offer, sans the death of the deer ..... see if you will keep going ...
OK, I still can't get a clear picture now... A buck comes in and passes by your stand at 20 yards, but you don't get the shot off. Same scenario only this time, you put one through the boiler room and watch him go down....which one are you more excited or thrilled during, or enjoy more...or more happy about afterwards? Everyone enjoys the kill to some extent, or their answer would be the first scenario. Smashing turtles, well, I suppose if I was hungry for some turtle soup? That is a pretty bizarre twist though, seeing as no one has said they hunt only for the kill, just that they enjoy it as part of the hunt. On the flip side, it is not that bizarre to ask someone who claims to not enjoy the kill of a hunt, why they would kill in the first place then? Why is it being shifted into being JUST about killing, the whole thing was brought up over enjoying the kill during a hunt, not enjoying ONLY the kill during a hunt...pretty wide gap there.
I have to kill the deer to eat them just like I have to kill my chickens to eat them. I enjoy hunting the deer more than I enjoy killing them, just like I enjoy raising my chickens more than I enjoy killing them. I don't mind killing anything (and I have killed lots of things) if it is a means to an end, such as food or safety, but I can't say I find that part of the encounter the most thrilling or exciting.
I had the that exact thing happen to me this year except the one I didn't/couldn't shoot was at 5 yards. Both times I was where I needed to be and that is where I get my excitement and joy, figuring out when/where I need to be and getting there .
So as not to be misunderstood, I love the kill part OF THE HUNT, as it pertains to THE HUNT!!! I would not want to walk up to a deer in a pen and put an arrow thru it ....
Not understanding how someone could/would take "joy" or get a "thrill" over something getting killed has nothing to with hunting IMO.........and I'm not trying to persuade anyone out of their "magic experience" by saying I don't share it. I don't think you can write this...... because my experience has been the complete opposite.......and apparently so has davidmil's 65 year old friend.......but maybe we are just the 2 guys you mentioned Right back atcha Will Location will aid in LOTS more then just opinions :d Great to talk with you again Will
I haven't figured out a way to get venison in a non lethal manner. If deer (or any animal for that manner) is not edible I will not kill it. Absolutely.......I feel ALL of that and then some......NONE of it has anything to do with killing something. Think about it......when that deer falls are your feelings based on your accomplishment or are you sitting there thinking "YEA!!! something just died!!!" If killing stuff is all that is needed to get excited why not just shoot everything you see in the woods?? Do you have to kill every fish you catch in order to enjoy fishing?? We feel the same thrill..........only mine comes from the culmination and accomplishment of a difficult task......when I put my hands on that animal for the first time I don't feel joy that it's life was ended by me.....quite the opposite actually. I think it is completely natural to be thrilled with the success of your hunt......while being mindful/respectful and even somewhat sad at the loss of life that just occured. If killing is "fun" why don't you just kill everything you see?? Cats, dogs, birds, fish, etc???......do you go to the zoo and not have fun because you can't kill the animals?? When people ask you why you go hunting do you say "Cause I love to kill stuff!!!!" (please say no) A successful hunt at close range is certainly more exciting to me as well........the fact I was able to get to 15 yards undetected means more to me then anything else.........what I used to close the deal has no effect, to me anyway......I can kill a deer with ANYTHING at 15 yards, so which weapon I happen to be holding makes no difference to me. Agree 100%
