A Sentiment to Hunting

[Brinkcalls]

I'm pretty young (30). I've been hunting and shooting things since I was really young. Birds off the feeder, to now a days, whatever graces the landscape in fur, fin or feather in whatever state or country I'm standing in. Hunting and the feelings it comes with should be in the CDC. It's a disease I cannot describe. One graced and driven by sheer motivation and albeit more so instinctual navigation that my mind cannot help but wander into. My adolescents and youth were spent trudging my way through the forest. If it was a critter, it was getting something shot its way. The amount of joy and fond memories this brought, I wouldn't trade for anything.

Fast forward to my 20's. My emotional attachment to wildlife and the place they inhabit how grown to more than just the sheer want to shoot something. My joy in the experience and attachment to the creature I'm hunting has shifted. I am not trying to sound like a sap. I am not this, but now when I hunt, I do have a different feeling. Knowing full well I'm a lurking. Stalking. Waiting predator that may be fooling my quarry into heading towards me, or me going there direction, I cannot help but feel... just some way about it? Not remorseful, let's not get that mixed up with what I'm trying to say. If I were to feel remorse, I wouldn't be doing it. It's a feeling I cannot put into words. It's the feeling that you acknowledge you took a life, your decision was made, you are honored, humbled, and grateful for the opportunity. You count your lucky stars, you thank the creator and you enjoy the memory of what was and what will be. His/her life ended, usually it was short. They don't know that. We do. No fault of ours, just the nature of it. I'm big into the experience more than the result. I put in the work, I was granted the opportunity. It's just the emotional and spiritual attachment to it all has grown in a way that makes me think about it more. It's a beautiful thing. And one we should never take for granted. I will hunt and will continue to chase this high I have always had. When it stops. My heart will probably go with it.

If you have a good way to describe this feeling, please, enlighten me. I sometimes struggle to find it!





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[Tail Feathers]

It is the instinct of being a predator, allowing your inner nature out in the open.  Being thinking creatures with emotions, we realize the implications of it all.  We have an appreciation for the prey and recognize his sacrifice means something. We have an appreciation for the experience and all that it entails. 

[Greg Massey]

It's like a need to help keep food on the table. It's all part of the glory of the hunt and the appreciation of the game you have taken and sharing it with others. Never forget to thank the Good lord above.

[Tom007]

I know where your coming from. I feel blessed to be able to pursue and enjoy this beautiful sport. It captures all of us in different ways, but in the end, it's a driving passion that gets us all up at the crack of dawn to hear them sing on the roost. And yes, we all thank the Lord for allowing us this treasured opportunity...

[GobbleNut]

I'm pretty young (30). I've been hunting and shooting things since I was really young. Birds off the feeder, to now a days, whatever graces the landscape in fur, fin or feather in whatever state or country I'm standing in. Hunting and the feelings it comes with should be in the CDC. It's a disease I cannot describe. One graced and driven by sheer motivation and albeit more so instinctual navigation that my mind cannot help but wander into. My adolescents and youth were spent trudging my way through the forest. If it was a critter, it was getting something shot its way. The amount of joy and fond memories this brought, I wouldn't trade for anything.

Fast forward to my 20's. My emotional attachment to wildlife and the place they inhabit how grown to more than just the sheer want to shoot something. My joy in the experience and attachment to the creature I'm hunting has shifted. I am not trying to sound like a sap. I am not this, but now when I hunt, I do have a different feeling. Knowing full well I'm a lurking. Stalking. Waiting predator that may be fooling my quarry into heading towards me, or me going there direction, I cannot help but feel... just some way about it? Not remorseful, let's not get that mixed up with what I'm trying to say. If I were to feel remorse, I wouldn't be doing it. It's a feeling I cannot put into words. It's the feeling that you acknowledge you took a life, your decision was made, you are honored, humbled, and grateful for the opportunity. You count your lucky stars, you thank the creator and you enjoy the memory of what was and what will be. His/her life ended, usually it was short. They don't know that. We do. No fault of ours, just the nature of it. I'm big into the experience more than the result. I put in the work, I was granted the opportunity. It's just the emotional and spiritual attachment to it all has grown in a way that makes me think about it more. It's a beautiful thing. And one we should never take for granted. I will hunt and will continue to chase this high I have always had. When it stops. My heart will probably go with it.

Well stated. At 30, I think you have analyzed your feelings about hunting much earlier than a lot of folks your age from what I have seen.  I commend you for that.  It is my belief that no one truly becomes a hunter until they have gone through the very process that you describe...that is, of "internalizing" hunting and contemplating all of the emotions involved...as well as the realizing the "finality" of our actions to the animals we hunt.

[Lcmacd 58]

I personally feel that most of us have these same feeling as we start hunting and as we progress through all the different stages or emotions.  I'm 66 and have hunted and fished since I was very young and I believe as you get even older you will have more stages. Its a very fulfilling progression and there will be alot if memories made. Enjoy the trip.

[The Lung]

At one point I volunteered for a youth hunting organization that took kids on their first hunt. We taught then about so much more than killing a deer. We went over woodsmanship, ethics, marksmanship, camping, and many other skills.

I asked one youngster right after walking up on his freshly killed deer how he felt.
I could tell by the look on his face he was having trouble responding.
I asked, "Do you feel happy, sad, proud, guilty?
He said "Kinda all of that at the same time"

 " That's how you're supposed to feel."
I never forgot that

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[Sixes]

I've always thought that there are people that take up hunting and hunters that are born to do it. I've always felt that I was born to hunt and the need to be outdoors started with a BB gun at a very young age.

I think hunters that are born to do it feel a strong urge to be a predator and a passion to pursue game, there is a constant need to improve your skills and constant thoughts of how to succeed and what needs to be done to be in the woods all the time.

I can hunt deer from early September to January 31st and never get burnt out on going and miss it the day the season goes out.

Same with turkeys, from start of the season until tags are punched or the season goes out.

I've found it interesting to see the hunting "gene" not be in the same families. For Example, I have a first cousin that never cared for hunting when he was young (hunts a little now). He now has 2 sons and one of them has the gene and started at a young age wanting to hunt and he is now eat up with it and has become a very good deer and turkey hunter, his brother doesn't hunt.

I know a lot of people that hunt but very few born hunters. ( I hope that makes sense)

[dah]

Brinks , you described it accurately , you don't need to be enlightened , just find your way to deal with it and all the other emotions to come , some good , some puzzling . I am 68 and still evolving , cant shoot at all like I used to , can on paper but not at something alive . Had the biggest deer by far of my life broadside standing at 60 yards last year with gun to bear on a rest , stood for almost a minute . Lowered the gun and watched it walk away , hour later killed a deer probably half its size . Cant explain . Enjoy the hunt and the beauty that surrounds us . Thanks to the creator.