Well, here's one to ponder for you seasoned hunters.
I have an unending YEARNING to hunt. To scout, track, learn, explore, play the big chess game with the animals I hunt. I have to. I enjoy when the hard work pays off, the gods kick in a bit of mojo, and I get to take my well practiced shot. I love to accept the personal struggle of gutting, skinning, dragging out game in exchange for my well placed shot.
But MAN, call me a wussbag. I was looking today at a buck I took years ago , and couldn't help but wonder about his life before I ended it. What did HE learn? What battles did he fight and win? From button buck to his massiveness when I took him....no one will ever know. It all happened without anyone seeing it. What would he have endured if I hadn't taken him?
I'm proud to have taken every animal that I have with the recurve. Black bears, whitetails, bull and cow elk, bison, wild boar, rabbit, pheasant, grouse, beaver, red stag, raccoon, fox, squirrels, etc. etc.
But I have a sadness that hits me with every kill. Bison to squirrel, they had their struggles in life that no one knows about, and I respect that so damn much. It hasn't stopped me from loosing an arrow yet, but it is always in my mind.
Even years later looking back on different hunts, I smile, I relish the fond memories but feel sadness also.
Such a strange thing we hunters are a part of. The animals feel no remorse upon their kills or dominance won. Hyenas feeding on a LIVE cape buffalo stuck in the mud from the butt end forward, is a good example. But as humans we( some of us anyway) suffer slightly inside when we take a life. But we have a burning desire to attempt nothing less again and again.
Not looking for answers, just my thoughts this afternoon.
We are a very lucky bunch to get to hunt for enjoyment as well as food, instead of hunting for sheer survival like the critters we pursue.
I need to go sit in front of a good fire for awhile, I'm one lucky SOB.
Yup, I get sad. Sad that I no longer have an open tag.
Heh, yeah that too!
I feel that sadness sometimes as well. espically right after the harvest.
If it don't bother you, then something's wrong. And the older I get the more I think about it. But it don't stop me from hunting, oh well.
I have some of that sadness when I kill. The kill causes me to realize I've ended the life of an animal who had a life of freedom that I can only dream about. The sense of accomplishment is accompanied by sadness of a free and wild life ended.
I am not sad, so much as feel the hole I have put in the ecosystem. I know the animal will be replaced, but each one has its place, and I have taken it out of the circle.
We are a very lucky bunch to get to hunt for enjoyment as well as food, instead of hunting for sheer survival like the critters we pursue.
My thoughts exactly sir! :)
David, I think everyone feels it. I've know people that started hunting with a camera because of it. I think it shows the respect we have for the animals we hunt.
Travis
The same goes here and then I go into a depression because the hunt is over.
It's always the chase that drives me not the kill.
Whether "wuss-like" or not, killing is usually, when I do it with my own "hands", a solemn thing. It was no different when I was 16 or now that I'm 57.
I love most aspects of the hunt, especially the preparation and the moments immediately before the shot. As cliche as it sounds, I kill to have hunted -- not every hunt but every season.
I tried hard-core trophy hunting in the early 1980's. I found that I was slowly losing the joy of hunting because the liklihood of my taking a shot was very remote (in fact, I didn't shoot an arrow for two entire seasons--passed up 110 bow-range opportunities).
I find making correct decions and executing my practiced skills in a way that brings a quick kill, is a profound responsibility. In fact, that "fear" of messing up is what I think "buck fever" is for me. It's not missing the animal, spooking it, etc. it's the real possibility, no matter how competent I am, that things will go badly.
I don't attribute human emotions or characteristics to the animals I hunt. I know there is a huge difference in me and the deer, etc. I pursue. However, my duty is to be a proper steward of creation and I take that role seriously.
All things will die. To die from a hunter's arrow is one of the quickest ways this can happen for our prey.
When I see someone "cuss" or claim "victory" over the animal they've shot, it bothers me greatly. However, I know it is just a sign of immaturity for most.
http://www.youtube.com/user/W8N4FALL?feature=mhum#p/u/24/RyGKf9x-ia8
It just says you have an appreciation of life.
One does not hunt in order to kill; on the contrary, one kills in order to have hunted.
by Jose Ortega Y Gasset
what you expressed in your post comes from wisdom, david; and respect. and i respect you for saying it.
im never said for killing the animal im after. Im out thier to take it and im happy when i do. i enjoy its meat and use what ever i find a use for.
only time ill feel bad is if i injured it and it suffered for a long time
That twinge of remorse just means you are a normal person. I've looked over my mounts and photos occasionally and have had the same thoughts as you. Why did I hunt these wonderful animals? To immerse myself into their world and learn their ways and then harvest one to feed my family. I tanned their hides and mounted their antlers so I could honor them and relive those days. Even the remorse.
Heck, I could have gone to the grocery store and bought some meat and rubbed elbows with the remorseless masses who want their meat to be bloodless.
I have some saddes,I've ended the life of an animal.When I no longer fill sadden I will become a killer not a hunter.
I know how you feel .
I hunt even more now ... but drop the string less.
QuoteOriginally posted by The Whittler:
If it don't bother you, then something's wrong. And the older I get the more I think about it. But it don't stop me from hunting, oh well.
Really? Come on, man, thats pretty presumptious. I don't think any different after a harvest while hunting than I do after killing and butchering chickens out of the yard. This means that somethings wrong with me?
I think if more of us felt a little remorse it would be good. I've had those feelings from the first deer I shot 21 years ago and while I still get it, I have no regrets nor do I need to make excuses. Hunted wild game is the ultimate "organic" meat.
I gotta be real honest. I have never felt sad after killing something. Never remorse. I'm almost always thrilled and thankful and fulfilled. But not sad. I don't believe that means there is "something wrong" with me or that I am not "normal" or that I am "a killer not a hunter".
There are many paths out there and destinations are arrived at from many points. Absolutes are uncomfortable. Labels are almost universally inaccurate.
Sure. A deer is a magnificient creature and there is regret in it's death. But I do my best to make it quick and clean. I thank God and apologize to the deer.
I caught a mouse tonight in the garage that was still alive but barely. Even though I have no love for mice I said "sorry, guy" and ended his suffering. Didn't stop me from resetting the trap.
We have raised meat goats (Boers). They are nearly as smart as dogs and as personable, and when it's time to take that last ride I feel kind of miserable - but that's their lot in life and I treated them well up 'till then. Though I admit I spend a lot of time watching them and imagining where the arrow should go. ;-)
Bowhunting isn't catch-and-release. I love and admire whitetail - but as preditor they are prey. Respected prey.
The worst part about hunting is the death of the animal. However, it is a good thing, because we need, and our children need, to be aware of what it costs for us all to have meat on the table. Those of you who grew up on farms don't normally have to be reminded. However, we all need to be reminded from time to time that creatures, along w/ all creation, are a stewardship committed to us by God. For that reason we should always be respectful.
Bowwild said it for me very well in his first sentence. I kill to have hunted or I would carry a camera. I always feel a bit sad for the life I have just taken. I have the utmost respect for the animals I hunt and owe them that much! Shawn
I've never felt truly sad, on the hoof or on my plate it is how it should be. Mostly I feel relieved and happy it ended quickly and I have a pile of meat that is as healthy and clean as there ever was.
In fact I feel more saddened by buying grocery store "proxy killed" meat...
Never felt sadness or a bit of remorse after a clean kill. If I did, I would not do it. However, I would also never judge those feeling differently to not be normal or to be wrong as some seem to need to claim everytime this topic is brought up. It's a personal reaction that is neither right or wrong.
I have never felt sadness after killing an animal. I'm sure I'm not normal (my kids let me know that all the time) but it has nothing to do with the fact that I feel no remorse after a kill. If so I'd be crying every night while slicing into a bacon wrapped grilled piece of elk backstrap or ripping a delicious lightly breaded and fried quail breast from the bone. I have always felt that hunting and killing game gives man a deep respect for life. But why should we be sad to kill and eat God's creatures He has given us for nourishment? I don't get it!
Mike
I always have a touch of sadness no matter the animal, especially if it is an animal that has busted me before, the smarter and wilier they are the more I respect them.
Call it what you will sadness, respect, appreciation, whatever that feeling is, as I said to someone recently that the day I feel nothing after a kill is the day I will give up hunting.
In my opinion, there is a difference between a little sadness, and regret.
I think it is normal to feel a little sadness after ending a creature's life. Having a sense of recognition that something has taken it's last breath because of your direct actions, is something we all feel, JUST IN VARYING DEGREES. I believe this is true whether shooting a deer with stickbow, or butchering a chicken. I think these feelings go away after a time has passed.
But feeling a sense of regret is not something we all feel when we hunt. Unless if we were to kill something the wrong way. Or did something that conflicts with our inner concience. Regret is something that stays with you. If I felt regret over killing something while hunting, I would stop hunting. JUST MY HUMBLE OPINION
Yea I feel kind of bad when I kill something,thats part of the reason I use traditional equiptment,I want to give the animal as much of a chance as possible and still be hunting.
I no-longer gun hunt and gave up my compound over 20 years ago,I dont think they give animals a fair chance.
everybody's different, and that's probably a good thing.
i find no sadness or remorse in killing an animal. it is a human birthright, part of our dna to survive, just as it is within the animal community.
and so, i respect the critter. it's demise is all part of the circle of life.
to think otherwise, to ponder philosophical, is the curse of humanity i s'pose.
when a hawk kills and eats a squirrel, there is no sadness or remorse that the bird feels, only a full stomach and continued life.
so be it with humans, for we need sustenance to continue our lives and ingesting animal protein is a necessary part of our circle of life - whether butchered slaughterhouse beef acquired over the counter at the supermart or wild venison from afield with a well placed sharp broadhead.
This is all very touching. We have finally gotten in touch with our feminine side. :help:
I would like to add to this after reading Rob's post above. That was refreshing. There are posts going on on about every hunting forum about the use of harvest or kill, being sad, etc, etc... Myself I find this disturbing. We are doing nothing wrong by hunting and killing animals if we are obeying the laws of the land and there is nothing to be sad about.
I think you captured the truest emotions of hunting with your description. Very well said.
Yea I dont understand why having respect for animals we hunt and kill makes us less of a man.
I dont think anybody is saying that there is somthing wrong with killing an animal only that they feel that the animal they just killed is no longer out there to hunt,I have no problems killing animals,I have killed over 50 Whitetail bucks but I still feel a-little sadness everytime I kill one, I dont think it makes me less of a man.There are other guys that can play the macho role.
It s encouraging to hear so many "get it".
When taking another life has no meaning, what does that say about us?
I will always be a hunter and love to hunt. But I always have felt I had better honor what I have taken.
It took some killing for me to arrive at that realization. I was young at the time, but I was fortunate to have a good mentor (Dad) who did not treat killing like a game.
It was part of his larger philosophy to give value to the animals we hunted, rather than relegating them to mere objects for our pleasure only. My Dad never made a big deal about it, but by his actions lent meaning to the event.
He certainly never dismissed a mans having feelings as feminine. Nor having the ability to ponder philosophical questions a curse.
Joshua
Edit: I sound have added I agree with Rob's point about us all being different ie,
Its all good.
I SECOND WHAT ROB,AND HEYDEERMAN,WROTE...ALSO, THE TOPIC THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IS CLEARLY DESCRIBED IN ,PRIMAL DREAMS....
I can't imagine anyone not feeling a bit of remorse in taking the life of one of God's creatures. If a person takes delight in inflicting pain on anything I would suggest that they seek counciling. We have received a valuable gift from God,that being his creation. And since Adam have been put in a position of stewardship over the creatures of the earth. These animals are to be used by man for food and warmth and adornment which glorifys God. There is nothing wrong with our hunting them for the proper reasons,and certainly nothing wrong for having a sensitivity toward their suffering. Thats why we work so hard at getting and making ethical shots. We do need to be careful though in regards to the animals and not place them in a higher place of standing then where God created them to be. That is the main problem with the animal rights people,they want to worship the created instead of the creator. Thats backwards and wrong in every respect.
bowtough,I agree with you 100%,
If you didn't feel some remorse for the taking of a life, then you would have the character to belong to a group like this one.
I too feel remorse, however, I thank the Lord for providing me with the animal to harvest, and the skill to do it.
Thanks for sharing your feelings.
Well said bowtough.
QuoteOriginally posted by bowtough:
I can't imagine anyone not feeling a bit of remorse in taking the life of one of God's creatures. If a person takes delight in inflicting pain on anything I would suggest that they seek counciling. We have received a valuable gift from God,that being his creation. And since Adam have been put in a position of stewardship over the creatures of the earth. These animals are to be used by man for food and warmth and adornment which glorifys God. There is nothing wrong with our hunting them for the proper reasons,and certainly nothing wrong for having a sensitivity toward their suffering. Thats why we work so hard at getting and making ethical shots. We do need to be careful though in regards to the animals and not place them in a higher place of standing then where God created them to be. That is the main problem with the animal rights people,they want to worship the created instead of the creator. Thats backwards and wrong in every respect.
i don't pretend to know the meaning of life, but i do know what it takes to continue life.
when i take a life, i give thanx to its spirit that it was there for me to harvest, that it gave itself to me in order that i and mankind may continue, at its expense.
i respect what i kill. i make solid efforts to hunt with my personal understanding of both ethics and fair chase.
there is no remorse or sadness, there is only the circle of life, and both the hunter and hunted are eternally enmeshed in that drama.
there is no good or bad, there is only who we are, where we came from, where we are going. no more or less.
if one feels some form of anguish or animal empathy in the act of killing animals to eat, one should think seriously about not participating.
if one feels disturbed in any way about consuming animal products, one might find relief by becoming a vegan. better that than to despise hunting and yet hypocritically consume slaughter house animals.
we all have choices.
JHB hit it on the head!! As far as my feminine side well we can discuss that anothor time, hopefully in person!! There is a huge difference between us and the hawk that just killed a squirrel or another bird, we as humans have the knowledge and understanding of what it means to take a life in whatever form. I have no problem killing have done more than most people ever will, but for one to say we should not feel something for that animal, well that is your right, but "it doesn't make it right!" Good discussion, makes me think about my fellow hunters and see some in a new light. Shawn
Im about as sad when I kill as a wolf is when he kills. With that said, I dont take my killing lightly.An animal did lose its life at my hands against its will, I dont believe that they gift it to me when Im worthy. Its just the way it is for me and the animal, it was meant to be since both of our births.And I do think about every second of the animals life and the challenges its mother, herd, father, flock or whatever persevered to get it up to the second where it lost its life to me and I respect all of that more than I could ever put into words.
I dont hold sadness against anyone, I certainly dont call it a feminine side, I even respect it as I believe its important to be conscious of the seriousness of killing and be aware of how you feel about it. Its just not where I am right now, perhaps further down the trail Ill feel remorse.
The sadness or remorse is a sign of your respect for life.
And not wanting that feeling is a good reason to decide not to hunt. We're all different.
If we were all killing to SURVIVE I bet there would be less remorse. Maybe not totally gone ..but less.
Personally I believe that a person that feels no remorse,sorrow or other similar emotion when killing either hasn't fully considered what just happened or is " a little off"
Each person is different as to how they feel upon killing an animal. I feel something, but I don't know if remorse or guilt is the correct terminology for it. I do respect the animal and try to demonstrate that thruout the entire process.
I think that we as humans, who have a soul or self, sometimes try to equate that to animals. May be part of our curse of being a higher being. Animals don't "suffer" as we know it. They can't sit back and think "This is the worst I have felt", as they don't have a soul or self. We can do that, we can analyze our situation and therefore, we can suffer. An animal either feels pain or no pain, nothing more, nothing less. As humans, it's our job to be good stewards over what God has given us. Hunting and all that entails, leading up to a quick, clean kill is part of stewardship. God willing, I hope to be a steward for many more years to come.
Humans have the ability to empathize with other living beings, human or otherwise. It's one of the things that makes us human. What you are feeling is respect for the animal.
I'm not sure I feel sadness when I kill an animal, but I am at a loss to come up with a better word. I enjoy all aspects of hunting, but I don't actually enjoy watching them die. The transition from alive to dead is something I have never liked to witness, but it is a part of the process and to ignore it would be like burying your head in the sand. Whatever I am killing, whether it's shooting a sick horse, shooting the coyote that comes into the yard, or the woodchuck digging under the foundation, or trapping the mouse in the basement, I want to end its life as quickly and cleanly as possible. I hate to see things suffer, even as I am trying to kill them.
It's complicated and difficult to describe, but it's part of life. Things die so others can live. Every deer or game animal we kill means one less animal in a factory farm. The deer living a natural life, and then receiving a quick death from a responsible hunter, is about as good a death as a wild animal can expect. The natural ways they die are usually a lot less quick and clean.
The fact that we are aware of our own mortality means we are also aware of others, both human and non-human. This is a good thing IMO.
i guess thats why GOD made us the altimate predator? because we are the only predator with a conscious. we can kill every animal we see without a blink of the eye or we can be conservationists and continue to hunt but give back more than we take. By the way it isnt wrong to feel sad you are human
QuoteOriginally posted by John Scifres:
I gotta be real honest. I have never felt sad after killing something. Never remorse. I'm almost always thrilled and thankful and fulfilled. But not sad. I don't believe that means there is "something wrong" with me or that I am not "normal" or that I am "a killer not a hunter".
There are many paths out there and destinations are arrived at from many points. Absolutes are uncomfortable. Labels are almost universally inaccurate.
My words exactly!! No remorse, just joy.
God Bless,
Nathan
What I am about to say is my own personal opinion on this subject. I am a believer in Christ and I believe men are stewards of the earth. The animals were created for man in the beginning. After the flood they were given to eat. They are food. Conservation is being a good steward of the earth. Not over killing and obeying the laws of the land are part of that.
I killed 2 deer this past season with a bow and arrow. I felt elated with both kills. I shot my bow on any and every occasion during the off season to be accurate. I scouted, picked stand locations, and prepared everything I could for the shot. All that payed off. I beat those deer on their home turf. Not an easy task and I had good reason to be not sad. I see some of the guys with kill pics in their avatars on this thread and they don't look sad either.
Wounding animals is a sad thing but it is also inevitable and if you hunt long enough you will put a non lethal hit on an animal. You will have to deal with that in your own way. That has caused some to give up hunting altogether.
I make no bones or try to candy coat what I do. I do not harvest. I am not a farmer, I am a hunter. I kill. If you hunt that's what you do.
Now Jim my friend,that is well said. :thumbsup:
I only hunt animals that I will eat. I have felt for the animal and admit in the off season, when I go out stump shooting with my bow I really enjoy seeing deer, rabbits, etc out in the woods.
Here are my thoughts on this subject, My first reaction to shooting an animal is a highly elevated state of excitement (adrenaline rush). I then go into the state of I hope my shot was good enough and that the animal is not suffering. Once the tracking job is over and my quarry is in my hands my emotions turn to a state of remorse. I believe I feel this way because I know I have to do my part in the conservation of the animals but at the same time I have such a high respect and admiration for the animals and I know that the animal I just put down will never be seen again in it's natural environment. Anyone that hunts with me, Which is a very few people, know that I have to find the animals by myself and drag them out by myself. This sounds stupid but I feel this is my time to spend with the animal and pay my respects. I also say Thank You to them after the harvest. After this I am back to the excited phase and take pictures for my scrap book which I keep a picture of every animal harvested. This is so that when I get older I can look back and remember the day like it just happened. Just my two cents
Since I started this, I'd like to just get in a couple points that some guys aren't quite picking up. I think most guys get what I'm saying.
Number one, I dont want or choose to feel sad. I just do. Not fall on the ground crying my eyes out sad, just a feeling in the old gut. But I'm not saying I wish I wasn't sad either. Its how I am, take it or leave it.
Number two, I don't expect anyone else to feel it just because I do. If you do you do, if not then you don't. Never judged anybody, there is some "defense" stuff going on. Chill out boys, no big deal. I was just speaking my mind to the masses after admiring one of my deer from years ago.
No need to fight about it.