Do you feel guilty after pulling the trigger?

[WAnoob]

I've been big game hunting since I was roughly twelve, the majority of my shots have been clean and ethical to what I could control and I have never lost an animal.  The older I get the more pre-remorse I have about pulling the trigger when hunting.  I have not killed anything since 2010 when I went moose hunting and I only felt a little remorse.  I went Blacktail hunting last month a few times and never connected, I enjoy being out in the woods every time I go but this time was weird.  Almost every time I went out I almost was wishing I wouldn't see a buck so I wouldn't have to pull the trigger.  Anyone ever feel the same way about hunting?

I am not a trophy hunter, I will gladly take a nice animal if given the option, but I am a meat hunter first and foremost and I like the idea of knowing where my meat comes from.

Anyone have any tips to avoid these remorse jitters?

The only thing that may come to mind is my dad has been my hunting partner since I was little and taught me everything I knew in Alaska, as he got older he moved to warmer climate in TN and I have not been hunting with him since.

I wonder at times if I need to try something else or take a break with a new hobby to come back refreshed.  But I thought a few year break would have been good enough.

[kentrek]

I mostly feel remorse when things don't go as planned and an animal suffers

If we don't end it's life what will ?? The answer is far more cruel...it's not rite or wrong it just is..thats nature

If I was a game species..the best I could hope for is a long life thats ended swiftly while in my prime, by a well placed arrow or bullet

[2MANY]

I feel guilty reading this.

Sounds personal.

[Stein]

Yes, I am not happy to kill and I don't enjoy the killing part.  It is one of those things, you can't have life without death.  We only have three options 1) become vegetarian, 2) pay someone to do it, or 3) do it yourself.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I have noticed I have been feeling guilty after killing an animal more often these days.  There is nothing fun about taking a life.  I just have a harder time now with watching some majestic animal that has survived so long only to be snuffed out in an instant by me.  I have been contemplating taking a break from it, but I worry about missing out on the opportunities I am blessed with now. I don't want to be 50 and regretting not hunting more when I could hunt like I wanted to as a younger man. 

[HUNTaHOLIC5]

Maybe take up videoing and taking pictures of wildlife until you feel different about it.

[WAnoob]

Maybe take up videoing and taking pictures of wildlife until you feel different about it.

Funny you should say that! My dad was a professional wildlife photographer in Alaska and we would always go off the road in Denali National Park for moose (when it was allowed) and a trip to McNeil River for bear viewing.  I started out taking pictures with him then I switched to hunting, maybe I need to reset the cycle

I am thinking long and hard of pursuing bow hunting so I can find another form of hunting to spark my interest again.

[Southpole]

I think those feelings come with age. I've noticed a hand full of guys, I've know over the years, getting more "soft" about shooting animals. These same guys were killing machines back in the day and would have never thought twice about shooting animals. Like I said, I think some of it has some to do with age and maturity.

[runamuk]

Well I am female and haven't yet killed anything and do know it will be an emotional thing for me.  But guilt is not one of the emotions I will feel.  I am an omnivore I eat meat, and meat is the flesh of another being so for me to eat, animals must die its just how it works.  But killing a living thing should produce some sort of emotions if it doesn't I find that far scarier.

[Encore 280]

Good thread. I'm not always successful every hunting season but I look forward to it each year and getting out. When I'm hunting to me it's a challenging game of chess. When it's time for checkmate and I win that's when I feel bad and when the dirty deed is done I give thanks to the animal and the Big Guy upstairs. It gets a little harder each year I grow a year older and get a little softer inside. At dinner time after a successful season I always have to have a glass of Merlot with venison and I give thanks to my Mom and Dad for teaching me how to hunt and thanks to the animal. Sounds kinda dumb but that's what I do and I feel better.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I don't feel remorse, but my drive/need to kill an animal has been reduced.  I find it much easier as I age to not take a shot that isn't perfect, and I feel remorse when I take a shot that isn't perfect - a miss to me is the same as a gut shot and lost animal.  I find I pass many more opportunities, not out of remorse, but because I'm reluctant to take any shot that isn't an absolute chip shot.  My screen name represents my highest value in hunting - two punched lungs. 

[pilebuck]

I have felt bad if a clean kill didn't happen.Or that I lost a wounded animal I respect the animal taken by my rifle better than a animal getting took out by wolfs or cougars what a way to suffer. But like said I think tease feelings become more as we age I think we see more death as we age and start thinking about our own life's more closer maybe. But th most thing is respect that animal taken treat it like u would want to be treated. I have known lots of guys don't even shoot grouse anymore just watch them walk away. I let limits go this year just said lucky bird you better smarten up loll..... but the waste and poaching I've seen really makes me feel bad for the animal just can't understand a person to shoot a deer or elk and cut the horns or just take the backstrap and leave the rest to rot boils my blood

[pianoman9701]

I've been feeling remorse the last few years...about my crappy results!

It sounds like your personal likes are changing regarding hunting. I like the ideas about replacing the shooting with some form of photography. 

[CaNINE]

I think the emotions you are feeling post kill are common and simply show that you have a deep respect and appreciation for the animals you hunt.  I don't feel remorse but there is a moment of sadness in having taken a life.  My primary reason for hunting is to get meat for my family and myself.  It may sound silly to some, but I always thank the animal for giving it's life and thank God for granting me the opportunity to kill the animal.  I then get my hands dirty and move on.  I think if you do your best to make a clean kill, use the animal by removing as much meat as you can and treat the meat properly to prevent spoilage and consume it before it goes bad then there is nothing to feel remorseful for.  Arise, Kill and Eat.  Acts 11:7

[Karl Blanchard]

I guess I'm a bit different because the sound of an arrow hitting rib cage or the SMACK of a bullet when it hits is one of the sweetest sounds there is.  Not sure why, maybe because it signals success?  I don't read too deep into it I guess.  Like Kenetrek said, if not killed swiftly by man, starvation or being eaten bum first by a predator, or a combination of the two is the only other alternative.  I eat meat and deer and elk are made of meat.  We are very matter of fact in our house about that.  Kids know where it comes from and how we go about getting it.  Don't get me wrong, I have immense respect for the game that I pursue,  but at the end of the day, I'm heading afield with a goal, and that goal is to kill an animal, and I am a motivated individual who doesn't like to fall short of a set goal.  I'm sure over time this will change to some degree but I can't imagine the drive ever going away.  I've also always said, if I never pulled the trigger again but got to go on lots of good hunts every year, and continue to mentor youth hunters and help seniors, I would be fine with that too.