Do you feel guilty after pulling the trigger?

[Ridgerunner]

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.

Well said, I've had a little bit of the same feelings as well.  Not thinking of taking a break, but just focusing on the hunts I really want to do, kind of a quality over quantity thing.  Also enjoy helping others with their OIL opportunities, and very soon it'll be hleping my kids.  Getting to be less about me and more about others.  For me things started to change when I started to hit some hunting goals that I had, maybe its I feel I have less to prove to myself, who knows.  That being said I've still got the fever and desire, its just changing.   Nothing better than looking at antlers on the wall or mounts and getting those memories come flooding back from great times in the field.

Good thread.

[kodiak 907]

I have felt this on some brown bear hunts. Such amazing creatures to see and pursue, after a few successful hunts I would rather just observe these awesome animals while deer hunting.


Good thread noob

[Old Man Yager]

I wouldn't say I've ever felt guilty, maybe a little bit of remorse knowing I took an animals life. But I always give thanks to God for putting me in the right place at the right time.

[blackveltbowhunter]

If I feel uncertain or "guilty" before I pull the trigger I wont pull it. But once I know I have killed, respect and elation are the only feelings I have.

As I have gotten older though I find that marksmanship is just as important to me as size.

[fish vacuum]

I don't feel remorse, but my drive/need to kill an animal has been reduced.

Me too. And I've been thinking about it a lot since the season ended. I won't get to much into the dynamics of my own hunting, but I've just recently looked into multi season permits. Extending my season so I don't feel pressured to hunt in a short window might help my attitude.

[JakeLand]

No remorse just recoil. Me shooting a animal is a lot less brutal then what could happen.i do give a moment of silence then thanking all the above for this harvest and I think the biggest thing you can do to honor this animal is  to not waste it and enjoy every bite of it

[DoubleJ]

You're not alone

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,83731.msg1043278.html#msg1043278

[pd]

WaNoob, this is a very interesting thread.  You would not know this, but many of those who have responded are the most responsible and respected members on this forum (not including myself in that group, of course).

Question: Is it too easy for you?

That is, if you are Alaska-raised, and have been hunting for all of your life, perhaps you are so good at it, your success rate is far above average.  What about upping the odds in favor of your prey?  Traditional archery, home-made arrows, moccasins, etc.  I wonder if you would feel the same if suddenly your odds went way down, and only connected once every several years. 

I would really like to hear your comments on that.

[Dan-o]

I used to feel some remorse.....   mostly when I was young and way too desperate to kill something.

I'm older now, and I won't take a risky shot.....   (Yes, a less than perfect shot is still possible.).

Now, I am very selective about the shot.   It really is all about respect now.

[KFhunter]

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.

Switch from a gun to a camera and buy local farm raised meat.  Eventually after photographing a few nice bucks you might come across one that'll speak to you and something might "click" and you'll stalk that one animal and no others.  Or, you'll just have fun getting out photoing animals and we'll enjoy the pics on HW 

[Karl Blanchard]

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.

Switch from a gun to a camera and buy local farm raised meat.  Eventually after photographing a few nice bucks you might come across one that'll speak to you and something might "click" and you'll stalk that one animal and no others.  Or, you'll just have fun getting out photoing animals and we'll enjoy the pics on HW 

This is not a bad option!  You've got a bunch of horn porn addicts around here

[Little Fish]

No. Death by a bullet or an arrow is far better than death by mother nature.

[ghosthunter]

I feel nothing.
I don't need to kill, I am happy to be out hunting. But if I have the chance at a good shot I take it.
For me I enjoy the whole process, buying. Gear, setting up,planing,and killing when it happens.
Not just animals but when people I know die I am indiffernt to death. Most the time.
I cried when my first. Lab died, when my parents died.
But most the time I feel little. I veiw death as a part of life, we are all going there in time.

Most the time on big game I will walk up and shoot them in the head again just to make sure.
But I have no regrets .

I would regret if a animal where wasted though. I take excellent care of my taken game.
I have noticed some older hunter who have taken a lot not being has interested and passing on some animals.

[Romulus1297]

One time when a buck gave me scope eye.

[2labs]

Only if I bogart the loin!