Free: Contests & Raffles.
Quote from: Hilltop123 on November 14, 2015, 07:06:28 AMQuote from: Southpole on November 14, 2015, 06:43:55 AMQuote from: Hilltop123 on November 14, 2015, 06:35:13 AMI find this to be a very interesting topic, thanks for bringing it up! As a young hunter, my blood lust was very high, I just had to punch my tag. Now that I'm older, the punching of the tag has less importance.When I was younger, I had something to prove to others and a family to feed. Now that I'm older I don't feel the need to prove anything to anyone, plus it's just me and the wife now, we raise beef now so the venison is not quite as important. It would have been interesting to know the age of all the folks that posted to this thread, I bet we would see as one gets older, these feelings start creeping in. And yes I do at times feel hesitant at times, before the shot. But that feeling usually doesn't last long..... The gentleman I know were changing around their 50's.Makes sense, I'm 48.Used to be, in the advanced hunter study material. A small book, I don't remember the author or the title, but it had to do with the 5 stages of a hunter.The author roughly said, as we age our outlook and goals of the hunt change. I found it to be one of the more interesting pieces of material, in the study packet. Maybe someone on here has more information on the book, I would not mind reading it again.I don't know the study material, but sounds like you are describing Jim Posewitz's Beyond Fair Chase. A great read for anyone who hunts.
Quote from: Southpole on November 14, 2015, 06:43:55 AMQuote from: Hilltop123 on November 14, 2015, 06:35:13 AMI find this to be a very interesting topic, thanks for bringing it up! As a young hunter, my blood lust was very high, I just had to punch my tag. Now that I'm older, the punching of the tag has less importance.When I was younger, I had something to prove to others and a family to feed. Now that I'm older I don't feel the need to prove anything to anyone, plus it's just me and the wife now, we raise beef now so the venison is not quite as important. It would have been interesting to know the age of all the folks that posted to this thread, I bet we would see as one gets older, these feelings start creeping in. And yes I do at times feel hesitant at times, before the shot. But that feeling usually doesn't last long..... The gentleman I know were changing around their 50's.Makes sense, I'm 48.Used to be, in the advanced hunter study material. A small book, I don't remember the author or the title, but it had to do with the 5 stages of a hunter.The author roughly said, as we age our outlook and goals of the hunt change. I found it to be one of the more interesting pieces of material, in the study packet. Maybe someone on here has more information on the book, I would not mind reading it again.
Quote from: Hilltop123 on November 14, 2015, 06:35:13 AMI find this to be a very interesting topic, thanks for bringing it up! As a young hunter, my blood lust was very high, I just had to punch my tag. Now that I'm older, the punching of the tag has less importance.When I was younger, I had something to prove to others and a family to feed. Now that I'm older I don't feel the need to prove anything to anyone, plus it's just me and the wife now, we raise beef now so the venison is not quite as important. It would have been interesting to know the age of all the folks that posted to this thread, I bet we would see as one gets older, these feelings start creeping in. And yes I do at times feel hesitant at times, before the shot. But that feeling usually doesn't last long..... The gentleman I know were changing around their 50's.
I find this to be a very interesting topic, thanks for bringing it up! As a young hunter, my blood lust was very high, I just had to punch my tag. Now that I'm older, the punching of the tag has less importance.When I was younger, I had something to prove to others and a family to feed. Now that I'm older I don't feel the need to prove anything to anyone, plus it's just me and the wife now, we raise beef now so the venison is not quite as important. It would have been interesting to know the age of all the folks that posted to this thread, I bet we would see as one gets older, these feelings start creeping in. And yes I do at times feel hesitant at times, before the shot. But that feeling usually doesn't last long.....
Interesting variety of feelings on this.I have no problem killing, and I do a fair amount of it. But, I will say the the first time in my life I can't seem to get excited about deer hunting in 2 days. I've never killed a big game animal in the state with anything but a bow and have been successful deer hunting for 10-15 years straight? I love to play guide and take my kids etc, but I find myself not appreciating a good buck as much as I once did. I've taken some good bucks, but as I look ahead, I think, "I could kill another and I can add to the others I've taken, but if I let him pass, that particular buck may be the buck of a young ones lifetime that would mean the world to them". I'm still not sure if I am going to hunt. I take some photos and enjoy it, I've scouted around and seen some good bucks but don't know if I'll go unless I can find that one that may be my last. Again, not sure. It's an odd feeling, but it's real. I think I'd rather help others as I've killed enough. Or, I'm thinking of going after cougar, something new to learn.
I was just asked by a group of non-hunter woman about my hunting experiences.. It got me thinking.. They asked if I "enjoyed" killing animals.. Really made me think... I definitely enjoy eating them! I love camping and hiking around and just seeing wild animals out doing there wild animal things.. As far as Killing? I told them that I really like animals and no, I don't "enjoy" the actual killing of another life. I don't feel guilty as I know I'm going to eat said animal, as are my friends and family. They all appreciate me going out and doing the work to get them fresh healthy meat. I enjoy every aspect of the hunt from planning to eating my tag at the end of the year. So I guess I don't feel "guilt" or "remorse" I just don't really like the fact that I killed something. I don't not like it enough to ever stop though.. Unlike a lot of you I can count all my big game kills on two hands so maybe I just haven't killed enough to get bored or need that change or second guess shooting any legal animal. I'm a carnivore and an apex predator I know what that means and I'm okay with that! It was cool though to explain myself and hunting to this group of women. In the end they were all very understanding and accepting of my choice to hunt for my own food.
