Freezer is full (well, almost) and with a slightly heavy heart

[kckrawler]

I have always referred to this as a "hunters heart".

Well put! 

[Huntboy]

You guys are right on the money. It's respect for the animal. If I ever loose that feeling, I'll stop hunting.

[deerslyr]

I have had the same feeling with all of my animals. My first and only bow kill it seemed more personal to me though and really cut deep

[baldopepper]

I've taken a lot of game animals over the years (been hunting for 50 years) and I've always felt that remorse after the initial excitment of the kill.  I'm to the point now where the "blood lust" is gone, I still love to hunt and feel the thrill of "taking" the animal, but have lately been thinking it would be fun just to have a good paint cartridge that would splatter the animal without killing it.  Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely not anti hunting or anti taking the animal for the freezer, it's just a personal thing where I still love the persuit , but don't need the actual kill.  I think sometimes anti hunters don't understand how much "good" hunters actually love and respect the animals we hunt.  Hard to explain the concept to them.

[Huntbear]

You guys are right on the money. It's respect for the animal. If I ever loose that feeling, I'll stop hunting.

 

Could not have said it better! 

Awesome story Double J.   

[luvz2hunt]

I'm glad you wrote this. I always get buck fever and a little sad. If I ever get numb to the taking of life, I'm going to stop hunting. Good for you. This may be your most prized trophy, regardless of antler size.

i totally agree! 

[DoubleJ]

I think sometimes anti hunters don't understand how much "good" hunters actually love and respect the animals we hunt.  Hard to explain the concept to them.

This is my wife.  I am fighting that battle right now.  She is mad because my kids have "seen me glorify killing a living animal".  She tried to say since we have deer in our backyard that we feed and look after, that killing a deer 10 miles away is the same as killing a dog or a cat and that I've shown the kids it's ok to kill a pet.  What a wonderful day I have ahead of me 

[rebal69972]

You guys are right on the money. It's respect for the animal. If I ever loose that feeling, I'll stop hunting.

x2

[GoldTip]

Congrats on filling the freezer.

[quadrafire]

I think sometimes anti hunters don't understand how much "good" hunters actually love and respect the animals we hunt.  Hard to explain the concept to them.

This is my wife.  I am fighting that battle right now.  She is mad because my kids have "seen me glorify killing a living animal".  She tried to say since we have deer in our backyard that we feed and look after, that killing a deer 10 miles away is the same as killing a dog or a cat and that I've shown the kids it's ok to kill a pet.  What a wonderful day I have ahead of me 

Thats a tough one there. My wife isn't really into it either.

Loved your story. I think feeling that way is a good thing.

[CedarPants]

Great story DoubleJ, and "Hunter's Heart" is a perfect way of putting it.  I started noticing this feeling in my late 20's ... now in my mid 30's I'm fully aware of it.  These days when I have a deer down, the first few minutes after I walk up on it are typically spent with me kneeling at the deer's side, gently petting it, and thanking it for giving its life to sustain my family.  The deer I harvested last year was a double lung shot and he hadn't expired when I walked up to him - and to be honest with everyone on here I had to look away while he did. 

There is the highest level of respect for the animals involved that is hard to put into words, and I always feel remorse.  All 3 of my boys will be raised with these same principles.  Like many of you have said, the day I don't feel remorse for taking a life from the forest, I'm done hunting

[bearhunter99]

Excellent write up.  That is the kind of story PETA numnuts will never understand.

[Chesapeake]

I think sometimes anti hunters don't understand how much "good" hunters actually love and respect the animals we hunt.  Hard to explain the concept to them.

This is my wife.  I am fighting that battle right now.  She is mad because my kids have "seen me glorify killing a living animal".  She tried to say since we have deer in our backyard that we feed and look after, that killing a deer 10 miles away is the same as killing a dog or a cat and that I've shown the kids it's ok to kill a pet.  What a wonderful day I have ahead of me 

Every cow ever killed was a pet. Same for chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, all the hatchery fish we catch, ect........... Just sayin.

Good job on the harvest.

[Klyne3]

I think sometimes anti hunters don't understand how much "good" hunters actually love and respect the animals we hunt.  Hard to explain the concept to them.

This is my wife.  I am fighting that battle right now.  She is mad because my kids have "seen me glorify killing a living animal".  She tried to say since we have deer in our backyard that we feed and look after, that killing a deer 10 miles away is the same as killing a dog or a cat and that I've shown the kids it's ok to kill a pet.  What a wonderful day I have ahead of me 

Every cow ever killed was a pet. Same for chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, all the hatchery fish we catch, ect........... Just sayin.

Good job on the harvest.

Actually I think your wrong on basis that every animal killed was a pet. However we've raised animals for the freezer and my kids have taken to naming them - hamburger, steak, fried, sunday dinner etc. I think that kids should know where their food is actually coming from (and not think it just magically appears packaged in a grocery store) and respect the animals for providing for us. But not to threadjack. Congrats on having the opportunity to put meat in the freezer, the touching story and also having a Hunter heart to respect the animal as you did.

[724wd]

I was told by my dad when I was young that if you didn't feel bad killing an animal, then you had no place hunting.

best quote i've seen in a long time. 

If there was a way to catch-and-release hunt that still allowed me to have a freezer full of wild meat and some photos to remind me of the day, i'd be all over it!