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Location: The Sportsman, home, or out on the water | Alot of great points brought up in this thread. My outdoors pursuits are spiritual to me as well. What better place to be closer to God than in his living room? When I'm out in the boat or up in the tree, I can feel my ancestors' presence, looking over my shoulder to see what I am doing, and keeping us safe. Good luck and safety to all of you this season, whether you are in the boat or up in a tree.
Rob |
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Posts: 4266
| Mike, be my guest.
I kick back, lay on the deer, and we spend some time together.
We are lucky people, and it becomes very evident when we take time to reflect.
Have a good season.
Beav |
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Posts: 8788
| Hey, Beav
I feel exactly the same way, believe it or not. And all those things you mentioned, about giving thanks and all, that IS what it's all about, and I do that when I clean fish. It's a common misconception that hunters are just bloodthirsty killers, and the funny part is that comes from people who have never set foot in the woods, and think meat comes wrapped in those little plastic trays.
I have said this before and I will say it again to anyone who doesn't understand hunting:
EVERYONE should kill and eat something at some time in their lives, because it's the only way you can truly appreciate your place in nature. We (many of us) have lost our connection to the land, and that makes it all too easy to destroy it, ignore it, and take it for granted. When I'm crappie fishing or walleye fishing, and I'm eating those fish later that night, I'm thinking about the same thing -- how they may have lived, where they may have been yesterday or earlier today, and I am humbled by the fact that I have taken something from the land, something God put there for me as food, and it makes me want to give something back. Balance what I have taken. Usually this takes the form of picking up garbage, or simply giving thanks.
I've been thinking about why I don't hunt, and while part of it IS the guilt I feel after killing something, it's more that I just don't NEED to hunt. I am one man. Even a duck or a pheasant is more food than I need. And a deer? I think it could be put to better use if YOU shot it, Beav. You can feed your family with that deer, and do all those things you mentioned with it. I'd be eating the whole thing myself, or trying to give it away to my fellow urban dwelling sidewalk rats who would probably run screaming if I told them what it was and where it came from. I'd have to lie and tell them it was pork.
Our ancsetors hunted to feed their tribes, their villages, and they used the entire animal, none left to waste. For one man to kill a deer, only for himself, it just doesn't seem right. |
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Location: Sakatchewan,Canada | esoxaddict - 11/10/2005 10:29 AM
Hey, Beav
I feel exactly the same way, believe it or not. And all those things you mentioned, about giving thanks and all, that IS what it's all about, and I do that when I clean fish. It's a common misconception that hunters are just bloodthirsty killers, and the funny part is that comes from people who have never set foot in the woods, and think meat comes wrapped in those little plastic trays.
I have said this before and I will say it again to anyone who doesn't understand hunting:
EVERYONE should kill and eat something at some time in their lives, because it's the only way you can truly appreciate your place in nature. We (many of us) have lost our connection to the land, and that makes it all too easy to destroy it, ignore it, and take it for granted. When I'm crappie fishing or walleye fishing, and I'm eating those fish later that night, I'm thinking about the same thing -- how they may have lived, where they may have been yesterday or earlier today, and I am humbled by the fact that I have taken something from the land, something God put there for me as food, and it makes me want to give something back. Balance what I have taken. Usually this takes the form of picking up garbage, or simply giving thanks.
I've been thinking about why I don't hunt, and while part of it IS the guilt I feel after killing something, it's more that I just don't NEED to hunt. I am one man. Even a duck or a pheasant is more food than I need. And a deer? I think it could be put to better use if YOU shot it, Beav. You can feed your family with that deer, and do all those things you mentioned with it. I'd be eating the whole thing myself, or trying to give it away to my fellow urban dwelling sidewalk rats who would probably run screaming if I told them what it was and where it came from. I'd have to lie and tell them it was pork.
Our ancsetors hunted to feed their tribes, their villages, and they used the entire animal, none left to waste. For one man to kill a deer, only for himself, it just doesn't seem right.
It is plenty alright for one man to kill a deer for himself.He can eat for the next year and feed family and friends that come over,not to mention giving some of it to the less fortunate. |
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Posts: 294
Location: Sakatchewan,Canada | Excellent posts by Beav and Sworrall.A lot of guys have never killed any of the cow's,pig's,or chicken's they eat every day, then they think it is wrong to kill a deer,moose,elk,walleye,pike,etc.to eat.I just don't understand how they think that way... |
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| Pikemaster...
If you understood the way the people in this area lean you'd get why you can't just feed your friends venison.
I've been accused of torturing animals because people have seen the musky pictures on my desk. Maybe you have those types up there, too, I don't know. But down here, man... it's like a PETA paradise. They freakin protest the sporting goods stores because they sell weapons that people use to kill animals. Too many Bambi movies in their childhood or something... I showed someone a release picture and they said "why don't you just leave the poor fishies alone?"
Dude, please stop reminding me that I live in a place where people are nuts...  |
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Posts: 294
Location: Sakatchewan,Canada | esoxaddict,are all of those people vegitarians?If not than they should have to butcher a cow,pig or chicken themselves.Someone has to kill it...I wonder if the same people who complain about the "poor fishies" buy Captain Highliner frozen fish and chips and think that it's okay??They certainly have a distorted way of thinking...I won't even get started with the PETA people... |
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Posts: 8788
| A lot of them are, Pikemaster. Anyone who has any idea how commercial livestock lives and dies can't possibly say hunting is less humane. Like I said before -- I've got nothing against hunting -- it's part of nature's way. As much as we try to pretend we're not part of the food chain, we're still animals, and we still need to eat.
Doesn't stop them from protesting Thanksgiving, though.
On a related note, did you know that in a few weeks millions of innocent turkeys will be needlessly slaughtered so we can partake in some barbarian ritual? Oooooohh give the animals a voice, they have rights too!
Yep they got lefts, too and both sides tase equally good, now shut up, LOL!
Only in America
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Posts: 4266
| Like Ted Nugent says....When the $hit hits the fan big time, those tree huggin' PETA people are going to be coming to people like us to help them to survive. And you know what? We will.
Discussions like this one are just more proof that anglers, hunters and outdoorsmen all have to stick together. Whether you agree with it or not. Whether you do it or don't. Do not criticize your brothers and sisters, because in-fighting just makes us appear weak and unorganized.
Whether we hunt or fish, we all enjoy freedoms that are unheard of in other countries. We get outside and we spend hours in The Creators world that He made for us, and He put us in charge of it. Let's not argue over how to do it. If we stay within the laws laid out by our States, there is nothing wrong with what we are doing.
Life's short. Enjoy getting closer to nature.
Beav
Edited by Beaver 11/10/2005 3:27 PM
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Location: Appleton, WI | Amen, beav. |
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Posts: 2112
Location: The Sportsman, home, or out on the water | Yes, Beav, At our house, Ted Nugent's "Spirit of the Wild" is our "must see T.V." on Thursday nights. |
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