Why do you hunt?

[Blackpaw]

The other day on YouTube I saw a video that came up called, “Why I hunt”, a French guy I think did it. It got me thinking about a book I years ago written by an author named Dr. Charles Swan called “In Defense of Hunting: Yesterday and Today.”

The book spoke about societies evolved around hunting and how it connected us with the nature around us, and why it was natural for humans to want to hunt. This book really opened my eyes up to why human’s have the desire to hunt and how a TRUE hunter connects with nature forever honors it along with the game we hunt.

Also, Dr. Swan talked about the natural predator in humans and how we should embrace it and not condemn it as some modern society does. The predator nature of mankind has driven us to be where we and our evolution (plus creation of our toys ) that allows us to be a successful hunter.

I know the above is a bit philosophical, but I got done with an online expat social event where discussed what made us, and I said the nature of being a predator. Of course, someone goes humans aren’t predators, so I toned it down a little and said the hunter spirit in me and how it drives me. Thus this got me thinking about the book mentioned above, along with how I see hunting and how hunting has influenced the evolution of humans, and in general human society.

Here is just a screenshot & summary of book. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it.

 

[8thman]

A primal need like in all predators 

 

[Blackpaw]

True...by why do YOU hunt...what drives YOU to hunt.

 

[Removed]

For me I just enjoy getting out and hiking around with my dog. It's fun to explore new places and enjoy the quiet time. The hunting part just comes 2nd I think, half the time I don't have any luck at all. I enjoy being outside, camping, cooking and everything that goes along with it. The entire experience as a whole is the most important thing to me. 

 

[8thman]

A similar need like a quest for women.

 

[davecole]

Not for food but to eliminate rodents (prairie dogs) that damage crops and farm land.

 

[Alderman]

To feed the family. 

 

[crazyhorse]

To maintain my shooting skills. 

 

[Ezana4CE]

I grew up hunting. No matter how long it’s been between hunts, it’s a familiar activity. 

 

[Bander124]

Walmart doesn’t sell tree rat. Also hunting gives the animal a fair chance to escape. Sure I can raise animals for harvest or go and buy store meat that’s had a crap life. At least with hunting the animal can out wit me and have a second chance. There is also a deeper connection to an animal I have harvested vs a feed lot animal from a far away land with emotional disconnection to it makes you understand the circle of life rather than having a bunch of twit running around saying meat comes from a store.

 

[ackc1234]

When you really start to think about it, you first have to define hunting. Hunting to me is any time I need to take an animals life. The first reason, for me, is an animal that is a pest whether it be due to damage caused, invasive, or danger caused. Things like fox's trying to get to our chickens or baby goats, starlings that compete with our native birds, pigeons causing hazard for livestock, or squirrels in the attic chewing on wiring. The second reason, and main one, would be food and providing for my family. I know some will say that we no longer need to hunt to provide food, however some of us do not trust the food industry to provide good quality food to the masses. I for one do not trust specifically the meat industry and therefore raise a large portion of my families meat here on our homestead. Harvesting these animals is a form of hunting for me. FYI we raise beef, pork, chicken, goat, and rabbit here for meat, eggs and milk. This is supplemented by my hunting whether it be goose, turkey, deer, squirrel, rabbit, duck, frogs, fish or anything else that we decide to eat. I would say for me in particular that to this day I do not like butcher day here on the homestead and I have done it since I was a toddler. How many of us have held a roosters neck while dad cut the head off with an axe? Yet I still have a primal urge to hunt, fish and eat. It is my personal opinion that every person should harvest an animal and eat it at least once in their lifetime. This would connect people with their food and allow people to appreciate not only the animals but also the people who raise them. My children are not old enough to hunt in our state yet, but they do fish and are present when we harvest animals here on the farm. This is a lesson and a skill I hope they carry with them through there lives.

 

[Glenroiland]

Crosman999

Accuracy: 

Member

For me I just enjoy getting out and hiking around with my dog. It's fun to explore new places and enjoy the quiet time. The hunting part just comes 2nd I think, half the time I don't have any luck at all. I enjoy being outside, camping, cooking and everything that goes along with it. The entire experience as a whole is the most important thing to me. 



davecole

Accuracy: 

Member

Not for food but to eliminate rodents (prairie dogs) that damage crops and farm land. 



Alderman

Accuracy: 

Member

To feed the family. 

crazyhorse

Accuracy: 

Member

To maintain my shooting skills. 







You guys nailed it for me!

 

[dizzums]

i dont .. i 'execute' animals that cause me problems, bout it ...

 

[Twinkees_n_Pb]

To keep skills sharp for when the convenience-machine shuts down. Ability to quickly adapt out of the dependencies THEY have us on.

To keep in touch with nature; enjoy/give/take/respect

To remind myself from time to time where I stand in the order of things; my strengths/capabilities, my weaknesses, my fears (and how to deal with it) when out in the field.

 

[Guest]

...

I know the above is a bit philosophical, but I got done with an online expat social event where discussed what made us, and I said the nature of being a predator. Of course, someone goes humans aren’t predators, so I toned it down a little and said the hunter spirit in me and how it drives me.

... 

Here is just a screenshot & summary of book. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it.

That someone was dead wrong. You should have explained to the unfortunate soul that we indeed do possess canine teeth for a reason. They always want to quote science, until it isn't convenient for them.

Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[harrymoreland]

I saw that video a few weeks back, I thought he summed up how I feel about hunting.

I will be getting the book.

 

[Guest]

i dont .. i 'execute' animals that cause me problems, bout it ...

Do you eat your chickens? Do you eat their eggs? Hmmm ... FOOD for thought, eh?

I hunt because it reminds me something MUST die if I am to eat. It might be a chicken or an egg but for me to live something must die, every single day.

I pest to protect the things which I will eventually kill and eat. It might be a squirrel in the pecans or apples. It might be a bird fouling the water my animals need to live healthy lives. I am reminded again that something must die every day, so that I can live. I may not kill it. I may go buy a pound of beef at the grocery. Someone killed that animal so that I could eat. I am as guilty of that animal's death as the man who kills starlings to keep the herd healthy or squirrels to keep them from the pecans. Sadly there are many who fail to understand their own culpability when they put on their leather shoes, or jacket and when they sit down to a meal of surf and turf. Someone else killed that and they never make the connection. I hunt so that I remember that life is precious. There is no animal that suffers a more miserable life than a production raised chicken and for every hunter who knows this there are a hundred hypocrites buying chicken wings at 7-11, looking down their noses at him.

I do not kill for pleasure. I kill to remind myself that someone else has to do it when I don't.

 

[Blackpaw]

Guys I don’t know the guy and probably won’t see the individual ever again so why I did played diplomat on that predator topic. However, I have defended the natural urge to hunt in a Buddhist temple in Aarhus Denmark using Dr. Swan’s book as a reference.

Also, I don’t want politics or etc in this...just curious what drives you as an individual to hunt and if you don’t fine, but please don’t criticize those of us who do.

Here is a link to the video Why I Hunt...

https://youtu.be/JhLkPxIINW0

 

[crittahitta]

I hunt deer mostly because I feel a deep down desire to hunt and because it makes me happy. Most of the meat goes to my friends who NEED it. Sometimes if I think about it too much it feels like a guilty pleasure I can't escape. I don't need the meat. When it comes to pesting it is mostly enjoyment which I have issues with also. I usually go for the invasive red squirrel saying that it is ok because it doesn't belong here. But do I really need to? I try to target shoot as much as possible but the hunt is always calling and hard to ignore. Just my two cents. The other 98 goes to the shrink.

 

[Gerry52]

I do pest control on a # of agricultural properties. Ground Squirrels wreak havoc. But, really, it's the Zen of it. The focus, the breathing, being out in nature with the songs of birds. I haven't hunted for food YET. The Male bonding too, when that happens (THANKS for today C'cut, Pesty3782 & Socaloldman! Love those guys. ) It fills a primal need too. So many gifts I get from it that I couldn't conceive of when I started.