I'm beginning to have an issue

[MacDonald]

It's like this: I really don't want to shoot an animal; watch him stagger and die. That said, I usually hunt with a longbow. Pretty much gave up on rifle hunting (I'm a former SEAL sniper, to give you an idea of skill level) and switched to the stick some years ago. 3 seasons ago I took a beautiful 6X6 elk in Idaho, but did use my rifle there. Even though he was dead before he knew it, sitting beside him still brought some tears. It's not that "high five" moment I've seen on videos. I've had shots that were a certainty if I were to release that arrow, and chose not to. In fact, my most memorable hunt was like that, with a really nice mulie standing broadside 20 yards from me. I had him cold, at full draw, and would not have missed the shot. And he knew it. After a few seconds holding 57lbs at full draw, I let down, and he was gone. I have no problem whatsoever taking grouse with either a bow or the scattergun. Am I just "going soft" or going overboard on sentimentality here?

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

When I was a kid, I had a pellet gun everywhere I went and even had a bounty my dad paid me on ground squirrels. Early in my big game hunting, I HAD to fill every tag. As I've grown older and am now even a grandpa, my desire to make the "kill" an animal is noticeably waining, but I still love the hunt. I am now getting more involved in helping my wife (who has just started hunting), my sons, and my daughter who will start hunting this year.

BTW...thank you for your service to our country!

 

[ssliger]

When you stop feeling sympathy for an animal you kill, you are no longer hunting for the right reasons. Every animal I kill, I am extremely excited, then followed by some remorse for killing such a magnificent animal. Most non-hunters believe hunters don't love wildlife. They just don't understand.
I will say I have not been able to pull the trigger on a doe Antelope or doe Deer, though I have shot a cow elk. Every year I say on the last day of general deer ill shoot a doe, and every year I have an opportunity but can't do it.

 

[tdcour]

You are not the only one with this issue, I can guarantee that. I am very similar in many ways (except the SEAL part... thank you for your service by the way). I have trouble justifying a kill just to kill. I don't really hunt for the rack, though I really love seeing them and if they have a big one, even better! I grew up eating wild game, but my wife didn't, so we don't eat too much wild game at the house anymore unless I cook it just right (getting better at this). For this reason, I have trouble taking game. I respect these animals too much to kill an animal just because of its rack or just to say I did. I kill for a reason and that is to eat. If we have meat in the freezer, I may still go hunting, but its more watching than hunting. I wouldn't say you are "going soft". I talked to my dad about this once and he said it is just becoming more respectful of the game. It is becoming more understanding that hunting is not about the kill, but instead is about being with family and friends, getting outdoors, having a good time, and lastly being lucky enough to harvest game. Like you, I too have more interesting and memorable hunting trips where I came home empty handed (on purpose or not) than when I have been successful.

P.S. I don't have any issue taking small game either. Coyote and below not a problem with any weapon. It is mainly the deer sized game and larger that I notice the issues.

 

[packmule]

I've lost the adrenalin rush from pulling the trigger on the rifle/release. I blame it on all the spraying & praying at hogs with no real concern on the location of their decomposition, just as long as they do. Feel worse about deer I've watched 4-6 years that I finally kill, that'll be the last time I get to wake up and go look for him.

 

[hoshour]

I've always had mixed emotions over killing an animal. It is not a small thing to end a life, especially when you don't really need the meat.

Mainly I hunt just to be in the outdoors but just hiking with the backpackers doesn't do it for me. I need the challenge. That's why I mostly bowhunt.

I knew a hunter once who just lived to kill stuff. He even told me he would buy goats and turn them loose so he could shoot and kill them. I worried about that guy and thought he was strange.

Hunting is not really about killing, it's about enjoying the outdoors and the challenge pf the hunt, and for a lot of people, its about good friends and family.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

"I knew a hunter once who just lived to kill stuff. He even told me he would buy goats and turn them loose so he could shoot and kill them. I worried about that guy and thought he was strange."


That guy is more than weird and the kind where it would not surprise me if some day he would kill a person just to see what it felt like!

 

[packmule]

Kind of what I was thinking (although that's what folks do down here with pen raised exotics)

 

[hardstalk]

On another forum a couple months ago someone posted "why do you kill?" Some people had one liners some took it to heart and gave the question some thought. Its not a question you typically ask yourself but I enjoy those types of questions.

(Sidenote)Ex. I was having dinner with a man several years ago and talking business, I had no clue what I wanted or what was going on at that time in my life. But I would work all day everyday. 10, 20, 50 bucks an hour I was there. 96 hour weeks I was in. And I never slowed down to think about why until he asked this question. " what do you want in life?" I quickly responded. " to be successful" his response was as fast as mine. " what is successful to you?" Now that threw me into a whirlwind. After all these years of running and gunning blood sweat and tears I had no response. I was chasing a dream I never truly dreamt. Its was quite the life changing question.

Here is the response I posted on the other forum about why I kill.

"For me its a rush to reward factor. There are many ways I get my kicks. Im an adrenaline junky and a perfectionist. That combination culminates into a strong urge to push myself into failure and overcome both physically and mentally in order to receive the reward. I Have yet to find a more challenging sport that offers blissful lifetime memories of the reward.

(The word "sport" is not to be removed from context. All humans in todays modern society can simply work and buy meat to survive. I choose to work for mine at my own diligence. Along with many other reasons. Its not a "game" although it is "sport")

And not to leave out the addiction of feeling true primal instinct take place. A feeling that I believe is different with every circumstance. The longer alone in the hills and the closer the stalk the more you are uncontrollably and usually unnoticeably sucked into a mind frame that is unachievable in any other circumstance. Once the hunt is over and your back to reality its not conceivable to replace that mindset or replicate it in any form. Ever."

I think the entire hunting world is a bit commercialized and people tend to redevelop why there out there. Its in our genetic make up to hunt. But has been absolutely twisted by fist pumps and sponsorships to a point where sometimes we forget we are there to make memories, spend time with friends and family away from technology, utilize our instincts and skill as the smartest animal on the planet. also enjoy a truly organic fuel and feeling for our bodies. regardless of horn size and how light you were able to get your pack before heading out.

Sorry if I got a bit off the subject just my .02 cents.

 

[buckbull]

It is said that hunters go thru several stages in their life. When I was in my teens and twenties, I did not consider a hunt successful unless I killed something. As I matured and starting having kids my perspective changed. When my kids were young, I considered my time hunting as a break and did not care as much about killing something. Just enjoyed my time in the woods. Now that I'm in my forties, I enjoy taking my kids out and teaching them what my father taught me. I enjoy them taking animals more then myself. Don't get me wrong, I still get a thrill at watching my arrow double lung a buck or watch an antelope drop after a shot. If I didn't; I would stop hunting. Its just that I don't judge a hunt based solely on a kill.

 

[25contender]

I went through something similar about 25 years ago. At that time I was strictly a gun hunter. It was just to easy and didn't feel right to me. One day I just decided to sell my rifles and regroup and that is what I did. That is when I picked up a bow and I have had a whole new out look ever since. All my friends thought I had lost my mind. I cant tell you how many times since then I have had a animal at range and have been drawn back ready for the shot but never took it. Times change as we get older and there have been years that I have not filled a tag because something just doesn't feel right or the conditions were not right at the time. Now days I don't leave without my video camera and spend more time filming than getting ready for the shot. The truly amazing thing about all this is that the animals I have taken over the past 10 years have been the best I have ever taken.

 

[kiddwinner]

MacDonald, Thanks for posting this... Im only in my early 30's and grew up hunting, its intensly the passion of my life, but the older i get I find myself releasing all the fish i catch and seems like after every season the last few years i never fill a tag. I like what SSlinger said, if you are a hunter you will always have sympathy for the animals you kill. I guess I just need to work extremely hard walking hills and mountains to feel good aobut killing an animal. Dont worry, you are not the only one going through this...

 

[MacDonald]

Thanks to everyone! I don't feel out of place with this after reading what you all have to say. I'll continue to hunt with these thoughts held close, and as we all know, "hunting" is different from "killing". When the freezer gets low, I might consider releasing an arrow, but that time is not now. There's an old German saying, "it is the duty, honor and privilege of the hunter to care for the creatures of the forest". Given the hunting shows on tv now, the poachers, and the push for "more extreme", it's hard to see that attitude coming through. Gene Wensel had a great article in this issue of Professional Bowhunters Society around this subject; "When Hunting Became Shooting". If the rain stops today ( I do live in Washington, after all), I think I'll grab the Toelke, and wander out into the woods, just to see if the bear really did go over the mountain!

 

[Timberstalker]

I have always felt remorse when I kill a big game animal, but am often dissapointed if I work hard at it and come up empty handed too. I am still evolving as a hunter, even after 30 years of big game hunting and a lifetime of killing small animals. I don't want to call myself a trophy hunter, but I have leaned toward only targeting more mature animals these days. I used to be the guy who had to fill his tag every year, not anymore. I hunt twice as hard as I did 10 years ago, and kill alot less. When it all comes together and I do kill, it's bitter sweet. The kill is not the reward, it's the hunt, but a successful one is usually alot better than a non successful one for me. I believe every true hunter feels remorse, if you don't thats when you need to start to wonder why your hunting.

I am a "kill to hunt-hunt to kill" guy, I hunt a hell of alot more than I kill. If killing was easy, I would't enjoy hunting very much at all.

 

[bigsky2]

I think if you don't have any feelings after taking an animals life there is something wrong with you or you don't have near enough respect for the animal. Even just thinking about some of the elements they have to make it through to live makes me respect the hell out of them.

A lot of people seem to have this issue as they get older but I am only 25 and I already have it. It wasn't an issue with me until I started bowhunting. Many of the animals I have shot with a rifle dropped right in their tracks and I was unphased. Its a lot tougher when you are up close and personal with the animal while bowhunting and after you send an arrow through its lungs you have to watch it do the sideways steps/stumble in the last moment of its life.

Fred Bear always had a moment of silence in honor of the animals he killed, just like in this picture.
http://www.bowhunting.net/artman/uploads/fredbear-deer1941.jpg

 

[HuntWYODon]

When you stop feeling sympathy for an animal you kill, you are no longer hunting for the right reasons. Every animal I kill, I am extremely excited, then followed by some remorse for killing such a magnificent animal. Most non-hunters believe hunters don't love wildlife. They just don't understand.
I will say I have not been able to pull the trigger on a doe Antelope or doe Deer, though I have shot a cow elk. Every year I say on the last day of general deer ill shoot a doe, and every year I have an opportunity but can't do it.

ssliger,
You spelled out alomst exactly how I have felt for about the last 15 yrs. I don't get upset if I drive out of state and come home empty handed anymore, even if I passed on some small ones. I have shot doe deer and lopes but I have never felt good about it. You all know the exccitement leading up to pulling the trigger. But but for years now I always feel sad when I walk up the the animal. I have to tell myself what it was all for and God put them on this earth for us to eat (hunt too). I always thank God for the animal also. In Az. 2006 I hit a cow with an arrow from a tree stand at about 5 yds.in the spine. It dropped instantly but laid there on it's side with lags going like she was running. I waited about 10 seconds but couldn't take it suffering anymore (if it was) so I shot another into it's chest. It still was going after about 20 seconds so I shot another arrow into her. She expired then. I was mad at myself with tears flowing. The other 5 cow elk and 1 bull I have shot with bow there ran of a short distance and died. Most my shots with rifle they drop right there with no suffering. Archery is a lot different I beleive that's why some people view it inhumane. It's not I know. Most animals don't feel pain like us and with their adrenalin flowing probably don't feel it before they are dead.
So MacDonald you aren't alone. I'm sure 90% of the people on the furom feel the same way. It's normal. If you didn't , you would be just an animal killer.

 

[meathunter]

I simply look at it as I like to know where my food comes from and respect the animal to make the most humanely kill. In our family, we all hunt & eat wild game while thoroughly enjoy the health benefits from it. Last year we harvested a moose, an elk, and a deer. Our freezer is now getting low. With 3 daughters and their families, we share the meat that we process ourselves. At least we know how the animal was cared for after the harvest. This year we have 2 moose tags, 2 elk tags and 2 antelope tags. For those that go to the grocery store and buy their meat, an animal is killed by someone else. By harvesting ourselves, I have sometimes felt remorse for that but look beyond of how that meat will feed us throughout the year. I was looking to raise a beef cow on our land this year, but with our success in the draw, I shouldn't need to. In addition to the meat, we hunt together as a family and enjoy those times, plus the added benefit of exercise climbing those hills and enjoying the outdoors. We're not after the trophies as it is spending time together (although if a 6x6 elk comes our way, well all the better!). Certainly can understand the remorse in earlier post, I just rationalize it in a different way.

 

[tttoadman]

I have a hard time balancing the thrill of the hunt with the satisfaction of a successful hunt. As everyone has touched on, our idea of successful hunt changes. I seem to get more of a thrill from helping other people. I assume that is just part of maturing as a hunter. With a big buck in front of me last year, I just took up position on the scope and told my brother the first one was his. Not the "killer" attitude that we sometimes get tagged with.

As many know from following my posts, this is the first year I will be hunting out of state. The idea of taking 2 bulls and 2 bucks is a weird idea. It has brought up some of these same questions in my mind. Do I "need" to take that many animals?

I have chased the same herd bull for 3 years now, and will likely never get to hunt him again because of the Oregon point system. I can assure you that I would be a balling idiot in the middle of the forest if I would have gotten him last year. For me it would be the rush of success, but also the sadness that i dont get to listen to him anymore and watch him push his herd around. I think if you are not that emotional about it, you may be in the wrong sport.

Every time I think the thoughts in my head are a little off, a thread like this helps me realize I am either normal or most of you people are a little off too.

 

[Musket Man]

I agree with many of these posts. Alot of it for me these days is degree of dificultity and if taking the animal is exciting to me. When I first started hunting deer at 12 in CA I killed any legal buck I could. As I got older that was not exciting to me anymore and I started letting alot of bucks go and looking for ones that got me excited and trying to outsmart them . I have never felt bad about making a good stalk and taking a mature animal. I decided a few years ago if it doesnt excite me Im not going to do it. I have gone home empty many times when I could of killed a small young buck on the last day but it was just to easy and not exciting to me at all and honestly I would of felt bad about killing them. Quite a few years ago I was muzzle loader hunting in Utah. I snuck over a ridge and there were some deer in a pocket on the other side. 1 buck had his head up in a tree branch and I couldnt really see his horns but I really thought he had pretty heavy horns coming out of his head (looking back I think there was a small branch by his horn that made it look heavy). Well I got excited and shot him. When I found him about 50 yards from where I shot him he was only a smaller forked horn and I have never been more disgusted with myself in my life.

 

[frogman43]

Everybody hunts for different reasons. People hunt different things, and species as well.

There's no one perfect answer as to why you feel the way you do as you are a distinct individual.

Feel however you want to feel, and hunt however you want to hunt....it's YOUR life. Just live it....