I am a brand new hunter, or going to be anyway. I really want to try andbe a little more self sufficient, planting my own garden, raising cattle on my little piece of heaven and hunt. This should put some meat and veggies on the table. The only problem that goes through my head is the killing of an animal that God has created. I've been a meat eater all of my life and I know the process of how the meat gets into the store.
I have never really killed anything on purpose, do you see where I'm going with this? I have never intentially pulled a trigger or released a string on anything alive. I am a fisherman but I fish with barbless hooks and never take home anything to prepare. I would like too.
Now that I laid it out, how do you think God views these decisions made by man? Is it okay to kill and to reap the harvest? I was raised in a nonhunting environment and would like to teach my boys there is more to life thenwhat's on tv and havingto rely on other people for your food.
Thank you for your time
God Bless
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Cowboy can also be a state of mind
This is from Acts 10 when Peter is told that he CAN eat the animals that had been forbidden under the Old Law. Notice God not only told him to eat the animals, but to "Kill and eat".
"10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." 14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean." 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed you must not call common." 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again."
Find someone who can teach you the correct way to shoot, and dress the animal. That is probably the most important thing, initially.
I have shot over 130 deer and maybe 10 antelope and 11 elk.
I know there are peobably guys here who have more experience than I but until they come forward, I'll have to do.
Try to shoot the animal when it is at ease, when it hasn't been chased. The bad rap antelope get is they usually they are chased for miles, a lot of times by a truck full of "Hunters".
I have killed antelope that were standing up to their knees in good green alfalfa and they never knew I was there.
Then I laid them out on a tarp-never gutted them, skinned them and boned them out right on the tarp, then put the boned out meat in plastic freezer bags and then promptly put them in a big, ice filled cooler. they tasted as good as any deer I ever killed.
Good luck and go get em.
Leep Out:
What I like about raising my own meat is that I know what it has fed on. I know the health of the animal before I slaughtered it and the sanitation of the whole process is up to and known by me. Likewise in most game animals the same is true.
Plus, a lot is to be said for raising our own vegetables. I can't say that it is cheaper overall to raise our own but you will have the advantage of freshness and knowing how it has been grown as far as the chemicals that have been used for fertilizer and protection from insects, etc.
Altogether, raising our own meat and vegetables to me does'nt seem the cheapest way to go but the health benefits and lifestyle can be rewarding.
And if your anything like me, I would prolly come out cheaper by just buying a beef every deer season than by pouring a fortune into what I feel it takes to stock my freezer with venison for the year.
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Bluegrass, I find that when you couple the verses the gentlemen gave you earlier with a sheer respect of the animal my conscience is clear. Only a few of the very dumb things I've done in younger years every bother/bothered me. (This even goes for having to "cull" pets/strays: completely clear conscience...but one squirrel left uneatin' has wrecked a week's of sleep) Hey, look forward to you first animal...because when the whole process is done with respect it actually feels good and right.
Hey, welcome to the forums!!
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Anything I say is my opinion, just that...and only that.
"...and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?
When I started hunting, I started by hunting and "killing" small things. Rabbits and grouse and ducks. They have a small "life" in them and it is like blowing out a birthday candle when you kill one. The first big animal I killed was a bull moose and it was like blowing out a very BIG candle. I could almost feel a "pop" like a bubble burst with a pin, when the moose died. Whe I kill a big animal I always feel good as I have hunted and been successful. I feel a little bad at killing the animal. I say a hunter's prayer when I kill a large animal. I always thank God for my success and ask that there will always be game and hunters.
Killing?
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