DeerHunter0001:

How old are you? Where are you from? What did you do with your dead deer? Have you eaten any of the deer meat yet? I made a good venison roast this past Saturday evening -- from my November 2004 Doe.

I love deer hunting. I have hunted four deer seasons in Oklahoma and one pronghorn season in Wyoming. I field dress my animals myself. I skin and quarter my animals myself. I butcher and package my animals myself. I cook my animals myself. I like to cook and am a good cook. My children, however, do not always enjoy the meals that I cook. They complain, sometimes, that the food is too exotic or oddly seasoned (I like French and Italian dishes, and this is a little off the beaten path for children). All of my children, however, enjoy my venison meals. All of my adults guests have always enjoyed my venison meals.

I think hunting provides a prime opportunity to develop many virtues, where 'virtue' is taken in the ancient greek sense of 'human excellence' -- 'arrete.' Hunting encourages its practioners to remain in good physical condition. I know I work hard to keep my weight down, to lift weights, to run, to climb stairs at work to be prepared for hunting season. Hunting teaches us to be observant, to exercise self-control over ourselves. Hunting leads us out into the field in the dark and forces us to learn how to find our way to our hunting site in the dark. Hunting teaches us to tolerate physical discomfort. Hunting teaches us to endure and carry on in spite of fatigue. Hunting teaches us how to take care of ourselves in the woods and how to move stealthily in the woods. Hunting teaches us skill in the employment of weapons. Finally, hunting provides many opportunities to share our knowledge with others and to teach others.