I agree with most of what everyone here has said. I do enjoy killing a tom, without apology. However, it is those encounters in the woods that do my soul so much good that makes turkey hunting my passion. This past Wednesday morning, while turkey hunting, I had two foxes come within 4 or 5 feet of me. Then a spike buck (yes, he still had his antlers) bedded down only 35 yards from me. The gobbler lit down about 60 yards away and walked away. It was mystical. It was a successful turkey hunt, even though I didn't kill a bird.

A member of my church is a an outfitter. His logo says "R & R Outfitters: It's all about the kill" I told him that for me it wasn't. We get along, because we agree to disagree. There are some who believe that it really is about the kill. I would just say that it is not ALL about the kill.

Having said that, we are still hunters. As Dr. Andy said, we do bring guns or bows on our hunts. The intent is to kill a bird. I believe that puts us in touch with a side of life that most people do not understand. To eat meat, an animal must die. Most people do not appreciate the sacrifice the animal has made, because they have never gotten thier hands dirty by both pulling the trigger and cleaning the animal. I realize that I am starting to preach, but every hunter need to clean their first animal. I belive that is essential in growing into and ethically responsible hunter. Just my two cents.