I started out as a hunter then became a serious wildlife photographer for over 20 years. All the time I spent photographing wildlife I felt something was missing. Don't get me wrong, it was great selling photographs and seeing my work published on magazine covers but there was an aspect of the equation that wasn't being satisfied. I eventually suffered a burnout with photography and started hunting again. This is when I felt more at home with wildlife.
Sitting in a treestand, stillhunting up a river, huffing it up a mountainside or simply watching the sunrise with bow or gun in hand has put me into the life or death equation instead of sitting on the sidelines watching. I get as much satisfaction watching a small buck walk past without knowing I'm there, as releasing an arrow and dropping one.
The love of wildlife and all things natural does not stop with the release of the arrow! It does however, help me realize the consequences of my actions! Because of the love of the animal, I try my best to bring a quick and humane end to the life of that animal. I have on multiple occasions, watched the animal take its last breath! I have also thanked God for the gift that was provided and have sometimes apologized to the animal if death had taken too long! My love for nature runs deep!
In all my life, I can't recall feeling this experience while sitting at a steakhouse eating a ribeye!