ORIGINAL: mobow
I think a lot of folks confuse hunting, and shooting an animal, with killing it. The word "harvest" is thrown around so much, it's de-personalized the act of killing an animal.
I believe alot of folks hunt and shoot the animal, without ever really giving a thought about the fact that they've killed that animal. It was walking and breathing, I ran an arrow through it's lungs, now it's dead. I killed it.
The actual release of the arrow is an absolute rush, IMO. But the literal KILLING of the animal isn't. Let's not confuse the 2.
I think we agree on this, Mobow. I take it that a lot of folks use the words "like" and "love" interchangeably in this context. I've said a few times that I love the hunt and I love the kill, but I don't love "killing". In my mind, there's an enormous difference. To most people, a successful hunt will end (I won't say climax and get Magicman excited again) with a kill, but killing doesn't necessarily involve a hunt. You said the release of an arrow is an absolute rush. I agree, but don't you think the rush is just as significant or maybe even more significant when you see that arrow hit home and you know that "this ones down"? I think that explains the arm pumps, high fives, and grown men melting into a gellatinous blob of nerves and emotions after the shot... even when it's seasoned pros on camera.