Wow, what a concept...

I don' t demand respect as a deer hunter from nature rather I give it. I have my rituals and they are between me and the woods, the trees , and most importantly the animal I am about to kill. I give everything the proper respect. Nature is the only thing in my life that gets respect simply because it is. Everyone and everything else, I prefer earn my respect. Simply put, I am here to hunt. After my family, it is so much of what makes me, me. Weather, other committments, and other intrusions become secondary because I need to hunt to feel full. I never apologize for hunting in fact I always do what I can to promote it. For example, when I coach my childrens little league teams, I always wear hunting related clothing when it is appropriate. My wife doesn' t like it but I do it for a reason. These people will eventually be making a decision that will be effecting my hunting. My thinking is, hey I' m doing good by your kids so you do good by mine support my love for hunting.

Likewise, I don' t hide from the fact that I love the kill. It is not, nor will it ever be the reason I hunt but without it, why bother. I can list the many things that I enjoy about hunting seperate from any killing. It would take pages. It is the self-control, the preparation, the minute leading up to teh shot, the reverence, the sadness, they all make this sport what it is. Practically a religion. A friend once criticized someone for shooting too many deer. They were all legally taken and used completely. I asked him why he didn' t say that about me since I shoot enough deer for me and my family to eat for a year. He told me that even though I am a meat hunter and that I kill seven or so deer a year for the fridge, I show more respect for the deer I kill than anyone he knows. Boy did it feel good that someone noticed. I can' t discount the regret about the kill and sometimes the sadnes if I have not been successful in making it quick and clean. It is, none the less, a fist pumping, teary eyed event that you have to live to understand. Now as I pass that on to my son, I suppose I will demand his respect. His respect for the animal he kills, the land he hunts on, and of the spirit of the woods. He is young so I have time to teach him. I try to remember...actions talks.

So if that is what you mean....I can respect you.

Greg