Why do I hunt? I hunt as others have said, because man is a natural predator!
My best reasons for hunting are, that I do love venison meat! Not for the economics, because most hunting costs more than going to the grocery store and buying beef. To me the taste of venison is far superior to beef and it is healthier too!
I also love the outdoors, being close to nature is almost a spiritual experience to me, even when I don't come home with game.
I also love to see wild game, especially the Whitetail deer! I respect the Whitetail, and there is a great challenge to pit a hunters skills against the well honed instincts of a deer!
With this being said, the non-hunter may well ask how I could kill a beautiful animal that I "claim" to love and respect so much?
This is a fair question, and to this my answer would be that I know that God has put animals here for our use. He has given us "dominion" over them. There are many biblical references that confirm our mastery over the animal kingdom, and that also condone hunting.
Lastly, the reason I can and do hunt, is that I can take an animal that I respect so much, and without remorse, is that I have not taken a life in anger! As a conservationist, I know that the animal I take, actually helps the species. Without hunting, the animal population would grow out of control, and the animals we love so much would meet with a death far more inhumane than a hunters arrow or bullet!
The statistics also clearly show that almost without exception, that the game animal populations have been restored to record levels, compared to near exstiction in the early 1900's! Through hunters efforts at conservation and our hunting dollars, non-game as well as game animals have benifited from the "Hunter!" Of who's fellowship I am proud to be counted! Yes, I am a hunter, and am not ashamed! Frank