Why do I hunt? You would think that having been asked this question many times over the years I could come up with an easy answer. Not that its a hard question. Its just hard to find the words to describe the deep down love and passion that I feel for hunting. There's something invigorating, and yet relaxing about being in the pre-dawn woods watching the day come to life with song birds whistling their good morning tunes. The distant gobble of an old tom keeping tabs on the local hens. Squirrels scampering about, collecting nuts for the winter stopping now and then to sample his findings. Watching a whitetail doe moving throuh the trees all most undetectable, stopping often to nibble on browse or to test the wind.

You see there's much more to hunting than the killing of game. So why do you hunt you ask? Why not just sit in the woods and enjoy nature without the killing? Because I understand the need for the balance of nature and how important it is to keep wildlife populations in check. If left unchecked it wouldn't be long before the natural beauty, of not just the wildlife. but also the habitat that they live in would be destroyed. When God created all that is, he did so for man. He gave man power over the animals and birds. I feel that its our responsability to God and to the wildlife to keep them healthy and provide a healthy habitat for them.

In this ever expanding civilized world we live in, we continue to destroy the habitat in which they need so desperately to survive. As habitat decreases the wildlife populations need to be reduced and kept in balance with what the habitat can support. If this dosen't happen, then it won't be long before there won't be any wildlife for anyone to enjoy, hunters and non-hunters alike. They will die of desease and starvation and become extinct. Thats why I hunt .


I Pete Neff hereby give permission to publish this piece if you so choose.

God Bless & Good Hunting
LM/NAHC
Member NRA
Member P&Y CLUB
Member QDMA
Member Ducks Unlimited