Harvesting vs Killing
09-27-2005, 01:09 PM
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Almost Heaven. Boone Co. WV
Posts: 1,003
Harvesting vs Killing
I don't mean to ruffel any feathers.......BUT............I have noticed that a lot of people on the board use the term "Harvest" when referring to killing a deer. 
Why? Is it to be PC? I have never used the term myself and I have only heard it used by the "TV"hunter until I started spending some time here.
Doesn't it boil down to killing the animal? Why has it become sugar coated?
Why? Is it to be PC? I have never used the term myself and I have only heard it used by the "TV"hunter until I started spending some time here.
Doesn't it boil down to killing the animal? Why has it become sugar coated?
09-27-2005, 01:18 PM
#4
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Jackson, Missouri
Posts: 7,051
RE: Harvesting vs Killing
I understand where you're coming from. I think the difference lies in the attitude with which the act itself is carried out, and the intentions of what is to be done with the animal afterwards.
Case in point: I responded to a thread about a gentleman taking a raccoon earlier and said that I had been tempted to loose an arrow at one of those critters, especially when bordeom had sunk in, but had never done so because I couldn't bear the thought of wasting a broadhead on one. In reality, that's only a partial truth; the other reason I haven't done so is because I know I'll never gut it, take it home, clean it and eat it. To me, if I shot a raccoon (or any other such animal) it would be merely killing it because I never planned on using it to fortify my family with. I know there are those that love the taste of raccoon; that's not the point. The point is, I myself would never go to all the trouble with one. And, yes, I've tasted raccoon before. That's exactly why I wouldn't go to the trouble.
Deer, and other game animals, like that provide substenance for my family. Do I enjoy the act of hunting? Absolutely. Is the act born out of necessity to feed my family? No way. But -- I know that after I get to enjoy the thrill of the hunt, the animal will also serve a useful purpose later down the road. Hence, a sense of harvesting as opposed to merely killing.
Hope that helps.
Case in point: I responded to a thread about a gentleman taking a raccoon earlier and said that I had been tempted to loose an arrow at one of those critters, especially when bordeom had sunk in, but had never done so because I couldn't bear the thought of wasting a broadhead on one. In reality, that's only a partial truth; the other reason I haven't done so is because I know I'll never gut it, take it home, clean it and eat it. To me, if I shot a raccoon (or any other such animal) it would be merely killing it because I never planned on using it to fortify my family with. I know there are those that love the taste of raccoon; that's not the point. The point is, I myself would never go to all the trouble with one. And, yes, I've tasted raccoon before. That's exactly why I wouldn't go to the trouble.
Deer, and other game animals, like that provide substenance for my family. Do I enjoy the act of hunting? Absolutely. Is the act born out of necessity to feed my family? No way. But -- I know that after I get to enjoy the thrill of the hunt, the animal will also serve a useful purpose later down the road. Hence, a sense of harvesting as opposed to merely killing.
Hope that helps.
09-27-2005, 01:28 PM
#5
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,679
RE: Harvesting vs Killing
This is what the dictionary defines harvest as........
1. The season for gathering in agricultural crops
2. The act or process of gathering in crops
3. A mature crop
4. An accumulated store or productive result
A crop is defined as (as it relates here)
2. A plant or animal or plant or animal product that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistance.
So the way I see it is.........
If a person is raising deer specifically for profit, such as a high fence preserve, then the deer are harvested.
If a person is specifically raising deer for food such as on a farm, like cows or pigs, then the deer are harvested.
If a person goes and takes an animal from the wild that they kill that animal.
1. The season for gathering in agricultural crops
2. The act or process of gathering in crops
3. A mature crop
4. An accumulated store or productive result
A crop is defined as (as it relates here)
2. A plant or animal or plant or animal product that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistance.
So the way I see it is.........
If a person is raising deer specifically for profit, such as a high fence preserve, then the deer are harvested.
If a person is specifically raising deer for food such as on a farm, like cows or pigs, then the deer are harvested.
If a person goes and takes an animal from the wild that they kill that animal.
09-27-2005, 01:47 PM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Flowery Branch Ga. 30542
Posts: 823
RE: Harvesting vs Killing
when your thoughts are made public, it is wiser to be political correct these days..
someone once said I would rather be silent and though of as a fool, rather than open my mouth and remove all doubt...
someone once said I would rather be silent and though of as a fool, rather than open my mouth and remove all doubt...
09-27-2005, 01:58 PM
#9
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,236
RE: Harvesting vs Killing
IMO.....Using the word "harvest" is born from the need to make ones self feel less guilt over the act of taking an animals life. Only humans and anoccasional housedog with bladder dysfunction feel the emotion of guilt. The act of hunting is the second most natural act IMO. I think you know what the first is. People who buy their meat in a store KILLED the cow or pig or chicken just as much as I killed those deer. One should never feel any kind of guilt for participating in the natural order. The religion of HUNTING is perhaps the most pure of any that ever existed. As for choosing your words to show respect for the animal...deer do not speak english or any other human language....and dead deer don't hear either. Do what makes you feel better if you must, but do not feel the need to mince words to please any other person. If another person finds "killing" deer objectionable...they should check-out now because no human on earth can survive without killing some living thing.
