hike up your skirt nancy. hehe. just kidding. Mine actually is the opposite of yours. i felt terrible after my first couple deer. Now, there's a little less excitement, but there isn't the bad feeling.

I guess the excitement over rules the sadness because I feel nothing but joy and excitement after the kill.

Kinda weird that you post this today... In three years of hunting, I've shot 3 deer, one every year so far, First buck taken with a shotgun, secondbuck with a perfect shot from a muzzleloader, and now, my third, with a bow... the first two I felt absolutely nothing but elated, just proud of myself for getting dinner for the table, but the button buck I shot last night shot an arrow right through my heart. I want to be more excited for my first bow kill, but I really did NOT want to shoot that deer, I wanted him to have a longer life than he did, he didn't get to experience much, didn't even get to go through a winter (I guess that's not a BAD thing), but I felt and am still feeling a little depressed that I took his life so early. IF I would have known he was a button, I would not have shot him, I just thought he was a fairly small doe, that's what I was there for, to shoot a doe, wasn't looking for a wall hanger, didn't want to shoot a button buck simply because he was a "buck"... I simply wanted a doe to get some meat in the freezer.

It's only out of respect that we feel this. If we didn't respect the animal, we'd be shining, poaching, tag swapping, you name it... at least we are in it for the right reasons, folks, and that's all that matters. That's what I told my mom last night, it's a true test of a honest, sincere hunter, if you are only out for the sport, it's a totally different ballgame.

As far as feeling bad I do but you have to realize what you are there for. When you go out with your bow your intention is to kill a deer. Im not saying there is something wrong for feeling bad in no means because it is showing respect to the animal, but sometimes you have to suck it up and go on.

From day one I have felt a little sadness but it is always right before the shot. You can't let respect, and sadness become 2 seperate emotions. They have to be one united feeling. For me if I let the two become distinguished between each other I might nevercome to full draw again.

That feeling is one of the things that separates a true sportsman from, well, the rest I guess you could say.

That is the piece of soul that is missing from much of society these days. Embrace that sadness, but do not let it engulf you.

I never used to think about it at all................But now I always feel remorse for the animals I kill.............Like someone said earlier kids can soften you up some. I think feeling remorse is a very healthy thing for true hunters/sportsman. I think it helps to keep you ethical!

MN, I know exactly what you are talking about.

Yup, I know exactly what you are saying. It's a very personal moment. Will Primos used to ask for a moment alone after he harvested an animal. Don't know if he still does or not.

I'll have that moment alone.....when I harvest my first deer. I've already thought of that. My background is waterfowl/upland bird and Turkey hunting. I can honestly say I don't think I've had too many emotional moents in taking winged creatures.....but I KNOW that first deer is gonna be different. I got into this to teach my son how to be an ethical sportsman (he was going to bow hunt with or without me...lol) and a good steward of our environment. We've been in the woods several times, now.....seeing animals....but not getting shots. I'm not even sure I'm going to shoot. I say I will......but we'll see. I want to turkey hunt with the bow, this year.....and we'll see how that goes.

I think I'd be afraid if I DIDN'T get these sort of feelings. I don't feel vulnerable or overtly emotional when speaking about this subject, either. I may become VERY emotional in that 'moment alone'. To me.....I feel that level of respect is crucial. It's why I practice....tomake ethical shots. It's why I don't poach. It's why I don't trespass. It's why ...well...you know.

I feel in the tree stand the way I feel in the trout stream. I am ALIVE and I am in my element. Because I do things right.....maybe God will bless me with a "trophy"...an "offering". I can show him my respect by honoring his blessing.

I've thought about this since I first decided I would deer hunt. I'll let you know how things pan out.

Jeff