I voted "It's all part of the hunt....I like it"

I didn't vote the "I love it" because it's not what I enjoy the most. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the hunt and the kill, it's just I don't revel in the loss of life to the point that it's my driving force.

Good thread....get's you thinking.....

Although i've only shot rabbit , pheasant , tree rats and such with air rifle and shotgun, i have to agree with BigJ . Its all part of the hunt , although i may change opinion after September ( ELK bowhunting ) .. my first ever bowhunt .

Valor....I don't need for you to understand how I'm wired. I just don't enjoy killing.

I understand it to be (even a vital) "a" part of what we do as hunters. I'm fine with it. Doesn't mean I "enjoy" it. I accept it. It is what it is.

I think a lot of folks confuse hunting, and shooting an animal, with killing it. The word "harvest" is thrown around so much, it's de-personalized the act of killing an animal.

I believe alot of folks hunt and shoot the animal, without ever really giving a thought about the fact that they've killed that animal. It was walking and breathing, I ran an arrow through it's lungs, now it's dead. I killed it.

The actual release of the arrow is an absolute rush, IMO. But the literal KILLING of the animal isn't. Let's not confuse the 2.

I think we agree on this, Mobow. I take it that a lot of folks use the words "like" and "love" interchangeably in this context. I've said a few times that I love the hunt and I love the kill, but I don't love "killing". In my mind, there's an enormous difference. To most people, a successful hunt will end (I won't say climax and get Magicman excited again) with a kill, but killing doesn't necessarily involve a hunt. You said the release of an arrow is an absolute rush. I agree, but don't you think the rush is just as significant or maybe even more significant when you see that arrow hit home and you know that "this ones down"? I think that explains the arm pumps, high fives, and grown men melting into a gellatinous blob of nerves and emotions after the shot... even when it's seasoned pros on camera.

If thats the case, then hunt with arrows with suction cups on the tip ... or use one of those things that will throw a paint ball at the animal ......

Bottom .line .... you KILL the animal, jump up and down, hoot and holler, then grab those nasty horns and take a picture and pass it all over the net and to family ...... prolly drive it around, stopping at peeps houses ....... the kill part feeds our ego ... we have dominated the animal by taking it's life ... and we will make sure everyone knows about it ....

You and I view the taking of life......and hunting....much differently, Tony. That is obvious.

It's personal....and no one's view is wrong.

The accomplishment fulfills me. The act of killing the animal isn't even the d'enouemont. The success of the hunt (in totality) is.

I don't think we are that far apart .... now if you start hunting with a paint ball, which will fill all of your qualifications of the hunt and relieve you of the killing part, then I would say we are on oposite ends of the spectrum ......

Let me ask......

Does the man who slaughters cattle for a living enjoy the killing? Or....does he recognize it as part of the process that puts meat on the table?

quid pro quo ......answer me first .... what aspect is miissing in hunting with a paintball for you????