I’ve always had a hard time understanding this “I love to hunt, but really don’t enjoy the kill part”. Or the “It’s the whole experience, not the kill itself” I’m not saying it’s wrong, I just don’t understand it. The whole point of hunting is to kill. No other way to sugarcoat it. We ambush defenseless animals that have very little chance once they’ve been had. Why? Because they taste good, that’s why. If you don’t enjoy killing a deer, why kill it? I enjoy my hunt whether I kill something or not. But I sure enjoy it a lot more when I got something to go it that freezer. If you're really second guessing yourself as to taking that animals life, or feeling bad about taking it’s life, maybe you should re-think what you’re doing. You might be doing something that’s really against your nature. Maybe you do it because it’s perceived as manly. Maybe you do it because the other fellas do it. I don’t know? I’m not a psychotic serial killer; I’m not sexually aroused by killing a deer. My pets are as spoiled as any out there. I just get one heck of a rush when I see or hear that deer crash in the woods. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t hunt them. You’re a hunter; you’re a killer (of animals). They are one and the same. Modern day political correctness doesn’t change that. Doesn’t mean you aren’t a compassionate human being. Doesn’t mean you would ever harm another human being. What’s wrong with admitting snuffing an animal gives you joy? Watching it take its last breath, I think ‘YES”! Not, “poor little creature of the woods”.

Valor....I don't enjoy whipping my kid's ass.....but I understand it as a necessary evil.....and that it has to be done.

I don't "mind/shy away from/detest" the killing. I just don't enjoy the fact that the animal died at my hands. There's a difference.

Hey! Welcomw back, Jeff! I hope you had a tremendous time!

I like that quote from Aagard .... good stuff.

If I understand you correctly, you're using "necessary evil" in a figurative sense, since there's nothing "evil" about punishing your children or killing game animals.

As already stated, the kill is the culmination of the hunt. It's the goalyou set out to achieve at the very beginning of a hunt. As I've already stated, I love the hunt and I love the kill. Having said that, I agree with you... the kill is a sort of "necessary evil". I feel no remorse whatsoever during the kill, but afterwards, when I have my hands on the animal whose life I just ended,I do feel something. I wouldn't call it remorse, though. As I said before, it's more of a sense of appreciation, admiration, respectand acknowledgement.

It is difficult to put into words. I love the kill as a part of the hunt, but I don't enjoy "killing". Doesn't seem to make sense, does it?

I love every moment of it, just like said before though only if it's a clean kill. But if I know it's a clean kill or the animal is going to die quickly I love everything about it. Releasing that bow andhearing/seeing that arrow ''SMACK''slam right through that deer right behind the shoulder is probably one of the best feelings I get,and also pulling the trigger on my 11-87 and watching that turkey just fold right up is just a pump. Always said if I wasn't there to kill I'd find much warmer times like summer to set in my treestands and watch deer,and also I'd get to sleep in a lot later in the spring and I'd just drive around and watch turkeys in the field everyday of the season instead of getting in the woods a hr before daylight.

You kill an animal even though it gives you remorse, yet stomping on a spider gives you a moment of pause? I'm just trying to understand GMMAT. Why kill a living, breathing, creature if it gives you no pleasure?

Bingo LittleChief! The longer this thread runs, the clearer it becomes. To me anyway.

I don't know where you get I feel remorse. I never said it.

I don't enjoy the actual act .....the taking of the animal's life.

Okay. My bust. How about this. Why kill a living, breathing creature if the act of killing it is unenjoyable?

I feel like it's an instinct that's being bred out of us (slowly, but surely).......but I still feel it's instinctual (hunting). Killing's only a part of it.....and the part I don't especially "like".
I have no feelings of regret......just don't "enjoy" the act of killing. I think I'm not in the minority. I could be wrong.

Maybe you missed the point or feel diferently I don t think after 30 years of bow hunting I am going rethink somthing that I live for maybe it is because I have killed so much in the buisness that I am in it has made me feel diferently than you I don t know.To me I feel the ppl that posted on here that they had mixed emotions are more well the guys I have more respect as hunters as uposed to saying I like to kill things.