Great post ....describes me to a tee!!!

Now THIS statement would carry alot more water if it were your FIRST post

The above is why watching that little 4pt yesterday for over an hour at literally25ft was one of my best hunts. I didn't even see another deer. I just enjoyed watching his every move. I was in his little world for a while, and he didn't know it. I like that.

Fascinating, huh

Great thought there, EI.

PT.....I'll level with you about something else....

When I go to a tree with my bow....I feel like I am the ultimate predator....there to do a job. Call it "killer instinct" or whatever....but I feel like that. To me....it's a great thought process when you have one (that you want)in range. Do your job.

"Fun" in hunting is different things to different people. I liken hunting to "my" golf game a lot. I see so many similarities, really. In each pursuit....you have to learn to control your emotions......not get ahead of yourself.....and not get in your own way.

Tom Watson once said that the beauty of the game is simply being "in the arena"......and learning how to control your emotions, while there. Sounds a lot like hunting, to me.

Philosophy 302......from the "newbie".

Have a great week.....good luck EI, Rob, everyone......

Well this thread has come full circle for sure. I can't believe its still going. This has got to be close to a record. It does look like everyone is just about on the same page now. This has been very intriguing dialogue on this topic. Its nice to see everyone's differing opinion, and I didn't even really see it get too personal either. lol.

Rob saved me some typing. This fits me to a tea!!

After 17 pages I had to pop in and read a couple.

When I hunt, I am out there to kill something, that’s why I carry a bow/gun. I know the majority of times that I venture out, I’m not going to get anything. That’s just part of it.

When I kill a deer, I feel no remorse or pleasure in the act itself. I do take HUGE joy in getting the animal I was after, but to me that is different than taking pleasure in the actual act of killing. The only time I feel bad, is when the act doesn’t go as cleanly as I feel it should due to my own fault. Even though I try to shoot as many deer as I can, it’s not the pleasure in killing that drives me. It’s the repeated culmination of my efforts at hunting (and all that is involved) which leads to success, that I take pleasure in. I KNOW I will have a good time while hunting whether successful or not.

Why, I didn't change or really express any feelings in any previous post?

LOL .... the statement you made right before that was awesome ... I have been thinking about it alot ...... and it really makes me think how much of THAT statement is the real glue that bonds most of us on this sight ..... outside of one other site , I have not seen another site like this .... I mean you guys and gals are the real deal .... what hunting is all about ..... yes, even you Bawana [:-]...... I have learned so much here .... I will be going into the deer woods a different hunter this year ........ I can't wait

this is the quote I am referring to ....

I feel so misunderstood.

Ieven mentioned God in one of my last posts.

I haven't forgot about the recipe either,I just have a few other things going right now.

I have brief moments of remorse mixed with joy and gratitude when I'm sitting with a recently departed deer andI always sit for a bit with the beast before breaking out the knife. It's an honor to take an animals life.

I think there should be afew secondsspent honoring the game before I start to whoop it up and making cell phone call for help dragging..

I hope to feel a little bit of remorse next monday...