Some people have asked why I must hunt with the objective of killing the quarry. Why, they wonder, can't I just walk in the woods with a camera and record my encounters with wildlife on film? The answer is simple my friend! To do so is not hunting. A photographer is an observer, a hunter is a participant in the life of outdoor drama. I firmly believe that those of us who chose to hunt are prederators. Let us make no excuses for that definition. Our prehistoric ancestors hunted, and so we follow those traditions. In my view "the chase" is an essential part of my very being, whether its tracking a 10 pointer in powder snow or listening to my teeth chatter in a blind waiting for a flock of geese to drop in on my decoys. Nothing dies easily in the woods. Animals perish, with or without my help. Most of them die violently and painfully, perhaps in the talons of a hawk, in the jaws of a coyote or as a victim of starvation or disease. My kill is quick and humane. Make no mistake, hunting by humans is natural. Man has always hunted. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise.
I don't rationalize my LOVE of hunting by saying I'm a " wildife management tool" essential to keep some animal population trimmed, nor do I hunt because my money funds wildlife agencies that ensure the propagation of all creatures, be they endangered or legal game. Yes, hunting and the dollars generated by fees and such are helpful to wildlife, but first I LOVE every aspect of hunting with every cell of my body for all the reasons I have just tried to explain! My attempts at explaining it are merely words that mean nothing to those who have never hunted.
If you are a hunter, then you KNOW. We're a fraternity, very definitely in the minority, a collection of people with a never ending LOVE of everything the OUTDOORS offers. We are maligned, cursed at and spat upon. Everyday people try to outlaw our sport. Those souls have NO CLUE what we feel.
I hunt because I exist. And I am, above all,
PROUD TO BE A HUNTER!!
>>>===========================FirstBow=== =======================>



Edited by - FirstBow on 12/15/2002 21:06:16

FirstBow, You’ve said more then I can add to this, but I will voice myself anyway.

I too crave for the coming seasons, as it is a tradition that’s past down through generations. For those activists who lurk among us understand life of itself is a vicious cycle where we all must survive.

I channel my energy in that of a good hunt, the stalker may it be, but unto no other man himself has become the hunted as well by his own fellow brother. To you who maybe reading this a.k.a. (animal right activist) such comments of why many may hunt. It becomes blatant, egregious, and just your mere perception at times to even ask such a question.

One who often attempts to castigate your own personal beliefs of why man would hunt, harm such innocent creatures of this land. Let me say this it’s called a cycle! I’ve grown tired of the vapid statements hunters are faced with daily where you wouldn’t possibly understand our love for the sport.

To he/she who has the audacity to speaketh of why? Look back over that transverse field whence all there was man living off this land. As I now abject to any further comments, take not what is said personal because I already have. I have no antipathy towards you but to continue living the life I’ve grown to know. Activist can be quite candor about many issues, that are discursive at times, their myopic vies of why I hunt are not really my concern and has no perspicuity. But yet, there’s always some polemic debate when it comes to animal rights and the wielding of the sword that effects me as a hunter.

VaSavage

firstbow your getting deep in the swamp! you need to go hunting and satisfy your primal urges.


SOUTH ARKANSAS REBEL

[Deleted by Admins]

Yea, well somethings just get my GOAT
Primal yea thats it primal, aaahhhh,uuuuhhhh,aaaaahhhhhh,uuhhhh.
Oh yeah, soark, I'm fixin' to take care of that itch of the scent I miss. Just patience is not applied until I get to where I gotta be to fix the itch.

Rain,rain go away!
So FirstBow can go and play<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>



Edited by - FirstBow on 11/13/2002 11:34:40

I hunt because its a part of me no one showed me how, no one in my family hunts. I just have a love for the outdoors. I am part blackfoot and I belive that its in my blood to hunt.Its my god given right and just try to stop me.<img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>

Like you I am the only one in my family to hunt. I was just thinking about it one day that I never really respected the life that went into my food, and that bothered me. So, I decided to sit down and learn to hunt so I could get a more personal interaction with the circle of life. It is as simple as that.

Chubber

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I hunt because its a part of me no one showed me how, no one in my family hunts. I just have a love for the outdoors. I am part blackfoot and I belive that its in my blood to hunt.Its my god given right and just try to stop me.<img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>


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I just had to move this to the front. I saw a reply in a topic by a new member in another forum. So to help them along with others like them.
Thanks,
FirstBow

I'm a newbie hunter and do it mostly because I like the outdoors and I can't buy no venison in the grocery store. No one in my family hunts and I am learning as I go...(mostly from you guys!!) But hunting is something I enjoy and will continue to do for the rest of my days on God's great earth!

Hector500
The best thing I can say to you is use your surroundings. Take mental notes from the animals and activity surrounding you and where you are hunting. Nature will tell you what you need to know if you listen to her. Blend in and not just with camo. I still second guess myself. I also still ask questions that I know the answer to because sometimes I just need re-assuring. It the norm' for me.
Good luck and be safe.

Listen: to the experienced
Learn: to apply what you heard
VERIFY: you target!
FirstBow