RE: Why do hunters... "Like to Kill"?
 

Can't say I've ever enjoyed seeing an animal die. If I don't drop game on the spot (which, of course, almost never happens), I always feel some amount of guilt for causing that animal to suffer.

Frankly, I like the entire experience of hunting. The pre-season planning and scouting, the comraderie between my partners and I leading up to and during the hunt, simply being outside in the peace and quiet of Mother Nature,the quiet intraspective reflection that only seems to come when it's just me and the woods, the challenge of getting within range of a game animal, and the feeling oftriumph when I make a harvest.

There'll be a solemn moment or two while I ponder theeffect of what I've done, but frankly I'm a carnivore who's at the top of the food chain, and I feel much better with myself taking food in a challenging and humane manner than paying someone else I know nothing aboutto do my killing for me. As long as I do as much as I possible can to remain ethical and humane, I have no feelings of regret for taking the life of my prey.

RE: Why do hunters... "Like to Kill"?
 

A non-hunter asked me the same question once when I showed her one of my stuffed ducks. She asked if I had to kill it or could I have just plucked it and kept the feathers for a mount while letting the poor bird go free.
Like the old saying goes, if you have to ask you'll never understand.

RE: Why do hunters... "Like to Kill"?
 

Usually spoken by people who are living off the sweat and lose of others. Have some carnivores chasing them and theirs and they will change their tune. All it takes sometimes is for the critters to eat their expensive plants. I hunt for free range, organically grown food.:D

RE: Why do hunters... "Like to Kill"?
 

Freshman year in college, I had a girl from up north (won't mention what city hehe) that found out I deer hunted and would always bash me and make idiotic comments about it. So I finally had enough and asked her if she eats beef (steaks, hamburgers, etc). She said yeah. So I proceeded to tell her just how her beer gets to the table like it does. Then I explained to her that when I'm deer hunting, at least my query has a fair chance to get away whereas her meal of beef has no chance at all. (not bashing beef farmers here either). To close it up, I said to her that I personally don't like the kill, but the challenge. But hunting is not like fishing. To be "successful" in hunting you have to actually harvest your trophy whereas a fisherman can catch their catch of a lifetime, takea few pics, throw it back and get a replica made. (I kind of brought 2 different aspects into that so hopefully it makes sense). Anyways, that shut her up for good and then she respected me a little more and would even ask questions about hunting!

RE: Why do hunters... "Like to Kill"?
 

I can see the news now. Bald duck swimming in pond suffering from sun burn.:D

RE: Why do hunters... "Like to Kill"?
 

IMO, its the full circle of all the time, effort, and money that you have put into it to be successful. I enjoy hunting for a variety of reasons; getting out, getting away, nature, solitude, meat, etc. But for killing, it makes everything complete. And NO, I don't feel bad about it because I respect what I take!

RE: Why do hunters... "Like to Kill"?
 

Everyone has had good answers here. Aught Six has my sentiments exactly!
The kill, or "harvest" if that helps calm others down, (dead is dead, no matter how you phrase it) is just the "extra" successful ending of the hunt! The hunt is a success with the kill or not! Just being in the woods, from scouting, camping, stand building, and even proccessing, is a success to me! The actual "kill," has no particular thrill to it, I just like the meat! Be it trophy, or doe, I would not kill it, if I were not going to eat it!
Anyone who uses any animal products, and bashes hunting, is at best, mis-informed, most are just fooling themselves!
We hunters just do it ourselves!

RE: Why do hunters... "Like to Kill"?
 

It's not the "killing" that you have to like. "Killing" only takes a split second, whether it's the squeeze of the trigger or release of the bow. It's everything that it takes before the "killing" and everything after (to prepare the meat) that is hunting. If it was the "killing" I enjoyed, I wouldn't be a hunter. Mainly because, for all the hunting I do, there is very little "killing" in comparision. The main joy I get when I "kill" an animal, isn't from the "kill", it's from the satisfaction of knowing I worked hard, my hard work paid off and I have something (delicious) to show for it.

RE: Why do hunters... "Like to Kill"?
 

Also Jimmy, as creatures of evolution. Our bodies have adapted to our "choosen" style of living. NO ONE can argue that our bodies (as all other creatures) have changed little by little thru many evolutionary cycles. The most undeniable fact is to look at a humans teeth. Front teeth designed to tear flesh free and rear teeth designed to crush the flesh.

Those who are vegetarians chose to be for whatever reason, and I have to respect their decision. They still have the same teeth as we do, designed and intended to eat flesh.

It comes down to the same old same old. The only difference between vegetarians and meat-eaters is that meat-eaters don't care if you don't eat meat. (Hey - more for us!)

Uncle Matt (in IL)

RE: Why do hunters... "Like to Kill"?
 

I don't like to kill - I like to hunt. Once I kill an animal the work starts.