A Contradiction in Hunting
While trying to explain my desire to hunt to non-hunters, there is one sticking point that is hard for them to wrap their mind around.That sticking point is the very final act of the hunt: The actual killing of the animal. And while trying to explain that, I have to admit, my views on it are so hard to explain, I can see where it would be a huge contradiction to anyone who doesn’t know what I’m talking about.
I don’t know how many times I’ve been asked if I enjoy killing when talking about hunting. To non-hunters, that is the ultimate culmination of what happens when you hunt. And my reply is always the same, it isn’t about the kill…in fact, some of my best hunts were ones where I never even fired a shot or an arrow. And then I’ve been asked, if it isn’t about the kill, would you have the same experience if you went into the woods, went through all the steps, but in the end, there was never the intention of killing the animal?
And my answer to that is, no, it wouldn’t be the same experience. That is where it gets confusing for people.
Although I enjoy a hunt where I never take a shot at an animal, the possibility of the kill has to be there for me to have the same experience. You take the possibility of that out of the equation and it isn’t hunting anymore. It is completely different to at the last moment decide not to take an animal than it is going into the woods with no intentions of taking one.
So, in the end, it usually comes down to the persons brain on the near verge of exploding. And I have to admit, I can see why it would. I know perfectly well what I mean, but trying to explain it to someone unfamiliar with hunting is like describing the color blue to a person who’s been blind since birth. You just can’t do it in a way that they will understand because they have no experience to put it into context with.
Have any of you ever experienced this when trying to explain your desire to hunt to a non-hunter?
[tags]hunting, hunting sense, contradictions, reason for hunting, killing, hunt, outdoors, woods[tags]
August 30th, 2007 at 9:01 am
I have had this conversation SO MANY TIMES! One time I was trying to explain that I do kill deer, but yet I still completely respect them. It is very hard for non-hunters to wrap their mind around these ideas. The only thing we can do is keep at it, and explain to those who give us the opportunity, where we are coming from.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:43 am
I tell most of them that if this was 50 to 100 years ago. They would be out there skinning the deer and thanking God that we got one and in the fall they would also be right in the middle of the hog killing with a smile on their face and thankful again.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:45 am
I also tell them that if the electricity goes out, they are going to die.
August 31st, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Some folks think all hunters are wicked and we can never get them to understand the respect we have for all of the fish, birds and animals we seek.
If the electricity went out, my family would do just fine!
September 2nd, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Great post…a very important issue!
When having this discussion, I frequently ask them if they eat meat. They almost always do, in which case I ask them if it’s more humane and respectful to be ignorant to what goes on “behind the scenes” of your burger, or to confront the animal on his/her territory.
I also try to understand where they are coming from and that they my never understand my point of view. In doing so, I try to explain the various positive benefits that come from hunters (such as funds for conservation, population control, etc.).
September 2nd, 2007 at 4:13 pm
I’m not a hunter myself, but I come from a family of them. Instead of shooting a deer with a gun, I would go sit in the woods with my dad and shoot it with a camera…which is just as hard. Getting that PERFECT shot is impossible sometimes, but in any case it does help me realize what you mean. If I were to go into the woods, setting up myself for a great “Shoot” and then not load the camera with film…well…it’s just not the same.
September 4th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
One way that I can explain that it isn’t about the kill for me is that I let dozens of deer walk each year - with no need to kill them.