College Student Looking For Passionate Hunter

[ActionBob]

If you were asked...why do you hunt? What would your answers be?

There are lots of reasons;
Adventure and excitement of course. Humans are hunters by nature, I think many in modern society substitute other things to fill this natural instinct... Gambling might be an example of this, hunting for the big win... Likewise video games, living vicariously through a fantasy hunt or battle.

A natural curiosity is a big part of it, to see what you can get, to try to figure out the animal, it's behavior, the environment it lives in. The actual hunt is the fun part, the kill at the end is the climax of that of course. And taking a real trophy, old mature animal that you know has had ample opportunity to pass on it's genetics, brings a kind of special satisfaction that is difficult to explain. But knowing that animal that was finished contributing to it's species and yet was competing for resources makes it extra satisfying. And then keeping a trophy of that serves to remind and allow reliving those moments. And shows respect for and pride of the animal.

Being conservation minded drives most of us as well, and is the most important reason to have trophy hunting remain successful and a be allowed to continue it's vital role in preserving the planets wildlife and wild places. Especially when you get to some of the more controversial animals, such as elephant and even rhino and lion, hunting becomes vitally important to their survival and the preservation of their habitats.

 

[K-man]

There are lots of reasons;
Adventure and excitement of course. Humans are hunters by nature, I think many in modern society substitute other things to fill this natural instinct... Gambling might be an example of this, hunting for the big win... Likewise video games, living vicariously through a fantasy hunt or battle.

A natural curiosity is a big part of it, to see what you can get, to try to figure out the animal, it's behavior, the environment it lives in. The actual hunt is the fun part, the kill at the end is the climax of that of course. And taking a real trophy, old mature animal that you know has had ample opportunity to pass on it's genetics, brings a kind of special satisfaction that is difficult to explain. But knowing that animal that was finished contributing to it's species and yet was competing for resources makes it extra satisfying. And then keeping a trophy of that serves to remind and allow reliving those moments. And shows respect for and pride of the animal.

Being conservation minded drives most of us as well, and is the most important reason to have trophy hunting remain successful and a be allowed to continue it's vital role in preserving the planets wildlife and wild places. Especially when you get to some of the more controversial animals, such as elephant and even rhino and lion, hunting becomes vitally important to their survival and the preservation of their habitats.

Well said. The only addition (for me) is the benefit of the free range organic meat for me and my family. My grown kids still come home and raid my freezer. Of course that is here at home. In Africa, you feed an entire village.

 

[Hank2211]

If you were asked...why do you hunt? What would your answers be?

I assume most of us have been asked . . . at one time or another. Probably easier to say in person, but I can tell you - and I think I've posted this or something similar on another thread - it hasn't go anything to do with how much good hunting can do for the species, for conservation of habitat, for employment, to give a value to animals, for conservation, etc., etc., etc. All of that is true, and all of the is good, but it isn't why I hunt.

I hunt because it speaks to me somewhere deep inside (starting to sound funny . . .). Getting out in the early morning, before most people are out of bed, grabbing a quick bite, heading out as the sun starts to come up, walking through the bush, with a good gun, and good friends, in good country. The adrenalin beginning to pump as I stalk up on an animal, trying to get as close as I can, trying to become one with my surroundings. Getting my own meat . . . as God (or nature, if you prefer) intended (not from a supermarket), with one good, clean shot. There is no better feeling, of closeness to the earth, of closeness to our ancestors, and of self-sufficiency. I know - I really know - that if I had to, I could put food on the table, even if the stories weren't there.

 

[Code4]

'I'm what a North American citizen would classify as a Liberal.
I have hunted for 44 of my 56 years in 5 countries and shot animals for trophies, fun, meat and pest extermination.
I also support gay marriage, women's right to a termination, free public health and the dismantling of the US industrial/military complex.
I believe disarmament is a move by the rich to enslave the working man.

Would I qualify ???'

In case anyone was mislead. I wasn't joking. Hunting and shooting is part of my culture and my heritage. It doesn't make me a reactionary redneck.

 

[Royal27]

I hunt because it speaks to me somewhere deep inside

Someone recently asled me why I hunted and part of my answer was this basically, that I thought part of why I did it was that I had a genetic disposition to chase and take game.

When I suggested that it was genetic I received several laughs and one lady even seemed to recoil a bit. I was of course told that there was nothing genetic about it. I asked the person if they thought sexual orientation was genetic. The answer was of course yes. When I asked why orientation could be genetic but the desire to hunt food could not of course I got no answer.

Point being, society has become that far removed, as a whole.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

If you were asked...why do you hunt? What would your answers be?

Because I suck at golf....

 

[Katie]

hi katie why dont you get a grant or whatever they are called over there from your university and find an operator who would have you visit the bush to see how it works, from looking after clients , the animals , the hunting , anti poaching the whole kit and caboodle, as to why people love hunting and all thats involved with it. being in the wild areas seeing , hearing, smelling what most people never experience . maybe that would give you some understanding ........from what i recall we have had this type of request on AH before, and people have been helpful, as they are on here to try and get their feelings and info across to the person asking for info, but after a short time those people vanished with nothing more said...........so i think you will run into quite a bit of scepticism here about your intentions......cheers mike

That would be a wonderful idea

 

[Katie]

Greeting everyone,

I am a student at Florida Gulf Coast University looking to interview a passionate hunter. My goal is to make your perspective known to a liberal college so that we understand each other. No criticizing, no analysis, just purely as a project in empathizing. I would very much appreciate your time. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Katie

1. What motivates you to practice hunting in Africa?

2. When it comes to conservation, how does hunting fit in?

3. What is done with the animals afterwards?

4. What is your relationship to the animal?

5. What can you say about the effectiveness game management?

6. What are the locals opinion on hunting?

7. What would you say to the people against hunting?

 

[Katie]

This website has so much information from very experienced hunters and conservationists. It would be like interviewing dozens of individuals with a PhD in the subject (not me btw). You will also find links to third party resources. My suggestion is give the website a read and then ask questions in an informed but critical manner. You will learn a lot and should be able to produce a great paper. Good luck with your studies!

Thankyou, Pheroze! My professor wanted me to interview a single person, so that is why it sounds like a dating ad haha

 

[Katie]

Dammit,
I thought this was the start of the AH dating site!
Passionate, check!
Hunter, check!
Irresistible, not a chance, but on a forum, I could be. I could probably describe myself as looking like brad Pitt, only with Robert Ruark mentality and a Capstick flair! I enjoy long walks in the bush, cuddling up with a romantic reloading manual and good Scotch. I love spending quality time with large bore rifles, skinny cartridges are fine to look at and occasionally flirt with, but I like a real rifle. I'm looking for that one special rifle that really wants to be with just me. I'm sensitive(not to recoil), caring(clean and oil after each use) and loyal(I defend the M700 tooth and nail). Lol

Seriously Katie, good luck in your quest, post your questions if you would like some great, well thought out answers.
Cheers,
Cody

It does Lol! Thank you.

 

[Katie]

Katie, as you can tell, hunters also have a sense of humour.

Having said that, you should understand that most of us are somewhat reluctant to engage with people who just appear on this or other hunting sites. Hunters have not generally been well represented in the popular media, and we are naturally reluctant to provide fodder for those who would attack us or what we do. The request that you post your questions is just a reflection of this natural wariness.

But at the same time, we are not embarrassed by our sport, nor are we shy about promoting its benefits. In fact, we are quite proud of what hunters do, whether it be for wildlife, or the communities which live with wildlife, or the jobs hunting creates, etc. This is particularly so if you look at what many anti-hunting organizations do - it often seems to us that they are so focused on fundraising they have no time left for anything else!

I suggest you either post your questions as suggested, or feel free to PM any of us. Some of us are hunters, and some of us are professional hunters, and some of us are outfitters. You can usually tell who is who by the post. I would suggest you start with an outfitter of a PH - they are on the ground in Africa and can provide you with a perspective that is both real and immediate.

Good luck with your research - it's nice to see someone actively looking for all sides to an issue.

Thank you so much Hank2211. I understand how sides are often attacked. I see it in journalism (especially politics) and science when writers and journalist make commentary, even in a subtle sarcastic way. But my project will have no commentary on my part - I won't be portraying anyone in anyway. Thank you for your helpful advice and your openness.

 

[Katie]

This website has so much information from very experienced hunters and conservationists. It would be like interviewing dozens of individuals with a PhD in the subject (not me btw). You will also find links to third party resources. My suggestion is give the website a read and then ask questions in an informed but critical manner. You will learn a lot and should be able to produce a great paper. Good luck with your studies!

Thank you! I know there is some debate in the media about conservation and that is something I would like the straight facts on.

 

[Katie]

There are lots of reasons;
Adventure and excitement of course. Humans are hunters by nature, I think many in modern society substitute other things to fill this natural instinct... Gambling might be an example of this, hunting for the big win... Likewise video games, living vicariously through a fantasy hunt or battle.

A natural curiosity is a big part of it, to see what you can get, to try to figure out the animal, it's behavior, the environment it lives in. The actual hunt is the fun part, the kill at the end is the climax of that of course. And taking a real trophy, old mature animal that you know has had ample opportunity to pass on it's genetics, brings a kind of special satisfaction that is difficult to explain. But knowing that animal that was finished contributing to it's species and yet was competing for resources makes it extra satisfying. And then keeping a trophy of that serves to remind and allow reliving those moments. And shows respect for and pride of the animal.

Being conservation minded drives most of us as well, and is the most important reason to have trophy hunting remain successful and a be allowed to continue it's vital role in preserving the planets wildlife and wild places. Especially when you get to some of the more controversial animals, such as elephant and even rhino and lion, hunting becomes vitally important to their survival and the preservation of their habitats.

Well said. The only addition (for me) is the benefit of the free range organic meat for me and my family. My grown kids still come home and raid my freezer. Of course that is here at home. In Africa, you feed an entire village.

I live in Florida, alligator hunting popular here. And I agree with you the meat is delicious. Alligator meat is my favorite. I guess its easy to kill something like an alligator or frog, but I would have a hard time with something like a big cat, especially when populations are in decline. Not being there, and just hearing about it from biased sources like WWF or other environmental agencies, what is the situation with conservation of these threatened and endangered species?

 

[Scott Slough]

Because I suck at golf....

I feel for you ... I don't suck at golf ... but I know many who do ... and I feel for them as well !

 

[Katie]

I assume most of us have been asked . . . at one time or another. Probably easier to say in person, but I can tell you - and I think I've posted this or something similar on another thread - it hasn't go anything to do with how much good hunting can do for the species, for conservation of habitat, for employment, to give a value to animals, for conservation, etc., etc., etc. All of that is true, and all of the is good, but it isn't why I hunt.

I hunt because it speaks to me somewhere deep inside (starting to sound funny . . .). Getting out in the early morning, before most people are out of bed, grabbing a quick bite, heading out as the sun starts to come up, walking through the bush, with a good gun, and good friends, in good country. The adrenalin beginning to pump as I stalk up on an animal, trying to get as close as I can, trying to become one with my surroundings. Getting my own meat . . . as God (or nature, if you prefer) intended (not from a supermarket), with one good, clean shot. There is no better feeling, of closeness to the earth, of closeness to our ancestors, and of self-sufficiency. I know - I really know - that if I had to, I could put food on the table, even if the stories weren't there.

That is beautiful!

Someone recently asled me why I hunted and part of my answer was this basically, that I thought part of why I did it was that I had a genetic disposition to chase and take game.

When I suggested that it was genetic I received several laughs and one lady even seemed to recoil a bit. I was of course told that there was nothing genetic about it. I asked the person if they thought sexual orientation was genetic. The answer was of course yes. When I asked why orientation could be genetic but the desire to hunt food could not of course I got no answer.

Point being, society has become that far removed, as a whole.

Well that lady was pretty ridiculous. I can agree that it is genetic. I used to enjoy catching lizards and bugs as a child. Now that thrill is with video games. I think society gets uncomfortable with controversial animals like cats and elephants. In my case, I think that animals have intelligence and I can't imagine taking someone's life.

 

[Scott Slough]

Katie,

I feel for you professors can be real sticklers ... but we usually have a reason ... yes, I am a dreaded liberal professor. I suspect that qualitative data analysis is part of the learning process and I would be more than happy to do the interview over the phone if it is required for the assignment. PM me and I will provide you with my contact information if needed. Good luck!

 

[Code4]

I'll have a stab at this:

1. What motivates you to practice hunting in Africa?

Its a romantic destination with a well developed and advertised industry in exotic animals unavailable to hunt or view elsewhere in the world. It also has a parallel local culture of hunting and bushcraft that appeals to the romantic and practical bushman in myself.

2. When it comes to conservation, how does hunting fit in?

Hunting adds value to native animals (assets). Anything of value is worth protecting and nurturing. If you lose your asset it has no value, in African that asset simply becomes meat to the next hungry villager or poacher and then their are no assets. Kenya has no legal hunting and African species are virtually non existent or extinct outside heavily protected private game farms and are even threatened in National Parks. Hunting pays for the protection of areas where game can exists. It also protects genetic diversity.

3. What is done with the animals afterwards?

Some hunters take the head and skin for taxidermy as a 'trophy' or they are sold to tourists as curio items and the meat is sold or consumed by the owner and his workers. It is a protein asset. In Africa everything is sold or used.

4. What is your relationship to the animal?

Primal. Yes, even humans are still animals. Every species has its own attributes. I respect an animal that is not easy to hunt. (You can't just walk up at all animals in all situations and kill them). If I give it no respect or value then it becomes a commodity and my own morality is compromised.

5. What can you say about the effectiveness game management?

Management is effective if someone pays for it. With demand comes supply and to guarantee supply and ecological diversity you have to manage your asset/resource. The higher the demand the more investment goes into management and more is done to preserve habitat and game. Population growth is the biggest threat to African wildlife and somewhere you have to decide who gets preference, the game or the citizens of the country your in. Bad management such as reduced elephant control in Hwange National park has led to massive deforestation and habitat loss for large numbers of species.

6. What are the locals opinion on hunting?

I have never seen an African sad when gets given meat from a hunt. Various programs exist that also support local communities with cash. Research 'Campfire' programs in Zimbabwe. Some locals are jealous of assets being unattainable for their own use (and ownership) and have a view that commercial hunting is just an economic form of imperialism.

7. What would you say to the people against hunting?

Not much. Most have never hunted, have no first hand experience and have a limited practical knowledge on the subject. Most objections seem to have been spoon fed to the anti-hunters and not gained from their own experiences. I find it hypocritical that people eat animal protein yet condemn hunting that protects eco diversity. I find its not the hunting that people object to but the killing with the use of firearms. The vast majority of western populations have become softened and conditioned to reject the reality of life outside metroplitan areas.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I feel for you ... I don't suck at golf ... but I know many who do ... and I feel for them as well !

Don't sweat it, it's a silly game really. I do wish I had talent for it as it is fun when you hit a really good shot, but in then end it's just chasing around a little ball.

 

[ActionBob]

1. What motivates you to practice hunting in Africa?

2. When it comes to conservation, how does hunting fit in?

3. What is done with the animals afterwards?

4. What is your relationship to the animal?

5. What can you say about the effectiveness game management?

6. What are the locals opinion on hunting?

7. What would you say to the people against hunting?

1. It is the hunting meca of the World with so much variety. It has that historic and cultural feel, like walking in the footsteps of Teddy Roosevelt, Earnest Hemingway, and many others from that romantic period... At least jut a little bit. It is a new adventure and exciting to plan, embark upon, and experience.
2. It is absolutely vital! Take the elephant for example. in much of Africa, where there are elephants, there are too many and they need to be managed.. Kruger National Park for example is on the tipping point, or beyond, with it's carrying capacity of elephant. There are large areas of Kruger that are mostly wasteland as the elephants have eaten or destroyed the vegetation. They have tried odd but PC practices to control them, such as birth control... Can you imagine getting a condom on this guy?

Now joking aside, they seriously spent millions trying birth control! I believe on the female side though;

But let's discuss elephant in wild places like Zimbabwe, were the US government has banned the importation of trophies from legally hunted elephants in an effort to force the Zim government to do more, or at least provide more information regarding the status of their elephants... This was apparently inspired by the poisoning of a group of elephants in area of Zimbabwe without hunting. Imagine for a moment that you are a villager living there.. You grow corn as a staple of your families diet, it is a subsistence farming endeavor. You have a small family plot that you cultivate by hand, you store the harvested corn in a homemade corn crib on stilts to keep the animals away from it, but you have no way to prevent elephants from destroying your fields or your storage.

The poisoning was initially reported as 300 elephants... I do not believe the US government made any real attempt to confirm this, later reports had it at 130, and more recently half that.. There may be others on here who have the facts, I don't... But I do believe it was an act of reprisal, not poaching.

Field in early stages of being cleared to plant corn.

Now of course some might think they can just go to the local Wal Mart to buy food?

So imagine if you will, this happens in a hunting area such a Zimbabwe C.A.M.P.F.I.R.E. area. The villagers will report a problem with elephants. A professional hunter will be contacted and requested to shoot one elephant out of the herd. That will most likely cause the rest to "get out of Dodge" so to speak. elephants are intelligent! They will get the point. and the meat will go to feed the people effected by the crop raiders. Additionally, hunter dollars go into a pool to reimburse the local populace for damages from wildlife... AND the locals get the meat from the hunted animals, this is in addition to the problem animal control ones I spoke of above, in fact with enough hunting in the area, it is unlikely there will be problem animals in the first place as the animals learn to be wary of humans. There is also employment for the local villagers in the hunting operations... And the hunting dollars go to pay for drilling wells, building and maintaining schools, building, maintaining and stocking medical clinics. In other words, the locals want hunters there!

So this all creates value to the wildlife. Most importantly the wildlife has value to the local community. This helps to get them to tolerate living with these large, dangerous and destructive animals. Additionally the hunting outfitters pay for an provide anti poaching patrols.

To be continued....

 

[Royal27]

I think society gets uncomfortable with controversial animals like cats and elephants. In my case, I think that animals have intelligence and I can't imagine taking someone's life.

I'd take it a step further and say that society has become uncomfortable with any animal death that can be seen. We like to hide our dirty little secrets in the dark. No one likes to talk about slaughter houses or chicken farms. Hunters are easier targets because "it doesn't need to be done" which is a fallacy in and of itself. But that's a different discussion.

Even the last part of your quote supports this to me. You can't imagine taking a life, but I'm at least assuming that you aren't a die hard vegan and that you eat meat and use leather products. This to me means that you are ok with the killing, you just want someone else to do it for you. Please take that in the manner intended. I'm just making a point and not belittling or saying that isn't right for you personally.