What Do You Enjoy Most About Hunting?

[Velo Dog]

Hi Scott Slough and other Scientists,

If my poke at Evolution was too harsh, I apologize but it was only meant as humor.
When people poke fun at me, I virtually always agree that whatever they perceived about my words or conduct as being comical, was in fact so.
Some folks, perhaps yourself included think the concept of Intelligent Design is unreasonable.
And my feelings are not wounded by the jokes and negative comments about same.
However, poking back is one sport that I enjoy, (perhaps a bit too much? hope not).
At any rate, I did not mean any real harm, and hopefully my reckless vandalism of this thread will be forgiven.
I promise to stay on the subject now.

Anyway cheerio,
Velo Dog.

 

[Scott Slough]

I make my fair share of jokes in life and on this forum ... and TOTALLY understand when a listener/reader (me, in this case!) misses the intent ... so I am good and also accept my role as the co-highjacker.

I really do love the quite of the night right before the dawn!

 

[ChrisPy]

I am not very good with spelling it all out but I love all things hunting. I have not harvest any thing at home for 5 years, I had the good fortune to take my family to Africa last July and get some animals. As for the last 5 years both my kids have done very well, to see them grow as hunters has been a great ride. My boss told me one time that I was always broke in less it had to do with hunting then I found the money. It is more than just hunting it is any thing that will get me in the out doors, from going to see sheep in the rut after the season to looking for sheds in the spring. It is a life style. I hope that makes some sort of sense.

 

[Mekaniks]

Hunkered down in a shallow pit blind and the site of canadian geese or a bunch of mallards setting their wings and dropping feet into the decoys...

The flush of a covey of quail right under my feet...

The site of a pheasant rooster running up the rows just before flushing, followed by two more...

Walking through the woods deer hunting and getting the "feeling" that something is in front of me. Can't hear it, can't see it, but somehow that gut adrenaline says something is there. Go another 50 yards to the edge of a clearing and there is a group of whitetail does on the other side of the clearing.
Even though I didn't shoot a deer that day, I will never forget the feeling...

Making a perfect long range shot on a speed goat in high winds while my 70 year old father calls the distance....

Butchering (and all the associated hard work) with people that enjoy it for all the right reasons....

Today it's as much about passing those feelings onto my son....And enjoying the good company of people that like to hunt for the all right reasons...

 

[JustinC]

Being free and able to explore the natural wonders we are lucky enough to have been blessed with including all the smells, sounds and sites.

Morning coffee, watching the sunrise and a beverage next to the fire in the evening.

The anticipation of what is around the next corner, next stalk and the elation when all the hard work pays off.

Comradeship between fellow hunters.

And the most rewarding and enjoyable aspect for me is seeing the facial expressions and excitement when a hunter is successful in his quest.

 

[andrewgrant]

Stunning sunsets

 

[Longwalker]

Being a hunter defines much of my existence. I am a full time hunter, but I only engage in the activity of "hunting" a fairly small part of each year.

I like that hunting has made me constantly alert to my environment and mindful of all its animals and birds and bugs and plants, far more so than non-hunters can imagine.
I enjoy how hunting has trained my mind and body to be capable of handling adversity, to stay fit, be a problem solver, and to be optimistic and forever questing.
I enjoy the self reliance of procuring my own food in the original way, despite living in a society that is becoming ever more disconnected from life, prepackaged, homogenized, and sterilized.

It gives me deep satisfaction when my awareness, skills, and effort result in the harvest of game, and to use that game for my food and to share it with family and friends.

 

[Brent in Az]

I just enjoy being there. Everything falls into place.

 

[cpr0312]

Beautiful sunrises/sunsets, peace and quiet at times, the thrill and anticipation

 

[mdwest]

In a word.... people...

I enjoy the time at camp every bit as much as I enjoy the time on the actual hunt..

As a general rule, hunters are a great group to associate with, share a tale, enjoy a cigar, drink a beer with, etc.... (whereas I find that most other people, generally suck... )...

 

[Fr8liner]

For me it's being in the bush, walking stalking, crawling to the 100yard line.
I been known to get there, aim and put the safety back on before pulling the trigger.
Being bested is even better, so we can try again and not go home

 

[thi9elsp]

The adventure, mystery and unknown. Others may have been down that path before, but I haven't. I feel like an explorer, uncertain, anxious, and highly attuned to everything that is going on. Challenging myself, getting away from technology, and being totally worn out at the end of the day.

 

[MichielC]

The combination of total relaxation with the expectation of what might just be behind the following bush.

 

[rinehart0050]

I love the adventure of it all - the exploration of new terrain possibly never visited by another human, the excitement and tension of the stalk, the majesty of the prey and challenging them in their element, the elation and relief of success, the relaxation of sitting quietly while watching nature wake up for the day, etc etc etc.

The real question is what's not to love about hunting??

 

[billc]

I have enjoyed the time it gave me with my son. They will be times I will remember for the rest of my life.

I also enjoy the sights and sounds you get to see and hear when out in the wild.

 

[Archer]

The time spent preparing and practicing during the off season. Checking my equipment to ensure I don't have equipment failure but the most enjoyable thing for me is executing the shot and reliving the moment over and over.

I'm not going to lie...if I'm successful its more enjoyable!

 

[Ray B]

I don't see hunting as a CONTEST between me and anything, nature or whatever. I see it as JOINING nature. A photographer captures images of nature. A hunter becomes a link in the ecology (original definition) of nature, gaining the same status as other predators and prey- keeping in mind that everything is a predator of something and itself is the prey of something else.

 

[Lrntolive]

For me, as I did not grow up hunting, it is the melting away of the hustle and bustle of the world as I sharpen my senses to become the predator man is supposed to be. I feel this more with my bow than rifle, as I must get closer to my quarry.
The pounding of my heart and the adrenaline in my veins as I draw my bow and take aim.
The calm that comes after the hunt is over, successful or not, that everything is right with the world when hunting.
Hunting provides a clash between that violent force of nature that brings death, and the peace and calm after that brings renewed life. We see this with all predators and prey in nature.

 

[oldhoward]

After working in a hi tech world for 40 years, beepers,cell phones, laptops, and no escape from it. I find places were technology simply doesn't work. Hunting fills the purpose, sun rises, sun set, rain or shine, game or no game, it is being out in nature and view it's wonders without being tied to technology. A few sips of burbon helps too.

 

[Shawn.54]

I love the quiet time with my sons as well as time spent with friends and family.
I like to watch as everyone in the group grows in the sport and how their position changes from student to teacher to leader.

Our group consists of a wide range of ages from close to 80 to 5 years old.
And in these years I find myself not as successful as in the past not due to lack of ability but more to the fact that I now position myself to better the chances of those on the ends of the age scale. Someone's first or last is better than any in the middle.

For this reason I respect the PH who puts in the work to make others dreams come true. No wonder they smile as big as the clients in the photos.

Hunting is a bonding experience that draws us together and when we can't hunt we talk about it prepar for it and even find ways to share it with total strangers.

Good luck to all and be safe
Shawn