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Post by genesis273 on Dec 13, 2020 22:19:04 GMT -5
I thumbed through an older Field and Stream magazine this evening and came across an article penned by T. Edward Nickens titled "Take your best shot". In the article he quotes a friend who stated, "I love everything about hunting - except that moment. I love everything about hunting that comes after that moment. But I don't love that moment".
I know what he's talking about. There has been several occasions when I failed to release an arrow or pull a trigger simply because I too didn't want to experience that "moment". I'm certain some you reading this have lived this as well.
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Post by marshallco on Dec 13, 2020 23:16:21 GMT -5
Good for you Genesis. I agree 100%. Think of the last time you regretted not shooting. Think of the last time you were sorry you went out to begin with. Nope, I can’t remember that time either. It is always a blessing to be able to be outside and just enjoy seeing what you see. A lot more to hunting than just killing.
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Post by span870 on Dec 14, 2020 5:11:01 GMT -5
That is exactly why I don't anymore. "That moment". My wife who put up with my need for too many years just couldn't understand. I finally explained to her, from living on a albeit small farm like we do, "at some point you just get tired of seeing stuff die".
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Post by duff on Dec 14, 2020 7:45:57 GMT -5
That is exactly why I don't anymore. "That moment". My wife who put up with my need for too many years just couldn't understand. I finally explained to her, from living on a albeit small farm like we do, "at some point you just get tired of seeing stuff die". Plus you kinda suck at hunting. You are excellent at listening to dogs bark though!
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Post by budd on Dec 14, 2020 9:08:41 GMT -5
Like span870, I can listen to years of dogs just running. Rabbit, hare, bobcat, bear running by with no shots being fired. The group I would travel all over the states and canada with running dogs were the same. We would drive 18-20 hours and never pull the trigger, or even carry a gun. I really cant explain the high I would get walking into one of my traps that held a bobcat, yet the next day leave one in the tree that my dogs treed.
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Post by dbd870 on Dec 14, 2020 10:45:08 GMT -5
Never been an issue for me. Only time I didn’t when I had one I could have used was when it was the last minutes of legal hours. Decided I didn’t want to mess with it in the dark
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Post by esshup on Dec 14, 2020 12:08:25 GMT -5
Never been an issue for me. Only time I didn’t when I had one I could have used was when it was the last minutes of legal hours. Decided I didn’t want to mess with it in the dark Ditto, the only thing I think about is whether it will be a good shot and will the critter die quick. The biggest deer I saw in the woods I didn't shoot (and could have) because I only had a Texas heart shot. I thought I'd get another chance at it and put a bullet in it's heart/lungs but I never saw the deer again. Do I regret that decision? I'd be lying if I told you no. I regret it a little but I'm not losing sleep over it. I had a 130 (I think) class buck in my scope Sunday night and still haven't used my buck tag. Did I shoot? Nope and I had that deer at approximately 180 yds for about 10 minutes. Landowner just wants me to shoot does. When I told him about it that evening he wanted to know why I didn't shoot. I told him "your land, your rules" and he said "Well, you could have shot it." Sorry, without clear direction I'm not squeezing the trigger, I don't care how big it is.
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Post by Ahawkeye on Dec 14, 2020 15:32:18 GMT -5
Only time I regret the shot it's self was a bad shot on a doe one time. Had to get out of the stand as quickly as possible and put another in her. I have some remorse when walking up on them knowing I just took their life but I've never regretted a roast or steak a week or so later. I like big antlers I won't deny that but if I am not going to eat it I don't pull the trigger. Rabbit squirrel deer turkey duck dove mushroom snapping turtle whatever. Won't eat a coyote and I've heard mt. Lion are good but if we ever get a bobcat season I'd have go ask around before eating one of those.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2020 15:47:55 GMT -5
I have let deer walk and why I chose the one to take I'm not sure. This happened this year. I was hunting for a doe and she gave me many times to shot on Halloween morning, but never did. Not sure why. Then this 8 pointer comes by and I take that one. I was hunting for a doe and a big buck. My plan was not in the cards.
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Post by duff on Dec 14, 2020 18:54:24 GMT -5
I have let deer walk and why I chose the one to take I'm not sure. This happened this year. I was hunting for a doe and she gave me many times to shot on Halloween morning, but never did. Not sure why. Then this 8 pointer comes by and I take that one. I was hunting for a doe and a big buck. My plan was not in the cards. That is me every time out.
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Post by tynimiller on Dec 15, 2020 8:07:31 GMT -5
I've written on the emotions of the harvest many times...and "that moment" for me is spiritual for sure. God blesses us with our ability, knowledge and chance to pursue this incredible creature humans call the whitetail deer. That creature had the same creative powers poured into them as we ourselves had. Our creator yes, did not bestow upon it the same qualities, abilities and soul - but equally represents the incredible miracle that creation is.
I've long said that the day the harvest doesn't tear at my heart some is the last day an arrow will be nocked or a bolt racked...for that is when I've grown too far removed from the sincere blessing and ritual it is to harvest an animal.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2020 10:03:19 GMT -5
I`ve seen this talked about, (here at HI maybe?), from the perspective that, some people get to the place where they enjoy the hunt, but oftentimes don`t launch a shot because they don`t want to track, gut, and drag. That frightened me when I read it, because I hope I never get to the place where I feel that way. Certainly, the kill isn`t all the hunt is about, but, it is the logical conclusion to that endeavor. I guess if I ever felt that way consistently, I`d probably make that conscious decision to not hunt anymore.
Everyone changes as they grow older, mature, and are exposed to new and different circumstances that mold, shape, and even re-shape us, and we can`t help how we "feel". I just pray I never lose that burning desire for the hunt, for every aspect of the hunt.
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 15, 2020 10:35:49 GMT -5
One does not hunt in order to kill; on the contrary, one kills in order to have hunted...If one were to present the sportsman with the death of the animal as a gift he would refuse it. What he is after is having to win it, to conquer the surly brute through his own effort and skill with all the extras that this carries with it: the immersion in the countryside, the healthfulness of the exercise, the distraction from his job.
Jose Ortega y Gasset, Meditations on Hunting Spanish philosopher & politician (1883 - 1955)
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Post by sculver7 on Dec 15, 2020 11:12:38 GMT -5
In order for life to continue, there has to be death. This is true in a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual sense. Of course struggle/hardship/death is not pleasant, but without it, we as humans would not be able to grow in any aspect of life. After I release an arrow or pull the trigger and the animal has expired, I always take time to acknowledge the reality of what I have just done. That this animal, whether it is a dove or a deer, has endured tremendous obstacles to get to this point all so that I may grow from its death. It is not pleasant, however, it is necessary.
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Post by esshup on Dec 15, 2020 12:13:14 GMT -5
I`ve seen this talked about, (here at HI maybe?), from the perspective that, some people get to the place where they enjoy the hunt, but oftentimes don`t launch a shot because they don`t want to track, gut, and drag. That frightened me when I read it, because I hope I never get to the place where I feel that way. Certainly, the kill isn`t all the hunt is about, but, it is the logical conclusion to that endeavor. I guess if I ever felt that way consistently, I`d probably make that conscious decision to not hunt anymore. Everyone changes as they grow older, mature, and are exposed to new and different circumstances that mold, shape, and even re-shape us, and we can`t help how we "feel". I just pray I never lose that burning desire for the hunt, for every aspect of the hunt. I am much more picky during archery season about shooting. As the seasons roll by, I'm much less enthused about blood tracking a deer after dark. I'd rather stick a deer in the morning during archery season than at last light.
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