I’ve been given the daunting task of answering the question, “Why do I hunt”? This is a question not easily summarized as there are MANY reasons why I hunt. I grew up in a household where when you put in for a license of any sort, it’s not just to go “shoot something”.
A tag, in our household, equaled meals for the next few months and having respect for the animal in which we harvested. The inevitable hunt for a trophy was never the main focus, it was always a plus if the animal happened to be worthy of the wall, but that never mattered to our hungry bellies or empty freezers.
Respect is radiated for that animal from the moment you spot it in your scope, made the clean shot,the haul home, then the processing by your own hands and it’s trip to the freezer. Hunting to me is being able to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and just be. You’re not in competition with anyone and there isn’t a deadline, it’s just you in the wilderness with your gear and the sunset as your only gauge of when to end your day.
It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, age, gender, ethnicity is all obsolete, you’re a hunter and everyone is viewed on the same wavelength and that’s what I love the most about this lifestyle. Everyone is viewed as an equal to a certain extent. I love the fact that hunting gives you a true connection to nature and is a wonderful learning tool in the game of life.
There is so much you can take from a hunt, both physically and mentally. It’s not always about filling your tag but it’s about the adventure of “trying” to get that tag filled. I’m not a fan of an empty tag and eating tag soup so to speak, but I’ve learned so much on those empty handed hunts. Taking those disappointments and applying what you discovered didn’t work and changing it to help you achieve success is the ultimate win, and the reward is that much sweeter.
I love the thrill of the hunt and how you can spend months on end preparing, scouting and planning for that “perfect scenario” and it always doesn’t turn out perfect but more than likely it does. It’s a complete question mark and anything can happen during a hunt and that makes it so enticing. Hunting to me isn’t just a sport, it’s a way of living really. Plain and simple, I hunt, therefore I am and that is how I would answer the broad question, “Why Do You Hunt?
TELL US WHY YOU HUNT?
