Strange Day for Me in the Woods.

[smoothshooter]

I have a friend who is just filled with raw blood lust and the braggadocio of posting his kill pictures. Kill kill kill. He appalls me. The sportsmanship and mercy some have described in here is just absent from him for some reason.

I don’t like those kind of people. They are also usually bad PR for regular hunters.

I had to quit watching the big game hunting shows years ago.
My grumbling and yelling at the TV was also annoying my wife if she was in the room.
All those guides and hunters could talk about was B & C antler score potential and how to take the farthest shot possible using a tripod with their range finders, wind speed measuring devices, 18 power Moonraker rifle scopes with rangefinder reticle, etc.
Sometimes, while the sound of the shot is still echoing through the nearby canyons around them, the shooter jumps up and it’s high fives all around, hugging, laughing, backslapping, etc. No solemnity or introspection for even an instant about taking the life of a fine animal just living it’s life.
Don’t get me wrong-I am in no way an anti-hunter. I have killed a fair number of deer myself years ago and believe hunting is a necessary and legitimate pastime.
I still never pass up a safe shot at a starling, armadillo, pigeon, or some other pest species.
But some “hunters” are too superficial for my taste.
End of rant.

 

[aleksa oldfart]

I don’t like those kind of people. They are also usually bad PR for regular hunters.

I had to quit watching the big game hunting shows years ago.
My grumbling and yelling at the TV was also annoying my wife if she was in the room.
All those guides and hunters could talk about was B & C antler score potential and how to take the farthest shot possible using a tripod with their range finders, wind speed measuring devices, 18 power Moonraker rifle scopes with rangefinder reticle, etc.
Sometimes, while the sound of the shot is still echoing through the nearby canyons around them, the shooter jumps up and it’s high fives all around, hugging, laughing, backslapping, etc. No solemnity or introspection for even an instant about taking the life of a fine animal just living it’s life.
Don’t get me wrong-I am in no way an anti-hunter. I have killed a fair number of deer myself years ago and believe hunting is a necessary and legitimate pastime.
I still never pass up a safe shot at a starling, armadillo, pigeon, or some other pest species.
But some “hunters” are too superficial for my taste.
End of rant.

I'm with you on those supposedly hunting shows. Last one I watched, over 20 years ago,I told my wife if the shooter "not hunter" didn't hurry up and shoot that deer was going to fall over. Obviously the deer was drugged.

 

[LME]

Went out hunting this afternoon here in NW Missouri. Our regular Firearm Deer Season is currently open, and I elected to take my Pedersoli Frontier Rifle in .54. Hunting a remote piece of public ground where only muzzleloaders are allowed. Walked way back in the woods and found a spot that looked promising, and sat on a handy fallen log that was up against a tree. Beautiful day, and as far as I could tell, I was the only hunter around. Half an hour after sitting, two does came ambling by, and I watched them wander off after several minutes. An hour later as I was looking off down the holler, I saw a large, majestic 10 point buck headed my way. I first saw him about 130 yards out, and my heart started pounding as he came ever closer. I watched him for several minutes, and he eventually came within 20 yards. He was a large mature buck, with a wide spread and high antlers, a rarity on public land. As I watched him and positioned myself for the can't miss shot, something strange happened. I have been a lifelong hunter, taking many deer over the decades, but today was different. As I watched him eat acorns, totally unaware of my presence, I was overcome by a desire to not kill him. I went out today with every intention of killing a nice buck if the opportunity came. However, as I sat there watching him, I was actually saddened by the thought of him being dead, especially as he was just enjoying the day eating his lunch. I lowered the hammer on my rifle, and just watched him for several more minutes, until he finally meandered out of sight.

Don't know what happened, but I do know I have killed my last animal. Not turning woke or going vegan, nor am I being critical of those who do hunt, but all my desire to ever shoot another critter died today. I shot my rifle into a stump and cleaned it this evening. I will be out in the woods again tomorrow, rifle in hand, but it will not be loaded. Hopefully I will see my new "friend" again. Getting old does weird things to a fella.

It has something to do with age. I am the same way some days? I have let animals go that were a give me but now I am not able to walk very far into the woods to hunt like I use to. As a matter of fact I haven't been able to hunt for several years.