As if I needed to justify why I hunt... but I thought I would throw it out there for anyone who hasn't taken the leap.
Reason #1: To provide healthy organic meat for my family
Deer, Elk, Moose, Bear, Antelope, Turkey, Mountain Lion...etc. Wild game is organic, free of antibiotics, growth hormones or other drugs and it's not wrapped in plastic. It's lower in cholesterol, calories and saturated fat than any store bought beef. I know where that animal has lived its life and I know that it has been grass fed and has had a life free of enclosures. Not to mention, it tastes better!
Reason #2: To be among nature and connect with the world around us
I went to California earlier this year and was shocked to realize how many people never stepped off the pavement. Their whole lives consist of going from work to stores to their apartments and never touch dirt or grass.
It's a necessary component to human existence. Go outside, climb to the top of a hill, sit under a tree and watch the world come to life as the sun spreads across the horizon. I pity the person who goes weeks or even months or years without "playing outside." Or the kids that don't get to experience anything but city life.
I don't even have to see the game I am hunting. I would be perfectly content with just watching the chipmunk scurry over my foot not even realizing that I am a human.
It's a necessary component to human existence. Go outside, climb to the top of a hill, sit under a tree and watch the world come to life as the sun spreads across the horizon. I pity the person who goes weeks or even months or years without "playing outside." Or the kids that don't get to experience anything but city life.
I don't even have to see the game I am hunting. I would be perfectly content with just watching the chipmunk scurry over my foot not even realizing that I am a human.
Reason #3: To spend time with family members
I rarely hunt alone. Why should I? I have a family full of hunters! One of the best things to do is hunt with people you love and care about.
When I was too young to hunt by myself, I would eagerly look forward to the opening day of archery elk season as much as my dad would. We would watch elk hunting videos months in advance. We would spend our time de-scenting all our clothes and folding into our non scented trunks. We would carefully plan out our opening day method of attack. And then I would loyally follow every single step he took.
Now that my grandpa passed away, it makes me realize this more than ever. Spend time with the people you love. Teach your children how to hunt and take care of themselves. Always make time to hunt with parents and grandparents because in the blink of an eye, they can be gone.
When I was too young to hunt by myself, I would eagerly look forward to the opening day of archery elk season as much as my dad would. We would watch elk hunting videos months in advance. We would spend our time de-scenting all our clothes and folding into our non scented trunks. We would carefully plan out our opening day method of attack. And then I would loyally follow every single step he took.
Now that my grandpa passed away, it makes me realize this more than ever. Spend time with the people you love. Teach your children how to hunt and take care of themselves. Always make time to hunt with parents and grandparents because in the blink of an eye, they can be gone.
Reason #4: To test my limits
I work my butt off, but I have a desk job and I am naturally a little lazy. I would much rather sit in the sun with a fishing rod than run a 5k for "fun."
When I am hunting, I never give up. I look at everything as a challenge I have to rise to meet. The elk bugling two hillsides away? Challenge accepted. I always have to go around the next corner. I always have to push the limits and go one more hillside or after I find one more scrape or wallow.
When I am out in the woods, I have a natural thirst for exploration. Something I don't get at work or in my daily life. When I am hunting, I am the person I want to be.
When I am hunting, I never give up. I look at everything as a challenge I have to rise to meet. The elk bugling two hillsides away? Challenge accepted. I always have to go around the next corner. I always have to push the limits and go one more hillside or after I find one more scrape or wallow.
When I am out in the woods, I have a natural thirst for exploration. Something I don't get at work or in my daily life. When I am hunting, I am the person I want to be.
Reason #5: Because I can & I want to
Service men and women give up their lives for our ability to pursue happiness and this is where I get mine.
The United States of America is a land where I can hunt because I want to. You can choose not to hunt and still eat meat or you can choose to be vegetarian. That is the amazing thing about this country. You do what you want, and I will do what I want.
The United States of America is a land where I can hunt because I want to. You can choose not to hunt and still eat meat or you can choose to be vegetarian. That is the amazing thing about this country. You do what you want, and I will do what I want.
Reason #6: Wildlife conservation & management
Other hunters understand this better than anyone else. All the money being spent on our tags, licenses and permits goes towards wildlife management in the state you hunt. Although many don't agree with how the state manages the wildlife at times, that is how the funds are created for studies and surveys and tools to help wildlife.
Along with that money, wildlife groups such as Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation or the National Wild Turkey Federation spend millions of dollars to help the habitat of the animals we hunt to ensure future generations see them the same as we did.
Something that anti's have a hard time handling is that if animals were left to their own devises, they would overpopulate, make themselves sick and them kill themselves off entirely. Hunters and natural predators are around to keep the populations in check.
Along with that money, wildlife groups such as Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation or the National Wild Turkey Federation spend millions of dollars to help the habitat of the animals we hunt to ensure future generations see them the same as we did.
Something that anti's have a hard time handling is that if animals were left to their own devises, they would overpopulate, make themselves sick and them kill themselves off entirely. Hunters and natural predators are around to keep the populations in check.
Reason #7: To continue a way of life that has been passed down for generations
200 years ago when Great Grandpappy was hungry, he couldn't just walk down the street to the local grocery store and have his pick of everything under the sun. While that is sometimes convenient, it's not logical to depend on something or someone else to obtain food for you.
People have been hunting since the beginning of time, and it has obviously benefited us as a whole, or else we wouldn't be here today. Why stop now when something is obviously working?
People have been hunting since the beginning of time, and it has obviously benefited us as a whole, or else we wouldn't be here today. Why stop now when something is obviously working?
Reason #8: To escape from the world & ponder life
It sounds so simple and much like reason #2, but the best way to forget about everything happening is to set up camp in the woods. Disconnect from your cell phone, have no television or internet. While you are spending all your time and energy tracking and finding this animal, there is really no time to think about school or work or your regular life.
On the top of a hill in the middle of millions of acres of woods and wildlife with a bull elk screaming in your face, you are so far from any reality. I used this to my advantage when I had a big test coming up or a presentation in school. Now that I am done with school, I just go to forget every detail about work. If you have never tried it, it is really nice.
On the top of a hill in the middle of millions of acres of woods and wildlife with a bull elk screaming in your face, you are so far from any reality. I used this to my advantage when I had a big test coming up or a presentation in school. Now that I am done with school, I just go to forget every detail about work. If you have never tried it, it is really nice.