'I just like killing things'

[Klenchblaize]

Whatever your predilection it’s good to know:

K

 

[Kjf]

In the same vein but slightly tenuous.
This is an observation not any form of criticism. Just probably the fact that I am living in the past.
For a while know I have been asking stalking / foxing acquaintances the following question.
Do you use a rifle to stalk or stalk to use a rifle.
Various responses mostly as you would expect but seems to be a number of rifle owners who come to stalking later as a leisure pursuit. The stalking of deer foxes etc is a means too an end. There seems to be more of an interest in the toys, ie rifles, optics, homeloads etc. You only have to look at the percentage of posts on the Stalking directory which relate to equipment, choice of calibre etc
They could have quite easily ended up playing golf, cycling or getting into photography
Seems to be less of an interest or iunderstanding in the biology, management , ecology of the species pursued.
Is DSC ijust a tick box exercise to acquire a firearm for some?
Are we too in danger of facing similar criticism as is levelled at driven game shooting?

Bang on post ,

Pub talk I call it ,

They tell everyone who will.listen, or not !!!!

"I've got guns don't you know "etc etc arm chair experts who appear to know EVERYTHING, the stigma and macho attitude around firearms NEEDS to change , they are tools just like a hammer or chisel is to a carpenter

Rambo types

D heads the lot of em

Kjf

 

[Kjf]

For me the act of taking a life is the culmination of skill ,patience and no small amount of pride .The act itself is never thought about as being the reason I’m out .
Ill happily shoot multiple animals if on a cull with no thought to taking life . I’m also very well at home not taking life at all and just having an armed walk .
Ive met the killers in the game and one thing seemed to follow a pattern .They are kit merchants ,must have the latest gear but rarely if ever stay the distance of a lifelong passion for the outdoors and all it encompasses .These same folk have no idea what that bird is singing high in a tree on a stormy day nor the noise that catches my attention at night .
I guess every sport or way of life has these passers through whether it’s a year or ten ,something will lure them away when the novelty wears off and they’ve done everything .
I despise the instant hunters ,those who are only out to shoot deer and shun the knowledge lads like myself could pass on if only they’d listen .
The same folk that pull back from the gralloch and don’t want to take anything home at the end of a successful day .
My circle of friends is small because of this ,that and I’m an arrogant ….

Another bang on post

Kjf

 

[old keeper]

After a lifetime of involvement in shooting in one form or another, I read this thread with some interest
. As a very young man, I confess the numbers game was perhaps the top of my agenda, but that soon passed. For me there has always been an inner desire to pursue certain animals, I can't explain it and once I even tried to give it up but couldn't. I've never enjoyed killing yet have spent more years than most doing just that. I've honestly always tried to use what I've killed (if useable) as that was the way I was brought up by the few old boys whom I went out with as a lad.
There have been many times when I've seen killing for killing's sake, for an example, piles of pigeons dumped in a hedge bottom shot over stubbles. Likewise in the past rabbits were also dumped after someone's been out "bunny bashing" a term I'm not that fond of.
As a keeper, I saw a great many people whose one aim on a shoot was to shoot as many birds as they could, irrespective of range with no regard or respect for the quarry. I'm afraid it has always been like this and always will, it's just the way it is.

 

[Tf223]

Is his comment a lack of eloquence?
I enjoy the hunt, the stalk, or the simple outsmarting of a fox to control the number of the farm. It is not the kill itself that gives me pleasure, but is the culmination of the hunt process. The kill is done without much in the way of passion or concern - a necessary part of the process.

Perhaps this chap simply ‘misspoke’ in a way that understandably would/could be taken poorly. Gentle education may be the issue - not wholesale avoidance or judgement?

 

[Woodsmoke]

I despise the instant hunters ,those who are only out to shoot deer and shun the knowledge lads like myself could pass on if only they’d listen .
The same folk that pull back from the gralloch and don’t want to take anything home at the end of a successful day .
My circle of friends is small because of this ,that and I’m an arrogant ….

Nicely-put. I've had the misfortune to encounter a couple of these wallopers in quick succession recently. There seem to be more idiots out there than I first realised. Unless, of course, it's me that's the idiot. There's always that possibility

Is his comment a lack of eloquence?

I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, but over the course of the evening he shared with me various opinions, gems of 'wisdom', and a few anecdotes that caused me to withdraw the hem of my garments, so to speak. I've come to the inescapable conclusion that he was, in fact, just a complete asshole.

 

[Dunwaters]

Dump the rifle and hunt with a camera?

K

I’m close to that stage with deer, but I like the venison and the trips and access to private places. Hunting motivates me to get up early too and I love it.
Maybe I’ll achieve hunting without killing Nirvana in the next life, but in this one I’m no saint or guru.
You can ask anyone.

 

[JohnSmith]

I’m not going to get too excited over a 5 word sentence without having been there, hearing the tone used or knowing the context of the conversation.

I’ve gone hunting with a friend who said, “I’m killing the next thing I see.” In the context of the conversation however I knew he was expressing frustration at not having seen moose for the entire season, and having heard his tone I knew it was mostly in jest. Post that sentence out of context and he’d sound like a blood thirsty lunatic who’s only in it for the killing.

I’m not excusing what was said, but you guys feeling the need to express or defend your personal philosophies for hunting or passing judgement on this stranger based on one statement when you weren’t there to hear it should settle down a bit.

To the OP: Being his friend, did you take a moment to rebuttal and ask what he meant by his statement?

 

[Dunwaters]

In the same vein but slightly tenuous.
This is an observation not any form of criticism. Just probably the fact that I am living in the past.
For a while know I have been asking stalking / foxing acquaintances the following question.
Do you use a rifle to stalk or stalk to use a rifle.
Various responses mostly as you would expect but seems to be a number of rifle owners who come to stalking later as a leisure pursuit. The stalking of deer foxes etc is a means too an end. There seems to be more of an interest in the toys, ie rifles, optics, homeloads etc. You only have to look at the percentage of posts on the Stalking directory which relate to equipment, choice of calibre etc
They could have quite easily ended up playing golf, cycling or getting into photography
Seems to be less of an interest or iunderstanding in the biology, management , ecology of the species pursued.
Is DSC ijust a tick box exercise to acquire a firearm for some?
Are we too in danger of facing similar criticism as is levelled at driven game shooting?

To answer your question, I enjoy both using a firearm and stalking/hunting. I love a good looking well fitting gun.
I also believe that if you’re going out on an armed dander, you should have a gun, dog and company that you enjoy and be reasonably competent with your arquebuss besides.
I can get quite shirty when asked to look for stuff that I haven’t wounded myself.

 

[Woodsmoke]

To the OP: Being his friend, did you take a moment to rebuttal and ask what he meant by his statement?

I've already stressed this guy isn't a friend, but a recent acquaintance. I'm the last person to take off-the-cuff comments literally, and the first to give the benefit of the doubt if there's any wiggle room. This was an unequivocal statement that he enjoyed killing things to the exclusion of all other aspects of the sport though, and as a result he's no longer even an acquaintance

 

[David T]

This is very thought provking. It has helped me reflect and maybe give me a better understanding of what I do and why I do it.

I learned from old timers and from those with an old head on their shoulders. That meant understanding the environment, the wildlife, the seasons. How to stalk, how to shoot and how to kill. For me the kill is part of a process that I love. If the kill, for whatever reason, doesn't happen, I have still been in an environment I know doing what I love.

That being said I feel we, as an industry, needs the kit fiends, the rambo's and those that have read Bravo Two Zero to many times. They buy the latest and greatest from companies that market their wares to them with images of huge bull elk or tactical this or that. We are our own worst enemies as comments like this are lmost encouraged so they think they are cool. When in reality they are ignorant of our sport.

I hope that these people meet true stalkers and have their eyes opened and learn to love our sportInput in the meantime they will be a healthy source of used kit as they disappear

 

[foxhunter]

Not so, I love to hunt but I actively hate the killing part.

If you hate the killing part you wouldnt do it. Why cant people be honest with themselves instead of being PC. I enjoy the pursuit of game/vermin more than the actual shot but I would never say I don't enjoy it as I do ..but that's me just being honest.

If you dont enjoy your sport it's time to pack in and go playing golf or train spotting.

 

[Dunwaters]

If you hate the killing part you wouldnt do it. Why cant people be honest with themselves instead of being PC. I enjoy the pursuit of game/vermin more than the actual shot but I would never say I don't enjoy it as I do ..but that's me just being honest.

If you dont enjoy your sport it's time to pack in and go playing golf or train spotting.

You’re missing the point, I love my sport but I dont really enjoy killing things.
Its not as paradoxical as it seems.

 

[foxhunter]

You’re missing the point, I love my sport but I dont really enjoy killing things.
Its not as paradoxical as it seems.

Take a camera then

 

[Dunwaters]

Take a camera then

As previously explained, I’m no saint, and its taken me a long time to get to this stage.
Your mileage may differ, and best of luck with it…enjoy!

 

[User00053]

Hunting and sex a very personal thang, each to their own, loving the foreplay and the toys

 

[bowji john]

Why I like shooting

Challenge
Attention to detail
Applied physics
Applied skill
Research
Wildlife
Bushcraft
Conservation
Exercise
Access to the wild
Danger
Excitement
Food
Independence
Comradeship

Killing is not on the list but is part of one aspect of shooting

J

 

[FISH BOY]

Why I like shooting

Challenge
Attention to detail
Applied physics
Applied skill
Research
Wildlife
Bushcraft
Conservation
Exercise
Access to the wild
Danger
Excitement
Food
Independence
Comradeship

Killing is not on the list but is part of one aspect of shooting

J

One more to add.

Peace and quiet for a moment away from a busy world.

 

[User00053]

All I would in my case add to the above the women and girls who are attracted and enjoy the company of similar menfolk

 

[John Gryphon]

That buck rat that has mercilessly chewed its way through just about any and everything thing of value in your home/garage?

I`m bloody sure as schitt that 99% would enjoy having fixed the bastard when they catch up with it.