Sheprador1973
Well-Known Member
I wrote this last night but decided to abandon as not sure. May sound like a strange question and not meant to sound contentious, so please let me explain...
I hunt and fish. Have done the latter for a long very time, the former not so long. But tbh I think about them about 20x more than actually doing them (actually the ratio is probably WAY higher!) Many good reasons why i can't get out though...
Got me thinking. I love the preparation and anticipation for a trip. I love the early starts/late evenings being out there and the freedom that you feel with being in the great outdoors. I love the looking after/purchasing/tweaking/talking about gear. I love the sense of optimism at the beginning (not so much the feeling at the end of a blank). I love shooting at targets, reloading and looking at ballistic apps etc. I love watching good hunting videos on Youtube (Steve Rinella, Cam Haynes, County Deer Stalking, Yorkshire Roe stalker etc etc) Perhaps strangely I enjoy the process of butchery/food prep and I love eating carefully cooked meals of meat and fish. And I love the life long stories and memories that these occasions provide.
What I'm not sure about is 'the act' itself. Although as a newbie I can't be fussy over opportunities offered, I have struggled on occasion to justify my own shooting to kill. Its clearly a 'moral' thing as it can be easily justified in all other respects as outlined above. I do find it weird though...maybe its what they refer to as buck fever? With me it doesn't manifest itself as shakiness etc...more an internal dialogue I have going on regarding whether what I am doing is 'ok' or not. Ive found its worse with tiredness and when Im a bit stressed. Im just being totally honest here btw...
Going back to the fishing where I have far more experience. I love the complete experience, but , if it presents itself, the bang on the head moment does nothing for me. I see it as a means to an end and the more rapid and effective the better. Is that the same as when you pull the trigger on a deer? Or am I going mad?
I guess its partly down to the fact that the more experienced shooters Ive watched or accompanied make it all look so natural, normal and simple. The again i can't read minds. I'd like to get to that stage quicker where I can consider it a normal, legal, enjoyable process...without the self-doubt.
Maybe you can help with a comment? ATB, Shep
I hunt and fish. Have done the latter for a long very time, the former not so long. But tbh I think about them about 20x more than actually doing them (actually the ratio is probably WAY higher!) Many good reasons why i can't get out though...
Got me thinking. I love the preparation and anticipation for a trip. I love the early starts/late evenings being out there and the freedom that you feel with being in the great outdoors. I love the looking after/purchasing/tweaking/talking about gear. I love the sense of optimism at the beginning (not so much the feeling at the end of a blank). I love shooting at targets, reloading and looking at ballistic apps etc. I love watching good hunting videos on Youtube (Steve Rinella, Cam Haynes, County Deer Stalking, Yorkshire Roe stalker etc etc) Perhaps strangely I enjoy the process of butchery/food prep and I love eating carefully cooked meals of meat and fish. And I love the life long stories and memories that these occasions provide.
What I'm not sure about is 'the act' itself. Although as a newbie I can't be fussy over opportunities offered, I have struggled on occasion to justify my own shooting to kill. Its clearly a 'moral' thing as it can be easily justified in all other respects as outlined above. I do find it weird though...maybe its what they refer to as buck fever? With me it doesn't manifest itself as shakiness etc...more an internal dialogue I have going on regarding whether what I am doing is 'ok' or not. Ive found its worse with tiredness and when Im a bit stressed. Im just being totally honest here btw...
Going back to the fishing where I have far more experience. I love the complete experience, but , if it presents itself, the bang on the head moment does nothing for me. I see it as a means to an end and the more rapid and effective the better. Is that the same as when you pull the trigger on a deer? Or am I going mad?
I guess its partly down to the fact that the more experienced shooters Ive watched or accompanied make it all look so natural, normal and simple. The again i can't read minds. I'd like to get to that stage quicker where I can consider it a normal, legal, enjoyable process...without the self-doubt.
Maybe you can help with a comment? ATB, Shep