Cumbrian 1
Well-Known Member
Simply because I enjoy it! The secondary benefits such as healthy organic meat, conservation, feeling close to nature etc are not why I ultimately go stalking or shooting over the pointer.
Why do we hunt?
- Thread starter CPShines
- Start date
Chasey
Well-Known Member
Agreed you might as well ask why a well fed domestic cat hunts.
Its just in our nature.
I am more surprised that people don't hunt / don't feel the urge to hunt? That makes far less sense to me, as I assume at some point it was necessary for our own survival.
Theres a special place in hypocrite hell for meet eaters who are anti hunting. I can not think of a legal social group who annoy me more.
ATB
I like that observation/comparison.
Luckily our local guy is cheaper than other local butchers. I'd much rather eat stuff that's had a good life with minimum chemical input as well, we're slowly getting round to sorting our own veg as we farm the in laws small holding for them but with a full time job, the livestock and a 7 month old daughter, there isn't much time for shooting!
For me it's as much about the journey as the destination. I generally get home from hunting in a better frame of mind - irrespective of whether I have shot something. Sometimes you take something home to eat and sometimes you don't. The outcome is rarely, if ever, guaranteed.
Why do I hunt, well dad was a keeper so was brought up around shooting ,airguns from around ten,shot my first stag at thirteen with a shotgun admittedly, but it was legal then, started snaring r abbits at the same age, trap line at the same age.
Left school at fifteen had a great interest in nature and wanted to work outdoors ,so it was natural that I would follow in dads footsteps, though he was adamant that if that was what I wanted to do he would help me get a start but it would not be with him I would need to go elsewhere to learn.
First job was as a general estate worker looking after owners dogs, looking after a small wild bird shoot,just a bit of feeding and vermin control and shoot any roe that got in to the gardens again with shotgun only about three days shooting all walked up, a walk up for grouse on the twelfth or as close to as possible only very small moor could cover it all in a couple of hours, and a walk around the grounds for a pheasant or two around Christmas time all shooting by members of the family plus I was allowed to carry a gun on shoot daydays.
The owners owning a productive stretch of river they employed a fishing Ghillie who was supposed to teach me the ropes with the objective of taking over when he eventually retired don't think Forbes had any intention.of retiring as all he taught me to do was cut the paths on the river bank and paint the fishing huts lol.
Stayed their only a season before securing a job as a kennel boy(apprentice keeper) on a large estate employing sixteen keepers, eventually becoming an under keeper then a beat keeper,about twenty.years as a keeper on the estate before taking on the role as deer stalker, though now retired still stalking part time and run a wild bird shoot talk about life taking a full circle lol
I eat game and venison but thats not why I hunt, and of course I shoot its part of the job but its not why I hunt in fact I would much rather get someone else a shot than shoot myself.
So why do I hunt there is no easy answer to that its just something I do and it defines who I am, it will be a sad day when I have to stop.
Left school at fifteen had a great interest in nature and wanted to work outdoors ,so it was natural that I would follow in dads footsteps, though he was adamant that if that was what I wanted to do he would help me get a start but it would not be with him I would need to go elsewhere to learn.
First job was as a general estate worker looking after owners dogs, looking after a small wild bird shoot,just a bit of feeding and vermin control and shoot any roe that got in to the gardens again with shotgun only about three days shooting all walked up, a walk up for grouse on the twelfth or as close to as possible only very small moor could cover it all in a couple of hours, and a walk around the grounds for a pheasant or two around Christmas time all shooting by members of the family plus I was allowed to carry a gun on shoot daydays.
The owners owning a productive stretch of river they employed a fishing Ghillie who was supposed to teach me the ropes with the objective of taking over when he eventually retired don't think Forbes had any intention.of retiring as all he taught me to do was cut the paths on the river bank and paint the fishing huts lol.
Stayed their only a season before securing a job as a kennel boy(apprentice keeper) on a large estate employing sixteen keepers, eventually becoming an under keeper then a beat keeper,about twenty.years as a keeper on the estate before taking on the role as deer stalker, though now retired still stalking part time and run a wild bird shoot talk about life taking a full circle lol
I eat game and venison but thats not why I hunt, and of course I shoot its part of the job but its not why I hunt in fact I would much rather get someone else a shot than shoot myself.
So why do I hunt there is no easy answer to that its just something I do and it defines who I am, it will be a sad day when I have to stop.
Highlandsjohn
Well-Known Member
Nice story bt, well told. John
WOW!!! In 28 posts, only one poster has said he hunts because he enjoys it, well so do i and i will go on and say i enjoy shooting animals, if i didnt i would be a target shoter.
Ian.
Ian.
LeftHandGuy
Well-Known Member
A good kill is deeply satisfying. The sense of achievement it produces is unique in my experience, a powerful wave of elation and relief. Yes, I enjoy that feeling.
Killing is an integral part of hunting, and I don't feel any shame about enjoying it.
It is only a small part of the whole experience however.
,
bang on answer mate,
and i enjoy it , from packing the truck up with gear and dog, to getting home,
the whole kit and caboodle, if you don't like the kill,
dont carry a rifle
take a camera ( nowt wrong with that)
i do it because I LOVE IT( and many of the answers already posted)
plain and simple
and I'm a Caveman ugg ugg
kjf
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I think the fact that we all enjoy it, goes without saying.
But it doesnt JTO i have read more times then i can remember on all shooting forums including this one, when the question has arisen, statements along the lines of, " i dont like what i do but its a neccessary job, "Im not out there to enjoy it, im there to shoot vermin" and so on, on one particular forum it is taboo to admit you enjoy shooting animals,
Ian.
sikastag270
Well-Known Member
did not think shotgun shooting of deer was illegal with proper cartridges.
You won't hear that from me anytime soon but in defence of those who only feel able to fall back on the "they need to be culled" explanation I'm certain this is linked to an inability to articulate the underlying drivers in a manner other than one they feel certain will be met with ridicule, outright disbelief and/or disgust.
As we've seen on a similar SD thread only 2 days ago, there are those who seemingly succumb to a case of the vapours (I'm being polite) whenever someone dares to align hunting/stalking with the "Soul Life" the great nature writer Richard Jefferies refers to in his seminal work, The Story of My Heart.
What then to expect from those who do not hunt if simply stating you enjoy taking a life and this element of the chase is critical to your full fulfilment? Perhaps a certain grudging respect for your honesty but don't bank on it!
K
Only legal in very limited circumstances an owner his servants or an occupier may use a shotgun to protect crops or trees if he believes serious damage will.be done to them by deer,if he wishes to nominate any other person they have to be approved as fit and competent by SNH and have written permission from said body permission will normally only be given where the use of a rifle would be unsuitable.
A shotgun may also be used prevent suffering.
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