Why do we stalk?

Anyone who does it recreationally and claims not to gain some form of satisfaction or pleasure from the actual act of killing is lying to themselves or to others.

If it was just about the stalk, you’d be a photographer - it’s far harder to get a good photo than it is to shoot something with a rifle. If it was just about being in nature, connecting with the landscape, finding solitude etc, then you’d be a bird watcher or a painter or a photographer or a bug collector or whatever. If it was just about the physical and mental challenge, you’d be a climber, or a kayaker or a mountain biker or whatever. If it was just about the food, you’d buy venison from a stalker and forage the rest. If it was just about shooting in and of itself, you’d be a target shooter.

There is something about the process of actually killing that we are drawn to and motivated by, and it’s disingenuous to deny this.

Motivation is quite different to pleasure, even if pleasure is one source of motivation.

For example, there are plenty of people in the world doing jobs or tasks they actively dislike, yet they are still motivated to do them.

I am not sure why we think shooting a deer should be any different? Just because you kill deer doesn't necessarily mean you have to derive pleasure from the act of killing. You may get satisfaction from completing a task, but that still doesn't mean you got pleasure from the task itself.

I am a photographer and, as you say, getting a good photo of a deer is far more challenging than shooting an animal with a rifle. There really is no comparison in terms of the fieldcraft involved.

I am also lucky enough to receive invitations to shoot deer elsewhere. However I haven't taken up such offers for years, unless I can take the camera rather than the rifle. If the same person called me, though, and told me they were having problems with deer and could I get over there with the rifle to help sort them out, I'd do so.
 
This is going to sound cheesy but I honestly think some people are born to do it, on primeval level. You see folks who have been stalking a lot but it never really clicks for, equally sometimes when I talk to newbies/non-stalkers they go wide eyed, and just can’t hear enough, they walk up to you and ask if you’ve been out recently like an excited spaniel!! You just know they’d take to it like a duck to water given the chance.

Personally if I go a few weeks without going out I’m climbing the walls.

Of course it’s about controlling a damaging species, good food, exercise, but there’s more to it. There’s a very ancient relationship between deer and humans, the ability to consistently find game would of been a lifeline in past times-and incredible social kudos too.
 
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0430 sat in a tree, didn't anyone tell you it doesn't get shootable light until 3 hours after that.

@Ratel

Not only am I aware of 'legal light', I always record it in my Game Book the day before an outing, along with a BBC forecast.😇


IMG_1957.jpeg

Getting 'on plot' way too early, is a legacy of my old game - it has left me hardwired for stupid o'clock.

It is one of the reasons (actually the only reason) I bought a TI - to give me something to look at whilst waiting for light.

Very happy to just sit there in the peace and quiet, and just wait for the world to slowly come to.
 
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Now here's the thing......swap out the word "stalk" and replace with "fish"...or even coarse fish!

Why do we fish? If we chase coarse fish its not about getting food for the table or even about killing the quarry.

So why do we fish? What makes me sit on the muddy bank of a flooded Avon chasing a bronze whiskers?

Is it the same primeval desire to hunt/fish that drives us? :-|
 
@Ratel

Not only am I aware of 'legal light', I always record it in my Game Book the day before an outing, along with a BBC forecast.😇


View attachment 342847

Getting 'on plot' way too early, is a legacy of my old game - it has left me hardwired for stupid o'clock.

It is one of the reasons (actually the only reason) I bought a TI - to give me something to look at whilst waiting for light.

Very happy to just sit there in the peace and quiet, and just wait for the world to slowly come to.

Which birds were you off to see at 09:00?
 
Now here's the thing......swap out the word "stalk" and replace with "fish"...or even coarse fish!

Why do we fish? If we chase coarse fish its not about getting food for the table or even about killing the quarry.

So why do we fish? What makes me sit on the muddy bank of a flooded Avon chasing a bronze whiskers?

Is it the same primeval desire to hunt/fish that drives us? :-|
Not for me, that’s why I gave up fishing a long time ago!
 
@Ratel

Not only am I aware of 'legal light', I always record it in my Game Book the day before an outing, along with a BBC forecast.😇


View attachment 342847

Getting 'on plot' way too early, is a legacy of my old game - it has left me hardwired for stupid o'clock.

It is one of the reasons (actually the only reason) I bought a TI - to give me something to look at whilst waiting for light.

Very happy to just sit there in the peace and quiet, and just wait for the world to slowly come to.
You might consider getting permission on pig grounds somewhere.
You’re already putting in the hours.
 
Now here's the thing......swap out the word "stalk" and replace with "fish"...or even coarse fish!

Why do we fish? If we chase coarse fish its not about getting food for the table or even about killing the quarry.

So why do we fish? What makes me sit on the muddy bank of a flooded Avon chasing a bronze whiskers?

Is it the same primeval desire to hunt/fish that drives us? :-|
I’d say so….it’s instinct and it’s either still hardwired or suppressed inside somewhere
 
@Ratel

Not only am I aware of 'legal light', I always record it in my Game Book the day before an outing, along with a BBC forecast.😇


View attachment 342847

Getting 'on plot' way too early, is a legacy of my old game - it has left me hardwired for stupid o'clock.

It is one of the reasons (actually the only reason) I bought a TI - to give me something to look at whilst waiting for light.

Very happy to just sit there in the peace and quiet, and just wait for the world to slowly come to.
Watching the world wake up is the best part of the day 👍.
 
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