How do you explain the allure of hunting?

Half-cocked

OK, this might have been discussed before but I'd like to hear some opinions on this:

I was having a conversation with a girl who has no experience of hunting (she's not an anti, just never been involved) and she couldn't understand how some one who is into birdwatching and nature conservation (me) could also kill birds and animals (and fish too - but not with a gun;)). I had great difficulty trying to explain this apparent irony. I tried to explain that when you are hunting you are part of the natural environment to which she jokingly suggested that perhaps hunters are less evolved than other people and its the Neadertal cave man hunter gatherer in them demanding to be let loose. How would you all answer this question?

elius

Bring here hunting let her get hear first kill.. Prep it and eat it then she will understand......

It wasn't me!

elius wrote: »

Bring here hunting let her get hear first kill.. Prep it and eat it then she will understand......

Problem is, that's an astronomical hurdle to cross for someone with even the vaguest views that it's a bit odd. They'll feel it's safest for them to just not do so, and the information it will provide won't be worth it, because they're not sure what it really is to kill something, and the profundity of it terrifies some people.

I've been in the same place too, and it can be difficult to explain to people. Talking to one girl, mentioned I was in the rifle club in college, asked did we hunt - was told no - asked did I personally hunt - I said yes - and just like that, instant disengagement. One is seen to be a lesser creature for a habit that's extremely difficult to understand and for us to promote. It's tough, but there you go.

elius

It wasn't me! wrote: »

Problem is, that's an astronomical hurdle to cross for someone with even the vaguest views that it's a bit odd. They'll feel it's safest for them to just not do so, and the information it will provide won't be worth it, because they're not sure what it really is to kill something, and the profundity of it terrifies some people.

I've been in the same place too, and it can be difficult to explain to people. Talking to one girl, mentioned I was in the rifle club in college, asked did we hunt - was told no - asked did I personally hunt - I said yes - and just like that, instant disengagement. One is seen to be a lesser creature for a habit that's extremely difficult to understand and for us to promote. It's tough, but there you go.

Did you ever tell tham how a cow or pig is slaughtered? bolt to the head throat slit and left to bleed out.. i no which is the more humane way

It wasn't me!

elius wrote: »

Did you ever tell tham how a cow or pig is slaughtered? bolt to the head throat slit and left to bleed out.. i no which is the more humane way

Yep, that tends not to help matters in most cases. In the one I referenced, she was a vegan, so it was an uphill slog anyway.

ronboy

best thing to do is tell them you dont hunt and test the water first... if their anti hunting dont go near them again. he he he:):)

It wasn't me!

ronboy wrote: »

best thing to do is tell them you dont hunt and test the water first... if their anti hunting dont go near them again. he he he:):)

Yeah, in this case it went:

"So do you shoot animals?"

"I, uh, hmm, er... <mentally>ah, shít, this is going to go badly...</mentally>"

"You do, don't you!"

"<mentally> wang... </mentally>"

Grizzly 45

It's like trying to explain music to a deaf person.:(
The only way you will get your POV across to people like that is take them out hunting,so they can make up their own minds on it.

Remember taking out my better half hunting for her first time in Germany.
Saw all plenty of lovely Roe deer and fawns,and waited for a good roebuck to show,which I promptly shot at last light.She was halfway down the treestand going "Yesss" with exitement,before I had reloaded,and glassed the area to see had I hit it,and it was down.Her excitement promptly ended when we got around to the messy task of gutting in the dark:eek:,and was even less so when she had to travel with the carcass in the back of the jeep,accompinied by a rather possesive dachshund,who promptly nipped her in the calf for daring to touch the carcass to move it with her foot.:eek::D
All in all she now does understand alot more about the ways and methods of hunting and my lifestyle choice.but she couldnt do it herself,still says "ah the poor deer,duck,whatever" when I bring home the meat..But doesnt condem anyone either who does now hunt or fish.

Yes it is the Neanderthal hunter still in us,no doubt about it.It has been in us longer to be hunters than farmers or other "civilised" pastimes.Long may UGG the hunter stay with us,as he keeps us hard and more in tune with nature than most" "people will ever understand.They just let their hunting instincts out in tribalistic rituals like supporting a club for millionares who kick a bit of leather around a field.

Cass

"How do you explain the allure of hunting". I find if they are tied to a chair and a rubber hose to the palm of the feet works a treat.:D:D:D:D:D:D

Seriously i lost a girlfriend (or two) years ago when they found out that i hunted. Some are for/understand the need for it, some are deeply opposed to it but the majority of people i meet are rather indifferent to it. I've found if i surround myself with like minded people and keep that side of my life open to them while masking it to others of whose opinion i'm not sure of i get along just fine. As the old expression goes " Hunt with the hounds and run with the foxes".

4gun

why not tell them that it's not all about the kill but the thrill is in the chase ,crouched down in a small blind waiting for ducks to show, slowly stalking a hill side trying to stay down wind of a deer trying to get phesant to rise point out to any one that managed hunting is actually good for species in that preditors remove week an inferior from the breeding stock, as in yellow stone park in the USA wher the wolf was reintroduced and the bison stock has actually got better
Hunting is being part of nature and working with nature to try an maintain a balance, any animal that over populates its envoirnment usually ends up harming its self due to inbreeding and available food becomes scarce

Half-cocked

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

Remember taking out my better half hunting for her first time in Germany.
Saw all plenty of lovely Roe deer and fawns,and waited for a good roebuck to show,which I promptly shot at last light.

Been there too! Only I had to hold fire, I had an average roebuck lined up and started to get the kind of look that says I would be sleeping on the couch for the next six months if I squeezed the trigger:D

Moral of the story: Don't bring non-shooting other half up a high seat, even if she eats venison. Bambi looks a lot cuter alive than a venison steak and can cause an attack of cuddly bunny syndrome.

The story does have a happy ending, I went back on my own next evening and got a much better roebuck.

But getting back to my OP, my difficulty was explaining to some one who had no interest in hunting (but not an anti) the apparent contradiction of a nature lover also hunting. She thought the 2 were mutualy exclusive.

mac80

My neighbours who have given out about me hunting over the years, (hippie/veggie type people). Last week the neighbours wife was in and dropped into conversation a fox she has seen taking ducks from the local pond and he has been sniffin around her beloved hen house.
She told me she would be glad if I could sort this fox or any fox in the area out, just dont tell her husband she said so

Looks like us hunters are useful after all !!

Half-cocked

Amazing the way peoples 'principles' get dropped as soon as their pockets are effected.

stevoman

tell her meat didnt always come prepacked in sexy boxes big al boxes. people have hunted since the dawn of time. the world hasnt just started to revolve the last 60 years.

J. Ramone

"Highly evolved" people are causing a progressive deterioration of habitats. Hunters in general have a very healthy respect for the environment and are conservation minded. To me that is evolution in the right direction. I can't see any valid reason for me to give up hunting, just so long as it's sustainable.

bunny shooter

My wife didn't agree with me shooting bunnies ............................... until she ate one, now she agrees

cavan shooter

Is it the allure of hunting or everything that goes with it??? for example:
I'm training a springer at the moment and getting great crack out of it, I have pheasants in a pen and love all that, buying them at 7 weeks bringing them on et etc. (but not necessarily to shoot) Last year personally I put out 15 c&h I shot 3.
Get up at dawn and listen to cock pheasants crowing, I have song birds all around the house (why) larsen trap.

Again its not only about hunting,

it's definetly complicated