Killing ... how do you feel ...
- Thread starter Otokiak
- Start date
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Yes to both, a quiet moment of respect on a bent knee. Mini-thanksgiving if you will.
I do like Andrzej's & Altaberg's measure of respect as well. Parallel thinking IMO.
I find it truly fascinating that Germanic (Slavic, etc) and native thinking are very similar in this important harvest ritual.
Thank you Otokiak for having the courage to ask this question here.
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Not to hijack the thread,
I was Steelheading in BC, and saw some drift boats come past with cameras. Later I heard some hearsay about "Famous Fishing TV Guy" and his crew seen re-hooking Steelhead they already caught to re-fight them for the cameras.
I also heard some hearsay that evening that the locals told him something to the effect of 'Don't come back here again'.
I still don't watch his show. I have more respect for the fish.
I was Steelheading in BC, and saw some drift boats come past with cameras. Later I heard some hearsay about "Famous Fishing TV Guy" and his crew seen re-hooking Steelhead they already caught to re-fight them for the cameras.
I also heard some hearsay that evening that the locals told him something to the effect of 'Don't come back here again'.
I still don't watch his show. I have more respect for the fish.
- Location
- Back in the Peace Country
No hooting and hollering or high fives, no prayers no drinking blood or such.
It is a quiet moment when I reflect on the shot, the animal, and a lifetimes of hunting. I think hard about the fact that this animal was alive just a few minutes before.
With friends, it's usually a handshake, maybe a pat on the back...." good job"
" nice one"
Not being religious, but it's like a moment in church. Quiet, respectful, ...
It is a quiet moment when I reflect on the shot, the animal, and a lifetimes of hunting. I think hard about the fact that this animal was alive just a few minutes before.
With friends, it's usually a handshake, maybe a pat on the back...." good job"
" nice one"
Not being religious, but it's like a moment in church. Quiet, respectful, ...
lupothebutcher
CGN frequent flyer
I don't feel much of anything after a kill. One thing I wonder about is the hatred of wolves and coyotes, I don't shoot either because I don't want to eat them but mostly because I love dogs (much more than I love most people); so, why the hate? Why call them evil? (I will say that the only animal i see as evil and really don't like are seagulls - the bastards will eat you alive given half a chance)
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
My first deer I was shaking so bad I just levered out the remaining shells in my Win 94 as opposed to trying to lower the hammer on the next shell. No whooping and hollering. Was a bang flop. Excited beyond belief. Had my dad and grandpa not far away to help me celebrate. Grandpa was more excited then me I think.
The last deer I killed at the shot I thought was a miss. Upon getting to the spot where the deer was, I found no blood and a bit of hair. At this time I started to get concerned as I was sure it was a miss but it obviously wasnt. I used tracks and hairs to follow the deer about 100m before I found her. I did whoop and shout then, not because of the kill but because I was petrified it was a bad shot and I was going to lose her. Turns out it was a perfect heart/lung shot. The relief I felt when I saw her crumpled up ont he other side of that fallen maple tree was incredible.
Besides that, the worst I ever felt was the first duck I lost. I felt like garbage. I cant imagine what the feeling going to be like if I ever lose a big game animal.
IMO some people hate wolves/yotes because they feel they have some sort of entitlement to the deer/moose/elk/whatever, and dont like competition. What i find most humourous is that these same people usually fail to understand that if their is a large population of predators, its because their is a large population of prey (usually an overpopulation) to support them. They simple cannot exist unless their is something to eat.
The last deer I killed at the shot I thought was a miss. Upon getting to the spot where the deer was, I found no blood and a bit of hair. At this time I started to get concerned as I was sure it was a miss but it obviously wasnt. I used tracks and hairs to follow the deer about 100m before I found her. I did whoop and shout then, not because of the kill but because I was petrified it was a bad shot and I was going to lose her. Turns out it was a perfect heart/lung shot. The relief I felt when I saw her crumpled up ont he other side of that fallen maple tree was incredible.
Besides that, the worst I ever felt was the first duck I lost. I felt like garbage. I cant imagine what the feeling going to be like if I ever lose a big game animal.
IMO some people hate wolves/yotes because they feel they have some sort of entitlement to the deer/moose/elk/whatever, and dont like competition. What i find most humourous is that these same people usually fail to understand that if their is a large population of predators, its because their is a large population of prey (usually an overpopulation) to support them. They simple cannot exist unless their is something to eat.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
It depends on the circumstances of the moment. Mostly quiet satisfaction follows the death of a game animal, but there have been exceptions. Culling I find is sort of a sad necessity, and I don't show much. Sometimes the bullet does something spectacular to the animal, which produces a "WOW!" moment, but if the bullet fails despite a good hit, it can result in a #$!* moment. If you have prevailed in an "Oh no, we're going to die!" moment, that can result in goofy giggling, followed by rubber legs and a sense of uphoria.
That is close to how it is for me - we always try to leave the successful hunter with the animal for a moment or two. I often say a thank you to the animal for giving its life to sustain mine and my families.
Then the reality of the work sets in and we get to packing....
Bill Austin called in coyotes with a recording of a Baby crying...if it's smaller than them and / or helpless they will kill it & eat it.
If they stay away from the my yard they live...if not...
Interesting stuff my fellow CGNer's. I have to say it depends on who I'm hunting with(alone or friends), what I've caught, time of year but for the most part I do shout out, occasional fistpump, sometimes high fives and the occasional cry.(cry of happiness 
) HAHAHA. I do try to thank whatever animal I've caught as it's going to feed myself, family and friends. Some friends and I are more vocal, new to me kills I tend to be happier(ex:muskox two yrs ago) and of course in the heart of winter I just want to get the animal cut up and get home before I'm bloody froze!
Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
) HAHAHA. I do try to thank whatever animal I've caught as it's going to feed myself, family and friends. Some friends and I are more vocal, new to me kills I tend to be happier(ex:muskox two yrs ago) and of course in the heart of winter I just want to get the animal cut up and get home before I'm bloody froze! Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
well, I for one, certainly get worked up. Sometimes the adrenaline is so bad, when lining up the shot, I have to stop, take my head off the stock and force myself to stop shaking.
I am certainly excited each and everytime I line up such a shot. I think about the spot where I am going to hit the animal, where it may run, etc. I watch the reaction of the animal to the hit. All these things flash through my mind.
It takes me a minute after the animal is down to get out of the blind or down from the stand. All while contemplating the shot again, reviewing it, critiquing it.
Once I get to the animal, I am still weak kneed. If I am with someone, I can guarantee a "Nice ______", or "That was a nice shot", or some such will be exchanged. Because it is. If the shot has gone wrong...then I am P.O.'d because I HAVE to find it and I messed up.
I only ever think about the work when I have 2 or three hanging in the garage. And then I am telling myself that I should have been processing instead of hunting the next day, but since I like to hang them...
I do not shoot every one I see, nor do I hunt antlers. I respect each kill for what it is, an animal who will feed me another year.
Even predator kills deserve, and receive, respect. An adversary removed from the field of battle, protection of farms, domestic animals, etc. You can always be proud of a good shot, and bang flops can be spectacular.
Since I have started butchering and processing my own game, it has gotten me even closer to the animals. I am now there from hunting, killing, gutting, dragging, hanging, skinning, boning, cleaning, wrapping, grinding, mixing, smoking, drying, cooking, and eating.
I feel a sense of connection to nature, a sense of completion to my purpose, a satisfaction to my duties to provide for my family.
But, my overall emotion at the time of the kill is elation. Although I don't do the high fives, etc., but I can certainly understand them and forgive them that do.
I am certainly excited each and everytime I line up such a shot. I think about the spot where I am going to hit the animal, where it may run, etc. I watch the reaction of the animal to the hit. All these things flash through my mind.
It takes me a minute after the animal is down to get out of the blind or down from the stand. All while contemplating the shot again, reviewing it, critiquing it.
Once I get to the animal, I am still weak kneed. If I am with someone, I can guarantee a "Nice ______", or "That was a nice shot", or some such will be exchanged. Because it is. If the shot has gone wrong...then I am P.O.'d because I HAVE to find it and I messed up.
I only ever think about the work when I have 2 or three hanging in the garage. And then I am telling myself that I should have been processing instead of hunting the next day, but since I like to hang them...
I do not shoot every one I see, nor do I hunt antlers. I respect each kill for what it is, an animal who will feed me another year.
Even predator kills deserve, and receive, respect. An adversary removed from the field of battle, protection of farms, domestic animals, etc. You can always be proud of a good shot, and bang flops can be spectacular.
Since I have started butchering and processing my own game, it has gotten me even closer to the animals. I am now there from hunting, killing, gutting, dragging, hanging, skinning, boning, cleaning, wrapping, grinding, mixing, smoking, drying, cooking, and eating.
I feel a sense of connection to nature, a sense of completion to my purpose, a satisfaction to my duties to provide for my family.
But, my overall emotion at the time of the kill is elation. Although I don't do the high fives, etc., but I can certainly understand them and forgive them that do.
Depends on what I am hunting....If I am out duck/goose hunting, and we have 5 or 6 guys in a blind and we down an entire group, then there is some excitement in the blind for sure!!
If me and my buddy are deer hunting, and one of us fills a tag, it is a more quiet embrace with a quiet high five...the celebrations at deer camp are saved for back at the cabin where the beer and whiskey is brought out!!
If me and my buddy are deer hunting, and one of us fills a tag, it is a more quiet embrace with a quiet high five...the celebrations at deer camp are saved for back at the cabin where the beer and whiskey is brought out!!
I've killed only one deer so far as a new hunter, and the first time I did I was alone hunting, pretty stupid I guess but it made the experience ten times better! I did not feel any sorrow, as the first animal I ever killed (a squirrel) years ago with a pellet gun is where I felt the saddest, but I was super excited and took a picture of it and sent to my mother saying get ready prepare some dinner and I actually did do a little thank you prayer.
One thing I should mention is that I feel differently when killing animals for different reasons.
Hunting and killing an animal is exciting, makes me like I've accomplished something and is generally very positive. Ultimately, I get pleasure from the whole hunitng experience, and killing is a part of that.
Killing a pest like a packrat or livestock killing yotes gives me relief that they won't be troubling me again, but doesn't give the same sense of happiness that hunting does.
Slaughtering livestock is not my favorite job, but it's something that must be done. I get no pleasure, and if I didn't have to do it, I wouldn't.
Putting down a pet or an older (livestock) animal that has been a familiar sight for a decade is very hard, and very unpleasant.
It's interesting to look at that when anti hunters say "you just like to kill"
Hunting and killing an animal is exciting, makes me like I've accomplished something and is generally very positive. Ultimately, I get pleasure from the whole hunitng experience, and killing is a part of that.
Killing a pest like a packrat or livestock killing yotes gives me relief that they won't be troubling me again, but doesn't give the same sense of happiness that hunting does.
Slaughtering livestock is not my favorite job, but it's something that must be done. I get no pleasure, and if I didn't have to do it, I wouldn't.
Putting down a pet or an older (livestock) animal that has been a familiar sight for a decade is very hard, and very unpleasant.
It's interesting to look at that when anti hunters say "you just like to kill"
The first moose I shot I couldn't believe the heart thump. Barrel would lift a foot for each
thump. Now what? For sure to miss. I remember my dad telling me buck fever is hard on
shot placement. No chit.. The bull was on to me and opportunity was drawing to a close.
Nothing to lean on so I plunked me arse in the puddle I was standing in and tried again. Better, but not great. Another one of pa's thoughts came to me. Swing the barrel across your target and do this until you feel right. Slow it down and pull the trigger. I did and the
Schultz talked. So did the moose. One loud groan, his rear legs buckled and down he went.
I looked up and said thank you twice. One to pa and one to the heavens above. Then I heard a yeeehawwww some few hundred yards away. My hunting partner knew the bark of this particular rifle. He only heard one shot so he knew he was good to go and holler.
Last season, my youngest shot her first buck. There was a couple there and I whispered that she needn't prove anything to me. If you wish to bag a buck, then use the skills you have been taught. One shot at about 70 yards and she blessed her grad present as well.
Proud pappy, you bet. Did I take the other one, no, one is enough.
I go through the excited, happy and somewhat reserved emotions when downing an animal.
Sometimes I give myself some supreme chit, don't know why.
My mom's side of the family in me I guess. Such is life.
Good fortune to you fellow Nutzs this season.
thump. Now what? For sure to miss. I remember my dad telling me buck fever is hard on
shot placement. No chit.
. The bull was on to me and opportunity was drawing to a close.Nothing to lean on so I plunked me arse in the puddle I was standing in and tried again. Better, but not great. Another one of pa's thoughts came to me. Swing the barrel across your target and do this until you feel right. Slow it down and pull the trigger. I did and the
Schultz talked. So did the moose. One loud groan, his rear legs buckled and down he went.
I looked up and said thank you twice. One to pa and one to the heavens above. Then I heard a yeeehawwww some few hundred yards away. My hunting partner knew the bark of this particular rifle. He only heard one shot so he knew he was good to go and holler.
Last season, my youngest shot her first buck. There was a couple there and I whispered that she needn't prove anything to me. If you wish to bag a buck, then use the skills you have been taught. One shot at about 70 yards and she blessed her grad present as well.
Proud pappy, you bet. Did I take the other one, no, one is enough.
I go through the excited, happy and somewhat reserved emotions when downing an animal.
Sometimes I give myself some supreme chit, don't know why.
My mom's side of the family in me I guess. Such is life.
Good fortune to you fellow Nutzs this season.
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I always say a prayer and show respect. If it is not a clean kill I am pretty upeset and I will not give up until I find the animal. Then I do my duty as an ethical hunter and make sure that nothing that can be used is wasted from the harvest.
I like to think I am close to the land, I have 6 deer that live in my backyard and I have enough land to hunt on but I never hunt there. Some of those TV shows drive me crazy with the wolf cries and macho crap!
I like to think I am close to the land, I have 6 deer that live in my backyard and I have enough land to hunt on but I never hunt there. Some of those TV shows drive me crazy with the wolf cries and macho crap!
I don't see what the big deal is? Many of us who grew up in the North or on farms know that animals must die for us to eat. I'm always pleased when something decent is going to fill the freezer, but when once you've killed hundreds or even thousands of animals, its more about having clean kills and the animal drop on the spot, than it is about taking a nice buck or trophy animal.
