A prayer over your deer?

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Here's a neat little book if you don't know it, that blends Christianity w/ deer hunting: "A look at life from a deer stand"-CHAPMAN

I took a 1915 vintage Rem Model 14 .30 Rem deer hunting last year on a miserable day just made for sneaking through the pines. The rifle had not been pointed at a deer in the 25 years I'd owned it, and who knows when it had last spilled blood. I'd still hunted all morning, and was on a gravel (legal to shoot) road 100 yds from the Bronco,done hunting, when a big fat doe stepped out at 50 yds or so. I snicked off the safety and leveled, and I swear I think I felt the old rifle shiver!!!!!!!! The brass bead I'd spent 10 minutes polishing the night before settled......

I didn't shoot, to easy. Heck, I wouldn't even have to drag her. It was late season, what if she'd been bred,........I had a couple in the freezer.......
I was hunting bucks anyhow, what if a big one followed her across.......

If I can just get that rifle to forgive me....................
 
In my opinion.... when we hear that "little voice" as some call it, take heed. Especially, if it contradicts what is "normal" for you. I have taken sight on deer before and got that feeling or heard that little voice..... and I have thought "why now? why not this deer? etc etc". In other life situations I have had the same thing happen.... a funny feeling, a little voice, maybe telling me to do something different that I would on my own....

And some say God doesn't speak to us? I beg to differ. We choose to either not listen or discount it to things like " a little voice ". As for a prayer over the game taken, I think it's a wonderful idea. It doesn't have to be a 'special' prayer recited, just talk to Him. We say grace and give thanks AT the meal... why not prior to. I use to have my best quiet times with God sitting in a deer stand... no telling WHAT walked by while I was "busy". LOL
Click to expand...

:eek:I think Saturday at 5:05 PM GOD spoke to me.
 
Sorry guys I quit praying over things I killed when I was a combat soldier in Vietnam. I was just thankful it was them laying there rather then one my fellow soldiers or me.

If I had had to pray over something I killed I'd stay home. By the way I believe in God, Heaven, and Hell but I save my praying for things I want to live longer or to be a better man.
 
Don't go too far, and get the thread closed.
Not everyone believes in god, and the rest don't all believe in the same god(s).
Some religions consider the earth a separate spiritual being, and some consider it the only spiritual being.

Everyone here has their own view of religion. Please don't, anyone, start trying to pitch your own views. Opinions are welcome; fanaticism is not.
 
Different opinions and views on what people do over downed game is interesting. My mothers side of the family is cherokee, and I am 1/4 cherokee, when they harvest and animal they celebrate the life that it had and the life that it gives to those that take part in eating it. (atleast they used to, couldn't say anymore). My great grandfather used to make it a point to say an old indian prayer over the animal in order to help it find peace after death.
 
I do take a few minutes of quiet.
I do not worry so much about what to say,as what to listen .
And,behind it,is the circle.
I hope,when I die,I feed coyotes,and magpies
 
Acts 27:35

And when he had thus spoken, he took bread and gave thanks
to God in presence of them all, and when he had broken it, he
began to eat.
 
I don't pray over the game I have taken, and can't remember any of my family doing it either. Dosen't mean its wrong if you do, its just not my way. I am thankfull for the meat, and the experiences I have while hunting, but it has always seemed a little odd to me when I hear someone thanking God for letting them kill something.
 
God gave man dominion over the animals.

We should thank God for providing us the animal, just like we should at each meal.


The animal itself has no significance. We should not pray over the animal as we pray for people. The animal does not continue past death.
 
I'm part Cherokee, Lakota and Blackfeet. I was taught to have reverence for the animal. It's not a ceremony, just a silent thanks to Mother Earth for sharing her bounty.
 
Praise God! Lets Eat! :D

Actually we usually so a word or two thanking God for the animal and allowing us to be successful. Nothing elaborate.
 
I like to use Native American prayers due to their close affinity with nature works well in Boy scouts with the various religions too. In the movie Indian in the Cupboard the character Little Bear says a prayer over a deer he's just killed. I can't find it online and don't have it on DVD. Anyone know it? I do have a moment of silence out of respect and thanks for the animal.
 
For all that I don't pray over any one animal, I've always sorta regarded the outdoors as a kind of church. Or, my attitude about being outdoors and hunting through the woods and fields is churchlike, somehow. Ever since I was a little kid, I've felt like I'm part of nature--whatever that means. Getting away from towns and even just getting out of the house and into the country is like going home.

Meddling around the canyons, sitting around a campfire, I just look up from time to time and say, "Thankee, Sir."
 
I also pray over my macaroni and cheese, and my breakfast cereal. I am thankful for any sustenance; that is, for my "daily bread." I respect wildlife, but the wilderness deer is about the same as the ranch steer in that they both were killed to provide food for us to eat. If the hunter did not kill it then it would die of disease, predators, or old age.

Hunting is a noble endeavor, and we should respect the wilderness and bounty provided for us. But a venison steak and a beef steak aren't that much different other than taste are they?
 
Genesis 9:3

"Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you."

Genesis 27:3

"Now, therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out and take me some venison."

I say a quick prayer after shooting an animal. Just to thank the creator for providing for me and my family.
 
There are lots of verses listed here that one could use. That said, I don't have a meditative tradition over a kill, other than to thank the God of the Bible for a safe and successful hunt.
 
I always remember Xi from...

The Gods Must Be Crazy

When the family needs meat...
...the hunter dips his arrow in a brew that acts as a tranquilliser.
When he shoots a buck, it feels a sting and the arrow drops out.
The buck runs away, but soon it gets drowsy...
...and it stops running.
After a while, it goes to sleep.
The hunter apologizes. He explains that his family needs the meat.
 
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