The real reason for the Hunt

Zeek5793

New member
I'm almost 60 now, and as i think back, when i was a kid all i wanted was a kill, but now a lot older and i hope a little wiser, I know that the hunt is all about being with the people you care for and respect & love,I have experenced some of the best Deer and Elk hunting anyone can ask for,, and with the most wonderful people in the world, I've taken many wonderful animals and have thanked GOD every time, But it's not how big the trophy is but who you are with that really matters, The best hunt i've ever been on are when my two Grandson, brothers, one was 17 and the other 14, we all drew on a very hard to get Bull Elk hunt, On the 3rd day of the hunt the 17 yd old shot a 6X6 340 green score Bull, 380 yd with a 30 06 what a shot, 2 steps and it was down, On the 6th day the 14 yr old took a 6X6 a 309 green at 180 yd with a 338 Win, I've never seen a Bull Elk go down Quicker, All of us had many chances and good Bulls , I never fired a Shot that Hunt but It was the best hunt I've ever been on or ever will, If you are my age or close to it you will understand,, For you who are not just think of what you have to look forward to ,, Remember the reason for the HUNT
GOD BLESS
Zeek5793
 
Nicely said. This year I was bugging my dad to come out hunting with me for pretty much anything. He's always super busy with working and helping other people. But on the second last day of whitetail there was a ice/snow storm and school was cancelled (he's a teacher). So we fired up my brother's 71 Bronco and headed out to the nicest place I've ever hunted. The snow was incredible. Walking and "hunting" with him was even more incredible. I'll never forget the day that I first hunted with my dad. And I hope it wasn't the last. Oh we never fired a shot. We saw a couple of does and one nice buck. None worth shooting at though. I don't mind paying my $20 just to walk with my gun in the woods with the chance of seeing something. It's so much nicer than living in the city and walking on a street.

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Guys, I can't agree more. My dad passed away this December. It's been rough, and everytime I'm out in the field, I think of him. My fondest memories were with him on hunts. Stuckon308, MAKE SURE YOU TELL YOUR DAD HOW MUCH THAT AND OTHER TRIPS MEAN TO YOU. Don't be afraid to tell him. Too often us guys get the macho and afraid to tell our father's how much we love them, and I try to remember that as a father as well. Show him your post. Show him mine. Get him on this site. It may change your life, and I gaurantee it will have an affect on him like you won't believe...

I'm going to start a thread, probably tomorrow, titled memorable hunts with dad to comemorate the close of this season, and to celebrate the times I had with him. I think you dad will appreciate this as much as you will. I hope you share your thoughts with him.

God bless and take care!
 
Oh don't worry. He knows how much it meant to me. We even did the sharing of hot chocolate on the way home. I think that has to be one of the best days in my life. And right now I'm literally crying.
 
Agreed; cept for me it's not to be with ones I love; it's to be ALONE, and witness sights like the utmost beauty shown in stuckon's pic there. Connecting with nature. I suppose if I found a real soul mate who thinks just like me and can enjoy things QUIETLY, I could favor the being-with-someone over the being-alone as the purpose.
 
I totally agree with you FirstFreedom. There are times to hunt alone. And I mainly do that. When I take out my cousins or brothers I don't really expect to kill, or even see much on those days. But they're fun days to be walking in nature with people you care about.
 
My Dad just turned 63 and I'm 37. This past year was the first time that I have ever hunted with my Dad who retired from hunting at least 20 years ago.

I take a yearly hunting trip to Wyoming each year and this year I was able to convince him to join us. He hadn't shot a rifle at any living thing in 20 years but my Dad killed a doe and a nice buck within his first 2 hours of hunting on opening day. The buck he killed was one hell of a nice one and I could see the pride on his face after each. It was a great feeling to see him enjoy himself in the outdoors.

I was able to take two antelope myself with my buck coming in at 15" with 3" cutters. This is most likely the biggest antelope I'll ever get hunting public land. While I'm proud as hell of my buck, what really makes me happy is that my dad was laying in the same ditch with me scanning a hillside looking at a smaller buck when mine crested the hill. Dad and I both saw him and just as soon as my Dad said "Do you see that one?" my 7mm roared and the buck dropped at 176 yards.

No matter how long I live, I'll never forget that hunt with my father. Once that buck dropped, I don't know who was prouder, my Father or myself. It was special and long overdue. You see, I always wanted to learn to hunt from my Father but never had the chance too. I learned from others and I have developed a great love for all things outdoor. Finally getting a chance that share that with my Dad made for a great trip and memories that will last both of us for a lifetime.
 
I know I'd feel the same way as the OP if I had family with which to hunt. But for me, right now, it's all about the connection with nature. It's about time standing still such as in moments like that photo above. It's about being humbled by my errors and triumphant in my success.

Nothing quite like the hush of a forest after a fresh snow.

I come back with a new perspective; refreshed.

I hunt alone.
 
Trust me, I hunt for solitude...it recharges the batteries. I do try to involve my son whenever possible, but like a lot of you, I love to be out there...no TV...no phone... no computer... and when I'm really lucky, just a sleeping bag, a fire and no eletricity. It does not get any better than that. But the camplife with the one's you love are truely cherished times too.
 
Your right. Hunting is not just about klling something, its about getting outdoors breathing the fresh air and enjoying the peace and quite of the great outdoors. Sharing time with a family member or friend. A bad day of hunting is better than the best day at work. :D
 
The hunt is...

the solitude for your soul. The exercise for the body. The reconnection with nature.
To go to a new area and read sign to place yourself accordingly.
To get yourself caught by a animal as you quietly round a trail bend, or get woken @ 4:30Am as a deer round a game trail and ran into your tent. (Darn, sleeping bag zipper tags should be luminiscent and as large as possible).
Having come back to your camp well after dark and find an invite to another camp for dinner. Helping another hunter with directions after "lites out"
Going to the friendly tree, because the kidneys' say so and have the late moon illuminating the countryside.
Having your dog (Springer) give you comments (looks could kill) on your shooting abilities, after she spent twenty minutes scenting a rabbit in a Ohio public game area after the morning assault waves crash and spent themselves in vain chase.
Add-in guys, we know what is all about!!!
 
You guys are bringing back memories. Years ago I bought a Sako 243 super deluxe ( I still have it) and took it round to show my Dad who was an engineer all his life. He went round showing every body saying "look at the quality, this is one beautiful rifle, I bet it is a real tack driver" (it is).
I said I'm going to work up a load this week, want to come out on my next deer hunt? you bet he said. He did and I got a nice doe first time out, we dressed that out went on a ways and came on another, I gave him the rifle and he shot it clean a little over 100yds, boy was he happy!
We have talked over that day and many others, fishing trips too, too many times to mention.
He died last year just over (92 yrs) and I can still see the exitement and pleasure on his face when we went out, he always treated it like a new adventure every time, sure do miss him.
 
I must say that I hunt alone mostly because, just like others have said, it recharges the batteries. I can think and pray and just relaxe.

I really like the tasty critters too. :D
 
Thanks to all of the above members. I agree with the hunting alone and I appreciate hunting (both times) with my daughter.

I have read the above statements about 5 times now and I feel like I have been in the same state of mind in the woods as you.
When I am alone in the woods or on the mountain from now on, I will be reminded that other hunters are out in their respective spots enjoying the same solitude I am. To say it is a religeous experience sometimes is not easy to understand unless you have experienced it.

We may be out there alone, but it is nice to know we are sharing the same experience as other outdoorsmen. I am 41 years old and can appreciate the memories past and the ones being made still.
 
I will agree with you that who you hunt with and the time that you share with them has a huge part in the hunt but a nice trophy always makes the hunt a little more enjoyable. I love to be with my family and friends when I hunt but the truth be told, I would still be out there after that trophy even if I was all by myself. :D
 
I hunt alone too, so I have thought about why since it has nothing to do with memories, or family, or something I've been taught. I think the feeling of recharging, etc., as has been said above, is because we are getting back to something we are missing in our "civilized" lives. Man has been a hunter since before Esau picked up his bow. I figure it's like a sled dog pulling or a retriever retrieving - It's in our genes so it feels exactly right.
 
I love to be out there...no TV...no phone... no computer... and when I'm really lucky, just a sleeping bag, a fire and no eletricity. It does not get any better than that.

Man, isn't that the truth. One bone-headed acquaintance of mine went afield and was yakking on his cell phone. Guess who never saw a deer? ;)
 
I know what you guys mean, however, I am 16 and my father loves to hunt, but has always drank too much to do so effectively. I go out hunting with him a lot though, even though I know I wont ever see anything. I just went down to my aunts to hunt there about a month ago and got 2 deer. However, I dont really care about the meat as much as the experiance of it. People around me have started looking at me in a higher light now that I have gotten a deer. Cause in my family, it makes you a man! :o
 
Personally I can't go hunting. There's simply too much violence in this world and I can not morally justify killing another animal. To experience nature I go hiking and rather than taking meat with me when I leave, I take pictures. Killing is simply somethign I don't want to do.
 
Killing is part of the life cycle whether you choose to participate or not.

Violence is also part of life. Choosing to ignore that fact, can be very dangerous. I also admire natures beauty, but I do not delude myself into thinking that things won't die if I don't kill them. There is a food chain and I choose to (for the most part) be at the top.

Don't think your chicken, beef, or pork committed suicide to get to your table.

I don't hunt for the kill, but I will and do kill at the appropriate times.
 
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