your first kill: how difficult was it for you?

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gaseousclay

New member
I know a lot of you seasoned hunters out there probably aren't squeamish about shooting animals or field dressing a deer for that matter. I still struggle with this, as I love nature, especially animals. I'm trying to take a practical approach to hunting in that I plan on harvesting anything I shoot, whether it's deer or water fowl. I even watched a youtube video on how to field dress a deer. I initially thought this would gross me out, but surprisingly it didn't. I think more to the point, I would probably have a hard time shooting an animal just for the sake of killing it. I think the only exception would be is if I perceived a threat to myself. but if it was something like a racoon, skunk or even a bear rummaging through the garbage i'd probably leave it alone.

I know this may sound hypocritical of me or like i'm some animal rights nut, but i'm not. obviously, having never fired a gun or hunted in my life has a lot to do with it but I have a tremendous amount of respect for nature and the thought of blasting a 'varmint' because it's there makes me cringe. my father in-law has told me stories of shooting racoons and skunks on the farm, but he does this because they ruin his crops, and I probably would too if I were in his shoes.

so, was it hard for some of you when you made your first kill? it's weird, I don't think i'd have a problem shooting water fowl, but it might be more difficult shooting my first deer. I know i'll more than likely get over it but just thinking about it is difficult
 
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If it is hard for you and against your personal nature, find another sport.
I started hunting rabbits, squirrels and pheasants at about age 10 and was never bothered by killing them. We ate all I killed.
Today I still hunt and exterminate predators and nusiance animals without a hint of a squeam. But, I could never kill an animal just to kill it.
 
I didn't start hunting until four years ago (at 31 years old) and I'm a nature lover too. I think deer and other ungulates are beautiful animals. I won't fire my rifle or bow until I know I can make a good, clean kill. When I've put an animal down, I thank it for giving itself to me and I can admire its beauty; when field dressing, I'm amazed at the similarities and differences in internal anatomy; when quartering, I enjoy seeing the intricacies of the skeletel-muscular system. After I've shot, field dressed, and butchered an animal, I make sure to use as much as possible so as to not disrespect the animal.

Personally, watching a flock of ducks land in the slough I'm set up on is just as fun with a camera and a good lens as it is with a shotgun. Upland birds not only get breasted out but turned into stock as well. Between waterfowl and upland birds, my fly tying bench is well stocked throughout the winter months and I can prepare to lose a bunch of flies during the next season.

Ultimately, after I've put an animal down, I can admire it up close. I thank it for giving its life to me (which may make me sound like a hippy!). I try to use as much of the animal as possible.
 
Most hunters or true sportsmen I know have a bit of regret when ending an animals life. Infact, there have been similar threads within this forum on the subject and if memory serves me, most had the same point of view. Truthfully, I hope I never get over the feeling of remorse I have when I kill an animal. I also, eat what I kill and strive to make a more ethical harvest than what is done in commercial processing plants (although that's not hard to accomplish). Just remember this, the harvesting of an animal is just one part of the hunting experience and there is certainly no rule which says you have to kill something each time you go.

Good luck.
 
My first kill was before I can remember. I hunted pigeons and starlings with a BB gun on my grandfathers farm when I was probably 4.

I do remember going through a phase early in deer hunting, after I'd killed a few, where I wondered if I really wanted to do it because it did bother me to see them die. That lasted for a year or two and it hasn't bothered me a bit since.
 
I've been a shooter all of my adult life but at 61 years old never a hunter. Nothing against hunting but circumstances and being a city boy I didn't have early exposure to it. I don't know how I'd feel if I went out and harvested my own deer but this topic got me thinking that I don't even think twice about eating store bought meat. I don't even see a cow, a pig, or a chicken. Just dinner. :) Hunting must be a rewarding experience and if I was doing it and eating what I killed or ridding an area of varmints I think I would be fine with it.
 
If it is hard for you and against your personal nature, find another sport.
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I think it will be hard for me when I go out for my first time, but I know i'll get used to it. I wouldn't really say it's against my personal nature and i'm not trying to put myself on a pedestal or anything. I'm glad everyone here is sharing their stories and that i'm not the only one who has felt guilt or remorse for killing or thinking of killing an animal. let me just say that i'm not here to preach morality or to judge anyone. this is just something i've thought about, as i'm sure a lot of people have. I'm just wondering how all of you have dealt with it and what I can do to deal with it.
 
The first kill wasn't hard at all, it was exciting & a very proud moment for me...it was a squirrel w/ a NEF 20 gauge.

The first time I wounded an animal was what was hard on me, but made me a all around more ethical hunter & ensured that I have never taken questionable shot since then. I was 13 when I wounded the squirrel & I beat myself up over it for a long time.
 
The first time I wounded an animal was what was hard on me, but made me a all around more ethical hunter & ensured that I have never taken questionable shot since then.
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+1 Hard lessons are the ones we remember the most. I didn't make the cleanest kill on my first deer, but it didn't stop me from hunting. I just work harder to make that first shot count.
 
And I still gack when gutting them. Nothing I seem to be able to do to stop it, just let it go and get back to work. It is a part of the sport.
 
I killed my first animal with a gun when I was about 6, and I remember being horrified watching it kick and flop. After that, I got used to it. Now it means nothing.

If it bothers you, don't do it. You have been programmed by society to be apalled by killing, think about a different sport. If hunting and shooting are just some morbid pursuit for you, think twice about what you are pursuing, because once you get there you can't get back.
 
I grew up on a small farm in Mo. I killed cleaned and gutted more animals (both livestock and wild) that I can count. I don't think I've ever felt remorse for the animal. Once, while hunting quail I jumped a meadow lark. I could tell right away it was a meadow lark but I shot it anyway. When my dad found out about it, I got to find out what a boiled meadow lark tasted like. I've never done anything like that since.
 
gaseousclay
I'm a bit confused as to why you seem to struggle with this subject or for that matter, even pose the question. I would suggest that you don't hunt until you find a resolution. There are times in the year that I shoot with a camera. I think you would enjoy that more. I personally am not aware of any Hunter that has his finger on the trigger and still questioning his actions. :confused:

There are times when I teach Hunting Ethics, to young students. During our Hunter Safety classes, I tell them that they don't have to hunt, if they choose not to, nor shoot a firearm. I do this, in case they are being pressured by there buddies, parents or whomever. It's a personal choice. However, if indeed they want to hunt and "Kill" an animal, that's fine too and they need to take responsibilty for that action. Hunting is an ethical adventure, if you choose to do so. ;)

I do remember my fist "Kill" and the only regret was that I did not shoot it with a .22 but instead of a shotgun. I had more problems cleaning and getting my Mom to cook it than pulling the trigger. .... :o


Be Safe !!!
 
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im a bit confused as to why you seem to struggle with this subject or for that matter, even pose the question. I would suggest that you don't hunt until you find a resolution.
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for me it's just one interest among many interests that I have gained over the years. the idea of hunting has only become a recent thing for me. I don't know what it was exactly but the idea of hunting my own 'food' was appealing. again, I think it's because i've never killed anything in my life that I'm asking these questions. it isn't necessarily about right or wrong either, but more about whether or not I have the stomach for it. I think I do, but I won't really know till I try.
 
gaseousclay, Hunting is an excellent skill to know for many reasons. You are finding an interest in it because it is natural.


Fish_Scientist said:
When I've put an animal down, I thank it for giving itself to me and I can admire its beauty
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So did you do that before or after you put it down? If afterwords, you were probably talking to yourself. :confused:
 
I don't find the killing hard at all. What I do find hard to take is when I don't get a good quick clean kill. Even though I love to hunt, I don't take any pleasure from creating unnecessary suffering.
 
Even though I love to hunt, I don't take any pleasure from creating unnecessary suffering.
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Man is the only animal on earth that makes such a measure and so it should be. Hunting to me is not a sport but a way of life. There is no sport in killing anything and it only plays a small part in the total experience.

it isn't necessarily about right or wrong either, but more about whether or not I have the stomach for it. I think I do, but I won't really know till I try.
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Then by all means, you don't have to. Just get out and enjoy the day. Many times I just sit under one of my favorite trees and take a little nap. Woke up one time a bitch coyote and two of her pups were just standing there looking at me. I jumped and that spooked them as well. I know I got a good laugh out of it. Just do your best, in your own best ways and give it no mind. ... ;)


Be Safe !!!
 
The first Kill I remember was as a youngster, squirrel hunting.
It didnt bother me a bit, i was very proud, but to this day, I hunt a variety of game, and a kill dosent bother me. But what does is for an animal to suffer, that makes me sad.
 
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