Losing my killer instinct

[snert]

Never thought I would say it, but except for woodchucks (maybe PD) barn pigeons and starlings, rats, (snakes cause I hate em) I don't have the DRIVE to hunt them anymore. Pretty much gave up deer after taking about 35 in my life, most with pistol. Love grouse and rabbit on dogs, but don't have the legs for it, so the DRIVE is gone, and I used to love squirrel hunting, but don't eat them and my squirrel eating friends are all gone.

I do like to rap muskrat and mink, but again, don't have the DRIVE. So for me it is more about the ability (DRIVE) than it is a heart-conviction.

But I never met a chuck I did not want to shoot...

 

[CaptainMal]

Actually, I like the kill experience. After that you can have what I killed. From then on it's just work and unpleasant work at that.

Got criticized this past year by a guy in Georgia because I regularly kill 2 big bucks and about 4-5 does each year there. The limit is 10 does and two bucks. I am legal and give most all the meat that I pay to have processed (expensive) to older friends in Florida. All is appreciated but some people near me in Georgia are hostile because I kill and give away. In the meantime they are a bit inept as hunters and struggle to get much. Jealous probably but still they were quite vocal against me.

Think this Fall I will reduce my kills and take away some of my fun to have a less stressful experience. I still like to kill and enjoyed all the decades of groundhog kills I did while living in Pa. Wish we had groundhogs and prairie dogs here in Florida. I like to kill.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I still love the good clean organic elk meat. I try to put one in the freezer every year but thats it. At least I know what I am eating. I used to love to shoot chucks, the last one I shot I could hear it sucking through a lung wound in its hole. That was the last time for me.

 

[nmkid]

I haven't hunted in almost 10 years but, would go at the drop of a hat. Coyotes will be here long, long after I'm gone so they are fair game. I've seen what they will do to sheep! I shot one Bobcat in my long varmint hunting career(?) That was in 1972. After seeing how beautiful it was, I told myself, "never again". So, many a 'cat' got to walk afterwards.

 

[Shynloco]

Never thought I would say it, but except for woodchucks (maybe PD) barn pigeons and starlings, rats, (snakes cause I hate em) I don't have the DRIVE to hunt them anymore. Pretty much gave up deer after taking about 35 in my life, most with pistol. Love grouse and rabbit on dogs, but don't have the legs for it, so the DRIVE is gone, and I used to love squirrel hunting, but don't eat them and my squirrel eating friends are all gone.

I do like to rap muskrat and mink, but again, don't have the DRIVE. So for me it is more about the ability (DRIVE) than it is a heart-conviction.

But I never met a chuck I did not want to shoot...

SNERT,
Welcome to the human race. What you feel is normal for some while others say you might be getting soft. I say, SO BE IT. I answer to me and could care less what others think about me getting old and "soft." I quit hunting deer in the late 70's and stuck mostly with target shooting after that. Like you, I'd still drop a few animals, particularly pigs that I still hate because they look so darn mean and just the ugliest of most animals I've encountered. In fact, a summer or two ago, I was doing some reloading in my garage and looked out into the street, and here comes a coyote walking down the middle of the street. I keep a 30-30 at the ready, but kinda made a mental deal with that coyot...you don't mess with me or my dogs and I don't shoot your azz. So don't feel guilty or that you are the Lone Ranger. There are more of us than you think, but many don't have the baXXs to admit it. But my efforts in precision shooting are actual more challenging than dropping an animal anytime and actually less work (physical that is as the brain power has increased). Hang in there and have fun in whatever you purse in the sport of shooting.

Alex

 

[K22]

What a place to say this. But first. Some of my best days are in the upland field with my dog. If I could do it with my rifle it would be bester. LR hunt/shoot is my real thing. So here's my problem. ( I couldn't pull the trigger on a easy coyote shot ). Im getting old this days and just couldn't being myself to kill it. Any of you old guys getting there or am I tuning into a wimp.

You are not a wimp - you're compassionate and that is not something to be ashamed of.

I'm primarily a varmint / predator hunter. I won't shoot any ghogs under a 100 yards because it just doesn't make sense with a center fire varmint rifle.. Of course I don't tell the farmer this because he wants them all killed.

At least for me, the older I get the more I lose the urge to kill even ghogs but I love being out in the fields and the challenge of a long shot under field conditions. I try to only make humane shots at distances that's within my skill level. I often will pass on pups and definitely on females with pups. When I was younger I wouldn't think twice about it.

Deer is another story since I can rationalize taking them because of the meat. Believe or not I use to save the hind legs on ghogs and when I had enough would have a ghog leg roast. But my wife threaten to divorce me if I put any more of those "rat" legs in her freezer so I stop the practice several years ago. The legs aren't half bad if you drink about six cans of beer before you eat them.

If you like nature and wildlife some remorse in killing seems logical. I justify the ghogs hunting as a service to the farmers but in reality, it killing for sport. I've taken over 1,500 since I retire in 2000 and had many of great hunts. I have no regrets but sometimes, well, a feel a tinge of guilt but as soon at the fields are cut I'm out there doing my thing.

 

[savageshooter86]

I was very into deer hunting, but I did it for the meat and the fact I provided for my family. But since my farm sold 2 years ago, I can't watch hunting on tv. It's almost, we'll is a sport now. All the sponsors and the shows now where the hunters act like they never killed a deer before drives me crazy. When they do it every day and basically raise deer in their yard to hunt.

It was thrilling for me because I truly had to hunt. Never knew if I'd see anything, let alone a buck.

 

[snert]

You are not a wimp - you're compassionate and that is not something to be ashamed of.

I'm primarily a varmint / predator hunter. I won't shoot any ghogs under a 100 yards because it just doesn't make sense with a center fire varmint rifle.. Of course I don't tell the farmer this because he wants them all killed.

At least for me, the older I get the more I lose the urge to kill even ghogs but I love being out in the fields and the challenge of a long shot under field conditions. I try to only make humane shots at distances that's within my skill level. I often will pass on pups and definitely on females with pups. When I was younger I wouldn't think twice about it.

Deer is another story since I can rationalize taking them because of the meat. Believe or not I use to save the hind legs on ghogs and when I had enough would have a ghog leg roast. But my wife threaten to divorce me if I put any more of those "rat" legs in her freezer so I stop the practice several years ago. The legs aren't half bad if you drink about six cans of beer before you eat them.

If you like nature and wildlife some remorse in killing seems logical. I justify the ghogs hunting as a service to the farmers but in reality, it killing for sport. I've taken over 1,500 since I retire in 2000 and had many of great hunts. I have no regrets but sometimes, well, a feel a tinge of guilt but as soon at the fields are cut I'm out there doing my thing.

Exactly my thoughts. Especially the part about the g-hog under 100 yards! Seems I am far-sighted, and those up close ones just don't get seen. I let them make more for next yea, and the farmer just shakes his head.

 

[jds holler]

Seems like when we're boys, we want to make the hills run red with blood; and I did. I've grown out of that though, and am much less passionate about the kill. I try to keep my killing fairly meat or fur oriented, and really enjoy making a meal of what I've killed. I've never been a trophy hunter and have never shot a whopper of a deer or elk, although I've shot lots of them. We've (wife and I) become archery hunters, and since doing that I realize that I've always been a better "deer shooter" than I am a "deer hunter". Deer meat is at the absolute top of my list for eating, and I haven't killed one for several years now. I'm pretty good and making a good meal out of most any meat, and awhile back made a post about jack rabbit. Gotta admit though, that while I kill upwards of a thousand ground squirrels every year, I've never cooked any up.

I have killed seven elks, (all cows) and my fondest wish is to get a nice bull with my bow. jd

 

[JRS]

If I can continue to draw my longbows, I will continue to hunt.

 

[Cold Bore]

I still love to hunt.

Killing... not so much.

 

[wmdron]

On my place if it becomes a nuisance be it a groundhog,coyote,muskrat,squirrel etc. it gets hunted and taken care of. I don't particularly enjoy killing but sometimes there is no other option.

 

[timeout]

I was very into deer hunting, but I did it for the meat and the fact I provided for my family. But since my farm sold 2 years ago, I can't watch hunting on tv. It's almost, we'll is a sport now. All the sponsors and the shows now where the hunters act like they never killed a deer before drives me crazy. When they do it every day and basically raise deer in their yard to hunt.

It was thrilling for me because I truly had to hunt. Never knew if I'd see anything, let alone a buck.

Good post. I completely agree, most of TV shows are so phony. It's all about money. I also like the hunt as much or more than the kill. To each his own, but for me, killing over a salt lick or feeder isn't hunting. I would never lobby to stop it though. Our numbers are dwindling and we don't need infighting. Ooh yah, those guys that act like they just won a date with miss America after the shot. What a joke.

 

[JRS]

Hunting the hard way:

 

[oldhoward]

What a place to say this. But first. Some of my best days are in the upland field with my dog. If I could do it with my rifle it would be bester. LR hunt/shoot is my real thing. So here's my problem. ( I couldn't pull the trigger on a easy coyote shot ). Im getting old this days and just couldn't being myself to kill it. Any of you old guys getting there or am I tuning into a wimp.

Yes I am getting old too and soft. I have become fussy about what I shoot, I like to varmint hunt now but atfer a few days of pd shooting, I do feel sorry for them, and slow down.

 

[fredo]

Interesting topic that delves into one's personal belief system. Time afield & past experiences certainly factor heavily toward shaping an individual's 'drive' to hunt, as do physical limitations. When one's own mortality becomes a more ponderous topic, its only natural to ponder the mortality of others, and other creatures along with it...

I've found it more liberating to embrace the fact that I'm a hunter and a killer, than to attempt justifying it to another's satisfaction. Our reasons are our own, let your conscience be your guide...

 

[hogpatrol]

I just plain like to be outside in the natural environs, be it in a tree stand, a hay field or on the water or in a stream. If I get something, fine. If I don't, that's fine too. I varmint hunt to help out the farmers and eat or give away anything else I take. I believe in sound game management which requires animals to be killed for the good of the species. I don't foist my beliefs on anyone else and resent others that try to do that to me.

 

[JRS]

jds holler. Is this what you're talking about?

 

[mike a]

Hey Folks, op here. I really never expected this to go so far. Figured I'd get stomped on quick, this is a hunter site right? Just so you know. I'm an NRA member, support my local rod & gun club and two other hunt clubs. Weather you shoot, hunt, trap or fish I will always ( to my last breath ) support your right to freely, safely and legally do it. Don't count me out on hunting all together, especially since seeing that fine bull elk. You bow guys are the real sneeky snipers. I could never do it. To busy burping, farting and scratching my butt. My wife and her lady friend were having morning coffee on the front porch last week. She pointed out two white dove in the yard and said to me (you don't shoot those pretty ones do you) my response. Are you kidding. We get extra points for those! Pic of me hunting, horny toad season I think. Cheers mike

 

[JRS]

Hey Folks, op here. I really never expected this to go so far. Figured I'd get stomped on quick, this is a hunter site right? Just so you know. I'm an NRA member, support my local rod & gun club and two other hunt clubs. Weather you shoot, hunt, trap or fish I will always ( to my last breath ) support your right to freely, safely and legally do it. Don't count me out on hunting all together, especially since seeing that fine bull elk. You bow guys are the real sneeky snipers. I could never do it. To busy burping, farting and scratching my butt. My wife and her lady friend were having morning coffee on the front porch last week. She pointed out two white dove in the yard and said to me (you don't shoot those pretty ones do you) my response. Are you kidding. We get extra points for those! Pic of me hunting, horny toad season I think. Cheers mike

I, for one, am glad you started this conversation. It is very interesting and goes right to the heart of things. Everyone has different feelings and priorities. I'm a meat hunter, and nothing goes to waste. My dogs eat raw meat and bones, and nothing gets thrown away.