A Confusing Hunting Stereotype
Hunting Experience No. 1: The sun was just breaking over the horizon, casting its orange glow upon the masses and highlighting the visible moisture clinging to the oak leaves. The natural lines of the ridge I was hunting on were just becoming visible, and the birds had started their morning song. I was in heaven.
Hunting Experience No. 2: The morning snow shower was beginning to accumulate on my hunting clothes; watching it gently makes its way between the trees, and eventually to the ground, was one of the most tranquil experiences I’ve ever had. And with nature’s silent show happening right in front of me, it was just a bonus to see the three deer sneak their way across the cut corn field a few hundred yards away.
The examples above are just two of many different hunting scenarios I’ve experienced first-hand. And they are just a small excerpt of the many peaceful, relaxing, take-your-breath-away experiences I’ve had while hunting.
Hunting is one of the most tranquil and relaxing activities I’ve ever had the opportunity to be involved in. And that is why I really get irritated when someone refers to hunting as “violent”. And it irritates me even more when part of their argument for not wanting their kids to become involved in hunting is because it’s “violent”.
I truly have a hard time wrapping my head around the particular thing which triggers those involved to coin hunting as violent. Is it because of the occasional bloodshed? Is it because of the occasional killing?
I suppose those two things are the main reason for hunting to be classified as a violent activity, but do they realize how small a part those two “violent” activities actually play in the whole hunting experience?
I can guarantee that our youth experience much more violence in a single day then they experience in a lifetime of hunting. Has anyone who calls hunting violent, and keeps their children from such activity, ever taken the time to consider how much more violence their children are exposed to while watching television, movies, or -for God’s sake – playing a video game?
Plus, for the record, I don’t even considering the death of an animal to be violent; it is far from it actually. Most of the kills are quick, efficient, with minimal suffering involved – a far cry from any video game maiming, or television show morgue scene.
To call hunting violent is extremely off the mark. Most hunting experiences involve tranquility, self-reflection, and deep thought – just to name a few – so to call hunting violent, simply because there is occasional killing and bloodshed for food, is extremely and utterly wrong.
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This is such a touchy subject Arthur. I think with some of the hunting shows today “the kill” is the part that is highlighted. With that being said, naturally it will be because the animal is or should be the climax of the show. However, for those that have never sat in a treestand or blind they can’t begin to understand the hours that it takes sitting patiently for the perfect scenario to play out which in turn allows you to pull the trigger. These hours of tranquil, peaceful bonding with nature far out number the few seconds of bloodshed. I think most non-hunters are just ignorant and uneducated about the whole process…Anyways, good article.
Well said Arthur.
I can attest to the kid driven violence in video games.Even the Lego Game people have created a Nintendo DS game called “Lego Wars”, of course they are not the only ones to add violence to an early audience, but one I chose to site as an example. My soon to be seven year old Grandson has requested games with fighting in them…
Non-hunters have as many reasons for themselves not to hunt as those of us who choose to provide directly from nature. I see it like this and my opinion might be off center… Information overload is making people grumpy – too many other people’s ideas and opinions are finding a way onto the airwaves/internet causing views to become narrowed, as well as defensive.
We do have a responsibility to put forth the more spiritual side of the reason for hunting and not focus mainly on the adrenal charged end portrayed by most hunting shows.
It’s a tough one, Arthur. Folks believe, and honestly, that causing an animal’s death is an act of violence… and I suppose that by some basic definitions that’s exactly what it is. It’s why so many people oppose hunting from a purely philosophical point of view, even when they’re not opposed to eating meat or using animal products. In their eyes, sport hunting is purely unnecessary violence as opposed to the more necessary slaughter of the meat industry.
Of course, study after study has shown that a hunting background does not cause individuals to be more predisposed to other violence. We’re not likely to run out and be bank robbers, psycho-killers, or rapists. We don’t have a retarded sense of the value of life. Those traits are anomalies to the human condition, and they are as likely to occur in someone who’s never hunted in their lives as in a hunter. Some might argue that a disregard for life occurs much more commonly in non-hunters, particularly in crowded, urban conditions… and I expect that objective research would show as much (if it doesn’t already).
Anyway, I’m with ya. If you want to keep kids away from violence, then you’ll need to turn off TV, shut down the video games, and remove every stick and rock within walking distance. And even then, it’ll find a way to seep through. We’re inherently violent animals. It is still in our nature to try our strength, establish the pecking order, and define and protect our boundaries. The trick is to channel that violent energy into more constructive pursuits, such as sports or hobbies… and yeah, now that I think about it… maybe even hunting and fishing.
Phillip,
.
Very well put. And you are right – we would have to lock them in a room in order to keep them anyway from anything violent.