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I'll never get the attraction!

Hunting is big in this area, in fact it's huge, a major recreation sport that many people partake in. Growing up in Blighty, the only close contact I had with it was seeing the Foxhunt on horseback go by, or my dad taking part in occasional corporate pheasant or clay pigeon shoots.

But here hunting is at a whole other level with different seasons for different prey. Deer hunting attracts many hunters into our area and we have rifle, archery and black powder seasons in late autumn. In eastern Okieland they even have a Bear season. In our area they also hunt duck, quail, pheasant, rabbit, dove, prairie chicken, armadillo (unofficially) and rattlesnake, of which I heartily approve. The Hubster also said I must mention snipe hunting for the Americans reading this, apparently you'll get a laugh?!

Every year we have our own camouflage clothing season here, when it can be seen widely in stores and on backs. Stylish high visibility vests are also favoured and I even know someone who drives a camo pick-up! People get carried away designing and building deer stands and hides on their land, there's much discussion on the most effective designs. And of course the gun counters are heaving and the benefits of differing ammo are weighed up at length. They speak in a whole other language I don't get, discussing the point value of their spots or kills.

For me, one of the most bizarre elements are the family photo's circulated by email. Where proud parents show off their kids and teens propping up dead deer. I am afraid I just don't get the appeal of killing a beautiful animal for sport, but then it's gone on for centuries.

I was not raised in this world and what is a part of life for some of them, is just the opposite to me. Many people think Foxhunting (a big Brit pastime in years gone by) was far more barbaric before it was banned, and I can understand why it was thought so. There is also no denying that the Brits are an especially passionate nation of animal lovers. And I will admit that the hunting is very well regulated here and helps to keep the native animal population numbers under control.

But although I respect our difference of opinion on hunting and bite my tongue regularly, I can guarantee this is one Okie pastime I personally will never embrace.

What are your thoughts, do you hunt?

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

My ex-son-in-law was into deer hunting. He was so proud of the deer he would shoot - he'd mount the heads on the wall. I think it's barbaric. I hate the thought of killing any animals (with the exception of snakes - I consider them lower than whale sh*t and not worthy of living at all). He would bring deer meat to us, and I'd throw it out.

North West London Girl said...

Since moving to the countryside, two of my small herd have become quite involved with hunting (fox hunting and beagling), they worked at the hunt kennels over the summer and saw first hand how the whole set-up works, and that it is an industry where people are employed in various ways, at least 5 people tend the hounds, 3 of which are full time employed and are given housing, and about the same for the horses. They hardly ever catch anything and there are people from all walks involved. It was a real eye opener to me and the farmers fully encourage it as the foxes and hares cause havoc on their land and with cattle. If they shoot the animals they often will only mame them - so the creature dies in slow agony. I think it is the flaunting element that is abhorent and unnecessary.

Lynn said...

I don't get the attraction either but I know some guys say that it's more about getting to sit alone, quietly, in the woods than it is about killing something. (Can't one sit alone in the woods with a camera instead?) Considering the amount of time my husband (a bowhunter) spends sitting out in the woods without killing anything, there might be some truth to that.

Lynn said...

Meant to add... I have to admit I do like venison when it's cooked just right. I believe that you shouldn't kill an animal that isn't threatening you and that you're not going to eat. I'm not tolerant of pure sport hunting - heads on the wall and such - at all.

Anonymous said...

nope, I never hunt and I never fish, either!

On the other hand, I am not a vegetarian or vegan. As long as I don't see the animal dying, I am okay with eating meat...

M said...

I live in an area that is big on hunting and am so hoping that Ned does not want to grow up and shoot animals. Mind you, he watched Disney's Earth and sobbed when the wolf caught the baby caribou to eat so I am hoping if I show him enough of these documentaries he won't get decked out in full camouflage gear with a hunting gun! I am like you, this is very alien to me and not part of my culture at all.

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Not being a fan of the sport either, although in England I participated in the odd "drag hunt", not the same as a fox hunt...
My son-in-law and all his family are die hard hunters. Since he knew my opinion on the act, he wouldn't bring his "kill" to show me. However, I must say, over the years and being totally surrounded by the mindset of hunting, it no longer makes me want to upchuck, but I will never,participate.
I can say this, the deer population has become so prolific that there are daily and nightly road accidents some fatal, related to the deer running across the streets and highways.They are virtually everywhere, since we have moved into their living space, with urban sprawl.
I won't show pictures ;(
Great post !

Pat said...

No, no one in my family or the family I grew up in hunts. But here in the Sierra Nevada foothills lots of people do hunt. I'm neither for nor against it; I just am not at all interested in it. We have an overpopulation of mule deer that decimate everyone's garden here unless it's well protected by a high fence, but the deer hunting season is only for a month or so in the fall. I consider deer here to be large rats, but cuter than rats.

Bella Foxx said...

Sarah, ask the hubster if those are long legged (pronounced leg-ged) snipes.

imac said...

Not a hunting man myself, only with the camera,lol.
But I like the pickup.

Daryl said...

IF whatever is killed is eaten, then I have no problem with hunting. Its the people who hunt in order to mount heads on walls that I have issues with.

And camo .. well its one color/pattern I wont ever be wearing

Dee/reddirtramblings said...

I don't like to hunt either, but sometimes I'm tempted to take a gun to Bambi when he or his parents take a bite or 20 out of my garden. I hear fox hunting is very popular in the southeastern U.S. No thanks to any of it. I do like how things are so regulated. It keeps the silly hunters from hurting anybody else.~~Dee

Anonymous said...

I actually would love to have a go at hunting for food - the idea of being able to sustain oneself without the supermarkets etc is quite appealing. Hunting for sport is disgusting IMO - I hope if the government in the UK changes this year they don't bring back fox-hunting. Banning the fox-hunt was a positive civilising step I think.

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

I've never hunted and don't ever plan to do so but I've known lots of people who do and I don't have a problem with it.
Many hunters have turned into defenders of wildlife habitat.

Winifred said...

I'm with you on this Sarah. Don't get it at all.

It's much better watching anything alive than when it's dead. Weird!

Jenny said...

Hunting is really big where I'm from in Virginia. My brother in law is the biggest hunter I know, but he and his friends eat/share all of the meat every year. They get enough during the winter that it just about lasts until the next year.

While I don't like to think too much about the actual killing (I work in the veterinary field), I've had more than my share of car accidents involving my car and a deer that I believe that population control is paramount!

parTea lady said...

No hunters in my family, but my eldest brother is an avid fisherman. My Dad used to go on hunting trips and act as the cook, since he didn't hunt but enjoyed the time away with the guys.

My father-in-law hunted deer, moose and bear many, many, years ago in Northern Ontario.

We live in Southern Georgia now, where hunting is wildly popular.

Kay said...

No, we're not hunters. We're very squeamish about killing anything. I don't even like to kill cockroaches. (But I will. And termites? Definitely!) I just don't like to kill anything that can look at me.

Oh... tell the Hubster we have "snipes" in Hawaii, too. LOL

Gaelyn said...

I like snipe hunting best. LOL

I'm not a hunter but have worked in ares where it's prevalent. They always want a picture with their dead and bloody trophy. If the meat is eaten great and I've enjoyed it, otherwise it seems totally barbaric and unneccesary. Many times hunting is just a social event where people go camping with guns. Oh that sounds scary.

Iota said...

No, I don't get it either.

What's the joke about snipe?

Iota said...

Ah, I've just googled it.

Its Just Me - Daring to Dream said...

Now that's a first. I have never seen a truck quite like that one!

Pam said...

Tell me again what it is your husband does for a living? LOL

Unknown said...

Uh not exactly the same as hunting for sport Pam!

Russell said...

Stumbled onto your blog from A Brit in Tennessee's blog. Enjoy your photos and comments.

I am up in Iowa (land of snow and cold and wind at the moment) and laughed when I saw the picture of the truck! We have lots of deer and pheasant hunters here.

A few days ago I was in a new Bass Pro Shop in Des Moines and it is huge!

I enjoyed the photos of the old doodlebug line.

Take care and I hope to stop back again.

Pam said...

Oh believe me, I'm no hunter. But sport hunting is needed to manage the herds. And most a responsible about using the meat for their own meals (ask my daughter, the queen of the venison steak) and I know that meat is donated to food banks. Someone has to do it or the deer population eat up the crops. Having said that, sure there is the stereotype which isn't a stereotype ... truth is truth!

Midwest to Midlands said...

Not big on hunting myself, but know a lot of people who are. Has your husband taken you snipe hunting?

Unknown said...

Uh no, he knows it ain't worth the ear-ache!

Alina said...

Hello Sarah, my first visit to your lovely Blog. I, like you, could never embrace hunting. I despise it just as much as I despise bullfights!