Why do Hunters Hunt?

Hunter with a wild turkey she harvested

Minnesota has a rich hunting tradition that spans the state and makes each spring and fall a time for making memories. There is a great deal of anti-hunting sentiment these days, but I have found it to be largely the product of misunderstanding of hunting in general and ignorance concerning the role of hunting in wildlife management.

Too often hunters are portrayed as being heartless Bambi killers. True, there are some out there who call themselves hunters while being anything but; they are shooters and care little for their targets. But the vast majority of hunters are anything but heartless. They love and respect the animals they hunt, and those that I know or have had contact with are lovers of all animals. Some hunters are warm and fuzzy hearted to a fault. But hunters are also outdoors people and understand the role in nature of the animals they hunt. Hunters understand that encroaching civilization has upset the pristine balance of nature and has allowed some species to flourish while chasing out others. The most effective way of restoring this balance is through hunting, especially as it is generally the large predators who have suffered most from losing habitat. Loss of large predators has allowed animals like deer to reproduce at a rate their habitat cannot sustain. Many hunters have seen the effects of an uncontrolled animal population boom. It is not a pleasing sight to see animals that have suffered starvation or died from diseases caused by over population. Hunters take over the role of harvesting animals that had been harvested by large predators. By keeping the animal populations at a healthy level, hunters contribute to the health and well-being of the animals.

Another misconception about hunters is that they are in the woods and fields solely to kill animals. Nothing can be further from the truth. Hunters are in the woods because they love nature and all the sights, sounds and smells associated with it. Ask a deer hunter what he saw while sitting on his deer stand and you will be regaled with tales of chickadees, woodpeckers, squirrels, and the occasional sightings of other mammals. As an aside he or she may mention that no deer were seen, but it was a glorious day in the woods. Hunters are out to enjoy nature and filling the hunting tag is a bonus that means meat on the table.

In future posts I will be sharing stories of my own hunting and fishing experiences, most of which involve humorous or even ludicrous mistakes and the outcome from them. Anyone who thinks that filling a tag is simply a matter of walking out and firing a gun at a defenseless animal needs a refreshing dose of reality. Animals have keen senses and while they may not be able to shoot back they are very capable of taking care of themselves and making a hunter look inept.

To all those hunters out there, happy hunting!