Introduction
In 2002 I shot my first deer. I was using a bow that was built for someone of smaller stature, but I had practised for long enough that I was confident of my accuracy with it. The kill was interesting in that minutes before I had no idea whether I could do it. When the opportunity arose, I took it. Due to economic constraints, I had to do all the butchering myself, which was not pleasant. I am a meat eater and at this moment I found out what it is like to kill your food. It gives one respect.
After posting some photos of the kill on this site and also sending some to familly and friends, I received a number of strongly worded emails, often poorly worded, always poorly thought out and mostly ending up being plain rude. Robin has had more experience of the hunting in these parts so I stood back and let her craft a reply to these people. Here it is:
A few thoughts on hunting
I realize a lot of people don't hunt. Personally, it's not a sport I enjoy because of the often-bitter cold weather, long periods of having to sit in total silence and getting up at unreasonably early hours. However, the benefits of hunting outweigh the previously mentioned inconveniences. Hunting is an opportunity to get together with family members who have moved away; it is a social event. Young people get to listen to stories of camaraderie from years gone by. The tables are loaded with tons of good food and the drink flows freely (after hours only). Alliances are formed over a cribbage table, light-hearted jokes are played on one another and family histories are told over and over again.
For those of you who think this a barbaric display, I ask you to consider some of the following:
· The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says there are an estimated 1.65 million deer in WI. Opening weekend reports for the 2001 gun season show 600,000 hunters and 151,929 deer registered. You don't need to remove your shoes for this one - the clues are there!
· A well placed arrow/bullet takes only seconds; starvation takes a few months.
· Hitting a deer with your vehicle causes thousands of dollars in damage and human fatalities occur often. One of my closest friends got lucky when she encountered a deer - she was only launched through the back window of a truck, left to lay in her own blood and acquired one very "interesting" scar on her otherwise flawless shoulders for her efforts.
· Those of you who don't spay or neutral your pets run the risk of allowing unwanted animals in the wild. Ever see what a pack of wild dogs do to a deer when they can run on top of the snow and the deer can't?
Most hunters eat what they kill. Venison is one of the leanest red meats out there, better than beef and quick frankly, the dispatch is a lot more humane. The nine-day gun season is strictly regulated, as is the bow season that goes from mid September through December. Blaze orange is worn for safety as well as a badge of honor.
Hunting is not the sport of kings here in the US. In fact, it is often looked upon as a sport for the "working man". Why kill your supper when you can drive down to the store and buy it? Leave the exotic game hunting to the upper echelon and give me my venison sausage any day! Same rules apply to fishing and fowling. My husband and I engage in conversation as I type this. For those of you who don't know it, Adrian is British. He explains the difference between gaming in the US and gaming in the UK. Aside from getting up at "stupid o'clock" Adrian has thoroughly enjoyed the experience. For those of you abroad - realize the deer are not held in cages then released before the hunt. These animals have a fair chance and I mean fair. Deer in the wild don't live in park settings. Their habitat consists of swamps, dense forests and undergrowth thick enough to ensnare the hunter NOT the hunted. A deer's coat provides the ultimate camouflage and their natural instincts give them the supreme advantage on their home turf. We don't wave red flags or stab them with swords… We don't set packs of dogs on them, either.
Yes, hunting is a rite of passage for young people. It is a vehicle for bonding, teaching and discovery about one's self and those around. Hunting is about trust. Hunting is about being out in nature and being a part of it. Hunting is about using the skills one has learned in the classroom. Yes, the classroom. Young hunters are taught the proper way to handle their weapons and themselves in the woods.
Hunting is not for everyone.
Respectfully yours,
Robin Rinehart-Balfe