must be an "naturenut"

[Clay Hayes]

Do any of you guys ever feel like no one, and I mean no one, can ever really understand what hunting means to you?  That without hunting, the way it’s meant to be, you would be lost; a shell of your current self.

I quit trying to explain myself, my reasons and motivations some time ago.  Folks started looking at me funny when I tried.  Just wondering if anyone else feels, or has felt the same.

[adeeden]

For those who don't get it no explanation is possible, for those of us who do no explanation is neccasary.

[leewillis92]

I know how you feel.  I'm in highschool, but when I tell people I shoot a longbow they think of me as a mix of a robin hood wannabe and a redneck.  It seems that my school is completely full of purple hair and rap music.  And I really only know of a couple people (my closest friends) that have their heads on straight.  Agreed, adeeden;  thats what I think all of the time.

[Ian johnson]

Lee, thats me too, even the few at my school that I know of that do hunt think I'm crazy for using a longbow

[La. bowhunter]

When people see me with my recurve it doesnt take long before I get "the question" Why do you want to hunt with that. The problem is I really cant explain it to someone who has never tried it maybe it is like adeeden says there is no explanation. All I know is that it is lots of fun and I love it and cant get enough of it.

[GingivitisKahn]

No explanations needed, really.  I'm guessing you hunt because you love the hunt, because you have to.  It doesn't really matter if anyone else gets it.

That's how I see it, anyway.

[John3]

When people give me the "look" I just say it's all about the challenge. "If I really cared about killing something I would hunt with a rifle." "It's about the hunting, not the killing."...


JDS III

[Over&Under]

Originally posted by adeeden:
For those who don't get it no explanation is possible, for those of us who do no explanation is neccasary.

Well stated!

[jimmerc]

Clay, I know what you exactly what your saying,I used to try explaining the whys,but long since gave up! the only person i ever knew who was a non hunter that gets it,i married! my wife understands my passion for hunting and is thankful that i'm not one of those out at the bars drinking,gambling kinda of people!! even my two childen who are non hunters do school influence,understand!! to the rest no explaination needed,it's none of their business!!

[Don Stokes]

I think it's in our genes, a natural urge. For those of who have it, it's a drive that can't be adequately expressed in words to those who don't.

[Leo L.]

Those who have never done it will never understand what it's like to be out there, watching the sunrise/set, watching the squirrels, the coons, the geese flying overhead, the hawks........the spiders, mosquitos, ticks, ants, hehe.  

And once I made the switch to traditional, I grew more of a respect for the traditional ways, and for the surroundings.

[JStark]

I must say, I've not ever had anybody question my methods.  I've had folks question hunting, in general (almost all of them burger-eating suburbanites), but after the conversation, I've been able to build tolerance for it.

When my trad. gear comes up in conversation, it's usually either, "wow, that's cool!", or a talk in which you can see the other person figuratively walk up to the edge of the decision, then get scared and run back to their training wheels.  

The most annoying thing I get is being called "Tred" from people who watch hunting shows on TV.

And Don, right on!  Aldo Leopold has some great comments on that, too.

[Sarah]

haven't even hunted yet and i get funny looks all the time when people find out that i - a "young lady" - want to hunt with a bow.

i agree it must be in the genes somewhere. when i was little I wanted to badly to shoot a bow, but I never had the opportunity or anyone to teach me. must have been fate...

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

to me Hunting is my Heart & Soul, WithOut it. I'm just a empty shell.

[Wednesday Caste]

With trad gear in hand, I am that purple hair guy in the hunting world!  LOL.

[jcarter]

You are not alone my friend, but that is why we are who we are.

We are hunters, outdoorsmen/women and true conservationist. We live for the sights and smells of fall and the feeling that the great outdoors gives us!

[Bakes168]

Amen to all, I know exactly how you feel. It's hard trying to explain to people at high school why I love it so much.

Hunting is just in some of us, and others its not. It's in our genes and makes up who we are. And it can't be put into words. It's about the sunrises on a chilly fall morning, the buck that quietly sneaks by your stand, when the only sound you hear is your breathing and the flock of geese that just went above, and just taking it all in.

Hunting is who I am, it's rooted deep in my soul and I can't even begin to explain it to others. Without hunting I honestly don't know how I could live, guess I would just have to love fishing a little more.  

I honestly think hunting is more spiritual (especially for trad folk), than about the gear, or killing a deer.

That's about as close as I can get to putting it into words, I'd have to take a while longer to do it better.

Bakes