There is nothing like it.
I don't say that as someone who loves doing it. I don't. To me, it is a chore, not a sport. I don't get why people do it who don't have to do it. I love buying meat at the grocery store...even though I know hunting is far more humane a process of harvesting meat. I also like buying beer at the store instead of brewing it.
Everyone who eats meat should do it at least once, though, at a minimum. It is a very different experience. It is nothing like winning a football game, or acing a test. And, I'm sorry, fishing doesn't compare to taking another mammal in a hunt. There is nothing else like it. I would have been interested in his reaction. Can't believe he wrote the article without doing that. Makes me think maybe he chickened out.
(no message)
Last time I did so I was a senior in college with one of my roommates. It was so fookin cold that there was steam coming out of the deer and the gloves weren’t cutting it. We both put our hands inside of it for a bit to warm them to finish the job. Had to then drag the animal at least a mile.
I do eat venison but it’s not my fave. Usually eat it as jerky. The butcher in this guy’s small town though knew how to slice it real thin so we ended up being able to make some banging philly cheese steaks. The good old days.
Now just occasionally bird hunt in the fall and spring gobbler.
Marinade in Worcestershire sauce. Quick sear on each side on a hot grille, medium rare.
Still... there ought to be a way to license rental of gun use for hunting. Auto execs insist that personal ownership of cars will vanish in the future. Why not for guns?
It's the same reason you go to a restaurant and you buy food you could make at home...so you don't have to make it at home!
I know. I'm a lazy son of a gun. But, lately, I go to the range primarily when others want to go, like first time shooters who want some training and free advice. I don't go because I want to go. So, on outings like that, I sometimes just rent the gun I know, and let them shoot the rental.
(no message)
Anyone who eats meat should know where it comes from and what it takes to get it on the table.
Plus when the zombie apocalypse comes, the fam will at least eat for a while.
(no message)
(no message)
(no message)
If you don't do it regularly, and you are on property you don't know, why not hire one if you have the money? It is safer, after all.
My blood lust comment was based on watching predators staulk, kill and consume prey for their daily sustenance. Our ancestors did this for hundreds of thousands of years and I gotta assume that our present day hunters are motivated by unconscious predatory instincts.
If you want to spend $5K to shoot someone's pet deer in a fenced in area, I guess you can, but I wouldn't call it hunting.
Guiding for elk in the mountains is obviously different and I'd recommend it over going alone for safety like you said.
(no message)