your first kill: how difficult was it for you?

[imacanuk]

Pahoo,
No problem. Go ahead.

[orangello]

"First Kill"? I don't remember the first squirrel or bird i killed with a slingshot or BB gun, but i remember the first i killed with a "real gun". On Christmas morning when i was six, i only opened one present (i did come back for the other stuff, i think) a .22 bolt action, single shot rifle, a youth-sized model. My father immediately escorted me outside for a test shot of .22 short HP; i used a squirrel as the test target, darned if the sites weren't just dead on.

Killing that squirrel didn't bother me a bit; he barely even twitched. Eventually, i flubbed a shot, only wounding the squirrel before it fell 75+ feet (in the front yard ). I learned that day to take my time and make a good killing shot; that lesson was imprinted when my Dad handed me a brick to finish off the squirrel. I later found that it is possible to make regular head-shots on squirrels, with patience.

[pac.coastie]

i took my first deer while hunting with my dad in eastern oergon, we spotted a nice small buck anout 100yds away but headed into a thicket, so we circled around and he ended up popping out about twenty yards in front of us and froze, i shouldered my rifle, and realized i had my scope zoomed in to 7 power (kinda high for 20yds) and adjusted it back to 2.5, but luckily the deer was still just standing there and staring at us. i took the shot, the deer just twitched than tan off down the hill, i thought i had missed until my father said that he thought he saw the deer go down as he crested the hill, so we went to look. turned out i hadn't missed at all, in fact my little .243 went straight through the deer's heart. it was dead by the time we got to it, but it was still kind of sad to see. i know several people who enjoy hunting, but find the actual moment of killing an animal somewhat sad.

[DiscoRacing]

thats been so long ago that I can hardly remember.. but...I love to watch deer even now... in the off season.. but it doesnt affect me shooting one during the season....thats just how our family was raised... Out of season is cute..during season is food.

[FiveFeezy]

Mike Irwin, do you care to expound on why your last kills were so difficult and why you don't hunt anymore?

[Mike Irwin]

Because I don't consider it to be part of my lifestyle anymore, partially because of where I live (DC suburbs) and partially because over the years I've become a LOT more animal friendly.

No, I'm not getting ready to exchange my hunting license for a PETA membership.

I still eat meat, I have absolutely no problems with other people going hunting, and I'm quite fond of wild game.

But hunting is just not for me.

[CPTMurdoc30]

All you hunters should just go get your meat at the store where it is made and no animals are hurt.




I have never had a single problem killing vermin. I grew up in Northern CA shooting ground squirrels all day long in the Walnut and almond orchards. I always looked at it like helping the farmers from losing trees and it helps keep prices lower. I have never had any remorse for killing them or ground hogs or any other vermin. I just started deer hunting 3 years ago. I have no problem with the kill because I know there is a good reason for the kill. I have never been one to just randomly go around killing animals.

[Mike Irwin]

"All you hunters should just go get your meat at the store where it is made and no animals are hurt."

Did you know my ex-wife or something?

[Jo6pak]

My first kill required a few pounds of trigger squeeze, but tht's not very difficult. I was about 13 and I killed the cottontail with one shot, I was quite proud.
I grew up in a small town, but spent alot of time around farms where cattle, pigs, and chickens were killed reqularly. I can still remember my great-uncle Pete getting the old .22 revolver off the nail behind the barn door, and killing pigs with one shot to the back of the head.
Much of our produce was either grown in our garden, or bought directly from farmers. We cut-up alot of animals, pulled alot of weeds, and canned alot of veggies.
My parents were very clear about where food comes from, I think it made me and my brothers truely value what we have on the table.

[TheGoldenState]

Never been hunting other than Coyote with 12 gauge in the desert, and countless birds and small "varmint," around the house but im definitely not bothered by it.

However on the Outdoor channel i just watched a somewhat disturbing kill.

A big buck is STUCK in a tree/shrub along side a muddy creek. Its struggling to get free but can't. Hunters takes a 30yd bow shot and the Buck is now hit and struggling and fighting then it breaks loose, flops back off the embankment and into the muddy murky water flopping and flailing all around while meeting its demise from drowning.

Im sitting there watching thinking damn, thats a bad deer day. Stuck in a shrub for god knowes how long, shot, fighting to break free, back flops into water, drowns after a prolonged attempt to swim.

[USAF_Vet]

yeah, you'd think the editors would know what to air and what not to. The stuck buck falls into the latter category, I would think.

And yet we sometimes wonder why the ignorant masses of non-hunters think hunters are cruel to animals. Hunting programs on TV are about as real as it gets for the majority, and of course, whatever is portrayed on TV is absolute gospel.

[Powderman]

To the OP: Feeling the way you do is nothing to be ashamed about. Always have respect and feeling for life.

The life of a deer or wild animal is life that is granted by our Creator, our Grandfather. It is good to respect that life. It is also good to have the ability to feed ourselves and our families by providing them with meat from certain animals.

Thus, when the moment comes, take life cleanly and quickly. The animal should not suffer. And, when the animal has perished by your hand, there is nothing wrong with giving thanks to our Creator for providing us life from death.

To the other posters on this board:

I must say that some of you are engaged in a bit of chest thumping. There is nothing at all wrong with having compassion and acknowledging the sanctity of life. The taking of life for food is natural; it has happened since the dawn of time and will continue to do so. But it must be done with respect; cleanly and quickly, whether by arrow or ball; with black powder or a jacketed bullet, the animal must not suffer needlessly.

If killing must be done for pest control, then it too must be done cleanly and quickly. NEVER for fun or sport.

[orangello]

There is nothing at all wrong with having compassion and acknowledging the sanctity of life. The taking of life for food is natural; it has happened since the dawn of time and will continue to do so. But it must be done with respect; cleanly and quickly, whether by arrow or ball; with black powder or a jacketed bullet, the animal must not suffer needlessly.

If killing must be done for pest control, then it too must be done cleanly and quickly. NEVER for fun or sport.

Says who? I agree with MOST of what you have posted, but i won't be telling anyone else what they must & must not do in regards to their reasons for hunting. I would encourage them to abide by the laws governing hunting in their area. I doubt i would enjoy hunting bobcats (big fan of housecats), but who am I to tell another person that they shouldn't hunt bobcats or deer or some other animal i prefer not to hunt or for some reason i don't approve of?

If you want to hunt purely for "sport" or choose not to put all of the meat you gather to use, then that is your decision to make in my opinon. I do think more people would enjoy hunting more if they followed the most or all of the guidelines you listed.

What about Nutria rats? I fully support people who use firearms to control the populations of these non-native varmints, regardless of whether they consider it "sport" or not.

edit* Upon review, that came across as fairly rude. I don't mean to say that the person quoted is wrong; i do mean to wonder aloud where the "ten commandments of shooting sports/hunting/varmint control" can be found and by whom they were issued.

[Powderman]

That was a quote from my post, and if anyone believes that I am trying to force my beliefs on them, I sincerely apologize.

The teaching that life is precious is a part of my Native American heritage. My forefathers hunted for food, as we all have--and as we do.

What I am trying to say is this--to take pride in your skill as a hunter is good. To take pride from a clean kill is good. The craftsman (or woman) must master their craft, and be justifiably proud of using their tools in the right way. Whether that tool is a broadhead, a ball or cast bullet from a black powder arm or a jacketed softpoint from a Magnum handgun or a rifle, when a clean kill is made we take pride in being able to provide meat for our families, brothers and sisters.

Take pride in the good hunt. Give the animal a sporting chance and take it down clean. In that way, you show respect for the animal and the gift of nourishment it will provide.

NEVER take joy or pride in the act of killing. Never kill for the sake of killing--doing so saddens our Grandfather (our Lord and Savior, Jesus, and God, the Father of us all), and shows disrespect for the gift of life which has been given by God.

These are my beliefs. I think no less of anyone who believes in a different manner--but I hope that at least the majority of hunters feel the way I do.

[gaseousclay]

What I am trying to say is this--to take pride in your skill as a hunter is good. To take pride from a clean kill is good. The craftsman (or woman) must master their craft, and be justifiably proud of using their tools in the right way. Whether that tool is a broadhead, a ball or cast bullet from a black powder arm or a jacketed softpoint from a Magnum handgun or a rifle, when a clean kill is made we take pride in being able to provide meat for our families, brothers and sisters.

Take pride in the good hunt. Give the animal a sporting chance and take it down clean. In that way, you show respect for the animal and the gift of nourishment it will provide.

NEVER take joy or pride in the act of killing. Never kill for the sake of killing--doing so saddens our Grandfather (our Lord and Savior, Jesus, and God, the Father of us all), and shows disrespect for the gift of life which has been given by God.

These are my beliefs. I think no less of anyone who believes in a different manner--but I hope that at least the majority of hunters feel the way I do.

I agree with you on all points. I also don't care what other hunters do, so long as they're being ethical about their hunting practices. but as i've stated before, i'm not here to judge anyone or to preach morality. I'm just glad to know that i'm not the only one who had this feeling of anxiety. I felt bad for running over a possum last week, but then decided that running an animal over with your car by accident (not my choice) versus hunting an animal (my choice) were two different things altogether.

my father in-law has been a hunter his whole life and I know he eats what he kills and often provides his family with venison. but he's also a farmer and has to do his fair share of killing on the farm, whether it be cows & steer or pests like skunks and racoons that come and destroy his crops.

[shortwave]

Powderman,
Thank You, for posting what I was trying to say in another thread pertaining to bowhunting.

To kill for food is a natural thng.
Some people, it would take almost starving to death before they would kill an animal laying right next to them to eat. Some people hunt(esp. larger game,deer, elk,moose etc) cause they don't like eating the steroid and chemical injected beef/livestock in stores today. Some just hunt cause it satisfies their primal instincts.
One thing for sure, we are all not wired the same.
All my boys(today,25-30 yrs old) were raised the same. Two like to hunt, one doesn't
The one that doesn't, loves to go along for the comradery but wouldn't kill a squirrel. He's an excellent woodsman, just doesn't like killing an animal. Thats ok! I applaud him for standing up and not doing something he doesn't want to do. If he had to, it gives me great comfort knowing he knows how and I'm sure he would.

The hunt/stalk on our quarry is the enjoyable part of the hunt. Pulling the trigger is the height of the hunt. Walking up to the dead quarry is the bitter part of a 'bitter-sweet' thing we know as hunting.
IMO, believing and understanding that these animals were put on earth(same as livestock) for man's benefit, to me, harvesting wild game is no different then harvesting livestock.

Our livestock was always killed as humanely as possible and (today) so is wild game. That same bitter feeling I'd get from killing beef,chickens or tamed rabbits is the same bitter feeling I get from killing wild game.
The sweet part of the livestock was raising/caring for them.
The sweet part of hunting wild game is the hunt.
The sweet part of both is sinking your teeth in the meat.

[TrueBrit]

i cant get enough of it!!!!!!!

[FrontSight]

First firearm kill I was 12, and more annoyed at my uncle than anything that he couldn't see the bird than anything else...told him to give me the shotgun...12 guage, boom, flop! Recoil? What recoil?

[jcjr3020]

First kill was a squirrel with my NEF .410 that i still have. I did not have a problem with cleaning that one or the other nine from that day, or a problem eating the pot-pie that night.

[gaseousclay]

I know everyone here likes to emphasize a 'clean kill,' but what do you do if you mortally wound an animal and it's lying there writhing around in pain? what's the best way to put an animal out of its misery if you don't get a clean shot the first time?

[Dr. Strangelove]

Originally Posted by gaseousclay

I know everyone here likes to emphasize a 'clean kill,' but what do you do if you mortally wound an animal and it's lying there writhing around in pain? what's the best way to put an animal out of its misery if you don't get a clean shot the first time?

You aren't going to like this, but the vast majority of shots you make won't end in an animal dropping right in it's tracks as if a thunderbolt from God hit.

A deer hit hard through the heart and lungs will still sometimes run 60-100yds, blowing blood out of it's mouth and nose with every step. It's already dead, it just doesn't know it yet.

The best thing you can do is wait 30 mins or so after wounding an animal, give it time to lie down and hopefully die.

If you approach it and notice it's still alive, shoot it again, preferably before it realizes that you are there. Head/neck shots, or a shot through the heart/lung area will kill it, but sometimes not immediately.

Your obligation as a hunter is to use an appropriate firearm/projectile combination that gives the best chance for a quick death. Practice with this combo and become proficient and sure with your shots.

Remember also, sometimes animals will suffer, put them out of their misery when possible, but also remember that it's still a kinder death than starvation or being ripped apart by coyotes or other wild animals.

[jimbob86]

First kill? I don't remember..... I know I was lopping heads off chickens with a hatchet when I was 7 or 8..... I shot sparrows, grackles and starlings with bb and pellet guns wholesale.... sometimes at night with a flashlight- they were chicken feed robbing pests and I was expected to keep their numbers down, and feed the barn cats while I was at it.

I shot my first deer at 14, and was not the least bit remorseful: I was proud to have added 60 lbs of boneless meat to the family's deep freeze.

[gaseousclay]

You aren't going to like this, but the vast majority of shots you make won't end in an animal dropping right in it's tracks as if a thunderbolt from God hit.

A deer hit hard through the heart and lungs will still sometimes run 60-100yds, blowing blood out of it's mouth and nose with every step. It's already dead, it just doesn't know it yet.

The best thing you can do is wait 30 mins or so after wounding an animal, give it time to lie down and hopefully die.

If you approach it and notice it's still alive, shoot it again, preferably before it realizes that you are there. Head/neck shots, or a shot through the heart/lung area will kill it, but sometimes not immediately.

Your obligation as a hunter is to use an appropriate firearm/projectile combination that gives the best chance for a quick death. Practice with this combo and become proficient and sure with your shots.

Remember also, sometimes animals will suffer, put them out of their misery when possible, but also remember that it's still a kinder death than starvation or being ripped apart by coyotes or other wild animals.

thanks for sharing. I was unsure of what steps to take should the animal not die quickly (ie. head shot or heart shot). I know it'll more than likely be difficult for me my first time out, but i'm also in the frame of mind that hunting doesn't mean I have to actually shoot something either.

[Doyle]

Dr. Strangelove gave a great answer. If an animal is shot but does no percieve any other threat, he will only run a short distance and lay down to bleed out. If you spook him, then he is likely to keep running into the next county. Shoot, watch where he goes, then sit down and have a sandwich and wait.

[markj]

The hunt/stalk on our quarry is the enjoyable part of the hunt.

Thats how I see it. As a kid my brother and I used to try to sneak up on wild animals and other kids. we are very good at it still. Nothing beats the feeling I get when I see them eyes open up and they realize I am there and they were not expecting that. Seems to work very well for us. Last deer I shot was 20 ft away or so. He dropped right there but wasnt dead, I shot him in the back of the head with the .45.