My First Hunt
Many years ago, I contemplated becoming a vegan. I’ve always been an animal lover and I used to think it was a healthy diet. For many reasons, I decided to continue being an omnivore. Part of that decision was that, if I was going to continue eating meat, I had to know what it meant to take an animal's life. At age twenty-seven I took Hunter Safety.
To me, hunting is about connection; to nature, to the food we eat, to our ancestors, and to the circle of life. There can be no life without death. It’s sad, but true. I was not raised to be a hunter. I felt called to do it over the last decade as I developed a love and passion for the outdoors. I also felt and have since realized that hunting brings you close to nature in a way that no other activity can. It makes you a part of nature, instead of just a spectator.
My first hunt was on my in-laws twenty acres in central Wisconsin. Day one, I saw a few deer, too far away to shoot, too many trees in between. Day two felt strange and eerie yet beautiful, as I walked through the pitch black woods to my blind before sunrise. It felt like I was being watched.
At first light, I saw two deer coming up behind me walking from my left to right (as I turned around, right to left). This is not where I expected or hoped to see deer. All my shooting lanes were in front of me, and there were so many pines behind me I thought I wouldn’t have a shot at either animal. I was calm (maybe because I didn’t think I’d have a shot). I was sitting in a camping chair and realized I could rest the barrel of my rifle on the backrest of the chair. Suddenly I noticed they were walking toward a gap in the trees about thirty yards away and I realized I could shoot as they walked through. It was a small window. I just missed my chance at Deer One. When Deer Two walked into the gap, it stopped and looked at me. I leveled the rifle, looked down the scope, set the crosshairs on the vitals, and pulled the trigger.
Both deer ran away. I tried to run around to where they were headed and flank them (this is not what you’re supposed to do). I was freaking out in this moment from an adrenaline rush like I had never experienced.
I saw Deer One way off in the distance, running at full speed. Gone. Deer Two was nowhere to be seen. I calmed down, took some deep breaths, and went back to my blind to pinpoint where I shot the deer and re-trace its steps (which is what I should have done right away). Right where I thought I’d shot it, I found a large pile of blood and a trail of blood. I followed it about thirty yards to a small hill, and there at the bottom, was the lifeless animal.
I felt a huge sense of relief. Relief that I hadn’t missed, or wounded the deer. Then I felt proud. Proud that I had walked into the woods by myself having never hunted and shot a deer. Then I felt sad and grateful for the animal I had just killed. I placed my hand on its side and said out loud “I’m sorry. Thank you.”
At this point, I thought it was a doe I had shot (I was still full of adrenaline). Eventually, Katie’s uncle Mike (a very experienced hunter) arrived to help me gut and take the deer away. He said right away, “Oh it’s a buck fawn.” As I had told him it was a doe over the phone. I felt an immediate sense of shame. I looked at the deer and suddenly it was obvious how small it was. I felt dumb and embarrassed, but I will never forget how kind Mike was to me throughout this process. Maybe he understood that I was embarrassed at having shot Bambi, and he made me feel like I didn’t need to be.
After Mike arrived we field-dressed the deer, which means cutting it open and removing the internal organs. It’s the first step in processing an animal. After that, we took it home and hung it up in the garage to cool down for a while. Then we skinned it and cut the meat into steaks and smaller pieces to be made into sausage.
The second deer I shot, we took to a butcher, and got back, who knows whose deer. I don’t think I will ever do this again. Field dressing and processing a deer is a powerful experience. One that I’ve only experienced all the way through once. Without this part of the process, it feels like a disservice to the animal. Like you’re not seeing the process all the way though. Field dressing, skinning, butchering, and storing the meat, to enjoy later on. This is what it’s all about. If you do not complete the whole process you’re cheating yourself, and in a way, disrespecting the life of the animal.
Hunting is a special undertaking. There’s a lot to be learned from it. Preparation, discipline, patience, dealing with pressure, just to name a few. As I mentioned, it makes you a part of nature, rather than just a spectator (hiking is fun, but with hunting, you have a purpose). It gives you a connection, appreciation, and a sense of pride with the food it provides. I highly recommend it to anyone who is willing and able to take on the challenge.
Thank you for reading!
Enjoy the rest of your day!
-Sam
Glad you’ve found a new activity that is meaningful to you!