J.C. Smoak
Why does a hunter do what he does? For the average guy there is no free gear, television show, or corporate sponsor. The everyday guy wakes up, punches a time clock, and squeezes in what hunting he can. That being said, around 14.5 million Americans purchase a hunting license every year. Why do they do it?
I would venture to say that a large majority of those people hunt for the same reason I do; because it’s a part of who we are.
Almost 20 years ago, my dad handed me my first hunting rifle. It was a bolt-action Remington 7mm-08 youth model, and it scared me to death (I was six…cut me a break). In fact, it made me so nervous that I refused to practice with it the whole day before our hunt. That evening while sitting in the tree stand, I was like a hawk watching a fresh cut grain field. I watched as grey squirrels and cardinals robbed our corn pile, contemplating how I’d make my move if they were deer. As time went on I did what any self-respecting six year old would do, I took a nap. It was a great nap, but it didn’t last long. I felt my dad nudge my side, telling me to wake up. As I slowly lifted my head, my eyes met with a nervous doe that was only 50 yards out. My heart began to pound, and time seemed to stand still. That, ladies and gentleman, was when I knew I was hooked.
For the record I killed that deer, and I promise to finish the story at another time. The main point that I am trying to get at here, is what I felt when I first spotted that doe. That evening a fire sparked in a six year old boy, and it still remains with me today. It is as much a part of me as the blood that runs through my veins, and undoubtedly changed my life forever. This my friends, is why 14.5 million men and women do what they do. It’s more than just another story; it’s part of who we are.
Can you recall when hunting became your passion? If so, I’d like to hear about it. Leave a comment and tell me how hunting has changed your life!
Tagged: Childhood, Coming of age, Hunting, Life lessons, Nature, Outdoors, Outdoorsman, South Carolina, Thrill
Hunting is pretty well engrained into the culture up here in Minnesota, so it’s no surprise that I developed a deep passion for the outdoor sports! However, as I’ve grown and learned more about the mind/body connection, I now know that hunting is what we were all born to do! Whether it be for game, adventure, or success, our biological make-up demands that we “hunt” to better ourselves and our families. Not everyone finds that passion in a deer stand, duck blind, or grouse covert, but for those that do we all share an instant connection, hence the pure adrenaline rush you mentioned during your first deer hunt. That uncontrollable response and heightened state of focus are your mind/body’s way of saying “this is what you were born to do kid!”
Thank you for stopping by! I’m sure that I left a few stress fractures in that old live oak we sat in.
The “instant connection” that you mentioned is a great point to hit on. While serving in the Marine Corps I had the opportunity to meet people from all over the U.S. and the world. A very large majority of those individuals were raised completely different than myself, and on the surface, we had nothing in common. I remember sitting on a tarmac in Helmand Province, Afghanistan when I met a gentleman from Kenya. Looking at the two of us sitting side by side, it was hard to imagine that we shared a single commonality. Long story short, the gentleman was raised in a small farming village north of Nairobi. He grew up hunting with his father just as I had, and ended up telling me one of the wildest hunting stories that I’ve ever heard. Shaking hands, we parted ways, both heading back to the place we called “home”. Two men, from two different walks of life, connected by our memories of the hunt.