A Short Reason for the Season

I remember my 6th-grade teacher telling our class a story about the college philosophy exam he took. It was the semester final, essay format. Yuck! When the professor told his students to flip over the exam, there was only one question. It was “Why?” That was it.

My teacher told us he started writing ravenously, giving long, drawn-out answers about any and every topic covered in class. He noticed most of the students doing the same, all except for one. This student was a main contributor to class discussions, and he had a sick look on his face.

When the 2-hour given time allotment was almost up, a smile appeared on the student’s face. He quickly scribbled something down and flipped his paper over, a look of satisfaction and contentment on his face. My teacher told us he received a C with his 3-page response. Hey, what gives?

Why Hunt?

This brings up an age-old question I’m frequently asked: “Tank, why hunt when you can simply go to the grocery store?” To answer this question, we must go back thousands of years to when our DNA was still developing. Sure, we hunt to eat, but we don’t need to hunt now. Not really. But we do.

The Change

Towards the end of summer, a transformation starts. Like rutting bucks, the shortening days and lower sun do something to us. Predator mode creeps in. Now, when driving, we look for movement or anything resembling a deer in the fields we pass. Our eyesight seems keener, and we start thinking about where and how we’ll be hunting this coming fall. The first sign of Goldenrod really triggers this for me.

We start making weapon selections. Which gun will I use this fall? For many, myself included, this is the hardest decision of the year. Next comes deciding what bullet and loads we’ll be using. We start checking moon phases and plotting days off, and the one or two “sick” days we may use (abuse?). We check the condition of our clothing. Is anything worn out, or has it “shrunk” since last season? Thick, glossy catalogs start appearing magically in our mailboxes, seducing us with gear printed on the pages.

It's Natural

I hunt to participate in nature’s food chain. It’s fun being an active predator. As your senses sharpen, you feel more alive. The mere movement of a single leaf by a light breeze causes an adrenaline dump, making you examine it closer and ask yourself, “Was that an ear twitch?”

Crunching leaves behind you causes a myocardial infarction as you stay stone still, waiting for the footsteps to pass so you can see what is making those leaves rustle. Mostly, it’s scampering squirrels, but occasionally, it’s deer. As the deer filter through, you’re hoping (praying) a worked-up buck, high on testosterone, is eagerly trailing a receptive doe. His need for love is his fatal flaw.

Self-Sufficient

A successful hunt reinforces the self-sufficiency we strive for. “Hey, in a worst-case scenario, I can fend for myself and family,” we tell ourselves. I can “make meat” the old-fashioned way when it wasn’t an option but a necessity if you wanted protein.

Different seasons provide opportunities to become proficient with different weapons, as well as extending our season — archery, muzzleloader and firearm. The more efficient you are, the more chances you have for “making meat.” And the more efficient you are, the more you can share or donate your meat to those who need it. Anywhere you can hunt, there’s always some kind of donation program where hunters feed the hungry.

Bonding

Then, there’s the social benefit hunting provides. Everyone looks forward to deer camp, where we meet up with friends and family. It gives us a chance to reconnect, relax and relish time spent together while pursuing game. Stories are told and retold about loved ones past and present, giving the younger set a chance to learn and mimic past relatives while learning the age-old art of storytelling.

Nothing makes an old hunter smile more than a youngster telling his/her first tale about getting his/her first buck. As the tale is told over and over, embellishments are added as the seasoned hunters feign surprise and exaggerated responses, making the youngster feel special and a part of the tradition. It also creates lifelong bonds, which is reason enough.

Solace

There are also times when it’s just good to get out in the woods to relax by yourself, to unwind and soak it all in. Nature’s splendor is a beautiful thing to be enjoyed. It’s more meditation than hunting, but it always feels nice to carry a favored gun, just because. Older hunters enjoy being out watching nature. They pass on more game than they take, becoming much more selective. Making up excuses becomes more common, too. Saying things like, “He’s too young, too old, too far, or he snuck up on me.” Sometimes, these are the best “hunts.”

Whatever the reasons, they are our own and ours alone. So, the next time someone asks, “Why hunt?” You can try to give the long answer, but more often than not, I save my wind from such people by simply responding with, “Why not?”

Which, incidentally, was the answer my teacher’s classmate provided so many years ago on his philosophy exam. He received an “A” for such a short response. Go figure?

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