I am conducting a test, unto which I would invite you to
participate. It isn’t a test any of you need worry of passing or failing, as
there is no absolute right or wrong answers. This test is only a survey of your
reactions on how you view this posts image.
Most of us are certainly familiar with animal furs, leather
jackets and the act of buying a hunk of meat from a store shelf, wrapped in cellophane.
What many fewer are familiar with and in some cases sickened by, is the process
unto which leads to all of these things.
This picture depicts me about ½ way through the skinning of
a coyote, so that I may convert its hide to a wall hanging for a family member.
For many, unaccustomed to the process of butchering or skinning an animal, this
is a gruesome sight. These perceptions and ideals often hamper a person’s ability
to see beyond the blood and the slowly decomposing flesh, to an object that
with care and proper handing, can become something beautiful or perhaps even
delicious. Of course, beautiful and delicious are also relative terms, again
based on a set of preconceived notions.
Each of us has a set of morals, principal and standards that
have been crafted by our life experiences. These experiences then make certain
events, circumstances and situations either acceptable practices or taboo to
our individual belief system. The crafting of these boundary setting ideals, is
likely a combination of environmental and life factors that with little doubt would
translate well to the nature/nurture train of educational thought.
What is an individual’s limit and what do you deem as
acceptable? Can you stomach the sight of a pile of guts? Does an animal with no
skin sicken you? Could you cut the head off a chicken? Would you think it
comical if its headless body ran around the yard? Would you shoot an animal if
you didn’t plan to eat it?
I remember shooting a moose about 15 years ago and having to
practically climb into the body cavity to finish the gutting process. Upon exiting
of the animal, I was so saturated in blood, guts and gore; I had to ride home
in the back of the truck. At that time, that particular experience was at the apex
of my level of personal tolerance. Since then it would take more than gutting a
moose to make me blow chunks on my shoes but that tolerance has been build by partaking
in a life time of gut wrenching activities.
Despite what you feel you can and cannot stomach, the most
important consideration is that we practice and build tolerance of all other
sportsmen and their pursuits. Yes, I am talking about the bow hunters who snub crossbow
enthusiasts and those that would harass someone for shooting a duck on the
water, those who trap animals purely for their hides and those who won’t
butcher their own deer and instead prefer to take it to a processor . . . and
just perhaps, even those guys that would refuse to invite a woman to deer camp
(Yes, I also like to kick hornet nests!). Remember, we are all sportsmen and
must be united in our efforts to insure our traditions don’t just survive but
instead thrive!
Also, for more information on this topic read this interesting article:
One Man's Meat: Futher Thoughts on the Evolution of Animal Food Taboos by James Serpell
