Does This Picture Disgust You?

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

Sportsmen Ethics 101

I can't deny that I didn't chuckle the first time I watched this video, however, as I began thinking about what I had just seen I began to feel quite differently. Apparently, over the years, I have been desentitized to the point where torturing animals on video is seen as humorous. Sad really and the more I have thought about it the more it has bothered me. As a hunter I believe in dispatching an animal as quickly and efficiently as possible. I realize that this process may not be perfect everytime and the possibility of wounding an animal is always present. Hunters, however, are NOT torturers nor do they receive any joy in seeing an animals suffer. In the end, I was glad I watched the video as it reminded me of who I am, who I am not and who I should strive to be. I encourage other sportsmen to keep these thoughts in mind as we enter hunting season. Please comment I am interested in others thoughts!

Sportsmen at their Finest

There are few things in this world that aggravate me quite as much as sportsmen that practice unethical or inconsiderate hunting practices. Opening day of duck season Duckman (DEDH) and I had a boat carrying two hunters set-up in relative close proximity to our hunting location (despite our spotlight warnings). These hooligans arrived about 15 minutes before legal and proceeded to make a ton of noise. If this insult wasn't bad enough (as I explain in the video below) their "sky busting" was some of the worst I have ever seen. HUNTERS WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM so lets act like one and help each other out rather than tearing each other down.

On a positive note, I want to thank those of you out there on the opener that helped me carry my decoys to the truck, moved quickly and efficiently out of the boat launch area and took a wide berth around our decoy set-up as you are each true Sportsmen.