Thread: what makes a true hunter?

Thanks Micky Duck,

This lockdown has forced me to dust the keyboard off

Re the made not born reference, i'm more referring to I think everyone that engages in the activity we call "hunting" has in some form what you speak of, an element we can't really explain that drives us to go "hunting" a natural instinct you could call it.

But my personal belief is that's not enough to be a "true hunter". That's a great start but you then must refine yourself to get those skills and traits as mentioned. It takes time on the hill facing adversity, learning from mistakes no one is perfect but everyone has the opportunity to learn from them. And over coming the many many challenges nature/people/animals can throw at you and coming out the other side with a smile on your face. And probably most important is that you've grown out of the mentality that I must kill everything so my mates/family think i'm a good "hunter" and I have something to show off. That can take some a long time and some never grow out of it.

Or the other way is having a "true hunter" as mentor pass those on traits, beliefs and skills on. It's a never ending learning curve but like anything the more you do it the better you get, and the higher your standards become of yourself and others. Some will never have standards, others it may take years but there comes a point in time where killing for the sake of killing isn't fun and you can only eat so much venison. I believe you become a "true hunter" when killing is something is only done when all of your standards/ethics are meet.

Some of the best hunters I know and have meet probably shoot 3 or 4 deer a year if that. And that's by choice. I think once you have these skills/traits you also get the full experience as to what "hunting" really offers the human spirit and you value the mountains, the peace, the life on the hill as much as the 300ds stag or the 14 inch bull tahr.