Why I Hunt

September 1st marks the start of the hunting season, which means fall is almost here. 

Our dogs can feel it in the air, what they have been waiting for, patiently enduring the hot summer months. Their favorite time of the year has finally come.

Humans have been hunting for centuries and for good reason. Animal protein is vital for human health and development. It gives us fuel and nutrients as part of a balanced diet.

Respect for hunting is decreasing. So many people are becoming detached from nature and lazy about what they put into their bodies. Some take it a step further and say that it’s cruel to hunt, though they don’t have a problem buying meat at a grocery store.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. I do not enjoy killing nor do I like animal cruelty. 

Taking an animal’s life so that you can eat is not something to be taken lightly.

Hunting gives you such a deep appreciation for animals and life itself. No one can fully understand unless they try it.

As a meat-eater, I feel it’s important to know where your food comes from.

squirrel looking at the camera while climbing in a tree

Hunting opens your eyes and gives you a deep respect for animals. You start to think about the meat that’s sold in stores and how it’s obtained.

I cannot in good conscience go to a store and buy the meat of an animal that I know was treated cruelly, fed poorly, and died inhumanely.

Are you comfortable supporting big business and being blind to the cruelty these animals have to endure? Or would you like to be in the know and support those who care deeply about how an animal was raised and processed for food?

“It’s cruel to kill an animal, in its natural habitat”

An animal that is born and raised for meat facilities, is in what it thinks is its natural habitat.  It’s so easy to turn a blind eye to how these poor creatures are treated and killed in ways that I don’t like to think about. They know what’s going on and what’s going to happen to them.

Hunting animals that have been able to live natural lives, free from fear and pain is very humane and makes for better meat.

Why we hunt

We hunt to feed our family wholesome, clean meat. Meat, that we know has not been pumped with antibiotics.

We hunt to be close to nature.  There are days we’ve been out and haven’t seen a single thing. Just being out there is what makes it worth it. Being in the middle of the woods or a field watching our dogs enjoying life is the most peaceful feeling you can experience.

We feel good that the money spent every season for fishing and hunting licenses goes back into nature. The money raised through the sale of licenses is used for conservation efforts. This helps keep wild areas wild and thriving for the health and preservation of animals.

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Hunting helps you become self-reliant. We are all spoiled with so many conveniences. What would happen if those conveniences were taken away?

We hunt for peace of mind knowing that we will always have food in the freezer. No matter what is going on in the world.

I feel that hunters get a bad reputation because of misunderstandings and I hope to clear some of those up. Hunters love nature. We want to preserve it. We’re not out there looking for a trophy or out just to kill something. We have a deep respect for life and love animals. As with anything there are always going to be a few bad eggs out there. Don’t let the actions of those few affect your view of hunters as a whole.

I understand that not everyone is in a position to hunt. Most don’t have a desire to do so, and that’s okay. It’s a lot of work and responsibility.

I grew up thinking that hunting was wrong, but as I’ve become more self-sufficient I grew an appreciation for what it means to hunt and live off the land.

Whitney Stokes

Whitney is a naturalist who started Willowbottom.com in 2018 to encourage natural and sustainable living.

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