Anyone have a change of heart on hunting?

[redroush00]

I popped a squirrel again yesterday at 30 yards or so. When i walked up to it i saw the neck wound. Alot of blood. Itwas gasping for air and it was sucking through the wound. I felt pretty awfull. I love the atmosphee and peace and quiet. I love the stalk...but the finale is less the climatic for me.  :0  I must be soft. I.m disapponted in myself at the same time because so many can do it without regard. I only target shot to hone my skills and now i dont think target shooting will be the same. I'm probably going o get rid of all my equipment and set aside this short lived sport I've only begun 5 months ago.

[leftcoast1]

Red,

  Don't be hard on yourself. You are not soft.  I think a lot of us have gone through the same thng you are feeling. I for one have gone through it. If you are not shooting them for food or in my case to keep damage to proprty to a minimum don't shoot them. If you are finding peace in target shooting keep doing it and leave the animals be unless they are causing problems. Keep the faith my fellow airgunner it will be ok.    

[Big_Bill]

I wouldn't end a sport that you like, because you don't like to kill !

I have killed many animals, and the ones that I didn't have tokill, soured my stomach ! So I quit game hunting, but will kill any animal that is dangerous to my family, pets or property, or wanted or needed for food !

Target shooting is a fine sport, and I enjoy it very much. It doesn't have anything to do with destroying animals for sport or enjoyment ! So keep on shooting your targets, you have nothing to feel bad about, and certainly nothing to be ashamed of !!!

Bill

[normdiver]

Starlings are it for me, they are pests and I dont wish to shoot anything else, guess at 56 im kind of soft too, keep your stuff and go for the pest birds, they are taking over my barn, killing my martins and messing with my robins.

[eddie1976]

Red- there have been plenty of times I have gotten a squirrel in my sites just to aim off it and shoot into the ground or over its head. I find killing them for no reason hard to stomach. But when they are destroying property, that is a different story. Or when they are eating my bird food....but even then, how can we set up a buffet and expect them not to come to the table? But, I continue to shoot at paper and cans....Change your targets and keep the guns. Have fun and that is all it is, a game for your to entertain yourself. if the need arises you will have the skills to put food on the table.

[Big_Bill]

Welcome to the GTA Forums Norm !

The BEST Air Gun Forums on the Internet !!!! And It's a GREAT PLACE TO BE !!!!!

Yes Norm, shooting what you must, and shooting what you need to, is different than shooting what you want to. Most people do not find it too much fun, killing just for sport !

Now that your a member of our air gun family, I hope to see you here often !

Bill

[shadow]

It's the hunters that don't have a heart that should lay up their hunting equipment. A hunter with a heart show's respect, caring and even concern for the game he or she as taken and Mother Nature. I have taken game that has had life left in it still in the past and because a care I would end any suffering as quickly as possible. I've also taken down sick game because I care, end it's suffering and hopefully stop the sickness from spreading to other animals. I put down a possum not to long ago just for that reason it was deathly sick and and I would rather see it put down then suffering and spreading the sickness. Don't think it's a weakness to feel for the game that you take to me it's part of being a true hunter who takes but also gives back to the sport and nature. Ed

[jay morgan]

FRIEND redroush00 to target shoot is to target shoot,to take game is to eat & enjoy stalk,some enjoy the blood lust of it, some loss the lust over time( my self for one)I still hunt but not like I use to & I choose carefully what I do kill to EAT & almost never just kill for sport anymore(unless really needed for pest controll or so forth)I do thank the animal for it 's life & the life it give's to me& I make sure they suffer very little by useing enough gun for the killing,just remember you can enjoy the wood's & the stalk an not have to pull the trigger, hell use a camera & be impressive in your stalk to get close enough for close up shot's, then you've done what few can do (anyone can get in gun range) & there is alway's paper,clay bird's & ton's of other way's to enjoy weapon's without killing, JUST DON'T put any burden on your self for not enjoying the final act of the stalk,not all people do.MOST I've knowen in life don't!!! TAKE CARE & BE PROUD" NOT" TO ENJOY THE SUFFERING OF ANOTHER CREATURE .     JAY MORGAN(PAPA DRIFTER)

[longislandhunter]

I couldn't have said it any better than my buddy Ed just did....  

We have all shot game that didn't die immediately and it can have a dramatic emotional effect on  you, but there's nothing wrong with that, it just shows that you respect  the animals that you are harvesting and like Ed said, in those instances you act quickly to finish the animal quickly.  Don't give up air gunning because of this experience.  If you cannot bring yourself to hunt anymore then that's fine but you can still have fun target shooting with your air guns.  

Jeff

[Gene_SC]

I moved this post to the hunting gate. I am the same way you are Red. I have only shot a few squirrels since I have lived here. I have seen allot of death in my lifetime and it never bothered me when I was young but now I just stick to paper unless I should go hunting for food and then I have reservations. Stick with the paper Red and let your conscious be your guide...

[jay morgan]

N/T

[daveshoot]

No, but I have had some bad experiences.

Youmight get some holier-than-thou sermons on not taking shots that aren't sure things, but no shot in the wild is a sure thing. There are just too many variables. So, you have to be prepared to take the quick follow up coup de gras, or use the boot or knife. That really is part of pointing a rifle at a critter.

Killing isn't for everyone, for sure. Still no reason to hang up the irons, there is plenty of fun to be had and skills to be honed, shooting paper and reactive targets. Guns aren't about killing unless you think they are.

If you are shooting for food or pest control you gotta steel yourself. But you can shoot for the pure joy of connecting a parabola with a distant target and no harm done.

Whatever happened to your squirrel was quicker than what happens in the natural world. Animal kills often start with eating the victim while still alive. Just polish the bugger off quickly and it'll be way ahead of what nature has in store. There is nothing crueler than a cat.

[Dust]

Be soft, that makes you a hunter and not a killer.  Next time, take a camera, and see if it feels the same.  People shoot for different reasons.  Some shoot for trophies or numbers, some for pest control, some for food.  Just because you made 1 bad shot, doesn't mean you should stop.  It means that you should practice more so that you can get a better shot.  On the opposite end, consider how the squirrel could have died.  Eaten by a bird, fox, etc.  Do you think that  would have been quicker or less painful?

[wingshooter21]

I have felt that way once a long time ago. I just had my fill of shooting tons of birds. Now I have guns for target and guns for hunting which I don't get to do all that often. I have more enjoyment target shooting and it is becoming a great hobby just at that level. Stick with the targets and plinking and just relax and have fun.

[gamo2hammerli]

No, you're not soft.  Some people hunt some don't....and that's it to that.

Alot of times I've had squirrels in my cross-hairs....and I give them a pass just because they're not destroying anything on my property.  Starlings, Grackles and Crows are different because they kill the song birds....so I shoot them any chance I get.  But I still feel abit sad when I pick up their body (Used for food later)....they had to give up their life for me.

I target shoot alot so when the opportunity arrives....I aim for a "One Shot One Kill" shot....less suffering for the prey.

Normdiver, a BIG WELCOME to the GTA forum and family.