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Recently got FIOS which includes 2 full time hunting channels as well as Versus and at least one other part time outdoorsman channel. We've had a medical emergency in the family which has caused me to spend the last 5 days at home (but I'm getting out Hunting tomorrow morning), and as a result, since nothing else is worth watching, I've spent a lot of time over the last week watching.
And I find them disturbing.
I know there have been threads on the appropriate after kill prayer to say over the animal. I don't say a prayer, but I've always been overcome by a sense of sadness, remorse, and pain at the taking of a life necessary in order to sustain my life. Its one of the cruel realities of hunting. I might brag afterward, and tell stories and relive the adventure, but I've never been anything but respectful and subdued while in the field and in the presence of the animal. Heck, I work in the livestock industry and I have the same reaction whenever I am around any animal whose life must be sacrificed so that we can continue with our own.
What struck me, regardless of what show I watched was two things
First: Whenever someone shoots an animal it is followed by fist pumping, hooting, hollering and shouts of joy as if out at a hockey game or rock concert and not that a life was just taken. It is just incredibly distasteful - and happens far more and to a much more obnoxious extent on The Outdoor Channel and on bow hunting shows than on any others - but its present on all of them. It really gives our enemies ammunition, as well as insults the life that was just taken.
Second: On the bow hunting shows nearly every shot I see seems too far back for me. Most appear to be gut shots. Perhaps I'm wrong in this regard, but thats my reaction to almost every shot (indeed, it was just watching another gut shot that drove me to write this post).
Now, I don't bow hunt - so maybe I'm missing something here. But I know my basic deer anatomy, and I know good taste. And that understanding seems often to be really missing.
And I find them disturbing.
I know there have been threads on the appropriate after kill prayer to say over the animal. I don't say a prayer, but I've always been overcome by a sense of sadness, remorse, and pain at the taking of a life necessary in order to sustain my life. Its one of the cruel realities of hunting. I might brag afterward, and tell stories and relive the adventure, but I've never been anything but respectful and subdued while in the field and in the presence of the animal. Heck, I work in the livestock industry and I have the same reaction whenever I am around any animal whose life must be sacrificed so that we can continue with our own.
What struck me, regardless of what show I watched was two things
First: Whenever someone shoots an animal it is followed by fist pumping, hooting, hollering and shouts of joy as if out at a hockey game or rock concert and not that a life was just taken. It is just incredibly distasteful - and happens far more and to a much more obnoxious extent on The Outdoor Channel and on bow hunting shows than on any others - but its present on all of them. It really gives our enemies ammunition, as well as insults the life that was just taken.
Second: On the bow hunting shows nearly every shot I see seems too far back for me. Most appear to be gut shots. Perhaps I'm wrong in this regard, but thats my reaction to almost every shot (indeed, it was just watching another gut shot that drove me to write this post).
Now, I don't bow hunt - so maybe I'm missing something here. But I know my basic deer anatomy, and I know good taste. And that understanding seems often to be really missing.
. Then when the guide and know it all FINALLY find the buck, they are both huffing and puffing like they just ran a marathon. Most of the heros on those hunting shows need to learn how to shoot to insure a humane quick taking of the game.
