I believe in hunting

I do believe in hunting and I know a lot of people think it is barbaric. It is how one time of year that I can get free meat, but it is not really free. Hunting takes time and effort. It does take me away from family time, but I think it is worth it. It also gives me some sort of sick rush I guess, but before anybody starts to get offended let me take you to what I get out of hunting. Hunting for me, is first and foremost to get meat for my family. It makes me think, as a man how I can provide for my family. We process all our own game. It is a special feeling knowing that I got what we are eating on my own. Now let me tell you the process. First I wake up very early to get some sort of breakfast and get dressed.  Then I go out on the front porch and spray on some sort of scent blocker in the hopes that if the wind does not work my way the animal would not smell me, and it has worked pretty good so far. I then have a walk to my stand. I am fortunate to live on the same land that I hunt so I don't have to walk more than a third of a mile. Unfortunately, I always begin all my hunts in the dark. I take a little flashlight with me so I can see my way. I have hunted the same spot for years so I know my way, but I take the flashlight just in case there is some sort of hole or something else in the ground that might make me trip. Then I get to my stand. I have a ladder stand, for people that don't know what that is, it is basically a ladder with a platform for your feet and a seat for the hunter to sit on that is bolted to the top of the ladder. I climb the ladder and take a seat. I usually have a wait for the sun to rise. When the sun rises it is a beautiful sight. The birds come alive with all their various songs. The squirrels start to run back and forth on the ground and on the branches. It never fails that one squirrel wants to run across right where I am sitting. The squirrel usually gets to within feet from where I am at before it stops and starts to chitter at me. It really sounds mad. It then gets bored of looking at me and runs off. I then get to enjoy a break in all the songs and sounds of the woods and it becomes silent. It is not an eerie silence but of a silence of peace. I look around at all the sights the woods have to offer and I think what a wonderful place and what a wonderful life that I truly have. I usually have time to think about my life, my family, pretty much all the peaceful things in my life. Then it happens, the unusual sounds of the leaves and I think to myself, this can't be a squirrel. I sit at the ready waiting for what made that sound. I hope it is not a squirrel, sometimes it is but sometimes it is not. This is the time that it is not a squirrel. I see the deer and I get into a totally different mindset. It is not of calm, but not chaotic either, just an intense focus on what I came here to do. I usually have enough time to stand up because I am elevated enough that I can move slow without the deer seeing me. I get my bow ready. I do not like to shoot more than forty yards. I practice out to sixty yards, and I am confident with shooting at sixty yards but, I am shooting at a nonmoving target when I practice and the deer move around a lot. When I know that the deer will come into range I will place my hand held string release on the bowstring. My heart now will go into overtime, my breathing will quicken some, and I will get a flood of excitement. I now think to my self that I am going to kill this animal. I don't know where the felling comes from but it is very primal. The feeling is very animalistic. You don't really think of the animal just what you came here to do. I don't know that all hunters feel like this but this is the feeling that I get with bowhunting. When the deer gets close enough for a shoot you wait for the right moment. You draw the bow and settle the string against the tip of your nose and the lobe of your ear. You only look at a little spot on the deer where you want the arrow to hit. You let the deer get broadside and place your bowsight on that little spot. You take a deep breath and try to calm your whole body. Only when I am satisfied with everything will I let the arrow fly. I watch the arrow fly until I see it hit it's mark. I then go to the animal. I don't think of the downed deer as a prize. I think to myself that I am sorry that this animal had to die so my family has meat, but I am also greatful for the meat. I am not ashamed at what I have just done. Hunting to me is a tradition and it is a tradition that I will pass down to my kids.