As the majority of people in today's world spend less and less time in the outdoors, deer hunting has become demonized by many. Since I have this blog, I'm going to use this opportunity to stand up on my soapbox and dispel a few misconceptions that bother me.
Often times when I mention that I am a deer hunter, people scowl or express their discontent. I have even argued with people on the subject. I have no problem with someone telling me that hunting isn't for them or that they could not kill a deer. I only take exception to the discussion when non-hunters profile hunters as heartless killers with no ethics. A lot of people simply view deer hunting as a cruel exercise that is little more than an outdated display of manliness. I try not to be offended by their opinions, which are normally backed up by misconceptions, but I am disturbed by the trend.
First off, I think people need to erase "Bambi" from their minds when talking about deer hunting. Deer do not frolic with their rabbit and bird friends in the forest. They don't fall in love with other deer. And they don't speak. Please don't humanize them. They are animals. They are beautiful and interesting animals, but they are animals just like the cows, chickens and other animals that we eat every day.
The one notable difference between deer and farm animals is that deer aren't cooped up in small and sometimes disgusting living spaces. Even the ones that are shot live their whole lives free in the wild. Because most people do not raise animals themselves or hunt anymore, there is a disconnect from what they are really eating. Please don't forget that just because you didn't kill it, that doesn't mean an animal didn't have to die for you to enjoy that hamburger, brat, chicken breast or the other meat products you eat. If you are a vegetarian and are opposed to hunting, I can understand that. There is simply a difference in ethics between us. It's the anti-hunting meat-eaters that I don't understand. Frankly, I find it hypocritical. If you want to fight a worthwhile battle, there are atrocities within the meat industry every day that are far, far, far more awful than anything hunters do.
This should be obvious, but I'll say it anyways. It is a fact that the deer population in Wisconsin is too high. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has stated that fact for years. There are simply no real significant predators for white-tailed deer in Wisconsin and hunting is the only real logical form of controlling that population. Without hunting, there would be more car/deer accidents, more deer in city areas causing destruction of gardens and lawns, greater loss of farm crops and other problems associated with deer overpopulation. As the population gets higher and higher, deer would not have enough food in many areas in Wisconsin and would slowly starve to death over the winter, not a healthy alternative, at least in my eyes. Even without the population issue, the quick death of being shot be a hunter doesn't seem as bad when you consider the other ways deer die: Starvation, disease or eaten by a predator (sometimes combinations of the three). There are no old-age homes for deer and nature is cruel.
There is also an impression amongst many non-hunters that hunters do not appreciate nature, that they exploit it by killing creatures and then leave. But, in fact, many of the world's greatest conservationists are hunters and there are few hunters that aren't also avid outdoorsmen. I think most hunters are out in the woods first because they enjoy nature. Sure, there are bad apples like in anything, but there are thousands and thousands of good hunters for every one bad hunter. Profiling every hunter as a bad hunter because there are some bad hunters is like saying all drivers are bad because some drive drunk. It doesn't make sense and it's an insult to all of the good hunters that are out in the woods every year.
Many non-hunters also feel that the sport, and, yes, it most certainly is a sport, of deer hunting is very simple. They believe hunters walk into the woods with little to no preparation and simply wait for the droves of unsuspecting deer to walk right up to them. News flash: It's not that easy. Deer are pretty smart animals. They also have an incredible sense of smell, a great sense of hearing and reasonably good eye sight too. Also, since they are wild creatures that do have some natural predators, they are wary. If anything does not feel right, they leave the area immediately. Deer have the upper hand of being in their own element and knowing where to run and/or hide too. They're also much, much faster than humans. Besides, it's normally no cake-walk for hunters to be out there in the first place. Try sitting still 15 feet high in a tree in frigid temperatures with howling winds and let me know how that goes. Then, if a hunter is actually lucky enough to see a deer, he or she still has to aim and fire straight. Basically, hunters have to do a lot right before they ever shoot a deer.
I'm not pretending to be some kind of a saint that goes out into the forest and saves non-hunters from the terrible deer over-population problem. I don't hunt because there is an over-population problem. I hunt because I love the outdoors, I thrive on the challenge of the hunt and I like eating venison. There is a satisfaction in eating something that you went out and harvested too. All I ask is that I not be profiled in a false light because I choose to hunt. Thank you.
