Large Fierce Mammal

Taken on reconnaissance in Summer 2022. The Hunter strives at all times to be worthy. (LFM photo — Click to enbiggen)

A Dose of Reality

By LFM

Who would thrive shall not disgrace
His worthiness for Nature’s grace.
In service of what needs befall,
What he would take, he takes not all.
The first he finds, he moves on past,
So he will never take the last.

In our last conversation On Hunting, I said in part,

“To have never participated in the process by which an animal becomes food is to miss a great deal indeed. Be it on the farm or the hunting field, there is nothing trivial about it.” (emphasis added)

We will begin today with some photographs of successful shots taken during my Hunt in the November of last year.

LFM photo

LFM photo

LFM photo

If any of the Deer you’ve just been looking at met her end since these images were captured, it was not by my hand. To clarify, I was not “armed” merely with a camera. I was indeed fully prepared for the Hunt, albeit laden with burdens transcending the physical weight of my garniture. Nonetheless, in each case — these three and two more who saw fit to vacate the zone between my lowering of the rifle and bringing the camera to bear — I was successful in stalking to an optimal firing range and position, aiming my rifle steadily and for a sufficient time to feel assured of the desired outcome, and then lowering it in favour of collecting this celebramus vitae.

What stayed my hand in all but one of five cases, these burdens I referred to, was this very simple thing — I was playing by the rules set down by men to govern the regulated activity referred to in legislation as “hunting”. More specifically, four out of five were encountered while I was located close enough to a structure (summer cottages — unoccupied at the time but be that as it may …) as to render discharge of a firearm unlawful. The fifth could have been taken legally, but the decision not to do so was a personal choice based upon a much higher Law, informed by my assessment of her physical condition.

When next we gather, we will consider why a Hunter would indulge in an enterprise played out over half a year, knowingly do it in a range fraught with artificially imposed limitations, and return to his family bearing nought but imagery for them to gnaw upon.