FML Outdoors.com

Innate vs. learned

The basic relationship between predator vs. prey is well-known. There are laws of nature that we not only embrace, but take an active role in. This begs the question of some as to whether our hunting/gathering instincts and behaviors are innate or learned. I whole heartedly believe that it is innate.  Now, I won’t argue with someone who testifies that certain behaviors can be learned or introduced and then further explored and fine tuned. There’s no doubt of that, but If you look at every single living organism on the planet, everything from an ant to an elephant, the shortest blade of grass to the tallest tree, and even bacteria, in and around us, along with all microscopic living organisms, our most basic purpose is the same and that is — to survive. I don’t care what living organism we’re talking about, we all inhibit the basic will and termination to exist.

If you kill it…you eat it!

I hunt and fish — have my entire life, and truly, aside from my family, there is nothing that I love more. I was never forced to participate in outdoor activities. My dad never guilted me into doing anything that I didn’t want to do or that I felt uncomfortable with. He taught me that there are many ways to appreciate nature and always made it very clear, that if I ever felt that I didn’t want to hunt, or to kill, that there was nothing wrong with that. But it was love at first experience for me. I fell in love with the outdoors, with nature, with hunting, fishing and everything that came along with it at a very early age. One rule we did have growing up however, was that if you kill it — you eat it!

If we were going to take the life of an animal, it wasn’t going to be for nothing, and there is a great deal of respect and thanks that animal deserves. This is a concept many anti-hunters have a hard time accepting. The fact that hunters indeed, love and respect the animals we hunt more than anyone. My dad also introduced me to one of the most basic laws of nature and of our universe — something must die for something else to live. It’s the way our world works. No matter how hard people may try to change it, this is a simple law of nature that cannot and will not ever change.

The natural order of things

This article is not meant to disrespect vegetarians or those whom do not hunt. It’s meant to encourage thinking for yourself, and to let people know IT’S OK TO BE A PREDATOR! Sometimes today’s society would like to make you feel different but the truth is it’s ok to eat meat and want to kill for your own meat. It’s ok to gain happiness by taking an active role in the natural order of things.  Even plant eaters are a part of the food chain (something must die for something else to live, remember). If you choose to eat a carrot over a rabbit, fine. At one time that carrot was a living, growing organism. Once you pull it from the ground and eat it, you’ve removed it from its former existence and made it part of your own.

Interesting fact: Looking back on the Depression Era, many families recognized their ability to survive based on knowing how to hunt, kill and prepare game. Knowing that bit of knowledge, I feel better prepared when this next big recession hits!

So why do we hunt?

Hunters sometimes encounter those who question why we hunt. “Why not shop for our food? Isn’t that a more humane way to provide for oneself?” While it’s true that we can acquire all our nutrition from a grocery store, I would strongly urge anyone who buys their food and condemns hunting to educate themselves where their food comes from. Because if they really compared the life of a deer and the process of hunting to that of beef cattle and the process of a slaughter house, they would be in for an eye-opening and perhaps life-changing revelation.

I understand that hunting/gathering activities aren’t for everyone. That’s ok! I’m not trying to paint the picture that anyone out there that chooses not to hunt is somehow less of a person – no, I would never make an outrageously disrespectful claim like that. However, as I write this article, I can’t help but be reminded of conversations I’ve had with people who have opposing view points. One time in particular comes to mind…

A number of seasons ago, I was in a local gas station registering a deer, when the women behind me scoffed and began berating me. Exclaiming that she didn’t know how I could live with myself killing innocent animals. As I stood there listening, respectfully awaiting my turn to speak, I couldn’t help but notice the woman’s leather jacket, purse and knee-high boots. As easy as it would be to get angry, when I finally got the chance, I kept my cool and really tried to explain to the women why we hunt and why I love it so much. I also asked her about the leather that she so obviously enjoys, and I will never forget the words that came out of her mouth.

“Oh, that is different! I’m sure it was used for food or something first!”

I realized that trying to convince this women of anything would be an exercise in futility. I encouraged the woman to educate herself, and I assured her that I respected and loved deer and the other animals I hunt more than anyone she’s likely to meet, and that it’s more than about killing.  I then said goodbye and off I went, confused by the thought of a lady who eats meat and wears leather but so adamantly condemns killing.

There are people who embrace being a predator and and those who don’t. There are two types of those who don’t, the first group, are more honest, they choose not to eat or use any animal products and hold themselves to a higher moral standard then the second group. The second group is like the hypocritical lady, willing to pay others to do their killing for them, reap the same rewards as hunters, but put them down for having the tenacity to conserve and harvest game.

As a final thought, I offer you this — we’re geared to survive. If we don’t eat, we die, it’s that simple. I believe our predatory/hunter/gatherer instincts are innate. I believe deep down in all of us resides a predator, no matter how society and political correctness tries to influence us. I believe that to choose a different path from this is what must be learned. And although, we can live our lives any way we want,  choosing to ignore the natural predator within us is not innate. Forgetting our killer instinct is conditioned by choice. We may have to accept differences among us, but we do not have to apologize for who we are. No matter how fast society tries to move, it will never outrun the basic principles of nature and the predator within us.