Published: November 17, 2008 11:08 pm            

A family tradition

Hunting: Is it in or out?

Hunting has been around since the creation of humans.

From spears to bows to the newest high-powered rifle, hunting has progressed from a necessity to a sport. Slowly but surely, humans have progressed from hunting on the Plains for their night’s dinner to going out early in the morning, appreciating the day, and just enjoying the sight of a woodland creature. It has become more of a family activity that most fathers and sons (with a few exceptions) have come to enjoy together.

For those who don’t know, I am a hunter. I enjoy spending time with my dad and enjoying the wilderness. I am not an avid hunter by no means, but I do like to hunt. I love the smell of the fall air, the racing heart that comes when my hard work had paid off, and the overall relaxed atmosphere of it. I do a lot of my thinking and problem-solving while out in my tree-stand.

I have fallen asleep before while out on the hunt, and I have been bored out of my mind, but when I see that perfect buck coming, all of that is forgotten. Excitement can’t even describe it, and it is a wonderful feeling.

But is hunting still popular today with the creation of computers and other forms of entertainment? The answer is simple, yes. I asked a friend of mine if he enjoyed hunting more than his Xbox 360. He responded, “Well, yes I do. You may be able to hunt on a TV screen with games like Cabella’s Most Dangerous Hunts, but nothing compares with being out there in the wild, where our roots began, feeling the adrenaline rush through your body as you stalk your prey, and the well spent time with my dad that I get.”

I then asked how he would feel if he was no longer able to hunt. He frowned and stated, “I feel as though I had lost a long-held tradition. Why refer to it as a tradition because it’s been passed down from generation to generation from our ancient ancestors. I’d also have no real way to relax and forget about the pressures of high school. I’m a senior, and I’m constantly worrying about scholarships and how I’m going to afford college payments. Hunting helps me get my thoughts straight and figure out my problems.”

I surveyed students asking them whether or not they liked hunting, and I got some varied answers. Many that didn’t like to hunt said that it was too boring or wasn’t entertaining while other said hunting was fun and exciting. This leads to the conclusion that the personality of the person is what decides if they’ll like it or not. Those who need something to do to keep them busy may not enjoy hunting like the ones who are patient and calm. Hunting does take patience and requires a lot of waiting.

But what I feel is important is the Dad Factor. What is the Dad Factor? The Dad Factor is a way of saying that boys/girls would rather go hunting with their Dad than their Mom. I interviewed two students, Michael Hurt and James Haught, who do not hunt. One of the questions I asked the two is, “If you could, would you hunt and who would it be with?” They both answered yes, they’d like to hunt and they would go with their Dad. Along with those two, I asked several others and they all wanted to go hunting with their Dad. So Dads, if you’re looking for an activity for you and your son, take them out hunting.

There are all kinds of different animals that can be hunted. For instance, squirrels, deer, turkeys, raccoons, rabbits, coyotes, and bears are just some of the animals you can hunt. Also, not only are you relaxing and getting some much needed time with your kid but you’re helping West Virginia’s economy. Last year, over 270 million dollars were made due to hunting-related expenditures according to the Department of Natural Resources. So take that into consideration too. Hunting goes on year-round and is generally enjoyed by most. So next time you’re looking for something to do, go out and hunt a little.

        

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