Posted: 12/31/2011 8:16:22 AM EDT
I'm 41 years old, and I popped my cherry this morning. Never done anything like that before, learned a few things and thought I'd share.
. . . . . Yeah, I know. Big deal, right? I mean it's just a squirrel, but it's the first thing bigger than a fly that I've killed on purpose. So I grew up in the burbs, and didn't (still don't) know anybody that hunts. I got it into my head that I was going start hunting, took the hunter's ed class and got my first hunting license three weeks ago. Finally on my fifth outing, I got that little guy and I learned a few things I wasn't expecting at all: 1. The little twinge of guilt as I watched that little guy rattled out his last breath. I told him I was sorry, and then closed his eyes so he'd stop staring at me. 
2. He was pretty toasty warm when I picked him up. I don't know what I was expecting really. I guess it was just a little surprising for a guy whose only experience with dead animals comes from picking them out a of a cold case. 3. Not nearly as much blood, but far more guts, than I was expecting. 4. Cleaning an animal for the first time can be little intimidating. Yes, I read up on cleaning game and watched about dozen youtube videos on cleaning squirrels. I stood on his tail and yanked on his back legs in order to "remove his pants," but I ended up jerking his tail clean off instead.  I made a mess of it, but I do have some meat (very little) in my fridge that I plan on eating tomorrow.
After I decided to call it a day, I was reflecting on the fact that it seemed like a lot of work for so little reward. Even so I could barely keep this  off of my face. I can't wait to go back out.
Everyone have a safe and Happy New Year. |
Mmmmm. I love squirrel hunting. Perfect excuse to be out in the woods, whether you shoot anything or not. Plus, the season spans such a long stretch that you get a chance to enjoy different seasons in the woods; from when the leaves are still on the trees, through when they're changing colors through the snowy season. 
Tasty critters, too! 
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| I feel you. I am 30 and was a suburban-hell-raised kid. Now, here in WV, I am trying to get out and hunt and do the outdoors stuff. Haven't killed a deer yet, but they are out there. I won't feel guilty about it, either as I have had deer meat many times and it sure is tastey. I know I am gonna twinge when I gut one for the first time, but its all life experiences. |
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As I'm sitting here, I realized another. A walk through the woods when your hunting is really different.
I never knew I was so loud. I never realized how much dead leaves rattling in the wind sounded like squirrels cutting, or how loud a squirrel can sound bounding through the undergrowth. A whole perspective on the outdoors for me. |
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Quoted:
I feel you. I am 30 and was a suburban-hell-raised kid. Now, here in WV, I am trying to get out and hunt and do the outdoors stuff. Haven't killed a deer yet, but they are out there. I won't feel guilty about it, either as I have had deer meat many times and it sure is tastey. I know I am gonna twinge when I gut one for the first time, but its all life experiences. I think it would be helpful to have an experienced hunting partner for a number of reasons. First, the hunting the animal down part. Growing up in the burbs, there's deer and squirrel all over the damn place. Take a gun into the woods, and I think they understand your intentions, and run off and hide. Second, the cleaning them up part. That was different. When I started, a little self doubt kicked in before I thought "Bullshit, you big sissy. You killed it, you eat it." Cut him up, bagged him up and left with him. Still felt a little wrong to leave his head, feet and tail in the woods though. Book learning is great, but nothing trumps experience. |
