By Bradley Murdock Posted December 16, 2015
Hunting is a sport that thousands of Americans participate in every year. From deer to ducks and even buffalo, there are hundreds of species of huntable animals. What is it that draws us towards the hunt? I personally hunt because it is a family tradition. Also, I quite enjoy the venison our deer hunts yield. These are just a few of the reasons we hunt.
To some, hunting is all about trophy animals. Many hunters refuse to shoot anything less than a three-point. But in the words of Fred Bear, “A hunt based on trophies taken falls short of what the ultimate goal should be”. Others care mainly about the meat. I hunt largely because of the family aspect of hunting. Spending time together with relatives you rarely see while working toward the common goal of coming home with animals is truly what hunting means to me.
I remember when I was about six years old, my dad bought me a 4-10 shotgun and took me chukar hunting. We used to go hunting every week. Then, as I grew older, I began hunting with my uncle and grandfather. We would hunt things such as quail and ground squirrels. Finally, at the age of 13, I hunted my first deer. While the thrill of the hunt is also enjoyable, almost all the hunting I’ve done has been alongside a family member. Hunting is a large reason I have the bond I do with those in my family.
Venison (deer meat) is another reason I hunt. The indescribable taste of venison is perhaps one of the greatest sensations I know. Whether in jerky or steaks, venison is an amazing-tasting food. Also, venison is very nutritious. Having a very low-fat content but being high in vitamins and minerals, venison deserves the title of a superfood.
A sport that many Americans participate in every year, hunting is a great bonding experience and a chance to gain a semi-rare and quite enjoyable meat. Our reasonings for hunting are diverse in ways but are mainly the same. Hunting draws us together, tightens our bonds, and allows us to obtain a fair quantity of food in the process.
