Hunting/shooting.

[XchristineX]

I'm to much of a girlie girl...
Like hunting? Yeesh I'm not walking in the bush
Hard to with heels and a short skirt anyways...

Although...I usually wind up the prey in the city so I geuss
I do partake one way or another

[mistressstevie]

Okay this guy was a-m-a-z-i-n-g

One of the few people who'd be Tom's peer died recently too.  Bob Munden could do amazing things with single action revolvers.   One my favorites is the two balloon trick here: 



-mS

[justpat]

     Gave up hunting after 4 years in the military I think the animals should be able to shoot back!
    That would make it more sporting. I still have a good diverse collection and still use them as
     we have a bad feral dog problem and they just like to kill everything.
      Personally I like to fish I live a 1/4 mile from lake Okeechobee and fish 2-3 times a week
     don't even care if I catch anything  it's just nice to be on the water.

[Beth Andrea]

Hard to believe I haven't posted in this thread yet...

I like long guns and target shooting. I'd love one of those .50 calibre sniper rifles. Any gun fans here? Hugs, Devlyn

Used to be very big into it, very manly to know how to shoot, clean animals, etc.

For a while, I'd go out in the woods and go hiking with full kit (210 rounds) and blast it all (except for one mag/30 rounds..."just in case"), but then I noticed I started shooting less and less, and hiking more and more...until I was like, "wth am I doing, carrying 40 lbs of ALICE around on me?!"

Maybe I was gettin' old...over time I had a couple bad experiences with shooting animals (which I ate, btw...even the squirrels!) One time a friend shot a squirrel, but there wasn't anything usable left...but its mate came around right after and started chittering away at us, in an angry, enraged tone. You haven't been chewed out until you've heard an angry squirrel from 20' away. We joked about it (typical for 20-somethings), but it haunted me for years...still does.

The other incident was when deer hunting...shot a deer in the face at darn near point-blank range, she went down instantly, I ran up to her to be sure she was "gone"...but she was able to raise her bloody face and in her eyes I saw, "You ->-bleeped-<-ing BASTARD!"

Haven't gone hunting since. I realize that most people don't "see" these kinds of things, and I'm glad that they can still enjoy hunting. I like the meat, that's for sure...well, until lately.

I've been having more incidents where I can...I don't know, "sense" the death of the animal I'm eating. (That's gross, if you think about it...eating an animal...I feel like it should be sanitized a bit, like we're "consuming" it or something...)

I'm not sure if I'm weird, or somehow just very sensitive to things of a spiritual nature...I get similar sensations sometimes in thrift stores, like I'm picking up the life-thoughts of the old people in their stuff...

It's just real hard for me to deal with this.

But I still have my guns. I carry a .357 Sig daily. Killing in self-defense I like to *think* I wouldn't hesitate...but my soul-Being feels different now, has for the past 3-4 years.

Weird, hunh? 

[DirtyFox]

Definitely love to hunt and shoot whenever I have a chance.  I feel it is a great skill to have along with fire starting and camping. Hunting really makes me feel independent and actually know where my food comes from. With cattle and other animals, you may not know the treatment beforehand. And shooting is just overall fun if you're just plinking or playing with "range toys". Just be sure if you take anyone with you, make sure they know proper safety and handling of firearms. And start small, I can't tell you how fed up I am of "tough guys" giving their significant other a S&W500 (or insert other large recoil firearm) and expect a great show.

[Beth Andrea]

     Gave up hunting after 4 years in the military I think the animals should be able to shoot back!
    That would make it more sporting. I still have a good diverse collection and still use them as
     we have a bad feral dog problem and they just like to kill everything.
      Personally I like to fish I live a 1/4 mile from lake Okeechobee and fish 2-3 times a week
     don't even care if I catch anything  it's just nice to be on the water.

That wouldn't be sport...that'd be combat. Never been in combat, but I'm told it sucks.

Besides, the animals aren't defenseless...they are in much better shape than most hunters, better able to camouflage themselves, smell odors better/farther away, and don't drink beer.

[Beth Andrea]

Definitely love to hunt and shoot whenever I have a chance.  I feel it is a great skill to have along with fire starting and camping. Hunting really makes me feel independent and actually know where my food comes from. With cattle and other animals, you may not know the treatment beforehand. And shooting is just overall fun if you're just plinking or playing with "range toys". Just be sure if you take anyone with you, make sure they know proper safety and handling of firearms. And start small, I can't tell you how fed up I am of "tough guys" giving their significant other a S&W500 (or insert other large recoil firearm) and expect a great show.

+1

An honorable man would never play a "joke" on someone by giving them a frickin' elephant gun, and tell them "Oh, there's no recoil..."

Yes, I have seen it done. The first time I didn't intervene...the next time, I sure as hell did.

[Bookworm]

I love to target shoot. Shotguns and me go way back . I have fond memories of spending days with my dad on the range. I have not gone hunting yet, but who knows. A day at the range and a couple of friends. I can't think of a better stress reliever. The only problem I have is it is getting expensive to go I do enjoy fishing too though and that is just relaxing

[Jennifer Snowskier]

I haven't done this in a long time, but I used to do a lot of reloading.  My favorite load was to pack a 44 Mag case with as much slow burning powder it would hold, throw in a heavy semi wad cutter, then light off six in a row by holding the trigger and fanning the hammer.  The muzzle flash is about 3 feet long, most fun at twilight..

I did a similar thing with a full factory load in a indoor range some years ago. The Range Master turned all the lights off, it was pitch black, the muzzle flash looked like something you would see from an artillery piece. I never hit the target but it was great fun.

I was a member of Pistol Clubs, (I moved around a bit), for a number of years. I loved punching holes in paper but the best competition for me was air pistol. Very quiet, very slow but required great concentration. I really enjoyed the other comps but air pistol was best.

I agree with quite a few of others here, "If you shoot it then eat it or use it" and I did a bit of duck shooting, (they taste good) and roo shooting, (skins and dog meat). Until I went duck shooting on a private lake one day. It was a fund raising thing for a local service club. A lot of the shooters who turned up had over sized over powered boats and very expensive shotguns. They were dropping ducks and not picking them up or even checking that they were dead. I think that was the last time I went duck shooting.

[justpat]

   Beth, I to feel the animals and every thing else around me.Being very aware it seems like every living thing has some sort of soul and they all let me feel that.I hesitate to kill anything that is
just trying to live its life peacefully.The deer thing is horrible, been there done that it still haunts me.
   I also have visions and they usually come to fruition.Those few that have pierced my armor come to me the others say how did you know that.


And you thought you were crazy!


   

[SonadoraXVX]

I used to go hunting a lot in my youth in northeastern mexico, mainly birds in my grandmothers ranch, oh I'd say...100 acre ranch, it was huge. I was taken a lot to nightly jackrabbit, quail and coyote hunting. Two out of three were for eating at family get togethers, and coyotes, were bad juju for cows. I'm more of a shooter now, er, have notgone out to shoot in a while(ie.6 months now, I used to go twice a month, I'd reload everything, except .22 of course). I'm former military(ie.5 years usmc mp), I know how to skin just about anything(ie.watched my uncles/aunts skin and prepare fresh kill of all kinds of critters(ie. yes they held my hand and schooled me on how to skin animals, from cows to snakes), snakes and eat them too, seriously), lol. I know about the hunting culture well. I presently own a motley of err...weapons?...lol...FN FAL(ie.brazlian IMBEL).308, Remington LTR, .308, Mossberg 500 12 shotgun, 10/22 Ruger, 9mm Hi Power Brownin, Ruger GP100 .357, snubby .357 5 shot by Taurus(ie.Yes I know how to properly use them, lol military trained). Yes I shoot them all, punching paper or metal targets, or even painted bottlecaps(ie.if I don't get caught at the range at the 300 yd line, shooting them).

Lucia
P.S. and I live in Southcentral L.A./Compton area of L.A(ie.those that know I have these weapons, think I'm a gun nut for California, but for Texas, eh...average Texan really)., lol. I may end up going back home to the South Texas region, but it would be alittle odd for a Hispanic woman to be hunting though, hmmmm, lol.

[Nicolette]

I'm glad Beth had an epiphany after her last experience. Reading her tale, I was shot through with pity and sadness and made me almost want to chuck up. I tend to over anthropomorphise and cannot help but do it. I can't even watch wild life documentaries any longer without breaking out in a sweat and switch them off if I'm about to see a fawn being pulled down by a predator etc. We don't see many guns here in the UK. I've only seen them carried by police at airports and haven't yet touched one.

I forgot to mention: Killing for pleasure. Is that not the biggest oxymoron ever devised?

[FrancisAnn]

I'm not sure what Bambi ever did to any of us? I see no reason to use these things unless for self defense. All the creatures on this planet with us are beautiful things. We should leave them alone & co exist.

I live on a farm with deer, rabbits, some foxes & numerous beautiful species of small & large birds.

No guns for me!!!

[Beth Andrea]

I'm not sure what Bambi ever did to any of us? I see no reason to use these things unless for self defense. All the creatures on this planet with us are beautiful things. We should leave them alone & co exist.

I live on a farm with deer, rabbits, some foxes & numerous beautiful species of small & large birds.

No guns for me!!!

Keep in mind that we humans are, in fact, predators. Mammals which are prey animals have eyes on the sides of their heads (to better see the predator), and teeth for chewing plants...predators have eyes in the front, which focus on a common point just ahead of their hunting distance. They also have teeth designed to tear and chew meat, and if they omnivorous, have teeth which allows grinding as well.

So, humans are hunters by their physical nature. I'm not against hunting--and btw, very very few people "hunt" for the "simple pleasure of killing an animal"--if you truly believe that, you are horribly misinformed about how hunters actually are. Most hunt for the food it provides (when I hunted, I was making an average of $25/day at my job in Idaho, typical wages in any "right-to-work" state, btw; and could not feed my family of wife + 3 on that income. Yes, I was able to get skills to get a better job...but in the meantime wth am I to do? *MOST* hunters fall into this category, based on the people I met in the field...how many hunters have YOU actually met?)

And we do peacefully co-exist; this reminds me of a funny I read during the Cold War era:

At a World's Fair one year, the Communists had a display called "peaceful co-existence." It consisted of a display pen, inside of which were 3 chickens and one fox, all of which were being very casual. Intrigued, an American asked, "How'd you get them to co-exist peacefully like this?" The Communist replied, "Oh, it is easy. Every so often we just throw in another chicken or two..."

Sorry, I digress.

No one shoots "Bambi". The laws are quite specific on bucks and does, and often the number of points a buck must have, to be able to be "reduced to possession." And if perchance the deer *did* do something to us, well, we tend to eradicate those species (think what happened to the wolf and buffalo).

Now having said all that, I do have a strong spiritual connection with everything, very similar to Buddy (I also get what I call "48-hour notices" of impending crises; I have yet to develop it into a useful talent however). I consider myself to be well outside the 'normal' range of human knowledge and experience (neither superior nor inferior, just outside, because of my history) so I don't begrudge others their right to live as nature has made them. We are what we are.

Hunting is ok. Target shooting is ok. Self-defense is beyond just "ok", it's a fundamental right.

And while I understand the idea of anthropomorphizing animals with human emotions...if you've ever lived on a farm, or watched animals at play...they have an emotional existence which is very similar, if not identical to, our own levels of emotions. And some animals even have an intellect which is astounding, considering the species average. 

[Shantel]

     Gave up hunting after 4 years in the military I think the animals should be able to shoot back!
    That would make it more sporting. I still have a good diverse collection and still use them as
     we have a bad feral dog problem and they just like to kill everything.
      Personally I like to fish I live a 1/4 mile from lake Okeechobee and fish 2-3 times a week
     don't even care if I catch anything  it's just nice to be on the water.

I quit hunting for the same reason, time in a war zone gives you all the shooting practice you need and the targets are moving and they do shoot back. I have 22 firearms last count, reloading and bullet casting equipment as well, but they're all gathering dust in my shop until the national meltdown commences and the 911 calls go unanswered.

[Shantel]

It's a fact that the deer and elk population is exceedingly greater on the North American continent than it was 100 years ago, partially due to game management efforts and like Fezzika has said, the depletion of predatory animals. Last time I had an elk in my crosshairs I decided not to shoot. I'd much rather buy a nice top sirloin steak at the local market rather than have to gut and quarter that monster and hump him up the hill to the road, pay to have him cut and wrapped, it's clearly not cost effective although the meat is hormone free and not so full of artery clogging fat. Just the same, they look beautiful and since he wasn't shooting at me I had to give him a pass. My hunting days are over unless it's wild turkey. 

[Beth Andrea]

I love the flavor of elk meat, never shot one but have been on hunts where they had to be brought out...they're beautiful on the hoof, but OMG they are a monster to bring out...esp if one is at 6,000' msl and the mountainside is 45^ to vertical and rocky...and for some, the animal trails never go directly to the campsite...

[kariann330]

Really the only thing i find as a big downside is having a harder time with is my CCW. I can't carry in my waistband like before because of printing either thru my jeans or my top. I know i can always toss my Glock in my purse, but if i get separated from my purse my gun can either be stolen, or used against me. Yes Ohio let's you open carry without a permit, but i can only imagine how many people would freak and call 911 if i go for a walk with my Glock in a dropleg holster....oi so many choices lol.

[ZoeM]

Really the only thing i find as a big downside is having a harder time with is my CCW. I can't carry in my waistband like before because of printing either thru my jeans or my top. I know i can always toss my Glock in my purse, but if i get separated from my purse my gun can either be stolen, or used against me. Yes Ohio let's you open carry without a permit, but i can only imagine how many people would freak and call 911 if i go for a walk with my Glock in a dropleg holster....oi so many choices lol.

The good thing about being a woman, though, is that (I'd imagine) you're far less likely to be considered an imminent threat when openly carrying. Taken seriously, sure. But gals with guns aren't exactly the stereotype of murderers.

There are those intriguing bra holsters if you want to hide it, though. Google 'em!

[Sammy]

The good thing about being a woman, though, is that (I'd imagine) you're far less likely to be considered an imminent threat when openly carrying. Taken seriously, sure. But gals with guns aren't exactly the stereotype of murderers.

There are those intriguing bra holsters if you want to hide it, though. Google 'em!

For example, 5.11 Tactical Women holster