I was fortunate enough to be raised in South Louisiana where outdoor activities and Hunting were taking place everywhere. Hunting was a big part of my life. I lived on the Bogue Chitto River in Franklinton, La. My father gave me a 20 gauge single shot shotgun for Christmas at an early age. He taught me how to safely use my shotgun and how to take care of it the right way. I am 52 years old and this shotgun is still in my possession. My father raised me up in the woods. Over the years there are some things that I begin to really appreciate about hunting and the great outdoors. There are some things that you just can’t get from any other sport but hunting.

Peace and serenity

When you are in the woods and in your stand or hunting on the ground you will get a since of peace and serenity that you cannot get while facing the hustle and bustle of your everyday routine. I love to sit and hear the quiet sounds of the woods. A lot of times I can clear my head of things that went on during the day and have a clearer understanding of some of the situations that arises in life. This beneficial quit time is something that I never thought I could take advantage of while hunting.

Friendship development

Each year we travel to North Louisiana to do bow hunting at a national forest. The people that we have met up there that return each year have become great friends of mine. It really doesn’t matter what part of the country you hunt when you make a hunting trip and you run across other hunters you have a bond that seems to happen between hunters. As you travel from state to state you will notice the hunters at rest areas, restaurants, hotels, and other places. It seems like an unwritten rule that when you see another hunter you have to go introduce yourself.

Gratification and accomplishment

Ever since I have made my first kill I have felt a sense of gratitude and accomplishment. You put in a lot of hard work to kill your first animal of each year. When you are bow hunting it takes practice to make sure that your shots are true and on target. While you are rifle hunting you have to take the time to get to know your rifle and how it works. Whenever you make that first kill every year you feel as though you have done everything right. That is the since of gratification and accomplishment that you get while you are hunting. It is just a joy trying.

Respect for the game you are hunting

As a hunter it does not matter what game you hunt you do gain a respect for the animal you hunt. From the first time you see a small deer with spots nursing to the first time you see small rabbits you will develop a respect for the game. You as a hunter has the responsibility to help preserve our game. As a hunter you will develop as I did a great respect for the game you hunt. If you haven’t developed this respect you haven’t become a true hunter.

Wild game cuisine

Wild game has its’ own unique flavor. From sausage to tenderloin you have to learn how to cook the game you kill. Once you develop the skills to harvest and prepare your game there is no other great taste in the world. The game you hunt can give you some of the best tasting and robust meals you have ever sunken your teeth into. I taught myself how to prepare my game meals and they are great. Wild game is more lean and a great healthy choice when it comes to food.

These are just a few things that I didn’t expect from hunting when I first started hunting. Each year I hunt I learn something new and hope that I have many more hunts left in my lifetime.

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