While this was indeed my first hunting trip, it was not a hunting trip in the classical sense. At least I don't think so...
Late one night last week, my wife and I were lying in bed talking. She, while resigned to the fact that I want to go try hunting, is not totally keen on the endeavour. However, that night I got to talking about food and the fact that since I have my hunting number and license for the year, I am legally allowed to go hunt for upland game birds. She paused, and asked a bit more about if I was prepared to do everything that was required to gut, clean and bring the bird home. I said that I was pretty sure that I was. After a little more discussion, I decided that I would head off early the next morning to go try grouse hunting and be back before noon.
I had trouble sleeping that night and a number of times I got up and went to the computer to look into the process of hunting, gutting and cleaning grouse. There is quite a bit of information out there on the web and while I didn't have the right firearm (I was going hunting with a .22), nor did I exactly know where I was going to go (I have never been hunting for anything before, let alone grouse), I still decided that I would give it a go to see what would happen.
I awoke very early and was out the door by 5:45am. I ride a dual sport motorbike and I knew it was going to be quite cold, so I put on a balaclava to protect my neck and bundled up under my motorbike jacket. I filled up the gas tank, and headed out on the highway headed north.
It was freezing!
My hands were like clubs as I topped a hill just past Fury Creek and pulled over at the entry to a logging road. As I was hopping around in the early morning light to warm up I heard a rumbling behind me, coming from up the logging road. Although it was Sunday, a logging truck came lurching down the road and stopped just past the gate to check his load. We got to talking and he asked me what I was up to. Now, it is pretty obvious that I am up to something as I have to strap my rifle over my shoulder in a travel bag on the motorbike. He wondered if I was fishing or hunting. I told him I was looking for grouse but that I didn't really know what I was doing. He said he loved grouse but that the pickings were pretty slim this time of year as the season had already been open for a month. Those grouse that weren’t dead were going to be pretty gun shy. He gave me a few pointers on where to look. I thanked him, got on my bike, and headed north.
The early morning sun was striking the peaks around me - lighting them up that wonderful alpine pink colour. With the fresh snow of the day before it had a Himalayan feel. I turned up a logging road about 20km past Fury Creek and started my hunt.
Now, my plan was to go reasonably slow on my motorbike, hoping to startle a grouse that would then fly up into a tree. I would then get off my bike, load my rifle, aim at the bird's head, and hopefully hit it. I thought this a reasonable plan as many times before while riding my motorbike along logging roads I had startled grouse who had scattered in an explosion of flapping to the nearest tree. However, I was to find that I would not be seeing any grouse along the road that day.
I did see a number of other birds, however. The first birds that I saw were red-breasted nuthatches. I only know that, as while one got scared by my bike, he flew right beside my head for a few moments before pealing off into the bush. I got a good look at him and identified him when I got home.
After the 15 mile mark along the logging road I found a reasonably sunny spot. The coniferous trees in this area had been logged out and were in the process of coming back, but there were quite a few deciduous trees that were mixed in as well. I got off my bike, loaded the .22, put on my blaze orange toque, and headed up a deactivated logging road.
It was quite the experience. I walked slowly and cautiously. My senses were very alert, but I couldn't help but see some humour in my situation. It felt a bit like I was pretending to be a hunter as opposed to the real deal. My intention was to shoot a grouse if I could find one (and get a good shot at it). I saw a number of other animals that day - but no grouse. What I did see in great numbers were mushrooms; all different types, colours and sizes. I guess the fresh rains had brought them out of the mottled forest floor and the conditions must have been very good. I don't know much about mushrooms, but I picked a few that I thought might be chantrelles to identify when I got home.
By 9:30am I had decided to turn around and make my way back to my bike. By 11:15am I was back at home.
Reflecting upon the day I had to admit that I really enjoyed myself. It didn't matter that I was unsuccessful in the hunt. I enjoyed the walk, I enjoyed spending time by myself, and I enjoyed the heightened awareness of trying to take everything in around me; all sights, sounds, smells and even tastes in the air.
I plan on learning more about edible mushrooms and plants so that regardless of whether I find my intended quarry for the day, I will always be able to return home with something. I look forward to my 'real' hunting trip that is to happen in a few days time. But, I also look forward to more excursions by myself into the outdoors.
BB
This is a blog for me to keep my thoughts regarding hunting. I began hunting deer in October of 2008 after thinking long and hard about feeling the need to be responsible for the meat that I eat. Originally, my thought was to do it at least once just to see if I could personally trace a meal for me and my family from the woods to my plate at home. I have since found much more meaning in the experience of hunting. Please feel free to comment if you feel you have the need.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Hunting Trip Countdown...10...9...
In 9 days I will be heading off on my first deer hunting trip. In fact, it will be my first hunting trip - period. I have never killed another mammal in my life apart from putting one poor Colombian Ground Squirrel out of it misery that had had its back broken by a car. Even that was a little traumatic for me at the time (I was in my late teens). In fact, it was probably at that point that I realized that I was facing a bit of an ethical problem.
You see, I have been an omnivore my whole life. I once spent 6 weeks being a vegetarian just to see what it was like. The rest of my years have been spent eating meat at least 1-2 times a day. When I was young, I remember it being more like 3 times a day 7 days a week. The only exception to my omnivoreness growing up was veal which I decided to stop eating back in the late 80's once I learned that it came from calves. I hate to admit it, but I only realized quite recently that the rack-of-lamb that I love so much does indeed come from a sheep that doesn't see its 1st birthday. Now I think about it, I have also been reluctant to eat pig after learning about how intelligent they are. The argument being that if I could consider an animal to be a loyal pet I probably shouldn't eat it.
All this thinking has left me in a bit of a bind. Am I a speciesist? That is to say that I rank animal's intelligence as a major criteria for my decision to eat or not eat them? What of ethics? Does and animal deserve a chance to live a full life, or at least a chance to grow into adulthood?
So, I have decided to go out and be on the sharp end at least once. That is to say; go out into the woods, shoot, gut and clean a deer, then butcher it (or in my case - help the butcher out).
I fully realize that evening being able to think this way is a luxury of our times. For most of humanity's existence humans have tried their level best just to make sure they made it through the winter – never mind trying to take the high ground when it comes to what they put in their stomachs. However, I can afford the luxury of putting thought into this matter. I have the economic means with which to eat meat regularly if I wish. I even have the means to be able to afford ‘free-range’ and ‘organic’ meat (which I do my best to do). I don’t think of hunting as something that will account for all the meat that my family and I eat through the year. However, I do think that it would be impossible to get anything that is more ‘organic’ or ‘free-range’ than something that has grown up in the woods.
You see, I have been an omnivore my whole life. I once spent 6 weeks being a vegetarian just to see what it was like. The rest of my years have been spent eating meat at least 1-2 times a day. When I was young, I remember it being more like 3 times a day 7 days a week. The only exception to my omnivoreness growing up was veal which I decided to stop eating back in the late 80's once I learned that it came from calves. I hate to admit it, but I only realized quite recently that the rack-of-lamb that I love so much does indeed come from a sheep that doesn't see its 1st birthday. Now I think about it, I have also been reluctant to eat pig after learning about how intelligent they are. The argument being that if I could consider an animal to be a loyal pet I probably shouldn't eat it.
All this thinking has left me in a bit of a bind. Am I a speciesist? That is to say that I rank animal's intelligence as a major criteria for my decision to eat or not eat them? What of ethics? Does and animal deserve a chance to live a full life, or at least a chance to grow into adulthood?
So, I have decided to go out and be on the sharp end at least once. That is to say; go out into the woods, shoot, gut and clean a deer, then butcher it (or in my case - help the butcher out).
I fully realize that evening being able to think this way is a luxury of our times. For most of humanity's existence humans have tried their level best just to make sure they made it through the winter – never mind trying to take the high ground when it comes to what they put in their stomachs. However, I can afford the luxury of putting thought into this matter. I have the economic means with which to eat meat regularly if I wish. I even have the means to be able to afford ‘free-range’ and ‘organic’ meat (which I do my best to do). I don’t think of hunting as something that will account for all the meat that my family and I eat through the year. However, I do think that it would be impossible to get anything that is more ‘organic’ or ‘free-range’ than something that has grown up in the woods.
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