OntarioHunter
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2020
- Messages
- 5,980
I don't think I was dictating to others. It's just the way it is with me. Guess because I'm different (and damn proud of it), everyone naturally assumes I'm belittling anyone who doesn't follow the same path. Wrong.I post on this thread reluctantly as I am an old woman, so what the hell do I know, but a couple of fellows ask me if we celebrated AND my opinion of a post made by another member
My first thought is--the problem with a pissing duel, is nobody leaves with dry boots
The short answer is yes, we always celebrated in one way or another, at some point after the animal was down. As Randy and others know a Coues hunt can be very challenging, and we celebrated when we were successful. Cougar hunting with dogs is like running a marathon, it is exhausting and so again if successful, we celebrated.
sheep hunts, start with saving for the hunt, planning the hunt, traveling to an area you are unfamiliar with, maybe flying commercial and then a float plane. Then horseback, then hike and then "the shot" so if our shot was successful, yes we celebrated.
Africa has been mentioned. And again, saving for the hunt, traveling to Africa, the hunt, the danger ( real and/or imagined ) and when successful, yes we celebrated and not just at the moment, but many times at a village or with the trackers and their families, as the locals dont just use and enjoy the meat, but the hooves, bones, skin, blood, organs and some of their celebrations are very enjoyable to be a part of and almost as dangerous as the hunt---you want me to eat--what ???
When in the Arctic, the Inuits celebrate as mentioned by Panda Bear and BuzzH and their celebrations are also interesting.
IMHO. I think Ontariohunter hit a nerve with his below statements, more than whether or not he celebrates after a hunt.
However, to each their own, far be it for me to dictate to others, ---except-- on the music thread !!!!!
Because I generally have always hunted alone, the after shot socializing culture has never been part of the hunting scene for me. Yes, it's part of the stereotypical African safari culture for sure, but not that important to me. I show up for campfire but don't usually drink much if anything. Fortunately (VERY fortunate), there were no smokers among hunters or PH staff. I'm usually tired and ready to hit the hay at the end of the day. Maybe someone has a story to tell ... if I can stay awake long enough to hear it.
When my brother and I hunt together it's different. We went all through public school in the same grade so we have lots to catch up on re the family and community in Montana. Thinking back now I don't remember us actually being together when harvesting a big game animal ... except my first buck in 1969. Must be at least a hundred animals between us. Even when hunting out of the same camp we have always been separated. That's something that just occurred to me. Interesting. So I guess there's never been much of an opportunity to develop the typical celebratory post harvest culture. Just me and the dead animal. Is what it is.