Bull elk killed in the Targhee National Forest on 9/20/06 by a friend.
Without their primary predator, the wolf, elk have multiplied and developed diseases and overgrazed their range from crowding. Managed hunting can improve the health of the species.
Thrill of the Kill
We are hunters,
and we are bold.
We hunt in packs,
our enemies untold.
Food is our mortal sin.
We must have it to live.
We take life to take it in.
Take it in to live and give.
We kill a plant,
with little thought.
Plant a new one
in the same spot.
Attack insects,
wherever found.
In the sky, water,
or on the ground.
Suffocate a fish,
by taking its water.
Scaling it alive,
to freshly slaughter.
We kill animals,
with hammers and guns.
Catch them unawares,
so nothing runs.
With every kill,
we get a rush.
High on adrenaline,
our faces flush.
Our bodies get hormones,
Endorphins flood our brains.
We thrill for the kill, but,
it's the kill that remains.
And so we kill,
for a noble cause.
Survival of the strongest,
or was it just, "because."
But when the killing's over,
and the dead rest supine.
Thoughts on the killing linger,
where good and bad combine.
Thoughts can come to haunt,
of the way the kill was done.
Long after the war is over,
and the battles have been won.
For there is no thrill in killing.
Just a job that must be done.
When we kill for pleasure,
our death's song is sung.
"Food is our mortal sin." Wonderful depth! I can feast off that line for days. Thanks you for the image.
Reviewed by Kate Clifford (Reader)
Reviewed on October 8, 2006
Living in the north and hearing hunters explain why they hunt has been quite a lesson for me. This lesson you have shown in this write. The true hunter hunts for survival. Each animal is killed for a reason and is blessed for its help for our survial. The person who hunts for pleasure and no worth while plan..........karma will get him/her really good!
Reviewed by Jacqueline Marshall (Reader)
Reviewed on October 4, 2006
When I start your poem I'm reading about hunting. By the time I'm 2/3 through my mind has switched to humans killing humans. I don't know if you had any intention of that but it's where your poem takes me. JM
We humans have made a conscious choice to propagate our own kind at the expense of animal habitat. If we changed our minds and drastically reduced our own numbers, then wild animals could co-exist with us without much in the way of our assistance. It is quite obvious that nothing like this is about to happen any time soon, at least not soon enough to save the wildlife habitat in this country.
So those making comments against sport hunting should know that in the absence of sport hunting there would be no habitat or support for any wild animals in the United States. The proceeds of hunting and fishing license fees is the only substantial source of public funds for game and fish management and with no support, these entities would go extinct. As an example, with no such support, ocean fish stocks are as we speak, going extinct, primarily due to over commercial fishing -- translation: human overpopulation supported by technical innovation in fish harvest leading to too much indiscriminate taking. Elimination of commercial fishing and only allowing sport fishing would eventually balance fish stocks again, but this would require international will and cooperation.
Sport hunting is not for everyone. But, those who don't want to participate directly should be careful of criticizing those who thrill to the sport to the annual tune of billions of dollars, unless they would want some very unexpected consequences -- in the form of a void of animal life in the world about us.
Best regards,
Leland
Allow me to agree with everyone before me and say that I am not a hunter myself, but to a degree understand the mentality of it...and if an animal is so many that it infringes on mans domain, well, what else can be done...e
This excellent poem takes a few twists and turns as the justification for killing changes to just for kicks. The fact that there are too many elk for them to be strong and survive would tell me that more elk tags should be issued and that people should be eating elk not raising animals in cages for food. I have no problem with hunting as a sport, if the animal is used as food, but killing and leaving the animal to rot is sadistic and just plain wrong, no matter how over-populated a species is. I think that the hunter is a bit more honest than the rest of us in that he/she takes responsibility for the life they have taken, you and I just go to the grocery store and pretend like that steak was never on the hoof. I also think that it is time to re-introduce some wolves to the area, but with humans moving into their territory, there is not much chance for that. Balance is always the key, humans are usually the reason for inbalance.
Take care,
Sherry
I cannot, for the life of me, understand a mind that kills just because.I don't want to ever "Understand" because it would make me just as bad. For food...to feed the family...different story. I eat fish, pork and rarely beef....all in minimal amounts.
This poem is a thinking poem. I sure would like to be a fly om the wall when some read this.
A very good poem with excellent rhyme and rhythm. The message is
somewhat blurred for me. When we are realistic evrything on this planet kills to eat. Even plants do it to some degree. When we kill for food is that wrong? killing for thrills is another matter. If hunters kill what has been culled for reasons such as you have given here I sse nothing wrong in it. The animals would die anyway. But I don't think it should be done freely on vital animals just for kicks.
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We humans have made a conscious choice to propagate our own kind at the expense of animal habitat. If we changed our minds and drastically reduced our own numbers, then wild animals could co-exist with us without much in the way of our assistance. It is quite obvious that nothing like this is about to happen any time soon, at least not soon enough to save the wildlife habitat in this country.
So those making comments against sport hunting should know that in the absence of sport hunting there would be no habitat or support for any wild animals in the United States. The proceeds of hunting and fishing license fees is the only substantial source of public funds for game and fish management and with no support, these entities would go extinct. As an example, with no such support, ocean fish stocks are as we speak, going extinct, primarily due to over commercial fishing -- translation: human overpopulation supported by technical innovation in fish harvest leading to too much indiscriminate taking. Elimination of commercial fishing and only allowing sport fishing would eventually balance fish stocks again, but this would require international will and cooperation.
Sport hunting is not for everyone. But, those who don't want to participate directly should be careful of criticizing those who thrill to the sport to the annual tune of billions of dollars, unless they would want some very unexpected consequences -- in the form of a void of animal life in the world about us.
Best regards,
Leland
There is a difference!!
love Tinka
thought provoking and well written, Ron ...
Take care,
Sherry
This poem is a thinking poem. I sure would like to be a fly om the wall when some read this.
Susan
A very good take on the complexities of enforced killing and culling..
There is a very fine line indeed on where to draw the line, personally
speaking I don't like blood sports period..
Peter
A good analogy, ably penned, in a flowing rhythmn. It caught me good Ron.
Benisons ...
Richard Lloyd Cederberg
somewhat blurred for me. When we are realistic evrything on this planet kills to eat. Even plants do it to some degree. When we kill for food is that wrong? killing for thrills is another matter. If hunters kill what has been culled for reasons such as you have given here I sse nothing wrong in it. The animals would die anyway. But I don't think it should be done freely on vital animals just for kicks.
Eileen