Why we do it…

Why do you hunt? Probably a question that if asked of every hunter, you’d receive a unique answer. Yet at the same time, there are common threads that unite us all in this passion. That’s what created The Pack Hunters. One night while sharing a meal, we began talking about why we hunt. Everyone of us, though coming from a different angle, came to the same conclusion:

Food on the Table

One of our most basic needs is food. To bring home a cooler of game means my family continues on. They receive nourishment and are safe because I know where my food is coming from. The provision of harvested meat is one of the ways I can tell my family that I love them and that I take responsibility for them.

Conservation

There are so many movies, books and shows that paint the image of the hunter as a wicked, trophy-obsessed monster. He’s hell-bent in executing his game will stop at nothing, even total forest destruction to quench his thirst. However, you’ll find no greater supporter of conservation than those who make up the hunting community. The North American conservation system is thriving in many ways. Not only are many species continuing to flourish on the continent, but many are being restored at a rapid pace. There is still so much work to do and so many species to address, but management (hunting) is a massively vital tool in the conservation arsenal. Admittedly, whether by intention or accident, there are bad eggs out there hunting in the woods, but often they are singled out by other hunters, caught by the law and prosecuted. The overwhelming majority of hunters are law-abiding investors and activists seeking to preserve the gift of the natural resources of which we have been tasked with being stewards.

Community

The fellowship and conversation at deer camp is some of the most anticipated and cherished times I experience in the cycle of a year. The generational connection between outdoors enthusiasts, hunters and the like creates a comradery bonded by passion and gratitude for what we’ve been given. Whether it is a few buddies enjoying a cold beer looking over a fresh harvest, a group of teens roasting marshmallows over a camp fire or a community group spending a Saturday afternoon cleaning up the local creek: spending time in the outdoors builds connection, community and legacy. My one regret in all of my time enjoying deer camp with my friends is I never got to hear the stories of my great great grandfathers and their excursions into the wild. I’ve heard lore and musings being passed down, but never will I hear them told directly from their lips. Maybe my grand children and descendants to come will never share my passions I have today. But maybe they’ll be enthralled with it. This work and effort is meant to capture and preserve the tales and laughs of their fathers and grandfathers, a gift for who I pray, are even greater hunters, more successful conservationists, and better men and women than we are today.

Conclusion

A few years ago, when my first-born wasn’t quite walking yet, I was combing through some old 8mm footage of my father growing up while my little guy sat on my lap. In one scene an old man is walking towards a field in that classic, Gingham plaid (red and black of course) and a fur Ushanka with the ear flops tied up. He’s carrying a 20 gauge shotgun (a gun I still use today) and has his Irish Setter in tow. I’m floored. My son, though he doesn’t appreciate it at this moment, is staring back into his past, deep in his DNA as his great-great-great grandfather ventures onward to harvest his feathered-quarry. Oh, how I wish this scene lasted hours. Oh, how I long to spend just one day learning to shoot with that man on the projection screen. Oh, how will I protect and preserve these same moments of mine for my great, great, great grandson? Maybe, just maybe, this is how:

thepackhunters.com