Students share their perspectives on hunting

Filled with anticipation, sophomore Trent Price circles the room, ensuring he hasn’t forgotten any necessary equipment. He gathers his final materials and pulls on his boots. Swinging his bag over his shoulder, he walks out the door and is engulfed by the crisp fall air.

“I was inspired to hunt by my outdoors passion,” Price said. “I have always loved to be outside rather than anywhere else whether it’s hunting or just mowing the grass.”

A passion Price said he has stuck with since he was “old enough to pull the trigger of [his] Red Rider,” Price has been hunting since he was 5 years old. He said he hunted small game, such as birds and rabbits, when he first began. Over time, Price said he has moved on to hunting larger game.

“My favorite animal to hunt is deer because I can hunt them pretty much whenever I want during season,” Price said. “I have access to many very close spots in relation to my house. I will usually go to the fields next to my house or my friend’s farm.”

Price said that just about all of his close friends hunt, though he also often hunts with his dad or by himself. When he first began, Price frequently went with his father, who he said taught him how to hunt.

“When I first began hunting, the biggest challenge I faced was coming up with funds to purchase all my equipment,” Price said. “Just last year I wanted a new bow, so I spent six months saving up and working to achieve my goal.”

Although Price was able to avoid the obstacle of affording equipment initially by using his dad’s, he eventually found it necessary to have his own hunting gear. He said he struggled with saving enough initially, but has since been able to overcome this problem. He said upgrading equipment and saving up for new gear motivates him to work to save enough money in order to afford what he wants. Along with the need to acquire equipment, hunting can also have other setbacks.

“[The hardest part] for me is probably just being able to pull the trigger,” junior Lauren Kaiser said. “You have to think because it’s not just for killing.”

When she first began hunting, Kaiser said she struggled with her shot, yet after years of practice, she has overcome this problem. Kaiser began hunting when her family took her on a trip to Africa when she was 10. Though the trip included other activities, it was Kaiser’s first real experience with something she would find a passion for.

“My parents surprised me on my birthday that I was going on a trip to Africa with them,” Kaiser said. “I just shot birds because that’s easy. I still have the feathers.”

Following the trip, Kaiser said she has gone hunting multiple times, both within the United States as well as out of the country. Though Kaiser and her dad have been able to bond on hunting trips, she said her siblings don’t share their views on the activity.

“My siblings don’t like it,” Kaiser said. “They think it’s inhumane”

Despite Kaiser’s view that hunting is a “fun experience,” some share the same outlook as Kaiser’s siblings. Senior Emily Tolar said she “[has] always hated hunting,” due to her love for animals.

“I dislike when people hunt for game,” Emily Tolar said. “Killing for fun is basically just rude and disturbing.”

Although Tolar does not agree with people who enjoy hunting simply for sport, she said she understands “if they take the animal home and actually eat the meat.”

Price said that when he hunts, he spends time preparing what he hunts in order to make the most of his kill, rather than only hunting for game.

“After you kill the animal, you do the necessary preparations before harvesting the fur or meat,” Price said. “For deer, you need to field dress it which basically means get rid of all the guts and heavy thing that adds weight inside the deer that’s not meat. This makes it easier to get the deer out of wherever you were hunting to wherever you will harvest the meat.”

Both Price and Kaiser said that they usually use the meat of what they hunt, though the preparations may often take a long time. Along with time spent following hunting, it is often necessary to remain patient prior to the trips.

“My least favorite part of hunting is waiting to be able to go hunting,” Price said. “There is nothing worse than cabin fever.”

Price said hunting can at times require a lot of patience, and lists being patient as one of his hunting tips. Kaiser said that although “you have to sit and wait, [it’s] fun in the end.”

Price said that he has had many unique experiences he would not have had if he didn’t hunt. Because of the certain times and places he goes, he is able to see things that people who don’t hunt may never experience.

“My favorite time to go hunting is right before sunrise,” Price said.  “I like this time because it is silent unlike any other time of the day also it is cooler temperature wise. To add I get to see numerous animals going to bed and getting up for the day all at once”

Although controversial to some, hunting has enabled students to experience different things and has enabled them to see the outdoors in a different way.

“I definitely recommend hunting to others because it is tons of fun,” Price said. “[It’s] a great way to connect with outdoors, and you get to see some pretty cool things.”