Shades of Gray
- November 14, 2008
- Category: Daily Diary, Uncategorized
- (16) Comments
It’s a gray day here in
The forest seems enchanted with the mists that swirl around us. Everything is so still, so quiet. There is an air of expectancy all around us as the seasons change once again. I think about the snow that will soon obliterate our trails.
We come upon a doe. She is startled to see us yet she does not run. I speak to her softly and Lilly remains silent by my side. The doe acknowledges our presence and holds our gaze. Suddenly, with a flick of her tail, she turns and goes bounding deeper into the woods.
I am enjoying the tranquility which comes through quiet reflection but on Saturday the peacefulness of my surroundings will be no more because it is the beginning of rifle season.
I have struggled with the issue of hunting, trying to understand. I listen to stories about the beauty of the sport; how difficult it is to shoot a deer, the skill and art involved in managing to take one. I have also spent many years of my life nurturing animals, working with rescues and strays and rehabilitating animals to live in peace with humans. I struggle to remain open minded and fair.
I listen to the arguments for thinning the deer herd because left unchecked they will breed and overrun the land. Mountain Man tells me if it is a harsh winter and hunters do not take enough deer, the remaining herd will starve as they search for food. I think about how horrible it would be to die hungry in a frozen snow bank.
I hear the compelling argument of families who rely on deer meat to feed their hungry families. Without venison, there would not be enough meat for winter when costs are so high and food budgets are stretched to the breaking point.
And I am not innocent in this matter either. I am a meat eater. No, I don’t go out and hunt but animals are dying to feed me. My dogs are carnivores as well.
Lilly and I approach a meadow. She slows and I follow her gaze. A flock of deer are at hand. They are so beautiful, so graceful as they wander through the field. They are unconcerned by our appearance as if they know we mean them no harm.
Starting Saturday, we will not leave our house, the dogs and I. We will not wander into the woods we so love and I will cower each time I hear a gunshot and hope that one of the beautiful creatures I saw today is not dead.
There was a time when life was so simple. There was wrong and there was right, yes or no, daylight or moonlight. But, I’ve matured and as I’ve done so I realize that just as the sky that surrounds us today, there are shades of gray.
It’s a catch 22 that hunting thing. I have the same mixed emotions that you do. I always try to combat the horror of the killing a of living thing by falling back on the Circle of Life principle.
It’s odd, but last night at a Pampered Chef party a woman was passing around a photo of her son with the deer he had just shot. I did not look at it, but from the comments it must have been rather disturbing with the amount of blood all over the poor creature. One young woman there said, as she passed the photo on to the next person, that she thinks it would be easier for her to kill a human being rather than an animal. That gives one pause, doesn’t it. I’m hoping she meant a really bad, vile human being, but who knows.
For a couple of years I was a vegetarian and then I had to re-introduce some meat back into my diet for health reasons. I still refuse to eat beef, but I do a little chicken, pork and seafood. I didn’t make a conscious decision to become meatless – it was a gradual loss for the taste of it. Though once I became educated as to the horrific killing practices that go on in the meat packing industry, that pretty much sealed the deal. I still wrestle with eating meat. I hope to one day be vegetarian again once I resolve my dietary issues.
Date: November 14, 2008
Sad that you can’t enjoy going into your woods because of hunting season. I could never shoot an animal myself–I don’t think I could even shoot a vicious cuddly looking bear if it were coming at me. I think shooting just for sport is not good. I would not want to be married to a hunter, but I think your husband is right about the over population of the deer. If you shoot for food, that I can understand, but to just shoot for the “sport” of killing to me is very wrong.
Date: November 14, 2008
Whoa, what a surprise! When I came back today dropping my Entrecard from my other blog to find a whole new look here! I’m going to have to get used to this.
Date: November 14, 2008
I love your new autumnal Thanksgiving look here
Date: November 14, 2008
A very well written and thought out post. I too have mixed emotions. While I grew up in a hunting family, I did not hunt. I still could not kill a animal, but I eat meat. It is a difficult subject.
Jen
Date: November 14, 2008
I think hunting season just makes us face the facts (without being able to block it out) that the meat that we buy does not just come from MacDonalds, or the grocery store…..it makes us realize where it actually does come from….an animal.
I don’t like it either but…at least the deer had a free life for a while…maybe quite a while.
I hate the lives most cows, pigs, chickens etc (born and live in a very small cage at best) are having before they get to the grocery store. But we do willfully block that out our minds.
Date: November 14, 2008
Another thing I think about is the energetic “foot print” left on the meat from animals slaughtered on a commercial basis.
I can’t help but think that the fear and confusion these animals must experience as they are in the final stages of the “process” leave a residual in the meat. I think when the meat is consumed we’re ingesting some of those negative experiences.
For me everything has energy, and energy can be manifested through a variety of ways. I believe that we are affected by outside energies not of our own.
Date: November 14, 2008
Well said and I agree with you 100%!!
I have recently cut back tremedously on my meat consumption. I aspire to be a vegetarian. Although, I may still eat seafood/fish….not sure.
Date: November 15, 2008
forgot to mention that I live teh new blog background
Date: November 15, 2008
oops….I meant love the
Date: November 15, 2008
I remember living in hunting country — we lived very close to the woods where the deer hunters would go. It was a little nerve-wracking. I’m a vegetarian, so you can imagine how I feel about it in general. But I also appreciate that there are shades of gray and I have to respect someone who kills and dresses their own food. It’s more than most people do.
Just noticed the link to my blog, btw — thank you. I need to update my links, probably for my next post.
Date: November 15, 2008
I cringe when hearing gunshots too, we do not hunt but know plenty who do, and since they don’t eat the meat they give it to us. Works out Ok. Too many folks around here hunt but don’t even use the meat, that is a waste. The hunters around here get obsessive, we have had dogs and horses shot on our own property. And you are right, it is unsafe to leave the front yard. And I have to run off tresspassers all the time. UUGGHH! We have several deer that are here so often we name them, and pray they last.
blessings, Penny Raine
http://pennyraine.com/blog
Date: November 16, 2008
wonderful post.
I live in the Appalachian mountains surrounded by National Forrest land on the border of TN/NC. The bear season brings hunters with dogs that to me are starving (they say they are extremely fit) to run unabated over and through the mountains. They keep these poor animals chained to plastic barrels throughout the mountain winter with no other cover.
I too have to stay inside with my dogs because of these hunters.
They set bait and traps illegally on anyone’s property without regard to posted or no hunting signs.
The law here in TN allows a hunter to kill a bear in my front yard if the dogs are pursuing it. Without any respect for my property rights.
They call it a tradition here.
I agree there are shades of gray where hunting is concerned but I call bear hunting with dogs in TN/NC barbaric.
Date: November 16, 2008
I am too like you Mountain woman, I personally would never shoot an animal,but I do eat meat. I don't eat deer, rabbit, lamb. just cows, pigs & cicken. I know I could never kill an animal myself, but I understand the thoughts of the hunters as well. P.S. Come get your award, check you might have more than 1!
Date: November 16, 2008
A Progressive Girl, I used to live exactly in the same area you are now. I understand what you mean about the dogs tied to barrels. It’s heartbreaking. Some of the animal organizations in the area have worked very hard on this problem and it is certainly better than it was 10 years ago but not good enough.
Here in Vermont, it is not allowed to run dogs after game and the Fish and Game wardens due a fine job of enforcing the rules. You are facing a bad situation and I’m so sorry.
Date: November 16, 2008
To everyone, thanks so much for leaving such insightful comments. Anonymous wrote about the slaughter houses. I had no idea what went on in those places until I read “Fast Food Nation” a few years ago. It made me rethink running to the nearest fast food chain and grabbing a burger. I haven’t done it since. Alan spoke about animals raised in cages and I think about feed lots I have driven past where animals are rounded up and force fed to produce more weight and thus have a higher price.
Mountain Man no longer hunts but he used to and as he has explained to me, it is important to honor the animal, to realize they are sacrificing their life to feed you and to hunt respectfully. We both abhor “trophy” hunters who discard the venison. I understand Penny Raine when she writes about naming the deer that visit.
And, I agree with Anonymous that everything has an energy in life.
It’s not an easy subject and as with everything, it seems to me it is about being aware of what we are doing and why we are doing it and trying to bring some balance to life.
Date: November 16, 2008