Home Forums Campfire Forum Blood art

Viewing 6 reply threads
  • Author
    Posts
    • David Petersen
      Member
        Post count: 2749

        Hunting has been called “blood sport,” and for good reason. Like most things in life, blood can be ugly, or beautiful. Pornography or art. I detest sloppy photos of dead bloody animals that disrespect both hunter and hunted, which are indicative of the worst hunting magazines. Yet, how many experienced bowhunters haven’t felt a little surge of adrenaline and hope at the sight of fresh dark blood on the ground, indicating that all will turn out well. I am convinced this hunter’s “blood love” (the opposite of blood lust)is as ancient as our species, tracing back to when a good blood trail meant we could feed ourselves and our clan and was good reason to celebrate and give thanks. This sort of thinking recurred to me this morning when I received this photo from PA writer and trad bowhunter Greg Darling. From this one scene, there is little doubt how things turned out. I see it as art and pity those who, through lack of personal experience, don’t understand.

        attached file
      • 1shot
          Post count: 252

          I always take care to clean-up blood, and position the animal for the best photo. To show alittle what, where and how I got that critter with the respect and honor it deserves.

          The most horrible photos to me are of the ‘hunter” straddling an animal…

          I dont normaly take pics of the blood trail, but the feeling of walking up on a blood trail is deep and undenyable. A feeling of accomplishment, a goal reached, a feeding of a primal instinct.

          ( As kids (and adults), we would use blood to mark the face of someones first Deer, a simple line on their forehead and a little talk of what it means for them to have “joined” a brotherhood of hunters…)

        • Col Mike
          Member
            Post count: 911

            Well said.

          • David Coulter
            Member
              Post count: 2293

              Well said. The picture tells the story. The feeling of searching, searching, then finding the sign. It does take me back. While I was satasfied plenty to see last years doe collapse, I have to say I missed the trailing. Peace. Dwc

            • grumpy
              Member
                Post count: 962

                What Mike said.

              • David Petersen
                Member
                Member
                  Post count: 2749

                  David/1shot– I absolutely agree that the cowboy pose, sitting atop a dead animal, is as disgusting as it gets and reveals a clueless hunter who is likely hunting for the wrong reasons.

                • Mark Turton
                    Post count: 759

                    Dave, I would argue that ‘blood sports’ are those such as bull baiting, cock fighting, badger baiting.

                    I don’t like the idea of any true hunting activity being being confused with these.

                    The color of blood is used for emergency signs, kill switches anything that requires our immediate attention I believe we are hard wired to recognize the color red. I would go further and say that the smell and taste of blood triggers something deep in the psyche triggering the release of adrenalin, endorphins and heightening the senses all those things required in a hunting, tracking situation and explains much of the behavior seen in hero pictures and the sudden weakness that some experience after the shot or recovery.

                    Mark.

                    Not sure about art, the picture tells a story that cannot be rewritten edited or amended, it may be one of the earliest story’s ever told. Mark.

                Viewing 6 reply threads
                • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.