[mikeharmon]

in reply to: Hunting & Spirituality #47122

I am with Richie, who clearly stated what I believe, so no repetition necessary.

As hunters the spirituality we feel or do not feel is a reflection of how we view our relationship with the hunted and nature.

Some see it as a game and feel nothing for the hunted after the kill. They will give away the animal keeping only a trophy and say that was fun, let’s do it again.

Others see it as simply a predator/prey relationship. The animal is food and after the kill they would simply begin preparing to consume it.

No spirituality in these views.

Others see the animal as a fellow living being and feel the need to apologize/give thanks to the killed animal. There would be a spiriuality here, but I do not understand it.

Others see our relationship to the hunted as one of a steward. They would say we are different from the animals. (after all, when was the last time you saw the coyote and deer sitting around the water hole discussing spirituality of the hunt). They feel a need to give thanks to someone (creator ,nature, Great Spirit, God) after the kill. If you feel the need to give thanks, then the spirituality part is to whom do you give thanks?

Fortunately for the hunted all these views can lead to conservation…the continued survival and thriving of the hunted and all that is needed to maintain it.

[mikeharmon]

in reply to: Turkey season starts this saturday #15003

Good luck…a spring turkey with that special recurve will be a real trophy. Here in PA we wait until May and it is hard. I can go out the back door and hear them now. This will be the 5th season chasing them with the longbow and I have yet to fling an arrow at them. I am trying without a blind though, just stubborn I guess. The problem here has been competition from gun hunters. They hear a gobble and come running screwing everything up. I am heading back in as far as I can get this year. Less birds, but hopefully less competition.

[mikeharmon]

in reply to: Northern Mist Longbows #24188

I would describe Northern Mist bows as functionally elegant. The four I own are all easy to tune, dead quiet at the shot and most importantly shoot to where I am pointing. These are pure hunting bows. Steve’s craftmanship and attention to detail are second to none and his bow designs are proven performers. You get what you would expect in a true custom bow. I have had the opportunity to help a dealer in his booth at various shows the last few years and got to handle a lot of bows. Some bows just stand out as “shooters”. Steve’s bows however are very consistent. Everyone I have handled and shot has been a shooter. Ya I like them. They are also an great value. Some pics…

[mikeharmon]

in reply to: Ground Hunting #22371

I started hunting deer mainly in PA 30 some years ago about the time treestand hunting was becoming popular and thought then that it seemed like too much complication of a simple thing. I still belive that, probably because I invested the time to learn to hunt from the ground. Since I have not hunted from treestands, I suppose I really do not understand the benefits of using a treestand versus ground hunting. Most of the often repeated benefits seem to be more of a sales pitch for treestands than an actual advantage. What I do know is that ground hunting is simple and very satisfying and I am not looking for any additional advantages.

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