Hunting Success and Emotion
by: Gary Sorenson
This is probably a topic that belongs in the forum but sometimes if you light a fire in a wind tunnel it’ll get away from you, so I thought we could start it here where the wind doesn’t blow so hard and move it over later.
I have found that we humans are a complex species and our personal emotional approach to something is kind of our own DNA. Can’t say it is the right way to face something but it is our way. In the same way we have to give room to the way others emotionally handle a certain situation as there is no set guidelines as to what is right and what is wrong, its how we are hooked up emotionally as an individual.
In hunting and in fishing there is a ton of times our DNA (can I call it that) is tested as it is the adrenaline rush that often is what keeps us coming back. How often have we (myself included) found fault with how some one else expressed their emotion at the time of success because it wasn’t the way we would have reacted? I remember the first time I saw David Blanton, after a successful bow shot, come barreling out of the brush and give a couple fist pumps, hootin and a hollering and I’ll have to admit I cringed. No there wasn’t anything wrong with it, just not the way I would do it. Then when I watched Vicki Cianciarula in their ‘Moose Mania’ video break down and cry after getting her first bow kill moose, I admit to feeling very uncomfortable and actually looking away. Same when I read my mother-in-laws story of shooting her bull elk ‘A First Bull For Grandma‘, when she cried and told the elk carcass that she was sorry. I understand that is the way they dealt with it but I don’t understand why. It was a far cry from Blanton, probably the other end of the spectrum. I personally don’t even want to get into the why because we are what we are and approach this very exciting and emotional time different.
I was very interested to see how Sue would handle it on her first kill because I don’t think we even know how we will react till it happens. When she killed her moose there was no whopping and hollering, there was no tears, there was only this silly little grin that I could see went clean to the bottom of her being, and it stayed there for days. She had been focused on this happening since the day she drew her tag and now she felt she had accomplished what she set out to do. I don’t think she ever doubted she could do it, but on the other side, she seemed amazed that it actually happened. I’m kind of a middle of the roader like she is, so maybe that’s why we got together in the first place. We hunt because we aim for success, and when it happens there is a deep sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. I think that is one of the special things about being a husband and father, watching our wife and our children as they make their first kills and catch their first fish. Do they feel what I feel? Have I got a new hunting buddy? Fishing buddy?
I remember the first fish my oldest son caught when he was three. It was a little crappie that was about 8 inches long, and the picture we got of him is priceless. He, being related to his mom and dad, didn’t show a lot of outward emotion, but there is no way you can miss the happiness in his little face. You couldn’t make him look that way if you tried, but his DNA was exploding from inside.
I think we all pretty much feel the same way, but for some reason it comes to the surface different in each one of us. So to all fisherman and to all hunters that enjoy the pursuit, no matter how the DNA reveals itself, by going ga ga, or by grinning or by gushing - just have fun and go get ‘em!!
12 Responses to “Hunting Success and Emotion”
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I am with you on this… I tend to be on the more reserved end of the spectrum, so I too tend to cringe when I see how many of the TV hunting personalities react to their kills. However, like you said, to each his own.
And as long as everyone is hunting and fishing and supporting the outdoors, then I will gladly accept it!
I am not a big fan of fist pumping exaltation after a kill. For me it is one of both great satisfaction and a confidence builder knowing my skills are improving. I also find it humbling and even more so with big game than waterfowl. Respect is the bottom line.
Yep, I’m a “middle of the roader” too. Great post.
I absolutely no what you’re talking about. It is hard to step back sometimes and realize, that despite our differences, we are all on the same side.
I tend to react to hunting and fishing success like you and your boy, but some people handle it differently, and while it isn’t necessarily the way I would deal with it, it is their way. And that is all that matters.
And while we’re on the subject, I can’t stand Stan Potts reaction to kills, but some people might love it. To each is own I guess. If you hunt, whichever way you enjoy it or celebrate, just do it!
It’s been my experience, since filming hunts, that a lot of folks react differently when they’re being filmed than where they’re not. The camera seems to magnify a person’s actions – if a person is quiet and reserved, on camera they’re generally more quiet and more reserved the opposite is true as well – if a person is an exuberant person, they’re even more exuberant on camera. It’s a strange deal – surely someone has studied this phenomena before.
I’m with you Arthur, can not stand “Potts” either!
Great post Gary. I have a thing about being quiet while in the woods, even though I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I usually get more excited when whoever I’m with is successful. My son is my total opposite when it comes to showing emotion.
Our reactions are so hard to explain to people who don’t hunt, whether it’s elation that’s unseemly or the incredibly perplexing reaction of fawning over something you just killed, petting it and calling it beautiful.
I also cringe at the hootin’ and hollerin’ on TV shows (especially the duck hunting shows, where they bombard you with 40 kills in 30 minutes) because it seems so disrespectful to animals. But I’ve found myself reacting in so many of the ways I’ve hated (petting, fawning, hollering), so how can I judge?
Thanks for all your comments, it appears I’m not alone on this little issue. Sometimes when we don’t voice our feelings we get to feeling like we are the odd one out out there.
It was interesting the comeback on Mr. Potts as he is one I have a tough time watching on his videos. I was interested enough to check his ‘My Space” and he has 28 listed friends and they all appreciate what he has done for the sport of hunting. In that light, whatever he’s doing for hunting, keep it up, but when I see he’s on the DVD, I do put it back on the shelf. Thanks again.
Mike – thats another thing that can happen, even in the same family having different responses and reactions and thats when the light bulb goes off that theres the same passion, just different ways to expressing it.
NorCal – I had to smile when I read your comment. Is there a better reason to withhold judgement on others? Over the years I too have reacted and had to ask myself “where did that come from, thats not me!”
Happy hunting everyone and may you never lose the enjoyment of being there wither you harvest or not. Sue and I are heading out for our winter hunting trip and it sounds cold – forcast in the minus’s. Wish the tent had insulated walls.!!!
Great post, Gary… and a really interesting issue. I’m with most of the folks here, in that I really don’t like to see the whooping and hollering that some of these folks do on the TV shows and videos… but that’s mostly because it looks “wrong” to viewers who don’t have the benefit of understanding what’s really going on in the minds of those hunters.
As far as my personal feelings, I’m fine with expressing it however it comes out. Killing something can be a pretty powerful rush of emotion, and it finds a funny way of coming out sometimes. I’m usually pretty reserved, but I’ve found myself caught up in a moment as well.
I can excuse most of the emotional outbursts you see on hunting and fishing shows over success in the field, as they are in the business of selling a product and quite frankly emotion will sell alot better than a ho hum attitude. I think you have to seperate what you see on those shows from what happens when you are with your friends in the field. No matter how they react when you are just out having a good time fishing and hunting with buddies, you can be assured it is real emotion being expressed.
Personally, I may seem low key when it comes to celebrating catching a big fish, but I can tell you what it sounds like in my head, and it is LOUD!!!!