It's More Than Aiming and Shooting
If my wifi goes out for more than three seconds, I have a mini heart attack. We live in a world where instant gratification and access to technology is the norm. We have our phones, iPods, iPads, and more right at our fingertips constantly. However, with all the connection to technology, it’s nice to take a break and connect with the outdoors.
The deer hunt firearm season ended this past Sunday and whether or not you got an eight point buck, it’s still enjoyable to participate in the sport. Hunting gives you the ability to be outdoors and exercise, practice safe handling of weapons, and gives you a better understanding about the animal you are hunting.
Hunting isn’t for everyone, though. If you don’t want to hunt, it’s completely your decision, but you should be able to understand why others hunt. It’s more than because you get to shoot something, (and if that is the only reason you hunt, please stop). Alyssa Kasprick, a junior at LHS, gives her reason: “I think for me the biggest reason why it's so great is I get quality time with my dad and my sister. You put away the phones and electronics and you’re forced to talk to each other… I always look forward to being outside, it's like taking a break from the rest of the world.” There is an abundant amount of stimuli in our everyday lives: tv, phones, video games, etc. We need a break from all of that sometimes, and hunting is a great way to do this.
Hunting can be a fun sport, but there is some TLC involved: “There's a lot of work that goes into all the prep and the setting up. You don't just walk to a deer stand and shoot a deer. You set up the stand or build it,” says Alyssa.
Not only do you have set up your stand, sight your gun, etc, there are steps to take before you can get to this point. Douglas Franke, Area Wildlife Manager here in TRF, broke down these steps: “Gun safety is absolutely the first thing everyone should learn and become proficient with before going to the field to hunt.” If you do want to start hunting, you have a couple options. You can complete an online course or take a classroom course locally. Youth aged 11 to 17 must complete a field day as well. If you are 18 or older, it’s optional. For more information about the classroom courses, visit: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/events/index_safety.html; to complete the online course, go to: http://www.huntercourse.com/usa/minnesota/. The next step according to Douglas is: “Once you have the proper training, you need to purchase a deer hunting license for the season you are interested in (Archery, Firearms, or Muzzleloader). Youth licenses for ages 13 to 17 are currently $5.00 and are valid for either a buck or a doe, even in a lottery area. Students age 18 and older must purchase an adult license.” In some cases, however, you can bypass these rules. Children aged 10 and 11 can hunt deer during the youth hunting season as long as they are with a parent or legal guardian.
The last step in order to hunt is the most obvious, you need somewhere to hunt whether it be private or public land, and there is plenty of that in Northwest Minnesota.
So, why hunt? Douglas says, “Hunting provides a great outdoor experience for many people. You can learn a lot about the animals you are pursuing, spend quality time with family and friends, and it’s a great way to get aerobic exercise!” Besides the personal benefits it can have, hunting can actually benefit wildlife: “From a wildlife management perspective, regulated hunting provides a way to help control expanding deer populations. Hunting also provides a high quality food source.” Some people have moral problems with hunting as you are killing a living creature. If that’s your opinion, you have every right to it, but you should be able to appreciate the reasons others hunt.