The Hunters

Tradition says that in October shines the hunter's moon. This brings to mind a comment that was made to me about hunters by someone who has moved to the Flathead from a big city several states away. Although this person said that she isn't by any means a vegetarian, nonetheless she thinks that it is horrible that so many people in Montana hunt, an enterprise she finds to be cruel, irresponsible and offensive. I feel that it is a pity that country life is looked at as a romantic novelty instead of understood for the tradition that it honors.

The attitude of this woman was such that hunters are criminals packing guns and shooting at everything that moves. First of all there isn't that much shooting going on and most of all she doesn't understand the difference between the traditional sportsman hunter, who is a gentleman who respects tradition and the rules of the hunt, the hunter for sport, who is not interested in tradition or respectful of nature and the rules that guide it, and then there is the total fool. She most likely has never heard anyone speak discretely of their passions or respectfully of the world around them. She is safe in her world, seemingly unchallenged by worlds around her about which she knows nothing, except perhaps inaccurate stereotypes.

Sadly, there are those who are used to living in places where guns are not a familiar tool and are often abused, and the traditional generational life cycle doesn't exist. These are places where people are taught to live in fear. Tradition is forgotten for short-term pleasure. These people move to the country, a novelty for them, and instead of educating themselves about history and tradition they start to point fingers and criticize a world which they are not part of, or recklessly and carelessly try to fit in, armed with ignorance and arrogance. After all, they deserve to have fun too and sports are fun, aren't they?

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Did they ever wonder why a comfortable, livable and peaceful haven still exists? It is due to tradition, pride and respect and the dignity that goes with them. Once those virtues have been replaced by short-term pleasure and ignorant bliss, good luck finding paradise. Unfortunately it is the honest hunter who is insulted by being confused with the fool.

I do not hunt, but I know people who do, both in America and in Europe. Every single one of them is responsible and respectful of animals, of nature and of the tradition that they are engaged in. They are always in acquaintance with death and with courage. I am reminded of a quote…"This evenly matched battle between human intelligence and the wisdom of wild beasts seemed strangely clean compared to the snares set by man for man."* All of the hunters that I know would much rather be face to face with a wild animal than an ignorant and arrogant human being. They have no use for useless bloodshed.

Just like the birds of prey only kill when they are hungry, I have never met a traditional hunter who hunts more than he needs. I have not noticed this concept with shoppers at the super market.

This encounter brought to mind hunting trips to Slovenia, on preserves where Tito used to hunt. These are places where people have, for generations, been minding the forest and the animals. They know how many animals there are and how many can be killed. If there are not enough animals to maintain equilibrium, you don't even think to take aim. Nature will never be left out of balance. If the person who "gets" the animal doesn't need all the meat then it is divided up. Nothing is wasted. I have never seen this kind of respect towards a slab of meat on a Styrofoam plate with plastic transparent wrap and a label over it.

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The families of the hunter/caretakers are lovely people who will milk the cow if you need milk. If you need an egg, someone will check the nest. If you need a chicken for dinner, well it depends on whether or not there will be enough eggs minus one chicken…in this case the egg comes first.

I thought of my friend from Sardinia who hunts. His family came from the inner part of the island and they are hunters. The fishermen live on the coast. Hunting and fishing is something you do for your food. It is an honored tradition and tradition is respected.

I was very lucky to be able to eat wonderfully prepared deer and wild boar, by a hunter who took pride in his hunting and in his cooking. Once I was invited to a restaurant for a dinner of deer. I found out that the hunter took his meat which he marinated himself and then told the chef how to prepare it. He didn't have time to do the cooking. He was busy with other things. The chef respected the hunter and waited anxiously for approval that he had properly prepared the meal as he had been entrusted. There was no arrogance or contest, just mutual respect and pride.

Every traditional hunter I have ever met no matter where they are will tell stories of the challenge and the thrill of the hunt, but they will also speak respectfully and tenderly of these animals who as often as not outwit them. They speak as well of the order of nature and they know very well their place in it.

There is an art to the hunt and there is a peace in the hunter. I have never met a hunter who wasn't patient, kind, generous, disciplined and focused. I have never seen a hunter pick fights for something to do, and I have never seen a hunter threaten or take advantage of anyone, especially the weakest of the lot. They are keenly tuned into the world around them. They can hear in the silence and they can see in the darkness. They know the value of patience and waiting and they know how to observe. They trust their instincts and they believe in themselves, yet they are humble. They understand the difference between accepting a challenge and expecting a reward. Try to find that in the critical masses.

Sadly, in our society, education has been replaced by ignorance, curiosity by criticism, tradition by short-term pleasure, substance by arrogance and self-esteem by insecurity. There are many things to fear and to be critical of, but a traditional sportsman hunter is not one of them. If we would allow them to teach us, we could have so much to learn.

*Marguerite Yourcenar – Memoirs of Hadrian.

This originally appeared in Montana Woman.

October 17, 2009