Im sure Im not the only one here who says a prayer of thanks after a "successful" hunt. Out of curiosity, what exactly are you thankful for after a kill?
Take Care Gang-
Thankful for a well placed shot, a quick clean kill."I am sorry to kill you my brother/sister I do honor to your courage your speed and your strength".AND Thankful for some backstraps!
I`m sure that most of them are along the same lines. Like Bentpole said, a quick kill, is the main theme. I will add, I usually say a prayer
when I begin to walk away from my vehicle or camp,
at the beginning of a hunt.
Its interesting to note that my two sons have tagged along since they were very small. I have noticed them do it without prompting from me.
Good thread.
I give thanks for the success. I'm pleased if my skill was good enough so the animal doesn't suffer. Killing is a serious thing that just happens to be part of bowhunting. I always remember that.
John III
It is gratitude for being included in the grand Circle of Creation. I feel accepted, and gifted with something pricless, the life of one of the Maker's creatures. It will feed my body and my heart, in ways that are difficult to pin down and put into print.
For the moment, though, I am something that belongs, I have a place in this Mystery. What words can you give the Creator that would adequately express this?
Killdeer~Deeds, not words.
well said Killy! i give give thanks before i enter the woods, go for a hike or anything related to the beauty of the great outdoors. each day i spend in the great Adirondacks is a success weather itis taking game or taking pictures.
I find myself giving thanks before , during and after a hunt whether successful or not . I find hunting allows me quiet time to apprerciate and enjoy all that the Lord has made . I believe that everything has been created for a purpose and the diveristy of animals and terrain around the world is here for us to enjoy and experience , not abuse , I feel we would be cheating ourselves by not availing ourselves of all of God's gifts . I feel sorry for all those who don't get out and really look at thimgs , who spend their lives in trivial pursuits , too busy doing nothing . My thoughts , Fred
I'm not into mystisism (sp). Animals are not my brothers or sisters. After a kill, I thank GOD for allowing me to have the ability to make the kill. Animals were meant for food, work and companionship. Don't fall into New Age mystisism and thank something that doesn't have a soul
Mysticism is the correct spelling.
I'm too old to know much about New Age.
Killdeer :wavey:
I thank God for the great outdoors and for allowing me to enjoy another experience in the nearest thing to heaven that we have here on earth. I thank Him for the animals life and the food that it will provide. If I am with my father or other good friends, then I also thank him for the time spent with special people and for the memories that we all will have.
Killy said....I'm too old to know much about New Age..
You and me both, gurl :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
Don't mean to put a damper on the thread,but lately I have seen alot of people putting the game animals on the same level as people. To much Disney I guess
Nighthawk,
you and I are two different animals, i'll tell ya that. tell a native animals do not have a soul and your in for a looooong ride. i myself have been taught valuable lessons from my brothers & sisters of the forest and thats just plain honesty. to many people have been taught to not believe in things that are thought of as unreal rather than to experience things with an open mind. i have witnessed many things that one would not believe but i know as true and thats all that counts.
Hunting is one of my favorite times for prayer and reflection. It is an escape from the everyday world into a time of freedom from deadlines and worry. It is a gift, a gift of joy, of peace, of solitude that I thank the Lord for the entire time I'm out there. I am successful on every hunt whether I get something or not is not so important. He will give me the opportunity if He wishes. Appreciation is paramount. After a kill I am thankful for having been given the opportunity at that animal and I feel a responsibility to not let the meat go to waste. What a wonderful thing to enjoy creation in such a way as bowhunting! Oh, and I ask for some strength for the long drag :thumbsup: Cheers, Matt
All creatures have the breath of life, which comes from God. The animals we kill fall within His sight. I thank God for the opportunity and the animal taken. And treat the animal respectfully.
I say a prayer before the hunt not to be successful but to give thanks for being allowed to be part of the circle. And every hunt is successful whether I kill or not. If you understand that's great if not I would never be able to make you understand.
I praise and thank God. because like I say in my signature, I believe all praise is God's.
Nighthawk, I humbly and respectfully disagree with your point that animals do not have a soul. I know in my heart they do. Yes they are put here to serve us and feed us. But that does not mean they do not deserve our respect. To the contrary our respect is required for all these creatures we hunt are a gift from God. In some ways yes they are my brothers and sisters, but that does not mean that they are my equal, nor are they lesser or greater than I. They are different yet still a gift from God.
To answer the original question, I give thanks to my Lord. Respecting and having reverence for the animal I have just taken life from is part of my thanks to God.
When I kill a deer, I thank the animal for giving it's life to feed my family. This will be my first year hunting with trad. gear, I've hunted with compounds for years. Last year, I had a big doe come in, but not give me a shot. I wanted her SOOO bad, and I know my shooting ability. I took a deep breath and shot her in the head. Yes, a clean kill, but I wasn't happy after I did it. I felt I had disrespected her, to the point of not allowing pictures. My friends didn't understand. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I WILL be thankfull for having the courage to give the animals the respect they deserve.
I give God thanks for life and death that in turn gives back life to me and my family; :pray:
I wasn't going to post on this one, but I'll just say that what I do and believe is best expressed by what Deadsmple posted.
Brother Ken,
"Do not try to understand them.....and do not try to make them understand you.....
For they are a breed apart,and make no sense."
Chingashkook....."The Last Of The Mohicans"
Brother Ken and like wise others. Woodchucker is right. One must walk his path with his own heart and respect all others of their path. But one must never expect them to believe or follow his steps nor you theirs. I laugh because there is nothing New age about giving thanks for a living life and the role it plays in the circle of all life.
yes i say a little silent prayer to myself for the kill ,then say another for my father who tought me so well,and who i still get to walk the woods with. :pray:
Ken,
I probably have a greater percent of Native blood in me than you. My grandfather was full blood cheerokee off of the res in NC, but the only blood that matters is the blood that was shed by my savior. :readit: . God made man in his image and breathed life into him, creating mans soul. REVERING and PRAYING to an animal IS New Age mystism. Respecting an animal is different. We should respect and be good stewards of the animals for God put them under our care
You folks have definatly been watching to many disney movies. Your also coming very close to echoing the animal rights groups propaganda. :banghead:
i to thank the deer or goat for giving its life so that i can feed my family. :archer: i also thank the spirit of the wolf for guiding my arrow to the sweet spot and letting me go unseen
i have to go along with Greyfox & mm ....i thank the lord for the opportunity to become one with his creations....That is my church out there in the woods.....i have issues regarding arguing about different interpretations of the good book.
i prefer more one on one time with the lord in the mountains myself..I only wish i could hunt EVERY Sunday........I also think talking to the lord makes a lot more sense than thanking a dead animal.....respecting the animal is a different subject....
I agree with NightHawk's statement,
QuoteAnimals have no soul . There's no place in Gods word that says an animal has a soul . God made man in his image and breathed life into him, creating mans soul. REVERING and PRAYING to an animal IS New Age mystism. Respecting an animal is different. We should respect and be good stewards of the animals for God put them under our care
I am respectful of animals and feel somewhat remorseful and yet happy at the same time when taking their life, but that's a part of hunting. I believe God is the Creator and the Great Provider and all we have is because He allows it. I thank God in the name of Jesus Christ everyday for being alive and for every opportunity to hunt; and for animals that He has given me.
Well, this thread started out innocently enough, asking what we gave thanks for. I love giving thanks. It is, normally, my only prayer, so wide-eyed, I responded.
It is turning into a discussion of the various theological differences regarding animal souls, interpretations of religious ideologies, and now pedigrees, and who is right and who is wrong.
I just learned something.
Killdeer~off! :wavey:
if your just going by the WOrDS written in the little black book of truth ( in your eyes ) then i would say you are correct. myself i need to see and feel things untill i believe in them. i have saw and learned things from animals, i have looked in teir eyes. i am not of native blood but i am of native heart and soul. i am God fearing but he appers in many ways and forms, shown in your little black book of truth. i guess you have performed autopsies and disected the animal heart and brain? why in the world would you want to try and tell someone what they believe in is wrong? i for one believe in myself and the things i have witnessed that i know to be true. this is the last comment from me on this post as it is disrespectful to the original thread starter, this will surly get pulled if it continues.
Ken believer of animal heart, soul and teachings Mowrey
look in the eyes of my Dog's, Norman & Gertrude, you think they have no soul???????
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/adkmountainken/norman/gn.jpg)
IMO it wouldn't hurt anyone to read Mr.Vics post again - and before the thread is maybe pulled, may I simply add, from my prespective:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v689/ber643/berniesample2.jpg)
I give thanks to the spirits of dead soldiers who died for my freedom and right to be there.And God for giving me life.And the spirit if my father for planting the love of the outdoors in me.
What SteveMcD said pretty much sums it up. Not just the hunt...but all i do starts with a prayer of thanks.....in him(God) i live and breath and have my very existance. ALL things were created by him and deserve to be treated with respect, i am always humbled by the death of any creature . It's hard to explain what it's like to be excited and abased all at the same time. Only a hunter knows this ! I wouldnt in any way discount someones belief , but for me personally thanks go to God for he is the Creator of all living things, he provided the bounty of the fields and forrest for us to survive, he provided his only son Jesus to atone for all our sins........how can i not be thankful!!?? Tim Mooring
Like the Lord says we can do NOTHING without him. I am thankful for him giving me the ability and knowledge and health for the hunt. With not so much as a sparrow falling without his knowledge, I thank him for the gift.
In Genesis 9 when the God had the great flood subside He told Noah and his family that "all the animals of the earth, all the birds of the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the fish in the sea will look on you with fear and terror. I have placed them in your power. I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables."
I give thanks for God look out for me and blessing me, a sinner, with the nourishment from His creation.
We are to have dominion over the earth and all it's creatures. To me that means to take care of them. If we weren't hunting them they would become over populated and diseased. I kill with respect of a life created by God, put here to feed and nourish me and my family.
I thank the good Lord I actually hit what I was aming for and nobody got hurt! :biglaugh:
I hope the thread does not get pulled as this is a part of traditional hunting as it is all hunting, but we must respect each other. As to the base line of the thread, it did not refer to a specific religion, we Christians just jumped on the Christian line. In that respect I believe NightHawk was right on. If you try to give a soul to creatures, where would you stop, if you stopped? This is leading down the path of one of the oldest Christian sins, creature / nature worship. If creatures have a soul, do you feel bad for killing mice, mosquitoes? If not, why not, if you believe that way.
Thank you Nighthawk for that clarification. He says in His commandments not to have any other god but Him. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.
God created animals for us to eat and care for. Who should we give thanks to? God..."He so loved the world He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." That is a love worthy of thanks and praise. It is beyound what we as mere humans can fully understand.
As I said....."For they are a breed apart and make no sense"
QuoteOriginally posted by NightHawk:
[QB] Ken,
I probably have a greater percent of Native blood in me than you. My grandfather was full blood cheerokee off of the res in NC,
Night Hawk, I KNOW you don't have more Native blood than ME!!!!! Us "Indians" have a running joke about guys like you at the PowWows every year. It goes something like this.....
How many "Indians" did you meet today?????
Oh about 20 (30,40,50.....)
How many Cherokee?????
ALL OF THEM!!!!!
BTW.....If your going to throw around your "Native" blood.....At least learn how to spell it correctly!!!!!
....tell a native animals do not have a soul and your in for a looong ride.....
That statement is why I brought up my heritage. It's simply not a true statement, you can't lump everyone togather.
Woodchuck, it's good that your proud of your heritage, it's a shame that you make fun of others :( My grandfather was an inspiration to me. He fought in WWII (in the navy as a SP). After the war, he made a life for himself and his family as a diesel mechanic working for exon. He worked for everything he had. Even though he was qualified, he didn't take goverment payments for being an Indian. He didn't have a victims mentality. The man worked hard and supported his family. He also fought for your freedoms, and rights.
I apologize if I have stepped on toes, usally not my way. However, the trend of reverring animals and assigning them souls(brothers/sisters) plays into the animal rights groups thinking. PETA says a rat is = to a dog is = to a pig is = to a boy. In other words, PETA (and groups like them) assigns animals a soul and humanizes them.(much like a Disney cartoon )
This is a complicated and emotional topic, but it's also a topic that needs to be discussed. I have meant no disrespect to anyone or thier beliefs. I seek only to clarify and convey what I believe in and point out the harm that reverring and assigning animals souls can have to our sport. If we kill another soul, have we not committed murder??
Any hoo, this has been a good and thought provoking discussion and I hope the mods see fit to leave the thread, because it is something that we need to think about
It is interesting to see how threads go(and don't go). I think there definitely is a danger in assigning animals the same value as human life not only on religious grounds but ethical also. I suppose it is almost a contradiction to do so. By hunting you are obviously giving yourself the right and control of taking or not taking that life, therefore you become more important than that animal. You rule over it. Now this is not to say that this animal should not be respected for what it is, a subordinate creature created by God to be respected and used for it's intended purpose, to give us sustenance. Animals do not have souls, only humans do.
NightHawk, You are right,You can't lump everyone together,This is true!!!!! However.....YOU were the one that pushed YOUR "Christian" believes upon my Brother!!!!! You see.....I too am a "Christian" I am a Morman. Loosely stated The Morman faith is based upon the second coming of Christ in the New World. The legend of Hiawatha tells that he was accompanied by a a being who was "half man and half spirit" and could perform miracles.Was this Jesus?????Maybe,Maybe not.....Part of the Iroquois creation legend tells of the Good Twin and the Bad Twin.....Cain and Abel????? Maybe,Maybe not.....
If you study Native American beliefs and legends you will find that many stories are very similar to happenings in the Bible.I have pointed these out to some of my "True Christian" friends and they are simply swept aside.....Anything stated from the Book of Morman....."That Book is full of Blastphamy and Pagenizm!!!!!" When French missionaries came to the New World in the early 1700's it was for one reason.....MONEY!!!!! The "Indians" were told by the missionaries that Jesus was a Frenchman Crusified by the British.The point I'm making is this my friend,"religion" covers a very BROAD area. Who is to say what is right.....or what is wrong.....
As I said before,and my words echoed by Mr. Vic,
"Do not try to understand them.....and do not try to make them understand you....." To each thier own.
You are very proud of your grandfather.....that is a good thing.I also,am proud of mine. I did not set out to "make fun" of your heritage,YOU were the one throwing your "blood" and "beliefs" around. This thread started as a "how and for what" do you give thanks for thread. Instead it turned into a "Christian" beliefs are the only "right" ones thread.....That is a shame.....