Post Classifieds
Though animal-rights activists are against hunting, the sport has its merits
By Tony Fiorello
On May 4, 2012
Ah, spring. A time of year when the birds start to sing, warm weather returns after a long absence and
classes finally end. Everyone's happy in the spring.
I love the first quarter of the year just as much as anyone, but what I'm really looking forward to is the
fall and winter. This is for three reasons: the kickoff of football season, the beginning of hockey season,
and the start of deer hunting season.
Hunting season is one of my favorite activities. Taking part in this exercise with my father, uncle and
cousin is enjoyable for us, and I've been doing it for the past eight years.
Some people will probably read this column and say to themselves, "Why would you kill a living animal
for sport? Leave them alone!" Well, before any PETA members get on my back - a little perspective,
please.
Killing a deer is much different than killing a dog. True, they are both animals, but a dog is considered
a man's best friend and is a domestic animal. To me, there is no real purpose for deer to populate our
planet, unless one thinks that having them run into our cars at night and eating a farmer's crops is a
positive thing. Believe me, if I didn't like animals, I wouldn't still own my dog after 10 years.
What's so appealing about hunting to me is the thrill of finding a deer and the camaraderie that one can
feel when he or she is hunting with a group of people. It's similar to being on a sports team: all members
of the group come together in order to achieve a goal, and strategy is used to reach that goal.
Hunting isn't all sunshine and roses though. There are a few negatives that come with the experience,
most notably waking up at 5 or 6 a.m. to go out into the wilderness. (And I'm a man who values his
sleep, so that's a part of hunting that I don't look forward to.)
The old saying "patience is a virtue" couldn't be more appropriate than when a hunter is sitting in
the woods, waiting for a deer to pass by. There have been many times where I've sat in a tree stand
for hours, bored to the point where I could fall asleep but I can't because I don't want to miss a deer.
Sometimes a deer will pass by, sometimes they won't. Either way, if you're not patient, hunting
definitely isn't for you.
Another factor that tests your mettle is the elements. You could be dealing with strong winds while
sitting up in your tree stand, and you'd feel as if you're in the middle of a tornado. If you're hunting in
early December, it's pretty likely that you'll be dealing with subzero temperatures and a lot of snow.
Trust me, after a few hours in weather like that, you'll feel like you have turned into Mr. Freeze.
But once you get that buck or doe, it's worth it. It gives me the satisfaction in knowing that I helped to
control the deer population, and I'm helping to better our society in some small way. There's nothing
like hunting, and no video game will ever come close to the real thing.
Tony Fiorello can be reached by email at fiorello.record@live.com.
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