Tuesday, March 27, 2012

The Real Hunger Game

I have just finished reading the Hunger Games trilogy written by Suzanne Collins.  Needless to say I love the fact that Katniss Everdeen provided for her family by hunting.  My choice to hunt, while not based in starvation, was based in feeding my family.

I rarely buy meat from a grocery store, rather most days I head to my freezer to choose which type of meat my family will eat every day.  A few years ago I made a purposeful decision to take responsibility for myself and my families food supply.  Hunting was just one portion of that responsibility but one that I cherish.

Being in the woods allows me to shed the demands of every day.  It allows me to step back, take a deep breath and interact with my environment in much the same way my ancestors did.  The actual harvesting of an animal is the reward at the end of a successful day afield, however, it is often the smallest part of the reward.  The actual opportunity to be still, to listen to what is around me, to seek time with those that enjoy the hunt are all part of the larger picture that makes up the why of hunting.

I feel so lucky to be able to share this ability with my family and friends.  When hunting season arrives our camp is filled with stories and catching up with friends that we don't get the opportunity to see as often as we'd like.  Often new people come into camp and we forge new relationships and new stories.



As turkey season approaches, I look forward to the ladies weekend I have planned.  I can't wait to experience first hand as some of the ladies try to harvest toms with bows.  Seeing strutting toms this afternoon on one of our farms got me bouncing in my seat with excitement.  It's all part of the opportunity I am lucky enough to enjoy.

Passing the tradition down to my children not only allows for more food in the freezer but gives me the opportunity to teach them a way to provide for themselves.  It teaches them patience and persistence. Hopefully we will see the kids in our family harvest toms and jakes during the youth season next month here in Indiana.  Hopefully they will also share their experiences with their friends and family in the future.

1 comment:

  1. Who are these two kids, and how did they get so lucky?!!

    ReplyDelete