While there are many ways to show respect for the animals you hunt, history teaches us the correct way to approach this complex issue.

One of the greatest aspects of hunting is the rich history it has. Today's breed of hunter is the freshest link in a chain of hunters that extends far back in time. If you are alive today, you can thank a Stone Age hunter who was adept enough to keep your ancient ancestors alive when the task certainly wasn’t easy. Hunting was one of the most crucial skills humans of the past had to develop. Today, while most hunters could find alternative methods of getting protein, many of us still feel the call to provide for ourselves by accessing nature’s bounty. Even if we could find other ways of getting our meat, why would we? Hunting is a vibrant part of our culture with a rich history we should not discard. One aspect of that culture we also shouldn’t discard is respecting the animals you hunt, something hunters of the past can teach us about.

Some of the great artifacts our Stone Age ancestors left behind are the paintings at the Lascaux Cave in southwestern France. Around 16,000 years ago, a group of hunter-gatherers found themselves in the protection of the chalk white walls. Having excess time, energy, and resources they decided to begin to paint those walls. They ended up creating a myriad of paintings using their Paleo techniques. Their artwork showcases ancient breeds of wild cattle, horses, deer, and even caribou looking animals. One painting in particular, The Great Black Bull, covers a space over 12 feet long and 6 feet in height. These paintings are not the result of a 5-minute break from hunting. They are the result of a planned and conscious effort of hunters wanting to tell their stories and project themselves into the future. It is the embodiment of their thoughts and represents their way of life.

 A Lascaux cave painting (Wikipedia)

Personally, the most interesting aspect of Lascaux is what is missing; people. While there are a few images representing the hunters themselves, the work plainly focuses on the animals. Think about that. These people would have had to dedicate a significant portion of time to these paintings. Clearly the project took weeks. In the end, rather than celebrate themselves, their accomplishments, and make their images timeless, they chose to focus on the animals they hunted. In a world where we take 24 billion selfies a year (65 million a day) it might be hard for us to imagine the world through their eyes. They were fleeting, they were insignificant, they were here today gone tomorrow. The animals they hunted were what was important. The hunters literally owed their lives to the animals, and they respected them for that.

The paintings at Lascaux can help guide us today in respecting the animals we hunt. If we are truly the descendants of those hunters, perhaps we would do well to emulate them. We can keep this in mind when we take our trophy pictures at the end of the hunt. Set your photos up to showcase your animal appropriately. We’ve all seen hunters that feel the need to pose with their animals in a way that make them look much larger than they are. Sitting behind the animal. Stretching their arms out to distort the perspective as much as they can. If you feel the need to do that, you should have waited for a larger animal. Sit up and take your picture. If you have to be in the next county to make it look as big as you wanted, that isn’t the animal’s fault. We get the chance to celebrate the hunt with the photos we take, do it is a tactful way.

Another thing to keep in mind is to play by the rules. Laws surrounding hunting are in place to protect hunters, and to manage our animal resource. Poaching, shooting out of season, and intentionally harvesting more than your quota violate those rules and disrespect the animals themselves. With a global population of nearly 8 billion, and firearms that reach out to 1,000 yards, we have the ability to wipe hunted species off the map. Part of our job is to steward their populations into the future. They took care of us in the past, now it is our job to return the favor.

Learning about the animals we pursue is also a form of respect. Spend time reading and spend time studying your quarry. Learn from notable biologists, guides, authors, video makers, as well as experienced hunters in your community. We are fortunate to live in a world of information like never before. Not only that, but technology like trail cameras that can help teach us about animal movement and behavior 24/7. Still, the best way to learn about the animals you hunt is to get out and pursue them. This doesn’t necessarily mean hunting either. Actually one of the best aspects of hunting with primitive weapons is the amount of times you fail.

As a traditional bow hunter and primitive black powder hunter, my wife is not surprised when I come home empty handed. It’s just part of the game. Part of me would hate to count the number of days I was a whisker away, but didn’t bring an animal home. The wind switched direction, the animal didn’t set up for a shot, or they were just out of range. While these mishaps can be discouraging, part of me likes them the most. By failing, I get to spend more time in the field actually hunting, observing, and having close encounters with animals. It’s been the best learning tool in my experience. Obviously you don’t have to take this same approach to learn about animals. However you devote your time to being out with and learning about the animals you pursue, the biggest thing is getting out in their world.

Also, I personally believe another crucial aspects of respecting the animals you hunt is to use the gifts they offer. For some this is their luxurious fur. For other species this is the nutritious meat they supply. Whatever gift they offer, make sure it goes to use. While nature wastes nothing, hunting has always been about using a life to propel another life forward. It is just part of the cycle. Some people choose to use more of the animal such as the organs, hide, and bones. Traditionally each part of the animal had a use and learning those uses can deepen the experience.

A bedded 6x6 bull elk

Finally, go ahead and hang those antlers in the den. In fact, I’m sitting in a den right now full of dead animals. Hides, furs, feathers, skulls, and antlers all adorn my wall. Each one reminds me of a story and of a particular animal. Our trophies can remind us about the enjoyment of the hunt and the many memories we’ve made over the years. In the end that’s what we have. It’s not now many animals we’ve harvested, it’s how we’ve acted when we’ve harvested them. If we truly respect the animals we hunt, our “cave paintings” will demonstrate that respect.Happy hunting.

Up Next: Hunting is Conservation: Here are 3 Reasons Why.

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