My journey from being an anti-hunter to becoming a bird and big-game hunter has been transformative. Teaching my daughter about hunting has taught me valuable lessons.
I recall my first impression of hunting, watching maggots crawl out of a small buck's eyes in a friend's backyard in central Wyoming when I was just 3 or 4 years old. This experience left a lasting impact, and I didn't understand the concept of hunting. Even later in life, when my boyfriend shared with me that he had shot a deer, I reacted negatively, calling him a "Bambi killer" and slamming my laptop closed.
I couldn't understand why he wanted to kill something, or how someone I loved could find joy in taking a life.
Despite my initial reactions, I began to understand the hypocrisy of my thoughts. This marked the beginning of my journey towards becoming a hunter and sharing this experience with my daughter.
Author's summary: A former anti-hunter shares journey from opposition to participation.