Hunting Considerations...
Hunting Themes...
A Hunter's Farewell...
Symbolic Gifts...
Ont. Hunting Tips...
Reciprocity In The Wilderness
Animal Rights Movement. A Threat to Culture?
Hunting as a Separate Reality...
External and Internal Motivation...
Wilderness & Hunting Links
Copyright Lark Ritchie 1995, 1996.
There is a concept, rather a state of being that I call the 'externally motivated hunter' and the internally motivated hunter...both bow hunters, rifle hunters, and all those in between somehow fall...
Externally motivated hunters go afield motivated by the regard of others... Internally motivated hunters are seeking growth and improved skill... they are conscientious and very aware of who they are... they seek a sort of perfection, knowing that each encounter is a learning experience. (some externally motivated hunters try to act like 'internally motivated hunters... -- they fail... one cannot 'act' one must 'be'....
that now aside, a serious guide loves his animals (forget the jokes - I am serious...) He tries hard to bring hunter and animal close together, a partnership where one knows the animal, and the terrain... the other chosing to perform a ritual as old as man himself, and taking guidance from his partner... this is the guide-hunter relationship that philosopher/hunter Theodore Vitali talks about...
When an 'acting' or obvious external hunter comes into camp on a guided hunt, the guide becomes apprehensive. The individual demonstrates little regard for the game, a lot of focus on getting it done, rather than understanding the animal or the guides methods... he is the one who risk a shot rather than waits for the shot... in effect, he sees nothing wrong with 'wasting' or hurting an animal... He is more interested in what the final 'story' will be... how this thundering animal became his... the mental scenario in the head of an externally motivated hunter is that of power and what he sees as 'glory'...
Sadly, the guide knew this all along... tries to work with the 'ex' to have him do a paradigm shift... and knows that this can only happen if the proper experiences happen.
As I said up front, such people hunt with bows and guns...
Where we (guides) see that person is in the 'shooter'.. the person who may have taken a few animals with a gun, and is now seeking some sort of validation as a person... either by moving to other game species, or changing his tools... that person is dangerous to the sport, dangerous to the fraternity, dangerous to himself, and ultimately, dangerous to the animal....
he is not enthusiastic about tracking, after a trail becomes difficult, rather he wants to chase down another animal... He is not careful about placement, he rarely understands the nature of the animal, knows little about physiology, almost nothing of how to kill effectively...
He is our nightmare...
Now the internally motivated hunter is like a student, wanting to learn, asking questions, trying to understand his animal... (And I mean an individual animal... its behaviours and its unique habits, characteristics which with understanding, allows the true hunter to accomplish the task with effectiveness, honour, and a sense of gratitude/elation when it all comes together... and the guide.... well-l-l, he shares in that emotion, because he leads another to the true spirit of hunting.... and a new-found or renewed sense of comaraderie...
Most of the internal hunters had early introduction and teaching as a child, or worked with a mature hunter whom they respected for more than hunting... others see that it just makes sense... It's about values... sometimes it takes a bad hit and the admonishment of peers... we can help that progression towards the internally motivated hunter subtly... no cutting of shirt tales, just a quietness that says... "You should have thought...."
The basis of sound mature hunting attitudes comes from a relationship with the land and the animal...
When one seeks glory, he does it at the expense of all...
Such externally motivated people need to continue their growth as hunters...
Guides try to guide these people more than through a physical wilderness... Thank you for your read...
Lark Ritchie...
Whatcha T'ink?
Copyright Lark Ritchie 1995. 1996. 1998.
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