The debate on whether hunting is a good and valid sport or not, has been going around for years now, and it will continue to be debatable because of the different opinions that people have about the issue. Reading every side of the topic will leave you confused because both stories and defenses are accurately true.
But the issue didn’t stop other hunters from continuing their passion for hunting because they have their own opinions, and they believed that hunting is good and gives many advantages to them. Other people also stressed a vast list of disadvantages when you want to become a hunter, which is why some people are hesitant to try this extreme sport.
This article will provide you with neutral and balanced grounds to help you sort out whether hunting has a positive or negative effect on hunters. Here are some 5 advantages and disadvantages of being a hunter that can help you decide if hunting is good for hunters or not.
Advantages
1. Hunters can educate other people
One advantage of being a hunter is that they can contribute to the body of knowledge. This means that hunters can educate other people on some tips and advice on the sport called hunting. They also know that people have constitutional rights to own a gun, which other people might not know about or are afraid to own, and will gladly share the importance and advantages of having one.
They can also educate and inspire other people who want to try this extreme outdoor activity through the different hunting websites available on the internet. There are hunting websites such as Outdoor life or Lunde Studio with blogs, articles, and testimonies from expert hunters about what you must do when you want to try hunting for the first time.
Having the opportunity to teach someone and share your knowledge is truly an honor and something that a person should be proud of, which is why this is part of the advantages of being a hunter.
2. Physically Fit
Hunters are known to be physically fit and healthy because hunting requires them to be strong. Hunters need to work out and build upper, core, and lower body strength because your body will always be in motion when you hunt.
Your upper body needs to have a lot of physical energy because you have to carry your rifle with you until you finish hunting. You also have to take a lot of things in your backpack, and if you have lesser upper-body strength, you will not be able to carry them around.
It would help if you also built up your stamina because you will do different things that could definitely drain your energy efficiently. The road that you will be walking is also not an easy one, and there are uneven terrains that are difficult to pass by.
There will also be circumstances where you have to climb a rocky slope to get a better angle. Put in mind that you are continually bringing with you your hunting rifle, and your hands will not be able to support you when you walk on an uneven landscape; you only have your legs and lower body strength to help you.
3. Strong Mentality
Another advantage of being a hunter is that they have a stronger mentality than other people. When you go for a hunt, you have to be ready not only physically but also mentally.
This is because hunting requires patience, discipline, social awareness, and alertness to achieve a successful hunt. You should have enough mental strength to possess these factors because you may not survive in the forest if you lack one of them. It would be best if you have strong self-discipline because no one can control you better than yourself.
Patience is also an essential factor when you go hunting because knowing when to shoot and waiting for the right moment will allow you to achieve a clean and humane shot to your target. But the remaining 2 factors are the most important mental skill that you should acquire; in fact, you might not be able to go hunting when you don’t have these skills.
Hunting requires a sharp sense of alertness and social awareness, and this is because you are also considered prey, and predators could kill you quickly. It would help if you were always alert with everything moving; even small movements in the grass, shift currents on lakes, or a faint sound, can cost you your life. This is why hunters have a much healthier mentality than ordinary people, and their instincts, alertness, and social awareness are sharper than the rest.
4. More practical and independent
Hunters are more practical and independent because they do anything to survive when they hunt. They always put their lives on the line to hunt, and this is why they learned how to protect themselves and developed a more potent form of being independent.
They would still rely on others, but they have acquired that mentality that “no one will do what you want for you rather than yourself.” They have to build their own shelter, catch their own food, get their own drinking water, and many more. This taught them to trust and rely on themselves that sparked independence in them.
They also are more practical than other people, which means they can quickly identify what is more critical or which of the choices gives out the best solutions in the long run. Hunters also have good judgments and decision-making because they are used to the fact that a wrong decision while hunting in the forest could either kill or injure you.
When you ask them about a decision, expect that they will be firm on their answer because they also know how to weigh in all the possible scenarios and imagine outcomes for both findings.
5. More connected to nature
Lastly, hunters are closer and more connected to the environment. The forest is their sport court, and all of the natural resources are free to use with utmost care. Being connected with nature also makes a person calmer and less tense, which helps develop your character as a whole.
Disadvantages
1. Life-threatening sport
Although hunting is fun, the sport could indeed injure you ill or kill you. Even if you are a skilled and an expert hunter, there will always be unpredictable scenarios. Staying in the middle of the forest is like inviting all these unforeseen accidents to come and get you. You might be prepared for animal attacks, but you cannot defend yourself against a falling rock or a lightning strike.
2. Unhealthy diet
Hunters might experience an unhealthy diet when they go for a hunt. Food is not always guaranteed when you go hunting, especially when you go for a long hunt, and you need to catch your food. If they don’t have a catch, they will look for another food source or would probably skip eating and try the next day. This will result in them having an unhealthy diet and would possibly get thinner.
3. Prone to sickness and injuries
Being alone in the forest and having no proper shelter, being exposed to different weather such as hot or cold, and being wet and dry all the time, will weaken the hunters. They are also often exposed to germs and viruses, making their immune system weak, resulting in sickness. Other poisonous insects lurking around trees could also sting hunters and cause them to be sick or have minor injuries. Hunters should have toronto first aid training to be prepared to handle outdoor emergencies.
4. You need to have extra money
Hunting is an expensive sport because of the essential things that you need to acquire. You need to have a proper hunting rifle, gears, weapon accessories, utensils, materials, hunting equipment, and many more. These things are usually pricy, so you need a lot of money for a hunting trip to happen.
5. Constantly away from family
One of the disadvantages of being a hunter is that you are frequently away from your family, especially those big-game hunters. Hunting can go on for days, and if you cannot top this sport because of a particular goal or you enjoy doing it, you will constantly be away from your family.
