Regarding European versus "other" hunting traditions

I was brought up in a familly where hunting and fishing was the most important part of our social life. Both my father, who passed away somé years back, and my mother who is still hunting and at the age of 75 just got a new Labrador to work with, represents centuries of hunting traditions.

Becomming a hunter is not some thing that is possible in one generation, it will take a lifetime to get aquainted with the secrets. The fundamental respect of the animal when taking a life is perhaps the most important aspect of our European Hunting tradition.

There are thusands of little things like "not rolling up your sleeves" that really has no practical meaning but will tell who is a "Hunter" and who is merely hunting.

Taking care of the meat after making the kill, is for me the only valid excuse for taking that life. I dont smoke tobacco, but I sometimes whish I did. I remember my father when landing a nice trout or shooting a high pigeon from a hide would allways find a cigarette and burn a little tobacco to celebrate the moment. Taking the moment and bend your head in respect of the life you have taken before moving on.
When looking at pictures from africa or America I often see very proud Hunters witha big smile posing with their guns and some dead animal, but I rarely see a Hunter showing respect ot the life he has just taken.

On the picture, that was taken with my cell phone just a few minutes after I found him, you will notice that I have taken my hat off and kneel behind the stag. The look on my face is not with a big smile but the satisfaction of a dream fulfilled mixed with the sadness of taking the life of a truly magnificant animal.