Growing up (as much as I have, at least, I still have a ways to go) I always heard my dad telling me stories of hunting ducks on the Mississippi River—going after quail or pheasant near the corn fields with his dad, turkey in the fields, and rabbit and squirrel in the woods. Along with those hunting stories, he also told many tales of fishing. Fishing on lakes and in ponds, in streams and sand pits and many stories of fish caught in Canada on trips taken with his father. Many of those were told out in the duck or turkey blinds, walking through the woods, or even on our way to Minnesota for our very own fishing trips. In the boat, on the lakes, and on the rivers, my sister and I were told about their endeavors. They are actually true, contrary to popular belief about the stories some fishermen may tell. Not only did my father teach me how to hunt and fish, but also how to respect nature, be thankful for what I harvest, and, most importantly, in my opinion, to take only what I will need and leave the rest for someone else.

What I want to say is this: there is a difference between a hunter and a killer. A hunter is a man or woman that respects the animal they are after. They understand that not every hunt has to end with a bird in the bag, a turkey over your shoulder, or a deer in the back of your truck. A hunter knows the beauty of their surroundings and respects it. They take care to not disturb anything more than they need to get to their destination. A killer is different. A killer is one of those that masquerades as a hunter, fooling those around them. A killer runs deer down with their truck, poaches animals out of season or off of reserves, takes only the “trophy” part of an animal and leaves the rest to rot, and probably many other things I would never even be able to think of. They show no love for their surroundings, no respect to the animals they are after and think nothing is wrong with what they do. Getting a "trophy" animal is fun, but there is a lot more to it than that. There is a difference in how hunters act compared to killers, and I want people to know that.

I know hunting can be a touchy subject, and that some people don’t think hunting is okay. I even know that people think hunting is senseless murder, and that’s fine; everyone has their own opinion. There are those that give hunters a bad name, those that I referred to as killers, that others may call poachers, animal murderers, or whatever possible expletive(s) they choose to use in that moment. All I want to get across is there is a difference. Just because a person hunts doesn’t mean they like to kill animals or that they hate animals, and it’s okay to dislike hunting. No one will force you to do it, and no one will stop me from believing hunting is okay. I love the animals, I love the outdoors, I was taught to respect animals and nature and to give them a fighting chance. Hunting is a part of who I am and a part of others as well. Who would want to risk losing that privilege? One thing my grandfather once said to me on a hunt, after he missed the shot at a covey of quail and his gun jammed after, was this: “Dang. Well, I guess we weren’t supposed to get a bird today, huh?” It’s not about the animal, it’s about being out in nature and being able to provide for oneself, just like in the old days.