Rituals

[Murphdog]

Ok since we had so much fun with the you shot one where, what about rituals? You know the silly little superstitions we have or those little initiations to those getting their first kills.

Here are my family's

This is more from my college days but the first kill of a species we alwasys blooded the face of the lucky hunter by sticking two fingers in the blood and painting parallel lines on each side of the face. All in fun but when I had started taking out first time hunters I realized that it was a big deal to the boys (the girls were not as thrilled but it might be dangerous to leave them out; remember they are little women) my stepson and his friend I don't think washed there faces for a week. They wore those stripes as a badge of honor. My personal little ritual and I don't know why I started, is to kiss the first bullet going into the chamber. "Kiss of death" and ask the bullet to fly true and kill quickly a little prayer sort to speak. Then of course we all have our favorate clothing.

For begaining hunters these little things make huge memorys my 6 and 9 year old boys our already looking forward to their blooding. Good luck in the field guys and gals

 

[DrMike]

Wow, Terry. That ritual brings back memories. I've done it and witnessed it numerous times. Another is placing a sprig of grass (or willow branch) in the mouth of the animal as the last meal. I've witnessed this many times,and have even done so myself on occasion. Interestingly enough, it always seemed appropriate. The most interesting ritual for me is a native friend that cuts the heart to allow the "life force" to escape and places it on a branch above the ground. It was important to him, and I shared in his action by quietly observing as a fellow hunter. One action I have always practised is to offer a prayer of thanksgiving that God has permitted me to take game and feed my family.

 

[Ashman]

I also did the blood thing with my first deer and then did it to my sons faces. I also give the bullet that will be first in the chamber a "kiss".

My uncle had one I thought was different. He always took a beer out of the fridge and put it in his pack......that night he'd take that beer out of the pack and put it in the fridge. This went on for years and I finally asked him why......he said " I haven't shot a buck since 1938, and when I finally do I gonna kiss his nads and wash the taste down with that beer.

 

[FOTIS]

That is rich! :mrgreen:

 

[Elkman]

I don't know whether its a ritual or not but when I kill an elk I take the hide and lay it over a log with a couple of stickes sticking up behind the end of the neck. I often wonder whether or not anyone has ever ran across one, and what the result was! I do give thanks for each and every one!!

 

[JD338]

I don't know whether its a ritual or not but when I kill an elk I take the hide and lay it over a log with a couple of stickes sticking up behind the end of the neck. I often wonder whether or not anyone has ever ran across one, and what the result was! I do give thanks for each and every one!!

Some poor fella emptied his gun on a log! :lol: :lol:

JD338

 

[DrMike]

Some poor fella emptied his gun on a log!

The image conjured up is hilarious! That is funnier than Hitler buying a Handi-Rifle.

 

[FOTIS]

Some poor fella emptied his gun on a log!

The image conjured up is hilarious! That is funnier than Hitler buying a Handi-Rifle.

It was an elk log!

 

[elkeater2]

On the first day of a woods hunt, I don't seem to be able to 'eliminate' before starting out. Not by choice, it just happens that way. So I find the perfect frozen and maybe snow covered log to back up to. Never found one covered with elk hide, but I'll keep looking!! :grin:

 

[FOTIS]

Might make it cushier, warmer and softer if you did. :grin:

 

[sask boy]

I also say a prayer thanking him for the fellowship of my hunting partners and for the bounty.

Blessings,
Dan

 

[SJB358]

I know this sounds funny, but my Pop's and I always say a quick Thank You to our passed away Father/grandparents. They were big hunters in our lives and it seems like they always take care of us! The old fellers hunted their whole lives with a M99 300 Savage and M94 30/30 and never wanted for more! Can you even imagine that! I used to sit around, as a young man, quoting ballistics and talking about deer rifles. They never grew tired of it. One was a B24 pilot in WWII and the other was a Marine in the Pacific in WWII. They loved hunting, guns and everything else! Scotty

 

[Murphdog]

Along the lines of the elk log; Went to MSU in Bozeman so good elk hunting was close by. I couple of use guys went out hunting in the Wilsaw area. Driveing down this old logging road at first light we spotted a spike bull elk about 75 yards off the road laying down. After driving out of site we all snuck up the bank counted to three, jumped up and commenced to shooting. By about our 2nd or third shots we concluded that something was a little off. Walked up to the well perferated elk and read a little sign attached to said elk. Something along the lines of sucker. Of course we propped it up just like it was and left it for the next group of hunters. The elk had been dead for maybe a couple of weeks but the cold had kept it looking very alive not sure what killed it in the first place. All day long you could hear a mini war going off when ever a new group of hunters drove by. When we came out it was getting shotup enough that it no longer looked authentic. We still laugh about it today.