Hi.

I'd be interested to hear your opinion on hunting initiation rites i.e. "blooding"

I was blooded on my first hunt (age 11), and I blooded my wife after her first successful hunt (age 30). I think it is important, regardless of age, but it must be done in a respectful manner. For both me and my wife, it was a blood cross on the forehead.

I'd like to hear your opinions, and to also hear what the various traditions are from various cultures.

I have had the blood cross applied and it is a fine tradition.

I was blooded after taking my first African animal in Namibia. I had forgotten about it until I read your post so I guess it is not high on my list of importance.

It is probably much more memorable if it is your first kill.

I personally do not appreciate the custom. I guess it is because of my hunting education in Germany and the emphasis on respecting the animal and not the kill or glory of the trophy. The "last bite" given to the animal and a moment of quite reverence is much more meaningful.

Afterward, the hunter was presented a branch signifying success that some guides mark with a little blood. This was worn in the hunter's hat. Somewhat similar but without the hoopla and comic relief that I feel takes away from the significance.

quote:

Originally posted by Oday450:
I personally do not appreciate the custom. I guess it is because of my hunting education in Germany and the emphasis on respecting the animal and not the kill or glory of the trophy. The "last bite" given to the animal and a moment of quite reverence is much more meaningful.

Afterward, the hunter was presented a branch signifying success that some guides mark with a little blood. This was worn in the hunter's hat. Somewhat similar but without the hoopla and comic relief that I feel takes away from the significance.

+1

My PH did the Blooding on me, when he stuck his finger in the blood, an impala; I knew what he was going to do. It was my first kill in Africa so I thought it was appropriate.

That night we were sitting by the fire telling lies and he was cooking the meat for dinner and brought over a piece on a fork. I asked ".....is this something nasty like the balls?". He said, "No, we do not do that anymore." It was a chunk of Kudu tenderloin and it was wonderful.


Mark

A significant talk on the importance of the event, and the responsibility of taking a life in a legal and ethical manner will be far more important ( and provide a lasting impact ) than being smeared with gore. Just MHO, but that was my intro and it touched me deeply and I remember it vividly today.
It is a serious thing, and a serious , although happy talk from a veteran to a new hunter carries great weight. I have always used this approach on the many hunters I had the honor of sharing their first successful hunt with.

In 9 safaris I have never been "blooded", and none of my PH's have ever even mentioned the practice.

I appreciate the German hunting "rite" of honoring the animal first and then the hunter. The wiping of blood on a hunter is repugnant to me.

I have experienced receiving this “blooding” from various cultures and various places in Africa and North America. Because my exposure with the Native American community has enabled me to experience a Native American walk in spirituality and traditional ceremony I find it to be extremely important.

The ceremonial “blooding” experience, that indigenous people commonly refer to as medicine, has varied for me from a mark of blood on the forehead (not generally a cross), to a mark of blood on the forehead and bridge of the nose.

Somewhat different from the “blooding” aspect, I was taught by the Chiricahua Apache that in all hunting the animal presents itself to you and allows its death to occur. For that, thanks are always given to the animal’s spirit. For those who are perhaps less concerned about it or don’t believe in a spiritual aspect of hunting it is likely of much less importance. For me it is not to be overlooked.

I personally don't care for the practice and have never chosen to participate. I don't have any particularly feelings about the game animal I have killed any more than I do about the paper target or clay pigeon I shoot. I don't see animals as some noble object that I must respect as I would a human. To me an animal is an animal is an animal. Nothing more nothing less. Some produce better tasting meat than others. In the south where I started hunting the rite was cutting off the shirtail when you killed a deer the first time. As hard as my mother worked to make most of my shirts she would have been flat pissed if I came home with a ruined shirt. They were fairly precious in my family. I was brought up that if you were hungry you went into the backyard ,caught a chicken,wrung it's neck,and prepared and cooked and ate it. End of story. I won't say that all this homage to the hunted is so much BS and if you like it do it just that it ain't for me.

Zimbabwe, your post is more repugnant to me than my having been blooded more than once....I too am from the South....the only shirt tail cutting we did was when you missed!
We raised fryers and I killed and butchered many along with hogs and cattle....but that has no relationship to hunting and respect for your prey!

I used to do the blood thing, and give a little speech on the hunter's baptism into the "honourable brotherhood of African big game hunters." At a later stage, I would post a "scrap book" of photos I had taken and included would be a "baptismal certificate" giving the date and place etc. On a number of occassions the hunter seemed quite moved. Nothing raucous or nasty.

I think it's a matter of national culture and the professional and right thing to do is honour the national culture of the hunter.

The Germans for example have a thing about blowing horns and I think they blow different horns and play different tunes depending on species. Although that isn't in my (English) culture, I have to say I really enjoy it.

What I don't like is people not showing respect for the slain.

Though I have been hunting for almost 50 years, I am not a very experienced hunter ....

I have a problem with the blooding ritual purely from the perspective of my faith as a Christian. It seems almost like a pagan ritual and makes me uncomfortable.

I still remember the first animal I shot - a striped squirrel in India with my guava tree sling shot. I cut a notch on the slingshot and putting a spot of blood on it! As a 10 year old I was a "real hunter". I use a glass marble and killed the squirrel from way up in the tree. I still remember my heart thumping and feeling all jittery in the stomach and legs. I certinly had very mixed feelings of elation and regret. I had similar reactions much later in life when I shot my first Muntjack in India & my first deer in NZ and the black bear in BC.

The point I am making is that I would not want to thump my chest after harvesting an animal but would rather soak in the experience and the complex mix of emotions. The next 24 to 48 hours are always a "high".

I think of it as a deer camp ritual / rite of passage. I remember going through it at 10 years old after killing my first deer. I was a sorry looking mess, but I'd not change it for anything.

I have only seen the blooding thing on tv shows or movies. Not something that is done where I come from.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
In 9 safaris I have never been "blooded", and none of my PH's have ever even mentioned the practice.

Probably because you are old...

quote:

Originally posted by LionHunter:
I appreciate the German hunting "rite" of honoring the animal first and then the hunter. The wiping of blood on a hunter is repugnant to me.

And eating its flesh probably makes you queasy.

quote:

Originally posted by zimbabwe:
I personally don't care for the practice and have never chosen to participate. I don't have any particularly feelings about the game animal I have killed any more than I do about the paper target or clay pigeon I shoot. I don't see animals as some noble object that I must respect as I would a human. To me an animal is an animal is an animal. Nothing more nothing less.

So if you killed a human you would eat his liver to show respect....

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:
Though I have been hunting for almost 50 years, I am not a very experienced hunter ....

I have a problem with the blooding ritual purely from the perspective of my faith as a Christian. It seems almost like a pagan ritual and makes me uncomfortable.

I still remember the first animal I shot - a striped squirrel in India with my guava tree sling shot. I cut a notch on the slingshot and putting a spot of blood on it! As a 10 year old I was a "real hunter".

So the "blooding" is a Pagan ritual, but smearing blood on your weapon is christian??

Sorry, but I think we are all full of shit. Sorry guys, I just feeling a bit snarky tonight.

Jason
couldn't have said it any better.

Jason-

Put down the bong long enough to get right. You gotta quit smokin' that Russian River dope.

Rituals can be different dependant upon one's situation, culture, and tradition.

For me and my son, we take some time to touch and reflect upon the animal, relax a bit, and give thanks for the great game we have taken.

We do not do the blood ritual, but what I have found to be a bonding ritual with the animal.

It's hard to explain, but a comforting feeling. I try to make mine a ritual that reflects my respect for the game, the hunt, and for the natural progression of life.

Too touchy feely; sorry. That's just the way I do things.

Mike

My personal feeling is the hunter should show reverence for the animal in some way. That is up to the hunter and I respect their right to perform whatever ritual they wish. The key element is respect.

The things that make my stomach turn is the "whack em and stack em" comments, the jumping high fives and running up to the animal with a tape measure. Unfortunately this is all too common on the outdoor shows on cable.i

Personally, I spend a few quiet moments alone with the animal and reflect on the hunt.

quote:

What I don't like is people not showing respect for the slain.

That's about it right there, rituals or no rituals!

quote:

Originally posted by LionHunter:
Jason-

Put down the bong long enough to get right. You gotta quit smokin' that Russian River dope.

Hey, I said a sorry and explained that I was in a crappy mood.

And for the second time, Healdsburg is not a hippy town! Maybe you were just drunk on our wine when you visited and confused us with another town?

There are hippy towns around here, but Healdsburg is not one of them.

I don't want to be involved in it myself. I don't care what others do but when I see a picture posted on forums it makes me cringe.
I can't imagine what the antis might say or think about it. Not that it matters in a way but just as a thought.

quote:

Originally posted by Oday450:
I personally do not appreciate the custom. I guess it is because of my hunting education in Germany and the emphasis on respecting the animal and not the kill or glory of the trophy. The "last bite" given to the animal and a moment of quite reverence is much more meaningful.

Afterward, the hunter was presented a branch signifying success that some guides mark with a little blood. This was worn in the hunter's hat. Somewhat similar but without the hoopla and comic relief that I feel takes away from the significance.

The German tradition is a fine one, but I don't feel that it makes any other traditions less important. I think the key here is to respect the animal and hunter, and treat both with dignity.

To be honest, I have a huge problem with people drenched in blood but I feel that the taking of your first animal is such a big deal that it should be consecrated in some form. I guess this is usually in the form of a blood smear or other, but I suppose it need not be physical ceremony, and quiet time spent in reflection is just as relevant.

quote:

Originally posted by ExpressYourself:

The ceremonial “blooding” experience, that indigenous people commonly refer to as medicine, has varied for me from a mark of blood on the forehead (not generally a cross), to a mark of blood on the forehead and bridge of the nose.

Somewhat different from the “blooding” aspect, I was taught by the Chiricahua Apache that in all hunting the animal presents itself to you and allows its death to occur. For that, thanks are always given to the animal’s spirit. For those who are perhaps less concerned about it or don’t believe in a spiritual aspect of hunting it is likely of much less importance. For me it is not to be overlooked.

Thanks Shawn. I find this very interesting!

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:

I have a problem with the blooding ritual purely from the perspective of my faith as a Christian. It seems almost like a pagan ritual and makes me uncomfortable.

The point I am making is that I would not want to thump my chest after harvesting an animal but would rather soak in the experience and the complex mix of emotions. The next 24 to 48 hours are always a "high".

I respect your Christian views, and had not thought about it as a pagan ritual. I do not believe it is -- well at least no more pagan than some other Christian ceremonies which still continue from pagan origins. (I am treading on thin ice here, I know.)

I also feel that blooding, if done correctly, is not necessarily about chest-thumping and high-fives, and should be much more sober affair.

Thanks for your input.

Cheers

quote:

Originally posted by mdstewart:


Too touchy feely; sorry. That's just the way I do things.

Not al all. Each to his own.

quote:

Originally posted by rxgremlin:
My personal feeling is the hunter should show reverence for the animal in some way. That is up to the hunter and I respect their right to perform whatever ritual they wish. The key element is respect.

The things that make my stomach turn is the "whack em and stack em" comments, the jumping high fives and running up to the animal with a tape measure. Unfortunately this is all too common on the outdoor shows on cable.i

Personally, I spend a few quiet moments alone with the animal and reflect on the hunt.

With you and Steve on this aspect. Thinking on the subject, it is a reminder of some of the better hunters that I have had the pleasure of being in the field with. The quiet manner in which they examine their animal, the surreptitious wipe of an eye and the total lack of gung-ho.

When I kill an animal I leave a piece of salt for other animals. I take something, I leave something.
I give salt pieces to the other hunters on my property. They are happy to abide by my traditions.

It seems everyone here has his ritual and to him all others are BS! I think that about sums up this thread!

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quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:
It seems everyone here has his ritual and to him all others are BS! I think that about sums up this thread!

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Sounds like religion....

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:
It seems everyone here has his ritual and to him all others are BS! I think that about sums up this thread!

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Sounds like religion....

Come to think of it, it does, or even talk of politics! No way to win with either!
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I'm very much in favor of any ritual that teaches some respect for the animal.
I'm sure that pushing the attitude that all animals are just objects for our amusement, is the equivalent if crapping where you eat.

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:
It seems everyone here has his ritual and to him all others are BS! I think that about sums up this thread!

…………………………………………………………....................................

quote:

Posted 26 August 2011 07:32 Hide Post
quote:
What I don't like is people not showing respect for the slain.

I don't get it, and it's not part of "our" tradition. But I totally agree with the comments about not showing respect for the game. I almost never put a tape on anything in the field (wish I could say never but I will confess to having done it on a few rare occasions) and I don't like pictures with guys sitting on their animals, etc. I also don't let anyone put a stupid hat on any mount or otherwise treat the remains of the animal with anything less than respect.

I was "blooded" at an early age, in an Ontario moose camp. It was my first moose, but far from my first kill. Back then it was done in a fairly serious manner, but nowadays it seems to have degenerated into the same sort of immature crap seen on the deer-hunting Bubba shows on TV.

When my granddaughter recently made her first kill (a barnyard starling with a pellet gun) we had looong talks about it, both before and after the deed. I think the taking of a life demands some introspection, and I welcomed the chance to hear her thoughts about what she had done. I would no more have smeared her with blood than I would have bitten the head off the bird...but I certainly didn't want the occasion to pass by without trying to make it something that she would remember.

John

Although I find many of these traditions to be somewhat silly to me, I still understand their importance. First, there should always be respect for the animal. Second, no matter what the tradition is, it binds us together. There is where the true importance of such rituals lays. We are bound culturally, and individually. These same traditions are also often a teaching tool. There is most often a message with a moral if you will. It can often be very much like a parable. In the end if it does no harm, it dosnt really matter if I as an individual care for it or not.

quote:

Originally posted by jwm:
When my granddaughter recently made her first kill (a barnyard starling with a pellet gun) we had looong talks about it, both before and after the deed. I think the taking of a life demands some introspection, and I welcomed the chance to hear her thoughts about what she had done. I would no more have smeared her with blood than I would have bitten the head off the bird...but I certainly didn't want the occasion to pass by without trying to make it something that she would remember.

John

Very well said. I would like a little explanation about the responsibilities of an ethical hunter on the event of first successful hunt.

I do not like to attribute nobility over what it is due to them.But treating animals like objects is abhorrent to me.

Best-
Locksley,R.

I really DON't understand it. I don't give 'respect' to a steak everytime I eat one,or a hamburger,or pork chop. I suppose I have no 'right' to feel this way but I certainly do. I'm also not ashamed of my picture sitting on a dead elephant that I made that way. I do generally thank the LORD for what I am about to eat since HE provided it in all ways. But I don't 'respect' the steer that died to provide my steak. I hunt because I like the challenge it presents and killing is the object of hunting and the way you keep score so to speak. To me game animals actuall ARE just objects and I don't hunt to satisfy any mystical purpose.