Why I Hunt

Hunting, spending time in the woods. I have been asked many times why I hunt. I hunt for several reasons, The first reason is that I provide food for my family, "You can buy it at the store, you don't have to hunt.", is usually the answer I get back from people. Most people don't appreciate where their food comes from or what that animal is fed, but as a hunter I appreciate each and every animal I get to harvest, I appreciate all the work that went into getting the meat ready for the table. Several years ago, I started thanking the animal for the food it would provide my family and I would thank God for providing the animal for me.

    I have been hunting for nearly 40 years and for me it has never been about how many points or how big
the rack is but about providing for my family and others. Second reason, I really enjoy spending time in
the woods and fields, I am able to spend time in God's creation and see so many things like a Red Tailed
Hawk flying through the trees and landing on a branch 5 feet from me or watching an owl weave its way
through the trees close to the ground. I have seen so many beautiful sun rises and sun sets, I have had
squirrels run around me while I was sitting up in a tree. I have seen how the woods change and I get to
praise God for all He has given us on earth I get to see His creation up close a personal. I can't imagine a
time where I wouldn't want to go hunting in the fall even if it was to just sit in the woods and watch the
deer, turkeys or even the coyotes run around. I get to have a quiet place where I can pray to God and read.
God's word, hunting is time that is spent in so many ways it's hard to explain and list them all, may be one day I'll be able to get them all down.

Thank you,
Shannon Geer

Heritage Baptist Church, Palmyra, N.Y.