By Joe Mandato

Web of Life Hall

Hunting certainly must have been of great practical and spiritual importance to Viking Age heathens. There are, after all, two Norse deities associated with the hunt; Snorri tells us that Ullr was called the "bow-As" and "hunting-As", and that Skadhi carried a bow and shot game", and was called the "Bow-string-Var". Throughout Snorri’s Heimskringla and Saxo’s Danish History, there are numerous references to hunting expeditions. In Book V of The Danish History, it is said that Asmund would "stalk the game with dogs or catch it in nets", and in Book VIII, Hatfier is said to hunt game "with dogs, or on horseback". There is also some small mention of Sigurd having hunted, as well as various kings in Heimskringla. But we knew that the Norse hunted. What interests modern would-be hunters is what it all has to do with our faith? How can an Asatruar learn to hunt in a way that honors the wights of our land, and is amenable to our gods?

First of all, why the heck would a sane person get up at 4:30 in the morning, dress like a tree, spray doe urine on themselves, hike up a mountain in the pre-dawn with a gun on his back to sit in the snow or rain for hours on end just so they can shoot a deer, drag it back down the mountain, and spend hours skinning and butchering it? Isn’t it much easier to drive to the supermarket and buy a couple of pork chops? There are probably as many reasons to hunt as there are hunters. Many people feel disconnected from nature, and hunting is a way to re-insert themselves back into the life-cycle. Others consider hunting a profound spiritual experience. Some treat it as a responsibility, to help keep herd/flock populations in check, after humanity has killed off many of the natural predators in some areas. A small percentage depend on hunted meat to sustain themselves and their families. Asatruar have their own reasons to hunt, not the least of which are related to the relationships we may have with Ullr, Skadhi, the Landvaettir, and the very Earth herself. This article endeavors to serve as a primer for those who wish to hunt honorably according to the virtues of Asatru.

The first thing any would -be hunter needs to do, regardless of religion, is to take a hunter safety course. The NRA sponsors safety classes for the gun or bow all over the country. One may call 703-267-1430 to obtain a list of licensed instructors in your area, check out the list on the NRA website at http://www.nrahq.org/safety/education/find.cgi, or simply ask around at your local sporting goods or archery store. A responsible hunter also needs to be aware of all of the local laws regarding hunting and/or firearms, as well as be aware of when and where it is legal to hunt different types of game in your area. All the information, and much more, is available through your state’s Department of Environmental Conservation, or Department of Environmental Protection. Each state agency should have a publication available anywhere hunting licenses are sold (most sporting goods stores), and most states have this information online as well. Make sure you are well acquainted with the laws and regulations that pertain to you.

Assuming you have taken a safety course, legally own the weapon you have chosen to hunt with, and are licensed to hunt the game you are planning on hunting – how do you actually learn how to hunt? It is one thing to state "I will learn how to hunt today", and quite another to go about doing it. The overwhelming majority of hunters that I personally know were taught how to hunt by a parent or other close relative. Most of these people started learning young - my father began taking me out in the woods with him when I was about 10, and I had my first kill by the age of about 13 or 14. Things like tracking wounded game, walking silently in the woods, and interpreting deer sign were things I learned by careful observation. Learning how to gut a deer (or other animal) is definitely a hands-on experience; no book or website, no matter how detailed, can teach you how to do it as well as watching someone.

The best way to recreate this kind of parental tutelage is to find an experienced hunter, and ask him or her to be your mentor. Such a mentor will know of public or private land you can hunt on, and can also assist with things like building a treestand, constructing a blind, or picking out some good spots to still-hunt. You should accompany your mentor on multiple hunting trips, and observe her actions in the woods. Your first time out, leave your gun or bow at home. Ask your mentor to point things out like deer rubs, turkey droppings, game trails or other signs in the woods. Examine her movements, and concentrate on walking silently while listening and watching your environment. Pay attention to which way the wind is blowing, and remember this is the way your scent will be travelling. If your mentor is successful in her hunt, observe her gut the animal, and ask her to describe in detail what she is doing and why.

On your second trip out with your mentor, bring your weapon, but leave your ammunition at home. On this trip, concentrate primarily on handling your weapon safely – treat every weapon as if it was loaded, and never point one at something you don’t intend to kill, even if you’re sure it isn’t loaded. Review any notes you may have taken at your safety course before you go out with your weapon for the first time. Get in the habit of frequently verifying that your gun’s safety is on.

On your third trip, if you and your mentor are comfortable doing so, and you are well practiced with your weapon of choice, bring ammunition with you. Check even more frequently that your safety is on, and if you are bow hunting, be sure that your arrows are stored safely. Remember that the razor edged broad-head tip of an arrow can easily slice through your bowstring! It is my experience that first time hunters have found it less intimidating to go for turkey or small game, rather than deer or anything larger – you may wish to give small game a shot on your first hunt.

There is a lot to learn, and preparing yourself for your first hunting trip can be a daunting task. Anticipate investing a year or more to study these non-religious, practical skills you’ll need to be a hunter.

As intimated above, our lore does not provide us with any examples of hunting-specific rituals, charms, or prayers. Still, many heathens will find some sort of ritual to be an appropriate, if not indispensable, element of any hunting experience.

"With his friend a man should be friends ever,

And pay back gift for gift…"

I believe much of heathen hunting spirituality can be whittled down to "a gift for a gift", and it is helpful to think of the Landvaettir where one hunts as "friends". You must therefore develop a relationship with these wights, and recognize that the success of your hunt is largely dependent upon them. If you plan on taking something off the land you’re hunting on, you have a responsibility to leave a suitable gift in return. In addition to post-blot libations of mead, I recommend offering gifts of food to the land-wights year round, not just during the hunting season. Practically speaking, gifts of apples or corn in the lean winter months may help animals survive until the next hunting season, aiding your chances of success in the upcoming year. On another level, the Landvaettir (like all friends) appreciate getting a gift not just when you are asking for something immediately in return.

Before even choosing a specific area to hunt in, I would ask for the rede of the wights of that place. Those experienced with utisetta may wish to sit out one night in the area, and ask for a sign or vision to ascertain if you are welcome on that land. It has been my experience that the Landvaettir are (unfortunately) unused to people politely asking their approval is such a way, so they are generally very generous to those who do. On the other hand, there may be those rare areas were wights do not want you to hunt, for various reasons. Obviously, finding a different place to hunt in this case is necessary, and the hospitable.

If you are successful in your hunt, you may want to thank the landwights with a formal blot. I make a point to honor any animal I have killed during the next public blot I attend, and I also privately thank the animal with an impromptu ritual in the woods immediately after the kill. You may wish to return wight’s gift by offering a choice cut of meat to the gods and Landvaettir, or by sponsoring a feast for the Asatruar in your community with the game you have taken. It is a great joy for many hunters to share the result of their hard work and good fortune with their community, and of course, such generosity is it’s own reward:

"He who giveth gladly, a goodly life leadeth,

and seldom hath he sorrow;

but the churlish wight is chary of all,

and grudgingly parts with his gifts"

Even if you have not been successful in the hunt, it is important to thank the Landvaettir, if not for the gift of meat, than for the gift of the beauty and serenity of nature that they share with you every time you enter their woods. Remember that you are a guest in their hall. Hunting only for sport (i.e. killing a buck for a trophy rack, and leaving the meat to rot in the forest) is ignoble indeed, and flies in the face of all the laws of hospitality that we as Asatruar strive to follow. If, for whatever reason, you kill an animal, but do not wish to consume any or all it’s meat, please consider donating it to a soup kitchen, or other non-profit organization that will make sure this food gets to the needy. Additionally, there are many heathen craftspeople that could make use of antler, feathers, bones or hides of animals in their various projects, if you do not plan on using them. Seeing that most of the animal is used in some constructive way honors the Landvaettir by demonstrating that you value their gift.

Obviously, honoring Skadhi and/or Ullr and seeking their blessings can only help the hunter, whether you utter a short prayer for accuracy as you let an arrow fly, or you have a formal blot in their honor on the eve of Opening Day. The gods can give you the wisdom to know when to shoot, and more importantly, when not to shoot. They can help you interpret signs in the forest, or grant you patience as you learn how to shoot a bow. However, one must recognize that these gods do not control the Landvaettir – asking the gods to send a deer past your treestand will likely be wildly less effective than asking the land wights themselves, and giving them the appropriate gifts. Working with these deities as you learn to hunt (and believe me… a hunter never stops learning), will increase both your effectiveness as a hunter, and your pleasure with the overall hunting experience.

A quick note on bow hunting and the gods: Even though Skadhi and Ullr are noted as being bow-hunters in the Eddas, I am of the opinion that bow hunting is no more sacred to them than hunting with any other weapon. The Vikings were practical people. If they had the technology we have today, Snorri would have listed Ullr as "scope-with-crosshairs-As", and Skadhi would have been the "12-gauge-slug-Var". Hunting with a bow is a lot harder than hunting with a rifle or shotgun. You need to dedicate much more time for training to be a consistent shooter, and you need to get much closer to your prey (20 – 30 yards is ideal) to get an accurate shot. Finally, there is a much greater chance that a stray branch, stiff wind, or an animal’s good defensive reflexes will cause an arrow to be off target, wounding it instead of killing it cleanly. Any responsible hunter’s greatest fear is that he will only injure an animal by shooting it in the rump or other non-vital area, causing it to die slowly and painfully of gangrene or other infection. Bow hunting for a "challenge" is irresponsible. If you are not up to the challenge, another creature may be put in an incredible amount of pain. Respect the magnitude of the gift of the Landvaettir; if bow-hunting season comes, and you haven’t been able to practice enough throughout the autumn, put your bow aside, and wait until next year (unless I find some more time for archery very soon, that’s what I’ll be doing this year). That being said, those who wish to hunt with a bow (and take advantage of the elongated hunting season) are encouraged to put in the practice time and go for it.

Hunting is an art that requires not only patience and skill, but also years of study, and a commitment to act responsibly, in conjunction with the wights of our land. Lucky for us Asatruar, we have not one, but two deities to call on for help. With their guidance, and by taking advantage of the experience of others hunters, any heathen can learn to hunt if he is called to do so.