The Intrinsic Hunter

When Gary Wray and John Smith Jr. (then, site operators) asked me to submit a column for this online publication, I was quite honoured. I had just met both of them on an Ontario hunt in the fall of 1999, and their vision for a different type of web based hunter resource excited me.

John and Gary's thinking appeared to align closely with my own thoughts on hunting and the hunter's relationship with the wilderness. Little things impress me. With John, it was his slow and cautious approach to his hunting stand. Gary had a hard hunt, playing cat and mouse with his bear for the entire week. His spirits never faultered; he always had a smile on his face, and a sense of humour in his discussions. With each of them, there was a constant questioning and search for more information. Things like those are characteristics of the intrinsically motivated hunter. He seeks to grow. In that September week together, we formed the first threads of a hunting bond, if only to recognize our parallel of attitudes. It brought me here, to this page on the Sportsmen's Post.

Each time a new publication appears before the public, its developers seek to create a unique product, either competing with existing services or supplying a market not yet addressed. The Sportsmen's Post in many ways, has chosen the latter, thus, striking new ground. The purpose, as stated on this site's opening page is "share perspectives on hunting, fishing, and the love of the outdoors..." I feel it can evolve to something much more.

Following this site's mission, 'The Intrinsic Hunter' attempts to share a personal perspective.

My thoughts are coloured with a Canadian spin. At times, some of the shadings and highlights will be that of the aboriginal, reflecting my Cree native background. My perspective is that of a hunting and wilderness guide, a pre-occupation that has been an ongoing experience in my life since childhood.

I am now progressing through my fifth decade of life, with all the background and conclusions that those years have brought to me. At times, I feel that I belong to a past age, yet when introducing others to hunting, I see an enthusiasm in my friends and clients that revitalizes me.

If this column has a central purpose, it is to introduce a conceptual and a mental framework for an special Hunter Consciousness. I see a major role for writers as one of facilitator, Writers can create opportunities and motivation to extend our experience. Some outdoor writers focus on hunting equipment, specific game animals, where-to-go, or recently, the political issues in which hunting is becoming entangled. They are experts in those areas, and provide valuable information to their readers. My objective is to introduce a small kernel one can ponder and develop as one continually progresses as a hunter. More broadly, I intend to present a 'mental hyper-link' for those wanting to understand what I have found to be fundamental in the minds of the many admirable hunters I have encountered.

And so, I introduce you to the moniker 'Intrinsic Hunter' as a kernel for those who might foster the further development of this word-seed. Although the term is new, the underlying philosophies are not new. Rather, the phrase re-recognizes an older, almost-thrown-away granule in the seed-bank of human experience. Its nucleus contains essences of humanity at risk of being discarded. Like seeds in a seed bank, I feel these essences must be preserved, valued and understood.

The concept for 'The Intrinsic Hunter' evolved over many years, emerging first as an awkward label identified as 'the internally motivated hunter' during a conversation with Terry Sullivan and Theodore Vitali, exploring hunting and the ethics of hunting. This column is the natural evolution of that conversation many years ago.

Growing up in a small Northern Ontario town, hunting and animals have been a part of my life since childhood,. At the age of nine, I kept a black bear cub as a pet until I was 12. At 17, I kept a polar bear cub for some time while he was acclimatized for shipping to a zoo... I shot my first moose at 11, guided since the age of 12, and will always love the outdoors, hunting., and guiding.

As hunters, we must be honourable. We must approach hunting as valid, tied to a deep, meaningful personal or adopted culture and heritage. Each of us must take on a very serious responsibility to portray and practice hunting in positive behaviour, language, and thought.

Over the years, in my role as a wilderness guide, I have lived with close to 1500 hunters; many good people, both men and women, with good values, and personally very honourable. Yet there is still awarenesses and skills that must be taken on if we are to weather the storm. We must be able to articulate our position on hunting, and it must be rational. We must seek to be almost flawless in our approach to both hunting and killing. We must be able to understand death, and our role in death, and be able to argue that what we do in hunting is valid, valuable, and ultimately worthwhile.

The next issue of the Intrinsic Hunter will look at chidren and hunting. Hope to see you here! Until then, Good Hunting!

Lark Ritchie.

Footnotes