My first hunting was with slingshots. Dad would say, come on, bill, let’s go get us a couple of rabbits, so mom can fry up some supper or mom can make a stew. He would find three or four good sized rocks to throw at a rabbit and he was pretty good. He always managed to get at least one rabbit. I got my first .22 single shot rifle when I turned twelve. I was my job to bring home home rabbits and squirrels for a meal. I never did much deer hunting. I never liked the taste of deer meat. Elk was different. I liked elk. Hunted elk in Washington state. At some point early on I quit hunting. The cost of a hunt got too expensive I expect was the main reason. Also early on I had become a bow shooter, target shooting. I was pretty good with bow and arrows so-one fall I went deer hunting. Drove a hundred miles down to a ranch. I never took a shoot. Couldn’t get close enough to the herd to get a decent shot. I went hunting one time after that, birds. I shot a couple of doves, then wondered why I was killing these birds when I had no interest in eating them. I sold my shotgun and my rifle, gave my forty-five pound Bear bow and twelve or fourteen arrows to a nephew and hunted no more.
Well, when you said something about "city folks" shouldn't be allowed to hunt.......your quote: "I see no good reason for city folks hunting", and us seeing this guy bailing hay and the guy that had Black Angus cattle grazing, right here in the city, I felt I had to bring that up. We were stunned to see both, especially right in the city limits.
White-tailed deer was the only wild game I ate while in Texas. I have had moose here in Maine several times and am not a big fan. It's okay, but I'd prefer beef or venison.
Thats all hubby killed too. His mother told him, "kill it, clean it and I'll cook it". He doesn't hunt now though.