{"id":14274,"date":"2017-03-14T18:09:38","date_gmt":"2017-03-14T18:09:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/?p=14274"},"modified":"2017-03-14T18:10:13","modified_gmt":"2017-03-14T18:10:13","slug":"its-all-about-the-shot-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/its-all-about-the-shot-2\/","title":{"rendered":"It’s all about the shot!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SHOT-1\"<\/p>\n

The question of why we hunt is commonly asked. The answer is really very simple. We hunt because we are designed to do it. Hunting is deeply imbedded in the human DNA. It is how we fulfill the first – and all – of the three primary aspects of survival \u2013 sustenance, shelter, and sex. These needs are the underlying goal of the show Naked and Afraid, a show where a man and woman are forced into the wilderness and must survive on their own. Generally the first two priorities take precedence for the contestants and the third \u2013 much to the dissatisfaction of producers and viewers \u2013 is never realized.<\/p>\n

\"SHOT-2\"
Humans are pack animals and like to hunt that way. But, hunting is also an individual endeavor.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We hunt because we must but what is hunting about. Some will offer it is about camaraderie. This is understandable; most of us prefer to hunt with friends. Humans are pack animals and from the beginning hunted that way because it greatly increased success. Today, to some extent that can be true, but with modern weaponry strength in numbers is not necessary except on the battlefield. Still, some of my most memorable hunts have been because I was with others like my wife, daughter, and son.<\/p>\n

\"SHOT-3\"
Interaction with nature can be mesmerizing, memorable, and deadly.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then there is the idea that we hunt to interact with nature. This too is a very enjoyable aspect of hunting. I\u2019ve seen, felt, heard, and smelled things while hunting that are forever engrained in my memory. Like the time I fed a Newfoundland fox my ham sandwich, listened to red stags rumble the German country side like trolls, smelled the pristine smell of wilderness on the River of No Return, and stood yards from more than a hundred African buffalo, all looking at me like I\u2019d slept with their old lady.<\/p>\n

\"SHOT-4\"
Done right, squirrel gravy is a delicious delicacy that will delight.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Securing food of course is the primary endeavor of the hunter. The food nature can supply us with is protein rich, totally organic, and tasteful. Rough grouse roasted over a campfire will warm the soul, pronghorn steaks grilled medium rare will satisfy the pallet, and eland back strap cooked over warm coals will make your knees weak. I\u2019d be derelict in my mention of wild foods if I did not also describe the delicacy of squirrel gravy and biscuits the way only my father can\u00a0make it.<\/p>\n

\"SHOT-5\"
Campfire stories are always better after a successful shot has been made.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But will all those good reasons to hunt; hunting is really all about the shot. Hunters work endlessly in preparation for the shot. The meticulously assemble their gear, weapons, and ammunition, Work tirelessly on the range, hike over hill and dale, brave all Mother Nature can throw at them, and run, crawl, creep, and slither, into position to make the shot. For without the shot the campfire camaraderie is a little less exciting. Without the opportunity for the shot, the memories are a little hard to recall. And of course, the wild protein is impossible to taste.<\/p>\n

\"Memories
Memories like this do not come from a miss.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d you say, \u201cI hunt for the experience, not the shot.\u201d Well then pilgrim, just leave your rifle at home. For you see, without the possibility a shot may materialize, and without the equipment to make that shot, you are not hunting; you\u2019re just walking around in the woods.<\/p>\n

Yes, hunting is all about the shot: preparing for it, searching for it, and making it. For that reason and regardless of your weapon of choice, hunters should continually prepare for the shot. If you make it \u2013 if you secure that sustenance \u2013 and if you have a tent, cave, or hole to crawl into, you can then focus on that last element of survival, and life gets a lot more interesting.<\/p>\n

\"The
The gift of a shot well made.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Maybe the producers of Naked and Afraid should give their unclothed contestants a course in shooting, a gun or bow, and a tent. Then, each episode might be a bit more, um… exciting. Of course, it will still be all about the shot<\/em><\/strong> or they will starve to death and intimate contact will never cross their minds.<\/p>\n

\"SHOT-6\"
It’s always, always<\/strong><\/em>, all about the shot!<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The question of why we hunt is commonly asked. The answer is really very simple. We hunt because we are designed to do it. Hunting is deeply imbedded in the human DNA. It is how we fulfill the first – and all – of the three primary aspects of survival \u2013 sustenance, shelter, and sex. These needs are the underlying goal of …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2579,2522],"tags":[395,2742,2743,2730,2744],"class_list":["post-14274","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-editorial","category-hunt","tag-hunting","tag-memories","tag-naked-and-afraid","tag-shooting","tag-survival"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5hujZ-3Ie","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":13869,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/why-hunt\/","url_meta":{"origin":14274,"position":0},"title":"Why Hunt?","author":"gunwriter","date":"September 23, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"From time to time we are posed with the question of why we hunt. Generally the answers are laced with explanations where genetic disposition and conservation are combined in an effort to justify the endeavor. While this might be a scientific explanation of\u00a0reality,\u00a0it falls short in explaining why we are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "EDITORIAL"","block_context":{"text":"EDITORIAL","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/editorial\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"hunt-2","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/hunt-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/hunt-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/hunt-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/hunt-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12148,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/fair-chase\/","url_meta":{"origin":14274,"position":1},"title":"Fair Chase","author":"gunwriter","date":"September 22, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Hunting was never intended to be fair. It occurred naturally as a means for early man to stay alive and make poop. Domestication of the human species has turned hunting into sport and with that came the notion it must be fair \u2013 fair chase. What is fair chase? It\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"fair chase hunting\"","block_context":{"text":"fair chase hunting","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/tag\/fair-chase-hunting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Moz-1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Moz-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Moz-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Moz-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Moz-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15457,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wife-mom-hunter\/","url_meta":{"origin":14274,"position":2},"title":"Wife, Mom, Hunter","author":"gunwriter","date":"January 18, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"I've said many times that I believe the secret to passing on the heritage of hunting is with moms. If dad is the only hunter, kids consider it a hobby. If dad and mom hunt, kids regard it as a lifestyle.","rel":"","context":"In "HUNTING"","block_context":{"text":"HUNTING","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/hunt\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Drema-Africa-3.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Drema-Africa-3.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Drema-Africa-3.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Drema-Africa-3.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13989,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/sunday-hunting\/","url_meta":{"origin":14274,"position":3},"title":"Sunday Hunting","author":"gunwriter","date":"November 1, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Seeing as how I\u2019m not a famous Hollywood actor or musical icon, I obviously do not have the qualifications to tell you who to vote for, for president. 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That's not the way I really like to hunt but there are times it can be a good idea. 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It was a fantastic experience along\u00a0the River of No Return in the Frank Church Wilderness - the largest contiguous wilderness area inside the United States. 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