Got this email from Dann in New York one time and thought you might find it interesting:
Mike, I’ve been watching your show for years now and I have to admit: I always thought it was a bit cheesy when you would regularly end a kill, in the heat of the moment, saying, “That’s why we do this,” or one of your tag lines of “hunt hard.”
But now let me commend you for what you have done for my hunting
I was always a whitetail guy who grew up hunting in New York with my dad and uncles. It eventually grew to dove, ducks, geese and most recently my first elk hunt.
My previous deer hunting experiences were great… but never involved a “Hunt Hard” attitude. It was always something I did with my family because it brought us together and that’s why we did this.
I got back from my first elk hunt in Steamboat Springs and the one thing I will take away from this hunt (even though I did not get to harvest an animal) is your motto of “Hunt Hard.” I hiked for miles day after day just for the chance to see one of the majestic creatures in their natural aspen forests.
I never knew what hunting really involved until I was pushed to my physical and mental limits day in and day out at high altitude and cold. It was then, getting rained on and shivering under some big pine tree, that I smiled and finally got the message.
I appreciate everything you do for this great sport and showing young guys like me that there is a lot more to enjoying this world than tourist traps, monuments and the whirlwind of daily life.
I now know why we do this. And I promise you every hunt will be hunted hard.– Dann
Dann: Thanks for the note. Hunters “do this” for a lot of different reasons, I’m just glad to be able to help you out in some small way. Keep hunting hard man.—M.H.
Hunting among the wild wind, forest smells, trees waving hello old friend, birds and other small creatures entertaining me along my trek, I’m serenaded by Mountain streams brought back to my Neanderthal DNA. Pure pleasure ! I have let more than one deer go it’s way, myself just enjoying the forest. Heck, 1974 great state of Maine I let a monster king of the pines look, look and look eventually to saunter away while I watched,mesmerized by his magnificence. Didn’t regret it then or now. Hunting has a flavor you can taste in the air,
Murphy. Lol. That’s good.
I hunt because I enjoy the challenge of the hunt and love being out in creation. Nothing like being out in the woods in the early morning hours when the suns starts to crack light and thing come alive . Get away from the busyness of the world and enjoy some pease and nature.
Because I enjoy it
I hunt because it pisses off my Liberal neighbors whom eat tofu and humus!