By Glen Wunderlich

As consumers, we are all connected to nature.  In this age of specialization, however, we go about our daily lives – commuting, turning wrenches, or punching keyboards or time clocks – never giving it much thought.  But, for hundreds of thousands of Michigan firearms deer hunters heading afield on Friday, November 15^th, that connectivity is renewed and realized no matter how obscure it has become through modern societal evolution.

For humans never having been exposed to the realities of the circle of life – sacrificing the lives of plants and animals so that we may live – it can be downright incomprehensible.

As an illustration, I am reminded of a family gathering in celebration of our granddaughter’s seventh birthday many years ago.  Our favorite meals were selected – mine being trout.  Sitting beside me, my granddaughter was introduced to just how stark our relation to nature can be, when the waitress placed the plate in front of me, complete with a rainbow trout from head to tail.  “Grandpa!  Grandpa!  It’s a real fish!” she shrieked.  You see, to her, fish were physically configured as squares.

Certainly, such a reaction is understandable to a youngster never having taken part in the procurement of one’s own food.  To the ignorant, food comes from a store, just like money comes from an ATM; they’ve seen it with their own eyes.  Perception has become their reality.

Yet, there is hope, as evidenced by an engaging young lady who participated in Michigan’s Liberty Hunt in September.  At the Perry Youth Hunt Extravaganza, I noticed a vehicle backing toward the buck pole, obviously preparing to hang a deer.

A small girl only 9 years old, orange hat still in place, stepped out, as her hunting mentor/partner began to hoist her first buck for the many spectators to see.  Movie camera in hand, I began my interview, when I was abruptly interrupted.  “I have the heart in my pocket”, she offered unabashedly.  When I asked what she was going to do with it, she was almost incredulous when she replied, “Eat it.”

Mere hours before, the youngster had taken a life.  Yet, she was mature enough to understand the connection to life itself.  In fact, she even field dressed the animal she would eventually consume.

Given that she may not be able to grasp how modern hunters are able to remove game while sustaining it, there is still plenty of learning ahead for her.  But, at the age of 9, she’s wise beyond her years.  She may not be able to understand that true conservationists/hunters may take from nature, while at the same time work diligently to give even more back.  It’s what hunters do.

We hunt. We kill. We give back.

We love nature.  We understand the balance of nature.  Why else would we spend countless hours and dollars to preserve and protect it?

Some of us hunt for the meat, while others hunt for the adventure.  Some of us don’t hunt at all.

It matters not, because in the end, we are all connected to the circle of life.

Note:  Here is the video interview of the young hunter mentioned above: