Why I Hunt
Gary Moore
November 20, 2025
The reasons I hunt are many. They are also varied. My father was a hunter as was his father. My uncles all hunted. Hunting is part of my heritage.
I hunt because I like to test my skills against those of the game I am in pursuit of. Hunting is not simply the act of killing something. It is never necessary to kill to have a successful hunt.
Hunting offers me the chance to escape the madness of everyday life and to have time for my thoughts. I enjoy being in the woods alone, without interruptions.
I love to hunt deer, but I am not very good at it. Some of my friends say it is because I do not take hunting seriously enough. Most often I spend my time leaned against a tree reading a book.
What a nice feeling to be sitting on a hardwood ridge as the first light of day arrives. Facing east, I watch as the sun slowly creeps up and over the mountains. Everything is quiet, but that soon changes. With light, comes life and noise.
First the chickadees appear and flit around me as I sit in one of my tree stands. Noisy little birds, they have no fear of me. What fun it is to feed them bits of food that I have with me. Once in a while one will land on my rifle barrel and watch me. Never has one landed on me, but almost. I laugh as the little birds swoop in to land on my head or shoulder, realize I am alive, and turn at the last second.
Nuthatches follow the chickadees. Those I see are red breasted and not so numerous as the chickadees. They are also not so fearless. I can't get them to alight any closer than six feet from me.
Soon red squirrels begin to feed. Talk about noise. How can a creature that weighs only ounces make so much racket in the leaves? So often I turn, hoping to see a buck approach, only to find a red squirrel skipping along in the leaves.
Red squirrels are fun to watch. They seem to be in such a hurry as winter approaches. Gathering food is paramount to survival. Much of my hunting is done on oak ridges and thus prime feeding areas for squirrels.
A red leaps from tree to tree eventually to the one I'm perched in. I don't move as he works his way down to my perch. Out of the corner of my eye I watch. Suddenly he comes around the trunk just inches from my head. Talk about surprise! He nearly turns inside out as he races up the tree to safety a few feet above me. Then the tongue lashing begins. I am told loudly and clearly that I am intruding and that I should leave. I laugh. Were I home in bed I would not be able to enjoy this moment.
Next to arrive are the crows who fly over, loudly announcing the arrival of another day. No doubt they are headed for fields a mile away where the farmer has been spreading manure.
I finally ignore the birds and the squirrels and begin to read. Hunting is a time to relax and reading is very relaxing for me. I never go hunting without a book. No doubt many deer have walked by while I have been engrossed in a good novel. My plan is to look around after every page, but sometimes that is difficult if the book is well written.
Two raucous ravens are next on the scene. They perch in a hemlock a hundred yards away and proceed to discuss the world order. No wonder Poe depicted ravens the way he did. They are ugly and their voices grate on my ears. They are hard to ignore. Luckily, they don't stay long.
After an hour I force myself to put the book down. Time to get serious about watching for deer. Two big beautiful gray squirrels begin to forage for acorns. They are much more graceful than the rambunctious reds. Eventually they meander off and I decide to get down from my tree.
Time to wander around and see what is happening. Another reason I don't do so well, I am nosy. With one exception, all the deer I have shot have been taken while I have been sitting, but I don't sit well. I need to know what has happened on the other side of the ridge since I was last there. Maybe a magnificent buck has scraped up a big patch of woods and is just waiting for me. Maybe not too.
I slowly work my way through the woods, occasionally startling a gray squirrel or being startled by a flushing partridge. Perhaps I should leave the rifle home and bring the shotgun. Have to remind myself I am deer hunting.
The drumming of a woodpecker catches my attention. I carefully work my way to within a few yards of the tree it is mining for insects. I lean back against a sapling and watch. Sometimes it is hard to keep my mind on deer hunting.
Mid morning, and it is time to head home. I should stay in the woods, but I have work to do. Thoughts of all that needs doing eat at me. After lunch and a few hours of chores I can feel good about going back to the woods.
The last two hours of daylight I spend perched in my tree. I can read right up to the last half hour when failing light forces me to put the book away and pay attention.
Darkness falls and I climb down from my stand and head home. The woods are still as the wind has died and I crunch along. Suddenly my heart nearly stops. I have walked under a big hemlock. From five feet over my head, there is a whoosh and the sky is blotted out by the six foot wingspan of a big owl I have disturbed.
It flies off and my blood pressure returns to normal. I once again
trudge homeward. I would not have had that experience if I had been home by the fire.
Deer hunting is something I look forward to each year. It is a time to be alone in the woods, a time for meditating and a time to watch nature. I read a lot while in the woods and I often find a sunny spot out of the wind and fall asleep. My snoring probably scares all the deer in the area away, but who cares.
Sometimes I wonder if I am really having fun as the cold rain soaks me or as the wind whips heavy wet snow down my neck. Not at the moment maybe, but the temporary discomfort is only that. Hunting should be a challenge.
Friends and family make deer hunting enjoyable. I look forward to the end of the day when they arrive at our camp or house to tell of their hunts.
We warm up and discuss plans for the next day and share the day's experiences. That too is a big part of hunting.
I know I would be more successful if I spent more time in the woods, but my work ethic always draws me back after a few hours in the woods. Landowners accept that they are never caught up and the same can be said of homeowners.
I don't complain, I like cutting wood and working around the house just as I like to hunt.
When I go out of state to hunt I devote every hour of daylight to the pursuit of game. Or at least I spend all that time in the woods even if I am reading or exploring new territory. Perhaps it is my Yankee frugality that pushes me to make the most of a hunt that has cost me money. Maybe I just accept that I can not run home to do chores.
Both types of hunting are enjoyable. Every few years I get a buck, but bagging a deer is not something I have to do to make the hunt successful. A buck is a bonus. Hunting is much more than killing an animal.
Bits and Pieces
Vermont game wardens are appealing for help in curtailing poaching activities. They are asking for people who witness or believe they have knowledge of poaching to contact them quickly.
When I interviewed Vermont Fish and Wildlife Lt. Mike Scott on WYKR, we talked about the need for those who see violations to report them in a timely manner. Remember the wildlife belongs to us all and those who take it illegally or unethically are stealing from us.
“If you hear a shot in the night, see lights in a field or have any information about a poaching incident, please contact us right away,” said Col. Justin Stedman, Vermont’s chief game warden. “The quickest way to reach a warden is by calling your nearest State Police office so the radio dispatcher can give the information to a warden in the area.”
“Details such as names, vehicle descriptions, vehicle plate information, and direction of travel all can help. We often can discover evidence and piece together a case if we can investigate the situation rapidly,” added Stedman.
If you have information about any illegal activity relating to Vermont’s wildlife, you also can anonymously call Operation Game Thief at 1-800-75ALERT (1-800-752-5378). Rewards are paid for information leading to arrests.
***
Free in-person snowmobile safety education classes are now being scheduled in the Granite State. To operate a snowmobile or off-highway recreational vehicle in New Hampshire, any person age 12 or older must have either a valid motor vehicle driver's license or have successfully completed an approved OHRV/Snowmobile Safety Education class.
The classes are taught by instructors and staff trained by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Those interested in attending should register soon before slots are filled by visiting www.wildlife.nh.gov/highway-recreational-vehicles-ohrv-and-snowmobiles/ohrv-and-snowmobile-safety-education.
OHRV/Snowmobile Safety Education classes can also be conveniently taken online. With recent changes to the state laws, all online classes will include a combination of practical OHRV and snowmobile safety and the rules that apply to all trail riders. The cost for the virtual class is $34.95.
To register for an online safety class, visit https://www.offroad-ed.com/newhampshire.
“The online safety courses provide a convenient option for students to obtain their New Hampshire rider certificate, at their own pace, while learning key safety information important for riding both OHRVs and snowmobiles,” said Captain Michael Eastman, OHRV/Snowmobile Education and Law Enforcement Coordinator for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. “The entire course can be taken on a smartphone, tablet, or computer and offers a fun approach to learning by using live-action video and interactive learning modules.”
Even after course completion, all riders under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a licensed adult over the age of 18 when operating a snowmobile or OHRV, including on property belonging to their parents, grandparents, or guardians.
***
Mark Breen reports in the Fairbanks Museum's Skywatch Almanac that on
November 18, 1965: “1 to 2 feet of snow blanketed the mountains for an early start to the ski season; this winter would become Burlington's snowiest of the century up to that time.”
November 22, 1989: “South Lincoln, VT shovels out from 26 inches of snow, followed by severe cold.”
Parting Shots
As I write this Friday to meet the publisher’s deadline, I am looking forward to 6:16 tomorrow morning when I will be sitting in my tree stand as legal hunting hours begin.
Syndicated columnist Gary W. Moore may be reached by e-mail at gwmoore1946@icloud.com or at Box 454, Bradford, VT 05033.
copyright 2025 Gary W. Moore
I hunt because I like to test my skills against those of the game I am in pursuit of. Hunting is not simply the act of killing something. It is never necessary to kill to have a successful hunt.
Hunting offers me the chance to escape the madness of everyday life and to have time for my thoughts. I enjoy being in the woods alone, without interruptions.
I love to hunt deer, but I am not very good at it. Some of my friends say it is because I do not take hunting seriously enough. Most often I spend my time leaned against a tree reading a book.
What a nice feeling to be sitting on a hardwood ridge as the first light of day arrives. Facing east, I watch as the sun slowly creeps up and over the mountains. Everything is quiet, but that soon changes. With light, comes life and noise.
First the chickadees appear and flit around me as I sit in one of my tree stands. Noisy little birds, they have no fear of me. What fun it is to feed them bits of food that I have with me. Once in a while one will land on my rifle barrel and watch me. Never has one landed on me, but almost. I laugh as the little birds swoop in to land on my head or shoulder, realize I am alive, and turn at the last second.
Nuthatches follow the chickadees. Those I see are red breasted and not so numerous as the chickadees. They are also not so fearless. I can't get them to alight any closer than six feet from me.
Soon red squirrels begin to feed. Talk about noise. How can a creature that weighs only ounces make so much racket in the leaves? So often I turn, hoping to see a buck approach, only to find a red squirrel skipping along in the leaves.
Red squirrels are fun to watch. They seem to be in such a hurry as winter approaches. Gathering food is paramount to survival. Much of my hunting is done on oak ridges and thus prime feeding areas for squirrels.
A red leaps from tree to tree eventually to the one I'm perched in. I don't move as he works his way down to my perch. Out of the corner of my eye I watch. Suddenly he comes around the trunk just inches from my head. Talk about surprise! He nearly turns inside out as he races up the tree to safety a few feet above me. Then the tongue lashing begins. I am told loudly and clearly that I am intruding and that I should leave. I laugh. Were I home in bed I would not be able to enjoy this moment.
Next to arrive are the crows who fly over, loudly announcing the arrival of another day. No doubt they are headed for fields a mile away where the farmer has been spreading manure.
I finally ignore the birds and the squirrels and begin to read. Hunting is a time to relax and reading is very relaxing for me. I never go hunting without a book. No doubt many deer have walked by while I have been engrossed in a good novel. My plan is to look around after every page, but sometimes that is difficult if the book is well written.
Two raucous ravens are next on the scene. They perch in a hemlock a hundred yards away and proceed to discuss the world order. No wonder Poe depicted ravens the way he did. They are ugly and their voices grate on my ears. They are hard to ignore. Luckily, they don't stay long.
After an hour I force myself to put the book down. Time to get serious about watching for deer. Two big beautiful gray squirrels begin to forage for acorns. They are much more graceful than the rambunctious reds. Eventually they meander off and I decide to get down from my tree.
Time to wander around and see what is happening. Another reason I don't do so well, I am nosy. With one exception, all the deer I have shot have been taken while I have been sitting, but I don't sit well. I need to know what has happened on the other side of the ridge since I was last there. Maybe a magnificent buck has scraped up a big patch of woods and is just waiting for me. Maybe not too.
I slowly work my way through the woods, occasionally startling a gray squirrel or being startled by a flushing partridge. Perhaps I should leave the rifle home and bring the shotgun. Have to remind myself I am deer hunting.
The drumming of a woodpecker catches my attention. I carefully work my way to within a few yards of the tree it is mining for insects. I lean back against a sapling and watch. Sometimes it is hard to keep my mind on deer hunting.
Mid morning, and it is time to head home. I should stay in the woods, but I have work to do. Thoughts of all that needs doing eat at me. After lunch and a few hours of chores I can feel good about going back to the woods.
The last two hours of daylight I spend perched in my tree. I can read right up to the last half hour when failing light forces me to put the book away and pay attention.
Darkness falls and I climb down from my stand and head home. The woods are still as the wind has died and I crunch along. Suddenly my heart nearly stops. I have walked under a big hemlock. From five feet over my head, there is a whoosh and the sky is blotted out by the six foot wingspan of a big owl I have disturbed.
It flies off and my blood pressure returns to normal. I once again
trudge homeward. I would not have had that experience if I had been home by the fire.
Deer hunting is something I look forward to each year. It is a time to be alone in the woods, a time for meditating and a time to watch nature. I read a lot while in the woods and I often find a sunny spot out of the wind and fall asleep. My snoring probably scares all the deer in the area away, but who cares.
Sometimes I wonder if I am really having fun as the cold rain soaks me or as the wind whips heavy wet snow down my neck. Not at the moment maybe, but the temporary discomfort is only that. Hunting should be a challenge.
Friends and family make deer hunting enjoyable. I look forward to the end of the day when they arrive at our camp or house to tell of their hunts.
We warm up and discuss plans for the next day and share the day's experiences. That too is a big part of hunting.
I know I would be more successful if I spent more time in the woods, but my work ethic always draws me back after a few hours in the woods. Landowners accept that they are never caught up and the same can be said of homeowners.
I don't complain, I like cutting wood and working around the house just as I like to hunt.
When I go out of state to hunt I devote every hour of daylight to the pursuit of game. Or at least I spend all that time in the woods even if I am reading or exploring new territory. Perhaps it is my Yankee frugality that pushes me to make the most of a hunt that has cost me money. Maybe I just accept that I can not run home to do chores.
Both types of hunting are enjoyable. Every few years I get a buck, but bagging a deer is not something I have to do to make the hunt successful. A buck is a bonus. Hunting is much more than killing an animal.
Bits and Pieces
Vermont game wardens are appealing for help in curtailing poaching activities. They are asking for people who witness or believe they have knowledge of poaching to contact them quickly.
When I interviewed Vermont Fish and Wildlife Lt. Mike Scott on WYKR, we talked about the need for those who see violations to report them in a timely manner. Remember the wildlife belongs to us all and those who take it illegally or unethically are stealing from us.
“If you hear a shot in the night, see lights in a field or have any information about a poaching incident, please contact us right away,” said Col. Justin Stedman, Vermont’s chief game warden. “The quickest way to reach a warden is by calling your nearest State Police office so the radio dispatcher can give the information to a warden in the area.”
“Details such as names, vehicle descriptions, vehicle plate information, and direction of travel all can help. We often can discover evidence and piece together a case if we can investigate the situation rapidly,” added Stedman.
If you have information about any illegal activity relating to Vermont’s wildlife, you also can anonymously call Operation Game Thief at 1-800-75ALERT (1-800-752-5378). Rewards are paid for information leading to arrests.
***
Free in-person snowmobile safety education classes are now being scheduled in the Granite State. To operate a snowmobile or off-highway recreational vehicle in New Hampshire, any person age 12 or older must have either a valid motor vehicle driver's license or have successfully completed an approved OHRV/Snowmobile Safety Education class.
The classes are taught by instructors and staff trained by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Those interested in attending should register soon before slots are filled by visiting www.wildlife.nh.gov/highway-recreational-vehicles-ohrv-and-snowmobiles/ohrv-and-snowmobile-safety-education.
OHRV/Snowmobile Safety Education classes can also be conveniently taken online. With recent changes to the state laws, all online classes will include a combination of practical OHRV and snowmobile safety and the rules that apply to all trail riders. The cost for the virtual class is $34.95.
To register for an online safety class, visit https://www.offroad-ed.com/newhampshire.
“The online safety courses provide a convenient option for students to obtain their New Hampshire rider certificate, at their own pace, while learning key safety information important for riding both OHRVs and snowmobiles,” said Captain Michael Eastman, OHRV/Snowmobile Education and Law Enforcement Coordinator for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. “The entire course can be taken on a smartphone, tablet, or computer and offers a fun approach to learning by using live-action video and interactive learning modules.”
Even after course completion, all riders under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a licensed adult over the age of 18 when operating a snowmobile or OHRV, including on property belonging to their parents, grandparents, or guardians.
***
Mark Breen reports in the Fairbanks Museum's Skywatch Almanac that on
November 18, 1965: “1 to 2 feet of snow blanketed the mountains for an early start to the ski season; this winter would become Burlington's snowiest of the century up to that time.”
November 22, 1989: “South Lincoln, VT shovels out from 26 inches of snow, followed by severe cold.”
Parting Shots
As I write this Friday to meet the publisher’s deadline, I am looking forward to 6:16 tomorrow morning when I will be sitting in my tree stand as legal hunting hours begin.
Syndicated columnist Gary W. Moore may be reached by e-mail at gwmoore1946@icloud.com or at Box 454, Bradford, VT 05033.
copyright 2025 Gary W. Moore
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