You have probably heard the expression “hunters don’t mug little old ladies”, well it turns out there really is something to that!
In his book ’From Boys to Men of Heart: Hunting as Rite of Passage’ award-winning author Dr. Randall L. Eaton puts his years of studying conservation and hunting to print, looking at how hunting can have a positive influence on young men in today’s society.
Is hunting good for bad kids? Does it teach violence or does it teach empathy and compassion? Would it be a more peaceful world if more kids grew up hunting? These are some of the questions addressed in a recent book entitled From Boys to Men of Heart: Hunting as Rite of Passage.
The book’s award-winning author is Randall L. Eaton, Ph.D., a behavioral scientist with an international reputation in wildlife conservation who has been studying hunting for 35 years. While producing “The Sacred Hunt” in the mid-1990s, a documentary that received 11 awards, Eaton interviewed scores of recreational and Native American hunters all of whom used the word “respect” to describe how they feel about animals they hunt.
That prompted Eaton to conduct questionnaire surveys on 2,500 mature hunters who described their attitude toward animals they hunt as, “respect, admiration and reverence.” Over 80% of these recreational hunters claimed they prayed for the animals they killed or gave thanks to God.
Eaton’s survey also asked hunters what life event most opened their hearts and engendered compassion in them. Choices included death of a loved one, death of a beloved pet, becoming a parent, teaching young people and taking the life of an animal. Women hunters overwhelmingly chose “becoming a parent,” but most of the men chose “taking the life of an animal.” Eaton said, “These results indicate the basic polarity of human life: woman are adapted to bring life into the world, but men are adapted to take life to support life.”
The same survey asked respondents to choose those universal virtues they learned from from hunting. The top three choices were, “inner peace, patience and humility.” Eaton believes that inner peace and humility are the foundation of religious and spiritual traditions across time and space.
Eaton insists that hunting is instinctive at least in boys who around the world start throwing rocks between the age of 4 and 5. His survey indicated over 90% of the men spontaneously had killed a small animal before the age of 10, compared to less than 20% of the female hunters.
“These are the same men who claimed that hunting had done more to open their hearts than any other life experience. Typically the boy cries as 8-year old Jimmy Carter did when he threw a rock and killed a robin. I consider it no mere coincidence that Jimmy Carter and Nelson Mandela both won the Nobel Peace Prize and both are avid hunters,” Eaton said.
The book interviews Dr. Wade Brackenbury, who for 13 years led groups of delinquent boys into the wilderness for two weeks where they had to survive off what they could forage. Brackenbury is convinced that it was hunting small animals for food that had the greatest transformative influence. Surveys conducted a year later indicated that 85% of the boys had not got into trouble after their survival experience.
A best-selling authority on how to raise boys, Michael Gurian, also is interviewed in Eaton’s book. He agrees that hunting does teach males compassion, and that it would be a more peaceful world if more boys hunted.
The book presents compelling evidence from several disciplines that adolescent males need rites of passage to become responsible adults. Eaton says that the original rite of passage was hunting because it proved a young adult male could provide and qualify for manhood and marriage.
“Without transformative rites of passage that open their hearts and connect them to nature and society males may become destructive and dangerous. Untempered masculinity is a major factor behind juvenile crime and gangs,” he said.
Inspired by Eaton’s book, Dr. Karl Milner launched H.E.F.T.Y, Hunter Education for Troubled Youth, in Wyoming where the courts are sending juveniles to his program. The kids are engaged in conservation work on private lands where eventually they will be able to hunt.
Endorsed by the Wyoming Fish and Game Department, Eaton and Milner expect H.E.F.T.Y. to grow across the continent. “Dr. Eaton and I see the program helping thousands of wayward youth. It also will encourage more parents to get their kids outdoors,” Milner said. “Hunting and fishing are good for bad kids because they are good for all kids,” Eaton added.
To get Eaton’s newest production, “Why Hunting Is Good for Bad Kids,” visit his website at www.randalleaton.com.
To learn more about H.E.F.T.Y. visit: www.hefty4kids.org.
For more information contact Dr. Randall Eaton at 513-244-2826 or email reaton@eoni.
com. Contact Dr. Karl Milner at 307-299-2084 or email karl@hefty4kids.org.
@BioGal
Finally, thanks, some common sense from someone who doesn’t hunt. Thanks
So of the garbage these anti hunters come up with,
“shoot in the head”
“50,000.00 to hunt”
“pleasure of killing”
and I’m calling every one of them out, and not ONE will justify or prove their statements
BECAUSE IT’S ALL GARBAGE
you figure you can come on to places like this, spew your filth, then run and hide and not be called out
well your dead wrong, pardon the pun.
You want to have a discussion, fine, but save the garbage for your own kind
I remember reading a few years back (yes this type of debate has history) a group of nature loving people having moved into the rural areas of a newly developed suburd, and put pressure for hunting to be abolished in their area. Hunting was effectively abolished, and these people enjoyed the sites of plentiful “bambies” coming near their residence while they enjoyed their view while drinking a nice cup of coffee. Until, these “bambies” started eating their flower beds, vegetable garden and fruits from the peoples backyards, ruinning the joy of rural life. First things these people requested was for the authorities to come and destroy these “bambies” (let me rephrase to “varmints / pests”). The authorities requested from these people $$$ for the services since nothing is free (except selfishness), but they were offended and refused to spend a dime, citing “their rights” for enjoyment of living and way of life.
What was under control by hunters with money flowing (from hunters) into “conserve / manage” efforts for everyone, was now a major problem. Road accidents happened (encounters with wildlife), insurance premium rising, possibly deaths of loved ones, etc. etc. etc.
Be careful what you wish for, it might cost you down the road. It’s not because most “yuppies” think they are the navel of the world, that they have an understanding of “life” and it’s place in the World.
Some people evolve, and others can’t see further than their own sellfish views and beliefs. Me, myself, and I goes the saying. And do it my way or you’re a monster. I’m right, you’re wrong.
My response to these people (and some of you’s on this blog) is: Have a safe drive, next time you are out and encounter a deer on the road. When you hit it and see it suffering , all broken up and slowing dying (maybe in a few hours), I’m sure you’ll have sentiments towards the poor thing, instead of saying, damm, look what that thing did to my vehicle, ruinning my day.
Oh Man I dont know where to start….I’m not. OK F-IT. Anti-Hunters have to be the most misimformed group of people, in society. And I cant believe none of my hunter friends on here did not same something about the “Head Shot” thing. NO one shoots a deer in the head! Anti-Hunters seem to think its easy and we go out shoot a deer and go home. They have no idea that it can take years of hunting for a new hunter to get his first deer. That kid in the picture is lucky. I had no one in my family to take me hunting. I did most of it on my own.
Great article, Thank You!!!
I to have stayed out of this because most times I am not politically correct. With that said
@Dan the reason they are misinformed is we has hunters/outdoors people do not really fight for our sport. Have you ever seen the ofah pushing pies in peoples faces or nra dressing women up with just guns in the right places .Really what have we done but bury our head in the sand and take it where we no man should but being bent over with our head in the sand that’s where we deserve it . Hunters suffer the 3 monkey syndrome speak/hear/see no evil. Unfortunately we must be rude and pushy with our comments as in today’s society that is the only way to get threw to people. Years ago people respected other people’s thoughts and ideas today IF IT’S NOT GOOD FOR ME TO DO ME AINT LETTING YOU DO IT. We can not longer let big organizations speak on our behalf we need sites like this to show people that hunters do understand that people don’t like what we do and we are ok with that but do not take what we like away just because they don’t like it . I it time for us to stand up and speak out LOUD AND CLEAR FOR ALL TO HEAR WE ARE HUNTERS AND FISHERMEN AND MOST OF ALL APRECIATE THE OUTDOORS . If true hunters shot and killed everything there would be nothing left for us to hunt that is why we are selective on what we take and how much we harvest. YES there are people out there that do stupid things and I would be the first one to yell at them. People just need to respect other people way of living.
I am sorry I have not had time to address each and every one of you, but I thank you all for sharing and caring from both sides of the fence.
Although I must say there are certain views in far left field I really have trouble understanding…having grown-up and educated in the ways of conservation and fish and wildlife management. Do some of you truly believe hunters are cruel and barbaric?
From what I have seen – without being too biased – the more logical and science-based comments have come from the hunters, while those opposed to the idea seem to be controlled more by emotion and feeling…which is akin to Anthropomorphism..where human-like qualities and feelings are assigned to the animal world…something most hunters do not agree with.
Some folks, I find, get so wrapped-up in ‘animal-rights’ they totally disregard human rights…
I plan on purchasing Dr. Eaton’s book and I urge you all to do the same!
Outdoorsguy
I love this story. I grew up hunting and i love it, I will only hunt and take what i can eat. To me there is nothing like sitting out in the bush and relaxing. You don not hear any of that city traffic. If someone has never had that chance go do it you will see what i mean.
BioGale is the key to this discussion, you don`t like hunting, fine, but don`t come out and blast hunters for what they do. BioGale siad it best, we as humans have invaded there living space, so don`t call us killers. We are all responsible for nature and what we do to it. Deers don`t use birth control, they continue to populate, therefore multiplying every year. So the next time you enjoy your market steak, lamb, chicken or very tender veal, remember where it came from and why it is some tender. The hypocracy of you overly emotional anti-hunting folks is sickening and shows how ignorant you all are by just taking one bite into a burger.