The Netherlands are experiencing a growth in the goose population and some provinces have adjusted the numbers of regulation. It is to be honest hard to keep up with and whilst bird flue has closed hunting in the south – the north is in full damage controle season. I was kindly invited to join 2 colleague hunters in the North last week and did not hesitate to join. The cold and biting wind and frost adds to the physical experience – a part of hunting that I appreciate very much.
4 o’clock out of bed
5.20 departure from home with all necessary gear and dogs
8 o’clock late arrival (due to bad weather and nasa nap)
8.30 hours almost finished setting up decoys and hut
11.00 o’clock stopped hunting, all dogs out of car, walk the dogs and load up all stuff in car
Sometimes people ask me why I like to kill animals. I am always a bit surprised by the conclusion hidden in the question. There is no joy in killing an animal or witnessing suffering of any living being.
So what is the joy about?
To put it shortly it is the joy of touching homebase of being human. Stretching my own skills, working hard, showing up with everything I can or learning to be able to..
There is joy in developing craftsmanship, learning about the field, becoming one with the field, making the right decisions, learning to hunt with a balans of the heart and moral. Being a good co-hunter, allowing others to have a chance. There is joy in sharing the meat we have worked so hard to obtain, there is satisfaction in eating what I have harvested myself. There is love for the good work of a well trained dog. There is love and respect for the skills of others more experienced than myself. I find it very special to know that as long as we humans exist – we hunt to survive and practicing these skills allows me to be in contact with the strength of something essential of being a human. Evenly so when I grow my own vegetables. I am proud of these skills and it makes me feel strong and competent to be able to.
Apart from that I do feel emotionally connected to the suffering of the kill – it makes me want to do it as effectively and painless as possible. And I can feel really disturbed if I do not manage to do that.
Having seen how the bio industry works – I can assure you – eating game from the wild is the most animal friendly way to obtain meat. So again there is the heart included.
The Netherlands are overcrowded by geese. The government pays out large amount of damage compensation for farmers – money we can much better use to improve health care and education and/or nature conservation.
Apart from that the meat of a goose is good enough meat to use as a food source. Maybe not the most delicate taste – but it makes perfect everyday hamburgers, stews and smoked snacks.
Our very cold morning in the North left me cold to the bones but with a feeling of thankfulness and strength. I am a hunter’s daughter, I am a hunter. I am a child of Nature and the Nature in me is of her. To me this is the most exquisite lovestory.
Thank you Piet & Lieuwe ♥️🤍💙
And thank you Lotte & Gurbe. Very proud of these two great workers – a 500 m mark with tracking in these conditions is really remarkable.. Flatcoated retrievers of my utmost liking
Flatastic flatcoated retrievers 