Great article and I’ll be sure to check out some of your books. I can relate to the pastor who mentioned the birth of his child and his first deer. Another read that comes to mind is “Wild at Heart” by John Eldridge. Moderately related though it’s more about defending men’s desire for adventure, hunting being one type of adventure. I normally read at least the first 5 chapters once a year as a breath of fresh air in a society that is determined to emasculate men. Christian book and always gets be jacked up for hunting season.
From JAS:
The comments readers have contributed certainly support the idea that many hunters see hunting as a deep act of spirit, as well as getting some good exercise, enjoying nature, and bringing home some healthy meat. So, I'm adding a little more along the same lines.
A Jesuit priest, Mitch Pacwa, has penned a number of hunting prayers. Here’s one titled “Prayer for successful hunt.” “Lord, I pray that I may take down the game in as painless a way as possible. May I recognize my limits and take the shots I know I can make, not taking a shot that risks maiming or wounding an animal unnecessarily.”
Another hunting prayer comes from rocker Ted Nugent. This is Ted’s -- “Prayer for the Wildthings
"Oh Great Spirit, give me guidance to take in all your wonderment. Help me observe and embrace my role as a Bloodbrother to nature. Teach me to use my gifts of reason and intellect to better connect with the fruits of the earth. Inspire me to practice diligently so as to receive your hoofed, furred, and feathered gifts of sustenance for my family, by killing cleanly that which we can utilize and share with our neighbors. Bless me with the rewards of full participation in your grand creation. Make all our hunts safe, peaceful and complete. Fill me, great father, with the Spirit of the Wild. Thank you for life."
A Spanish outfitter
SpanisHunters told me that the traditional Spanish hunt for fallow deer, red deer, mouflon, and wild boar, the "Monteria," is a driven hunt with beaters and dogs. Typically before the "Monteria" begins, he or someone else says a prayer as a member of The Royal Brotherhood of the Most Holy Virgin of the Head Savior of the Mountaineer. The entire prayer is a page long and can be found in my book The Sacred Art of Hunting.
https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Art-Hunting-Legends-Modern/dp/1572231882
The prayer concludes with:
“Oh Divine Clemency! Oh Holiness! Oh always sweet Virgin Mary! To those of us who love the remote solitude of the wilds, please protect us with your warm cape in the pure air of the mountains which is the crowning light of your Sanctuary. Pray for us, Sweet Mother of God, so that we may be worthy of receiving the gifts of such previous chivalrous gentlemen as Eustaquito the Roman, Herman the Gaul, and Hubert of Aquitane, so that we may receive the safe passage offered by Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Long live the Virgin de Cabeza!
If you want to create your own hunter’s prayer, there is a website
hunters prayer | Bow Hunter’s Prayer | Hunting Addiction? You're a VenaticFanatic ... | Hunting | Pinterest | Hunter's prayer, Bow hunter and Hunting with a number of hunter’s sayings and prayers.
Happy new year. JAS