Default Mono Sans Mono Serif Sans Serif Comic Fancy Small CapsDefault X-Small Small Medium Large X-Large XX-LargeDefault Outline Dark Outline Light Outline Dark Bold Outline Light Bold Shadow Dark Shadow Light Shadow Dark Bold Shadow Light BoldDefault Black Silver Gray White Maroon Red Purple Fuchsia Green Lime Olive Yellow Navy Blue Teal Aqua OrangeDefault 100% 75% 50% 25% 0%Default Black Silver Gray White Maroon Red Purple Fuchsia Green Lime Olive Yellow Navy Blue Teal Aqua OrangeDefault 100% 75% 50% 25% 0%Negaunee Rod and Gun Club Member and long-time Hunter Terry Huffman says the hunting tradition allows him to connect with his family.
By Caden Meines
Published: Nov. 13, 2024 at 2:29 PM PST|Updated: 21 hours ago
MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) – With Friday being the opening day of firearm deer season, TV6 is taking a look at how engaging with these traditions can benefit hunters, beyond stocking their freezers.
Negaunee Rod and Gun Club Member and long-time Hunter Terry Huffman says the hunting tradition allows him to connect with his family.
“I just got back from a trip to Kentucky with two brothers and a brother-in-law,” Huffman said. “It’s very important.”
Huffman says he’s been actively hunting since he was 10 years old. Along with being an opportunity to spend time with his family, he says hunting is a good time to unplug, which benefits his overall well-being.
“I always feel better when I get back from a hunt,” Huffman explained. “I recharge my batteries and ready to give it my all again.”
Thrive Mental Health Services Owner and Psychotherapist Tessa Dagenais maintaining traditions like hunting can create stability.
“Just getting away from the demands of reality, the day-to-day pressures and responsibilities and taking a vacation from those things, for however long, is also supportive and a strength,” Dagenais said.
Dagenais says maintaining traditions like hunting can create stability.
“Having that nostalgia, that thing they can expect to do year after year at the same time, and maybe even with the same people, brings a sense of certainty and calm,” Dagenais said.
Huffman says hunting also creates a common activity for people to bond over. He explains community is a key part of being a hunter.
“Birds of a feather, hunters kind of gather. They get to know who the other hunters are in the community and they visit,” Huffman said. “A lot of times at the Rod and Gun club, we don’t just hunt, we do a lot of other recreational activities too.”
Exposing the Big Game 
Because nothing says mentally stable like killing things for fun.
And here we go again with “it’s not about killing” – it is and it always is.
If they were mentally healthy they wouldn’t be out there killing other beings.
OMG…..hunting fosters mental health?? Nothing is more psychopathic than hunting, except possibly trapping. Wildlife photography really fosters mental health and nothing is slaughtered….I can’t believe the crap mentioned in this stupid article.
The title says it all (in reverse…).
The hunting tradition is a killing tradition, killing with family and friends, is nevertheless a killing wildlife tradition. It is not wholesome, sporting, fair chase, ethical, not conservation, not necessary for food for food. It is just thrill killing. The process is what is invigorating, not the end result, which is killing another sentient animal, disrupting animal families, causing pain and suffering. Getting out in nature, out in the woods, fields and bush usually is reinvigorating. There are other ways of getting out in nature. Hiking, camping, with a camera enjoying nature, getting grounded, communing with friends and family, participating in an activity with family and friends is rejuvenating, invigorating and the essential conditions. Implied by the hunter is that hunting is an essential, wholesome, invigorating, rejuvenating activity. There are plenty of activities that can be come meaningful traditions. Traditions come and go and many should go away in time, such as hunting, trapping, bullfighting, rodeo, and other activities doing harm to animals, and killing dwindling wildlife. By the way, I am an ex-hunter and a psychotherapist. RDH 11-15-2024
Thanks for the inside information.