In the Realm of Deer
When I first saw @shaka's template for Round #194 of the LMAC Collage Contest, I thought of hunters. However, sites I consulted explained that a stag in heraldic symbolism represents peace and harmony. Nonetheless, the idea of hunters had come to my mind, so I decided to create a collage where stags and other animals were free of hunters. Thus, my image of animals truly in harmony and at peace evolved.
@shaka's Template
According to one study, 78% of humans in the world eat meat. This suggests that, for most humans, hunting is an intrinsic part of nutrition. I am including in the term hunting anything that involves slaying animals. This of course would encompass all the factory farms in the world. And in the U.S., 99% of the meat consumed comes from factory farms, according to several sources.
So, all of us who eat meat are hunters. Still, for me there has always been a distinction between those who find killing an animal distasteful, and those who enjoy hunting. I do not understand how hunting can be a 'hobby'.
Bowmen Honing Their Skills
Credit: NARA. Public domain
While most of us avert our eyes from the tragedy of the kill, many hunters embrace the act of killing. Taking the life of an animal, watching the light go from its eyes, is a source of pleasure for them.
Here is a site dedicated to the art of bow hunting. And here you can find advertised a location that provides deer and other game for the pleasure of hunters to stalk and kill (Here is a quote from the site: "There’s nothing like watching the steam rise off the water as the day begins in hopes of seeing your dream buck walk through").
Some commercial hunting establishments not only confine animals for the hunt, but breed them to be released into hunting grounds. The animals, bred in captivity, lack the instinct to fear and evade hunters. In 2003 US VP Cheney was involved in what was called a canned hunting incident.
Common Pheasant Killed by VP Cheney
Credit: Charles Sharp. Used under CC 4.0 Attribution Share Alike International license. It is reported that Cheney's hunting party that day killed 417 out of 500 pheasants. 70 of these were killed by the vice president himself.
It is the enjoyment of killing and suffering I do not understand. Perhaps some of my readers can explain this to me in the comments below.
My Collage
I had difficulty coming up with an idea. This collage landed in a peaceful place, so it works for me at least😇.
As always I borrowed from the LIL Gallery. Thanks to each of these contributors:
Cat
@yaziris
https://www.lmac.gallery/lil-gallery-image/7634
and
https://www.lmac.gallery/lil-gallery-image/7633Rock
@muelli
https://www.lmac.gallery/lil-gallery-image/6173Mountain
@angeli-b
https://www.lmac.gallery/lil-gallery-image/4229Deer
@marcybetancourt
https://www.lmac.gallery/lil-gallery-image/7940
Additionally, two deer in the collage were borrowed from one of my LIL contributions, and several images were borrowed from public domain sites. Thank you to the following contributors:
- Field
Andrey_and_Lesya auf Pixabay
https://pixabay.com/de/photos/wilde-pferde-pferde-feld-5030043/
Tree
Zhao Chen
https://unsplash.com/photos/brown-and-green-bonsai-tree-KCnX0ux2jFoTree
S. Tsuchiyua
https://unsplash.com/s/photos/bonsai
- Owl
Public domain pictures
https://pixabay.com/de/photos/tier-schnabel-vogel-auge-augen-21756/
Here are some progress pictures:
The value of LIL in my efforts is obvious. Anyone on Hive can contribute to the library and everyone can borrow from it. Learn about the procedure here.
We have had some spectacular contests with handsome prizes this season. The contest continues through today, until midnight, UTC. I don't compete, but try to complete a collage every week (at least!) because it is so enjoyable.
As @shaka has said many times, everyone is an artist.
Thank you for reading. Peace and health to all.