Superstitions and/or traditions of deer hunting

[jenandkailey]

Im a female, deer hunting for the first time, I heard of a tradition to drink or smear the blood on your face of your first kill. Why is that? What is the purpose?

[timberghost]

Hey jenandkailey welcome to the forum and more importantly welcome to the wonderful world of the deer. This may vary from person to person but to drink the blood of the deer you take in their spirit as well. It is said that you somewhat "inherit" a special quality from the spirit of the deer and from then on there will always be something unique or special about yourself. That whole belief goes way back to the Native American origins.

[BruceBruce1959]

Originally Posted by jenandkailey

Im a female, deer hunting for the first time, I heard of a tradition to drink or smear the blood on your face of your first kill. Why is that? What is the purpose?

Greetings from Vermont jenandkailey..
I've taken several Deer and I'm NOT about to drink a Deers blood and I think it's too cold during hunting season
to be smearing blood on our faces BUT if some hunters feel they need to do such things I guess it's ok for them...

[buckfever]

Welcome from Tennessee. I dont have a tradition anywhere close to that. Im out on the drinking or smearing of deer blood but to each his own. Thanks for joining up. Make yourself at home.

[rockman57]

Welcome from Texas.Like the fellers above I have never had deer blood smeared on me or had to eat raw deer innerds.I have seen a few newbies who fell for that gag though.Last year when I came back to camp a friend of mines son had taken his first deer(doe) and he had blood all over his face.I didn't have the heart to tell him he'd been had.lol
But he's back this year wantin more.Don't let the talk keep you from taking a nice animal if the oppurtunity presents itself.
Good Luck,
Rock

[Sylanderxs]

I wouldn't do it and I wouldn't let anyone I was responsible for do it. There are those that believe that doing such things are important religious acts. I don't believe in those things but I'm not going to cheapen their religion by doing it as some sort of game. I have great respect for those folks and I have no place meddling in things I don't understand.

If you want to show respect for your quarry practice until you can make a clean shot and wait until you have a solid kill shot before shooting. Learn the art of hunting and practice with earnest. If you believe in such things (I do) say a short prayer of thanks when you are successful (or even when you fail). If you want to take it further, lay your hand on the deer and say, "Thank you brother deer for providing food for my family".

The taking of a life is a solemn act not to be taken lightly and not to be cheapened by sophomoric games. When they come to you and tell you that you "must" do something that you don't believe in, just tell them no. If they don't buy that, find someone else to hunt with. There are plenty of folks out there that'll be happy to hunt with you.

But then...
Opinions vary...
And that's just mine...

Hunt well, hunt safe.

[eon]

I agree with most of the guys above, I dared anyone to try to smear blood on me after I got my first deer. Surprisingly no one wanted to come after a redneck with a rifle.

[critter gitter]

Drinking their blood? You can get sick from that. I n our camp we take a pull off of the ole Brandy bottle.

[joel the signman]

some germen people will put a small branch of hemlock in the deers mouth as a symbolic last meal.also i've heard of people getting their shirt tails cut off when they miss.I wouldnt drink the blood but a smear on your cheek aint gonna kill ya

The Blooding Rite - Why do we do it?