The COVID-19 pandemic put an end to many vacations and other plans. Many people also had to set aside their favorite hobbies, such as poetry nights, music festivals, and more. Rusty Tweed found escape and diversion through hunting, and he’s going to outline why it is a great hobby, pandemic or not.

“Getting out into nature has been a real retreat and relief for myself and others over the past months,” Rusty Tweed notes. “Hunting is perhaps my favorite outdoor hobby because it gives me something to focus on, a challenge to overcome, and a well-earned reward should the hunt be successful.”

If you’re still practicing social distancing measures, hunting also offers a great way to spend time with friends and family while also maintaining safe distances. Further, sunlight can kill the COVID-19 virus and other microbes, so spending time outdoors can be safer than spending time indoors.

Even if you’re not worried about social distancing, hunting offers an excellent escape and opportunity to spend time with those who are close to you.

Rusty Tweed Talks About the Benefits of Hunting for Nature

Roughly 15 million Americans hunt in any given year. Game can include boars, deer, black bears, elk, and more. Hunting sometimes gets a bad reputation, and when endangered animals are killed, people have a reason to be upset. That said, hunting done right can help control animal populations that are growing too rapidly.

“In some places, there are far too many deer and other animals and not enough predators to check their population,” Rusty Tweed says.

“Hunting offers a great way to control the deer population, which can reduce the risk of car accidents and other things that hurt deer, humans, and ultimately the ecosystem.”

Meanwhile, if large predators, such as black bears, start to encroach upon human settlements, they may need to be removed. Hunting offers one effective form of animal removal. Still, if hunting isn’t your thing, there may be other options.

“Some people have a prohibition against killing animals,” Rusty Tweed notes. “As long as you’re using the meat or controlling animal populations, I think hunting can be good for the environment.”

Regardless, you may not be comfortable with hunting and may not have the need for meat or other byproducts. That said, fishing may offer a similar escape, and you can always catch and release.

“Fishing is a great option if you want to enjoy some of the benefits of hunting but aren’t quite sure if it is right for you,” Rusty Tweed explains. “You can enjoy alone time, or time with friends and family. You get to be in nature, and you can always release fish after you’ve caught them and snagged a photo.”