First Kill Initiations when deer hunting?

Eat the heart while it is warm I am told it is an Indian belief, I have ate Bear Gall!*

Deer Hunting Traditions

In America, deer hunting is rationalized by the fact that the meat will be used (venison is a rising choice of meat), the hide will be used for clothing and the bones will be used for either artifacts or souvenirs. Also deer are a wild species. They have not been domesticated by humans and so we do not have a special bond with the species, except for the movie Bambi. Also hunting deer is either by shooting with bullets or arrows in either the neck or head, pretty much killing it instantly. No pain. As for dogs, they have been domesticated by civilization for over 10,000 years. We have found the benefit of keeping them close and revering them as companions. Also in America, most people will cringe at the idea of either eating dog meat or sticking a dog head on a wall. Since so many people nowadays see dogs as a four-legged off-spring, it would be like sticking a child's head over the mantle. What Michael Vick was doing was essentially killing the dogs slowly, by forcing them to fight each other. The weaker dogs were then either strangled, clubbed or shot in the head. But they have been tortured. This is why killing dogs is much more serious than killing deer.

Some practices such as rubbing blood on the new hunter's face are really nothing more than "bullying" - others are disrespectful of the animal. A more appropriate activity is to have the new hunter "field dress" his/her animal under the guidance of the experienced hunters. This not only puts the new hunter in close contact with the animal, but provides an educational experience. He/she will have learned how to properly take care of an animal and will be able to do so if his/her next success occurs while hunting alone.

Long ago primitive hunters felt they had to honor the sprit of the dead animal. Rubbing its blood on their face, drinking its blood, and other customs was an act of respect and a sign of honor. This has changed to where a few hunters main focus is on his success and the blood is a sign of victory. But there are still many hunters who apologize to the animal and thank their God for its life and meat.

Honestly with the number of diseases that can be in deer blood, eating the raw meat or drinking its blood is not a very safe thing to do.

When you kill your first deer you are supposed to take a bite of its heart and apred blood on your face like baseball players do

We do it all the time here in Kentucky, or at lest in Western Kentucky. You can do whatever you want as your initiation--a lil shout, clap ur hands, scream, etc. even a lil dance is ok. I am not sure but I think the Indians started it years ago since they had to huynt and kill so they could eat.

One of my friend's family's traditions is that when someone kills their first deer, they need to cut out its heart and take a bite while its still warm.

Another friend said he heard about some people who would wear the animal's sphincter muscle around the third finger of the left hand while in hunting camp since they were "married" to the carcass.

Up in Wisconsin, we do a bit more obscene gesture. In either case, the reproductive parts are hung from a nearby tree. Although I believe this is mearly my perverse hunting buddies trying to gross and harass me, this is a running tradition that we do with every kill.

I drank the blood and then painted my face with it.