Welcome to the site!  Interesting questions.  Only one I think you need to correct is saying what do you do with the "body" :lol:  Sounds too human.  Maybe replace it with "animal".

I am not a southern hunter, but I think any hunter across the country can answer these questions.

1) I hunt for relaxation, food, and comraderie.  There is an anticipation that goes along with being in the woods in which I can't explain.  "Buck fever" is a great thing.  It is like very few things in life.  As I said, it's very relaxing sitting in a tree, with nothing but the sounds of nature around you.  Watching the woods come alive at sunrise, or go to sleep at sunset.  Very peaceful, serene.

2) I will always eat what I shoot.  If I don't like to eat that animal, I don't believe in killing it.  Just my personal motto.  Therefore, when I kill an animal, it is cleaned (gutted), then skinned, deboned, sliced, wrapped, and frozen.  I will enjoy it year round.  Jerky, roasts, and steak fried wtih butter and onions. As for favorite season, I like them all, but archery deer season, most notably October, is the best.  There is something about being in the tree when the temperature is dropping, the leaves are changing, etc.  Lots of animals out trying to get ready for the long winter. Squirrels collecting nuts, birds with seeds, and so-on. How often?  Well, I hunt 4-5 times for archery deer, maybe one dove trip, a couple duck hunts every other year or so, 5 days of rifle season, and then I got 3-4 times for turkey in the spring.

3) I am your average hunter that hits the woods for 3-4 hours at sunrise, and 3-4 hours at sunset. Emotions?  Well, as stated before, I am at peace, yet with a nervous anticipation.  I am happy almost all the time while in the woods.  Extreme exhilleration when I am able to harvest an animal. The only thing I compare with hunting is what I do for work. 

4) Hunting has always been in my family, both on my Mom's and Dad's side of the family.  I can remember going to deer camp when I was about 6 years old, going into the woods with Dad at about 7 or 8, and my first hunt for squirrel around 12.  Since then, it's been hundreds of trips into the woods with friends and family, and many solo trips.  It is truly a way of life.  My father and I are 3,000 miles apart, but we still call each other at the end of every day during the hunting season to see how each other did.  If I have a great hunt, he is the first one I want to tell.  Maybe soon it will be my son, when he gets old enough, but right now, it's still Dad.

Sorry for the long reply, but by asking this question, you have opened the door to a "passion", not just an activity.

Savvy....Welcome....VerMonster has hit the nail on everthing he has said,would'nt disagree with anything he has said.I'll just add this,not only is it a passion but it's a privilege,one that i wont put in jepordy.One that has been pass'd down (Heritage),and i see it slowly slip' away with 2day's kid's.Like VerMonster state'd i remember as a kid (7-12) go'n with my Pop's and sit'n in tree with him.There's a Bond there that will last a lifetime,and luckly we're still build'n that bond.It's not just the kill of the game,I tell ya what,if your so INTRIGUED you need to get with a hunter and go sit out there.You dont have to have a gun,just go watch nature do it's thing.Watch the sun come up or go down.Watch a sparrow hawk catch a dove in mid air.Watch a momma coon stand on her hind leg's to check the air for preditor's.Watch a doe stroll bye then go up to some bush's and bring out a spot'd fawn.Watch the ol kowyote slip'n around look'n for something to catch.Watch the bobcat slip bye with kitten's intow.Watch the whoop'n crane's come in and do their mate'n dance.Watch the elusive buck chase'n a hot doe.It's all BeuTful!...You just dont no what your a miss'n....Sure get'n what your after is great,but to watch all of this....PriceLess....Better than sit'n on front porch an watch'n traffic or on couch an watch'n football...If it hit's the ground you can count on it hit'n the septic tank,that mean's i ate it...Ha!....Now Savvy if your dew'n what you say your a dew'n....Go....Go Savvvy....

All the above seem correct. For me, it gives a reason to get in the woods and enjoy the wildlife. If that "monster" buck does come by, it will just be the "icing on the cake".