Yeah, well… used to be we had a government to be proud of, too. Nothing is gonna change. In fact, it will get worse. But hey… don’t let it get you down. Nobody is telling us we can’t do what we do…yet.

At the risk of offending—we didn’t have a gov. that we could be proud of–we have a government —that we elected!

The most important freedom that we have is that our individual voices are important–but you have to speak up to be heard—and save us from the double speak politicians from either party. Demand accountability and I believe we will get it.

And back on thread–mystery, perhaps our founding fathers had a clue:roll:

Semper Fi

Mike

Hard to believe that this practice is remotely legal – but I’ve seen some pretty strange practices in the piney woods over the years. The bigger treachery remains ATV’s and any other conveyance that strips the “fair” from “chase.” My money is on BHA and organizations like them that take the fight to the hearings, meetings, and legislative process. Of course, a well placed projectile would down one of these “birds” as easily as the feathered type…

gmccloskey wrote: Hard to believe that this practice is remotely legal – but I’ve seen some pretty strange practices in the piney woods over the years. The bigger treachery remains ATV’s and any other conveyance that strips the “fair” from “chase.” My money is on BHA and organizations like them that take the fight to the hearings, meetings, and legislative process. Of course, a well placed projectile would down one of these “birds” as easily as the feathered type…

X2 – I agree with the ATV statement!

Clay –

I have not seen it yet with that type of aircraft,but had heard and read that some of the big Deer & Elk outfitters were using them {get one up on the Competition – us}Know of some guides using small aircraft for same. Here in the SW, AZ especially during Elk season. One person in the camp will have a tag and have 6 “friends” to help him. So fewer tags to limit the human impact isn’t working as invisioned. they have a lot of ATVs too.

The more Technology {early archery now having a high kill rate as mentioned} we use to chase Game will see the end of support, from the majority of Non Hunters who currently “go along” with Hunting. Whether “they” should have a say in it or not from our viewpoint, doesn’t matter as they can and will be a decisive factor in the future.

I am a member of BHA as I believe all of us here should be.

I also believe we should all exhibit as high an ethical example as possible. Show respect for the animals always. To include the proper way to transport and especially record our hunts { read Photos }. If done with good taste one can use the photo album to influence others to take up bowhunting or at the least, see it as a legitimate endeavor.

There be “Dragons” ahead. Go properly “Armed to do Battle”

Scout

I haven’t reached the back of the magazine yet, but at least I have a preview now. IMHO, I have actually (without really meaning to) started to distance myself from “hunting”. I don’t mean that I don’t hunt. I mean that when I am asked if I hunt, I specify that I use a longbow. It’s actually a bit funny as hunters and non-hunters alike seem to be totally fine with that fact. Aside from the few hard-core PETA-types I have run into, no one seems to have an ethical concern (leaving wounded animals, deer looking like pin cushions, etc) with that. I think that based on the type of people that traditional bow hunters are (at least from what I have seen and heard), the people have developed a good (accurate and well-deserved) picture.

Not to put the COL on the spot (with all due respect Sir…) but here is part of a quote from ColMike from another thread (the one on Barta):

colmike wrote:

…Best I could say-don’t worry about the other persons choices–follow your thoughts–accomplish the mission and take care of your troops. All else is a soap opera. You will find that with age and wisdom that other behaviors are worthy of your contemplation–but not your time.

Again, with all due respect Sir, I humbly disagree. To give the slobs free passes is to see our way of life destroyed.

(This is the part where I try to tie it together.)

As I said above, I have been inadvertently distancing myself from the “typical” hunter. I know there are hundreds of thousands of good, legal, ethical hunters who do not use traditional gear, but the 80% of the public that does not hunt may not understand that. So I guess I have started a crusade to say: “here is who I am and what I believe”. While there may be a place for UAVs (scouting hundreds of square miles in remote Alaska, for example), it’s not for me. I really choose to “hunt the hard way” and am happy with my choice. So when someone comes up to me and starts with, “You hunters…”, I can cut them off and say, “Check yourself, and don’t group me in with people who don’t share my ideals”.

In a way I feel bad about distancing myself from a group that is probably 99% filled with good honest folks who respect the animals and environment every bit as much as anyone here, but what’s left?

Be well.

Alex

🙁

My money is on BHA! it is also on elected officials who champion wild, public land. They do exist! In New York we had gov. Pataki.

In their shows and ads, the High tech hunting industry loves that paramilitary look and tactics and goes to “war” with animals, so I’m not surprised we arrived at the drone stage. Sad.

To me the mystery is one of the parts of hunting that helps me keep learning when i am out in the woods. I am not surprised in this day and age that people worship technology to get an edge after all while it is supposed to enable us technology also speeds us up and leaves us less time to do other things. I don’t hate technology the problem is the lack of balance so many people have.