Lamentations

[Anonymous]

#4729

I am a member of another forum board that is primarily populated by bowhunters. The vast majority of these hunters are using compounds and crossbows, mechanical heads, etc. They are also into using bait, decoys, and any other gadget, gizmo, or the latest “lethal weapon” to lure in only “trophy bucks” (a.k.a., “hammers”, “studs”, “pigs”, “monsters”). An equally vast majority try to film every hunt, to chat and forum check from their stands using “smart phones”, to ask advice on every aspect of the hunt (i.e., “what’s the best day to be out this week?”, “is the rut on in this county/area?”)

There is not a single day that goes by that at least one does not post up questioning their shot placement. Most often the shot placement is incredibly poor, with a staggering number of lost deer. Tracking, at least without a blood trailing dog on call, seems a completely foreign concept. Never is there another option other than “back out; wait overnight and hope the foxes/coyotes don’t get it”; weather be damned whether it will rain or whether the temps will cause spoilage.

I’ve yet to hear a single member discuss anything other than recovering the rack, if even that, and what meat is brought out is taken to a butcher to be ground into burger or made into sausage.

As to bowtuning, well, that’s something that a shop has to do, and of course it has to involve a mechanical head (“Rage” is all the rage). Using anything other than the latest “battle ready” super-ultra-cam “vertical bow”, or preferably a scoped, ultra-high-end crossbow is simply not done. At least, no more so than not sitting over a corn pile texting and chatting about how awesome the bait is this year – or how strange it is that the “rut” doesn’t have bucks just falling from the sky – or whether the “hunter” should have used this additive – or why a “hammer” hasn’t shown up on the dozens of trail cameras set out just over the weekend. Everything requires advice and agreement, as if the collective needs to approval all actions.

Case in point: one other member posted a slow motion video of a shot made last night on a very nice buck. The video clearly shows the buck crouching (“jumping the string”) INTO the path of the arrow and the arrow passing through mid-low in the chest, quartering away slightly. Basically, a double-lung shot with a possibility of hitting the heart or major arteries; as good a shot as one can reasonably expect. The member posted the video FROM HIS STAND to ask for advice. The advice “back out, get him in the morning, and hope the foxes haven’t eaten too much”. All this before ever checking for signs of a hit, blood trail, or attempting to follow up.

Comparatively, I never hear or read that babble on trad sites. There is no “warfare” mentality on the game. There is no, or little, horn porn; no insistence on gear over ability; no group think about what one should do in the field during the hunt. Instead, it is about how to become a better traditional archer, how to become better in the field, how to better utilize concepts (EFOC) and do everything yourself (tuning, arrow building, etc.). I have yet to read/hear of a lost game animal, and very rarely see any gratuitous, and tastelessly done, trophy/kill pics (the ever-present tongue out, blood everywhere, and of course on the back of the ATV “glamour shot”).

Is archery and hunting becoming that espoused elsewhere? Are those of us that enjoy the hunt, and the challenge of doing things ourselves, a dying breed? Is the marketing and gadgetry more important than the experience and the fieldcraft? If so, what have we become? If not, how do we get back what it is that we’ve seemingly lost and how do we bring others to discover the same?

I joined that forum to gain some insight into hunting a particular species that I knew nothing about, and have learned a bit (at least enough to get started). Unfortunately, what I am learning now is something I wish I had not come to know.

Anyway, thanks for tolerating this bit of a diatribe. Any thoughts?

[mhay]

#33270

It’s pretty much the same way here in Ohio ,,,in my experience s talking with the HIGH TECH crowd .

I really appreciate your post, along with this site , and the many like minded Trad shooter/hunters than generally prefer simplicity and skill over a kill.

I have been told on many occasions ,concerning my choices for hunting equipment ,,’YOU AIN’T KEEPIN’ UP WITH TECHNOLOGY’,,,,,,,,,I don’t intend to either .

[Don Thomas]

#33275

Sad but true. I’m old enough to remember when I automatically felt a certain kinship with anyone identifying himself as a bowhunter, and was seldom disappointed. That was a long time ago. Suggestions? Sure. Find another website–like this one. Don

[Mathew Carothers]

#33414

I agree with the ‘tech crowd’ comment. The traditional muzzleloader board that I read is alot like this one here; it’s all about bushcraft and hunting. No ‘whack em and stack em’ nonsense.

I think we are in a time where technology rules. We have whole generations who have grown up in the virtual world so their perspective on everything is through that lens. I don’t think I can blame anyone for that, really, though I don’t want to be involved. I have personally been talked down to because I am not on facebook and twitter and whatever else, and frankly, I’m ok with that. Even if my employer didn’t advise against being on social media, I wouldn’t want to be there.

The only tweeting I want is the birds in the trees.

[Ralph]

#33586

“The only tweeting I want is the birds in the trees”.

Yep and my face only into the wind!

[paleoman]

#33623

I agree with what you say, but I think a lot, if not most web talk is cheap. I meet all kinds of people here on public land in S Mi. during bow season and I can’t think of one jerk I’ve met. Most seem like honest Johns no matter the tool they use. Almost to the man they light up when they see my bow and a few have even commented it’s refreshing to see traditional gear. One word I absolutely despise is calling small whitetail bucks “dinks”. God I hate the ignorance in that attitude. Too much marketing I agree has an effect upon an empty head, but still, most people I’ve met in the woods over the decades gave been great.

[Ralph]

#33660

Paleo, I too have a dislike, on the opposite end of the spectrum, and that’s when bucks are referred to as “shooters”. What happened to “that’s a good buck” or “nice deer” or “boy he’s a good’n” or even “I think I’ll take him”. Calling a buck a “shooter” just shows no respect for the animal to me. It only reflects the “trophy” aspect of hunting, not the “hunting” aspect of hunting. IMHO

[paleoman]

#33673

R2 wrote: Paleo, I too have a dislike, on the opposite end of the spectrum, and that’s when bucks are referred to as “shooters”. What happened to “that’s a good buck” or “nice deer” or “boy he’s a good’n” or even “I think I’ll take him”. Calling a buck a “shooter” just shows no respect for the animal to me. It only reflects the “trophy” aspect of hunting, not the “hunting” aspect of hunting. IMHO

I’m with you on that one too!

[Col Mike]

#33680

Three days ago while sneaking down the gravel road ready to cross hard surface before the woods there at the corner in the weeds was the body of a very beautiful doe—back straps and one ham taken the rest left–hide peeled back, marked by a red rag used to wipe the hands. Rage and cry at the same time. This was murder not hunting–likely spot lighted. DNR said thanks for the report. Sean–I know what you are saying–not sure the solution or if there is one. Sad commentary on our species:evil:

Semper Fi

Mike

[Mathew Carothers]

#33689

This just feeds the anti hunter bozos, like the ones threatening the tv hunter Melissa Bachman for killing the lion. It’s a constant battle with those people to try to convince them that this is not the norm.

[Ralph]

#33692

Mike that’s terrible. You know if they were just hungry and needed food they’d have taken all. ***holes. When I was traveling to Denver City, Tx. way early one Monday morning, that is sandhill country around Morton and Plains, and until a few years ago it was totally unknown about for the monster mule deer bucks in the area, 30+”, I passed a deer down on the side of the road. Curious I turned round to check it thinking maybe road kill. Sure enough, shot from the road and the antlers were sawed off at the base. 2 1/2″ or so across. Must have been an outstanding deer. No meat taken. Amateurs too I’m thinking by how they took his antlers. ***holes too.

[Col Mike]

#33705

Ralph

Yeah a–holes, 3 busted last night on local news today, 52yr old man, 24yr old guy, and 18 yr old girl all with .222 and spotlight. Makes you wonder about the mentor program in this county. Will follow the case and hope they get max fine–believe they have already lost guns and pickup:twisted:

Anyway this site and you all shine as a beacon of hope, just keep plugging along and don’t let the a–holes think they can get away with it. As you can imagine I’m not invited to the many “sportsmen clubs” around here:D

Semper Fi

Mike

[William Warren]

#33709

Don’t get me wrong I don’t agree with much of todays attitude in the outdoor “sports” especially hunting and fishing. Oh yes this same stuff is all over fishing too. But I must say as a 50 something I have spent some time observing and learning about the other generations particularly in the workplace but also in every other aspect of life. Some things jumped out at me in your post, particularly the use of mobile devices and social networking. Millenials literally grew up with a joystick or computer or phone in their hands. They invented one handed texting and what you described as “Group Think”. This type of social collaboration was unheard of in our time when the individual and individual accomplishment was most valued. Also it is not a far stretch to understand their infatuation with Tech Gear and beleiving that the right gear can overcome experience. Heck it always worked on PlayStation. Fortunately there are a few that trickle over to experience Trad shooting and hunting usually after realizing they really need more of a challenge.

As for this old man? I say one mans “dink” is another mans trophy!

[Mathew Carothers]

#33716

did anyone else just flashback to high school lit class and ‘1984’?

I just got chills.

[shirikahn]

#34544

I fortunately have had little personal experience with wanton waste of such a valuable resource. But I hear people talk of it and see posts of such activities constantly here in Washington and on the internet! It disgusts me to say the least. When I was a teen in Alaska such activities by our locals never happened…or at least weren’t publicized. Personally I don’t care for huge racks…they are too tough to eat, even boiled lol! I’ll take what my family eats. Isn’t that what it’s about, anyway?

Shirikahn

[Mark Turton]

#35379

Read the original post and have been giving this some thought, moral values aside, I believe these people are little more than a product of the age.

They are team players and as such need the approval of the other members of their team, this also makes them reliant and continually seeking the approval of other members. The smart phone in their pockets allows them to do this and ensures that they are never isolated from the team. They will also be constantly assaulted by promotions from equipment manufacturers and therefor be dressed the same and carrying the same tools because not to do so they will be out of ‘uniform’ and no longer be considered a team player and without the team where are you, alone, and nobody wants to be alone do they?

The sad thing is that there is no room for individuals, self reliance and originality in their world, the only measure of success are trophy’s. We have here Photo Galleries but when I look at the pictures its the faces of the hunters I see and the effort they have made to be successful and that I applaud, we also have Scenic, Camp & Field and Family that highlight Traditional values.

I don’t think I have added anything to the debate but it does make me appreciate the other folks here a lot more.

Mark.

[1shot]

#35732

I must visit the same site Forager, some of the questions, posts from the tree asking for advice, and the quest for the hottest, newest gear simply amaze me. The trad forum gets 5 replys to a hunters post, but let someone ask about 1 or nocks and their into 2pages of replys from the ‘experts”.

Individual woodsmanship is sorely lacking in A LOT of folks that carry a bow/crossbow,other arms into the woods and forests, it is not something that can be learned from a TV show, youtube or a forum. Hints, ideas, methods maybe, but you have to “live it’ to be it…

I only shoot mature Deer now, my choice, but it doesn’t distract from my enjoyment of the hunt, being there channeling my inner hunter, seeing the sights of nature, using my skills,is my enjoyment.

. I do post photos after the hunt, share my thoughts on the where/when/how in the spirit of helping another hunter.

Mark, I feel the same about this site, a great membership of folks that can share their love of not only the outdoors, hunting with trad gear, but without all the drama… (Though that thread on “Yoga’ did make me do a double-take hehehe)

[Author]

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