Are we losing touch with our hunting roots?

[Southwesterner]

I recently put myself in the shoes of a prospective new hunter and it was a harrowing experience. With the HUGE emphasis on the mindset that getting the latest and greatest optic, rifle, camo, pack, boots; there’s no wonder that hunter numbers are dwindling. Not to mention an influx in folks taking unethical long range shots because their confidence was boosted by a big piece of glass on a custom rifle as opposed to quality range time. I attribute a lot of this to forgetting our roots and the real reason we should all be hunting: sustenance. Let’s be honest, the industry promotes horn hunting and very frequently utilizes images of trophy racks in advertisements. I for one, have found myself getting excited over antlers and totally forgetting the true reason of harvesting an animal: meat. What are some things we as hunters can do to refocus our community on the true meaning of hunting.

 

[Dave_]

I agree but I'll go ahead and get my popcorn out

 

[brsnow]

Hunting is personal, everyone has their own reasons and draw to it. I think you are feeling the modern idea of having to think and be like everyone else or you are an enemy of tradition.

 

[Q child]

Something that I think is really important is to share the meat that I harvest. I derive a lot of pride from inviting people over for a fresh game cookout. Always happy to share. I'll give meat away too if I trust that it'll get eaten. Maybe inspire someone to get out there, maybe provide something that they think is really special, or maybe just save them a few bucks at the grocery store.
I set up a sweet deer hanging spot and processing station at my house, so I'll invite people to hang and process their animals at my place. Keeps a steady supply of different perspectives and techniques that I can learn from. Always trying to get that little bit of extra meat out of the next animal than the last one.
Trying to make the rewards of the harvest as social as I can.

 

[EastMT]

I think shooting the oldest which is sometimes the largest is good management practices. Buy what you can afford if it’s grandpas 30-30 or $10,000 Blazer and shoot within it’s/your limits.

If you think somehow because if the internet we’ve suddenly lost our ethics, go read some of the old hunting books. We are light years ahead of shooting brown bears with 220 swift. Sure there’s bad apples, but isn’t there in every part of society?

 

[Mule3006Elk]

No right or wrong reason. I'm basically a first generation hunter. I'm creating my own tradition and bringing my son/daughter along for the ride. They will look back at "their roots" and identify our way of doing things as their tradition.

I am more interested in antlers when my freezer is full.

I think the only thing that matters, is if we as hunters, support each other. I don't have to agree with everything one does or believes, or why they do what they do, from a hunting perspective. I really only care that hunters represent our group well.

 

[Southwesterner]

Hunting is personal, everyone has their own reasons and draw to it. I think you are feeling the modern idea of having to think and be like everyone else or you are an enemy of tradition.

I run an old tasco on a beat up Savage 110 and wouldn’t trade my gear for the world. I was simply trying to visualize the industry and mindset barriers that new hunters may experience.

 

[SDHNTR]

Totally agree. This site is a perfect example of it and we’re all guilty.

 

[30338]

Hunted water holes for 3 days with a 1953 Model 94. Didn't see any bears. Then hunted a few days overlooking large acorn and berry flats with a McMillan stocked, Benchmark barreled 6.5-284. Had a big scope on it. Not sure if I hunted 3 days or if I hunted 6, it gets confusing. Based on the number of other hunters I saw in the field, I'd say our hunting heritage is doing just fine.

 

[nettereo16]

Yes, make small game hunting great again!

 

[wapitibob]

I don’t hunt for sustenance.

 

[Whiskey_Fish]

The ranks of new hunters aren’t going to come from tradition or sustenance mindsets. They’re going to come from outdoor recreation channels. Tradition is all well and good but for folks that weren’t in the good old days, what’s the point of emulating back to them? We can promote the virtues of sustenance, stewardship and conservation without claiming OnX, fancy camo, and cool gear erodes them. It doesn’t have to be one without the other.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Southwesterner]

Yes, make small game hunting great again!

Yes! Chasing rabbit and squirrel will always be my first love

 

[kda082]

It’s like that in most things I’ve enjoyed. You start where you can afford and work your way up. Part of the fun. If I’m good with this item, I’d be friggin awesome with this one $$$. Just purchased a new Mathews and remembered I could have killed any of my deer with my old Martin Jaguar I bought used.

 

[Northpark]

I like nice gear and have a full set of kuiu layers, zamberlan boots, a prime bow with sever broadheads on carbon injection arrows, a kuiu pack, a browning hell’s canyon long range .300 win mag shooting handloaded hammer bullets, a Nemo tent, a down bag, and a whole other list of cool stuff.

Mostly I shoot does/ cows. I’ll shoot something with antlers once in awhile. Heck out of the dozen elk I’ve killed only two were bulls and I only held out for a 6 point bull once. This year I hunted for a big NV mule deer and ate tag soup the rest of my tags are for cows or areas with small bucks or either sex tags. Honestly I think I enjoy the process of making meat as much as the hunting. There is something special about the feeling of coming out with a heavy pack and blood on your hands.

My point is that you can have nice gear and still have a love of hunting and meat.

 

[rob86jeep]

I think you're confusing the average Rokslide member with the average new hunter... Just because a lot of people here are chasing the latest and greatest technology, doesn't mean the average (or new) hunter is. There's nothing wrong with technology continuing to improve hobbies/activities, and it also doesn't mean that a prospect needs it all. All hobbies have people looking for the best advantage regardless of price, it's not just hunting.

 

[FLAK]

Just Hunt......your way.
I'll do the same.

 

[Southwesterner]

N

I think you're confusing the average Rokslide member with the average new hunter... Just because a lot of people here are chasing the latest and greatest technology, doesn't mean the average (or new) hunter is. There's nothing wrong with technology continuing to improve hobbies/activities, and it also doesn't mean that a prospect needs it all. All hobbies have people looking for the best advantage regardless of price, it's not just hunting.

Not confused or profiling Rokslide members- just seeking respectful, productive conversation and curious of other’s opinions on the topic.

 

[String&stick]

I think everyone needs to stop worrying about new guys and their gear. . . Some single dudes have good paying jobs and low expenses, so they buy nice stuff! Why is this a problem.

If your option as a new hunter is a Remington 770 or a custom built rifle, and you have plenty of disposable income why would you buy the 770? Just to day you did?
Would you also buy some low end barska binos inorder to learn what its like to run crap gear?

If they can afford it, let them buy it, and if they can't afford it, let them sell it to me cheap in the classifieds!!!

I'm personally not at all into the long range 800+ yrd stuff, I'm a get closer kind of guy but to each their own if they are capable.

Overall I think you have good points but knowing several new hunters they are far from daunted, and by and large they want the meat and the chance at a big rack/trophy animal just like most of us.

I'm just glad it's hunting season!

 

[Southwesterner]

I like nice gear and have a full set of kuiu layers, zamberlan boots, a prime bow with sever broadheads on carbon injection arrows, a kuiu pack, a browning hell’s canyon long range .300 win mag shooting handloaded hammer bullets, a Nemo tent, a down bag, and a whole other list of cool stuff.

Mostly I shoot does/ cows. I’ll shoot something with antlers once in awhile. Heck out of the dozen elk I’ve killed only two were bulls and I only held out for a 6 point bull once. This year I hunted for a big NV mule deer and ate tag soup the rest of my tags are for cows or areas with small bucks or either sex tags. Honestly I think I enjoy the process of making meat as much as the hunting. There is something special about the feeling of coming out with a heavy pack and blood on your hands.

My point is that you can have nice gear and still have a love of hunting and meat.

Of course- I agree with you 100% But I’d bet that you’re quite experienced and accumulated your gear over a long period of time. By no means was I insinuating that good gear equals a bad hunter. I was focusing on how I think the industry has evolved to be somewhat of a financial barrier and that to an extent, has clouded sound ethical judgement in new hunters.