Communicating on a stalk: visual signal techniques

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I use no maps,

I mainly use a map to confirm I can legally be where I am since even in national forest and stuff there are inholdings you could trespass on. Obviously if you know an area well its not really relevant. In terms of not getting lost I usually have pretty good special awareness in regards to where I came in from, etc.

 

[Bar]

Very respectable way to hunt Bar.

Thanks Robby. I knew you'd understand what I was doing.

 

[Bar]

I mainly use a map to confirm I can legally be where I am since even in national forest and stuff there are inholdings you could trespass on. Obviously if you know an area well its not really relevant. In terms of not getting lost I usually have pretty good special awareness in regards to where I came in from, etc.

I can't say i've never been lost, but I always find my way out. The more I hunt an area, the less I get lost.

 

[mtnwrunner]

I don't think B&C has a thing to do with fair chase. I believe it's a personal choice. What satisfies me would be too strict for the majority. I know i'm not even close to how others hunt, so I don't push it on others. Well, not too much anyway. Just so you know how some do it. I'll give a partial list of my hunting.

I use no aids at all. I hunt as the mountain men did in the early 1800's. To start I use an old Hawken rifle. I use no maps, GPS, Google Earth, compass etc. I use landmarks, creeks etc for navigation. I use no optics at all. This has become difficult as my vision fades, but I won't change. I use no calls at all. This applies more to elk hunting. I always still hunt and always hunt alone. Open sights of course. Camo? Not hardly. No scent? Nope, I play the wind.

I started to hunt like this at 8 years old. I've never changed and i'm now still doing the same thing at 73. I've experimented with different things just to see what it was about, but I always went right back to my old way.

So, there's an old coots way of being as fair as possible to the game. Not for everybody, but it is an option for anybody it appeals to.

Awesome.

Randy

 

[TheCougar]

Okay, I'll bite. The big difference, for me, is the technological advantage it gives the hunter in 'real time'. I'm not against technology, per se, just how it's used. I have no problem with hunters using radios to check in on each other throughout the day.....using a GPS, a rangefinder, or any other gadgets providing they do not create an unfair advantage to the hunter and it's within fair chase. I don't agree with drones giving 'real time' information to a hunter during pursuit, trail cameras sending 'live feeds' to the hunter so they can respond and kill, or radios giving 'real time' information during a stalk. Either does B&C or P&Y......and I'm in support of both those clubs and what they stand for.

Bowhunting is suppose to be difficult, folks........a close range sport that puts you one on one with the animal you pursue. Success is not often and when achieved in a fair chase manner; it's very rewarding. I've been pulling bow strings for 40 years now.....longbow, recurve, compound it doesn't really matter......it's HOW you pursue that really makes the difference.

Hope everyone has a great season.

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and perspectives. It is always great to have some respectful, thought provoking conversations. I did a little research and I found out that Pope and Young prohibits radios for locating or guiding onto game, which is something I did not know before and will make me rethink my use of radios in the field. I also found this article: http://pope-young.org/comm/article_details.asp?uid=9AA97229-BD82-4B61-A169-76394FF14117

Thanks again for your perspective. I have an immense amount of respect for you guys that hunt with traditional gear and methods. I have enough difficulty being successful with my rangefinder and compound bow!!!

 

[Bar]

It's good to see you have an open mind about it. The most important thing is to please yourself. Don't be swayed too much by what others do unless what they do appeals to you.

 

[dirtytough]

We used different hand signals while sheep hunting in AK. Only tried it once and it didn't work out great.

As for the ethics thing. B&C says it's perfectly acceptable to wait until December to kill a buck that migrated out of the high country and is just trying to survive on the winter range.

Some guys that hunt traditional think it's cheating to use a compound. But according to P&Y it's still ethical. I believe even 80% let off is allowed in the book now.

My opinion is if it's legal hunt how you want. To many gray areas when it comes to ethics for anyone else to decide for you what's ethical or not.

Regards, Beanden