ever feel a little guilty?

[littlebuf]

ill probably get hammered pretty hard for this, but what's new. in observing the current trend of in the industry I've had a few thoughts occur to me. am I contributing to the detriment of the exact thing I love doing the most on web sites such a these? I'll explain, every body and there brother is a "super ultra extreme backpack, backcountry, high country, wilderness ultimate hunter" now, and quite frankly I've seen a few that have no business being out there but they sure have all the right gear. (im not naming or eluding to any one in particular, ill get flamed enough with out that) so this web site sometimes makes me feel a little guilty like im contributing to just crowding up once uncrowned areas. its really a double edged sword for me because I love what I do and love to be a part of the discussions and reviews and all that goes with it. just wondering if any of you share the same little twinge of guilt as we watch this web site grow daily? I know the comments that are coming, go deeper, yup got that covered im not shy about the middle of no where. what else, oh yeah work harder than the next guy, yup I can work pretty hard, if you need references I guess I can provide them. but that's not what im talking about, im getting to the core of the issue. too many fan boys in the backcountry or am I just a dick? should be a spirited discussion at any rate.

 

[Hardstalk]

I enjoy sites like this for all the different input you encounter. I think this is a common ground for "fan boys" there may be a majority census of folks that lean heavily towards one company rather than another. But this site has different inputs and there all pretty valid on all different manufacturers. I rarely see people bash companies (I know that not what you were referring to) but on other site you get alot of that. Also, although the member count is climbing, its still the same familiar faces that are active. I dont think overcrowding here or the backcountry will really be an issue. The fact is the animals are where you find them.

 

[muleman]

Trends seem to come and go. I don't see what I perceive as the "fan boys" trend sticking. I think that there are those of use who feel like they were born a couple hundred years too late and we feel more comfortable in nature than in town. HARDcore back pack hunting is hard. It takes a lot of effort and I think that once the a lot of people realize it, 5 miles in and 4000 feet of elevation doesn't have the same draw. Especially when you have a few hundred pounds of meat to get out.

There are also those who are new and naive but really want to learn. I don't mind sharing my experiences with those people. Some how we need keep the sport going.

I've been involved in Scouting for 30 plus years a leader for half of those. Let me tell you like you don't already know, hunting and fishing is loosing to digital! If we can't keep people involved we are going to end up loosing too. I would rather help those that are coming up to love and appreciate the outdoors like I do. Otherwise I might t run into some rude ignorant "fan boy" in the woods and that would just ruin the trip right there. Or worse yet we have our outdoor rights taken from us from the majority.

 

[Rick Leathley]

Its not guilt you feel but inadequacy

Backpack hunting makes you feel special. The more people that do it the less special you feel. Especially people that your feel physically superior too. Leading to your feelings of inadequacy.

 

[littlebuf]

Backpack hunting makes you feel special. The more people that do it the less special you feel. Especially people that your feel physically superior too. Leading to your feelings of inadequacy.

WTF are you talking about?

 

[Hardstalk]

WTF are you talking about?

With all do respect, and I mean with all do respect... The first post was a bit vague, I wouldn't expect direct answers your going to get some different opinions on this one for sure!

 

[luke moffat]

Fanboy here guilty as charged!!!

I do hear what you are saying. However, overall I like to help as well as learn from folks which is why I particpate here. In reality I'm not all that worried about having to compete with the other fanboys out there, either they are for real and know their stuff and get after as well or they just buy all the super cool gear and only go on a single week long hunt all year. Not much you can do but compete with the real guys that get it done, and the poses will still be on here during hunting season wondering which sleeping pad they should take for their 2014 hunt.

 

[Rick Leathley]

WTF are you talking about?

WFT are you talking about...

Are you feeling guilty that you think "you're" contributing to the over crowding of the back country? Are you feeling guilty that you have to compete with more people in your hunting area? Are you feeling guilty that out of shape guys decked out in Kifaru/kryptek are hunting the same area you do?

Honestly your post didn't make me feel you felt guilt. It felt like a Jab at someone while not "eluding to any one in particular"...

 

[Carlin59]

My position on this is that the backcountry hunting lifestyle is generally received in a much more favorable light by the at-large voting populace than the sedentary hunting styles that much of the public perceives as hunting. I think even non-hunters respect and can understand that chasing an elk on 1000s of acres of rugged public terrain is a little different than the hunting arms race back east of outbidding your neighbor for a key lease and seeing who can plant the biggest food plot or who can build a blind that could double as a summer home. This isn't a knock on that style. I'm a WI native, and there like many places, small-parcel treestand-sitting is not only an effective option, but often the only option due to a lack of public land. That being said, I believe that backcountry hunting represents the best of everything that hunting has to offer, from the work, knowledge, investment, and dedication just to get one's self in position, to the skill and determination needed to pull a successful hunt off and to ensure the meat makes it into the freezer.

Long story short, I think that backcountry hunting is excellent for the future success of hunting overall. If the perception of the "typical" hunter can be shifted away from the worst slob stereotypes towards something resembling a modern day mountain man or native person (hunting for food as much as sport, closer connection to the land), I think our sport and access is helped in the long run. As long as those who pursue it actively are either prepared for it (or prepared to accept the consequences of not preparing adequately), encouraging other hunters to try the backcountry style may ensure our own opportunities to enjoy this lifestyle down the road.

And who knows, maybe the prices on some UL gear may drop as volume increases? A guy can dream, right?

Cody

 

[littlebuf]

*sigh* I guess ill spell it out. do you think these sites help or hurt wilderness hunting in regards to pressure/quality. could you really not read that in between the lines? mike told me this weekend I don't have any "tact" what ever that means so maybe I messed up the first post

 

[littlebuf]

And who knows, maybe the prices on some UL gear may drop as volume increases? A guy can dream, right?

Cody

the bright spot I keep hoping for is loaded classifieds when guys start eating tags and realizing its a real hard way to hunt

 

[HellsCanyon]

too many fan boys in the backcountry or am I just a dick? should be a spirited discussion at any rate.

If they've hiked into the backcountry I wouldn't classify them as a "fanboy" at all. I'll help out with gear and guns and what works for me, but very very rarely do I give out info on areas or wilderness areas. They just aren't big enough to chance someone getting directed into some of the areas that I hunt in this state.

I think that it depends on where you hunt... for the amount of WA hunters we have on here I can feel your anxiety that our wilderness areas are only going to get more crowded. Though I haven't seen any more people in the high country since this websites creation so for now I'll try to stay positive and think this website is good for us!

Mike

 

[Shrek]

I'll be the first to tell you I'm fake'n it til I'm make'n it. Most of the guys you are talking about all decked in the right gear will either get the experience to be 100% real or fall out in a year. If guys are showing up in your area that are fat , out of shape , and just posers then maybe you are not all that and a bag of chips yourself. Maybe strech out to new and more rugged places and separate yourself from the chaff.
I'm not the uber backpack hunter but at one time I was the man when it came to fishing. I got much more satisfaction from showing others how to do what I did then I ever could proving how much better I was. Just because there are more people out there trying doesn't mean that your opportunities are diminished , it just means you will have to work a little harder to take advantage of them.

 

[ckleeves]

*sigh* I guess ill spell it out. do you think these sites help or hurt wilderness hunting in regards to pressure/quality. could you really not read that in between the lines? mike told me this weekend I don't have any "tact" what ever that means so maybe I messed up the first post

I think they hurt it plain and simple. I look at high country deer hunting as a good example. 10 years ago a few people did it but it wasn't even close to as popular as it is now. What changed? Magazine covers and people posting pics on the net of big fuzzy antlered bucks in timberline basins.

Be prepared to have a bunch of people call you selfish, I got a good lashing on the paid scouting thread.

 

[Rick Leathley]

*sigh* I guess ill spell it out. do you think these sites help or hurt wilderness hunting in regards to pressure/quality. could you really not read that in between the lines? mike told me this weekend I don't have any "tact" what ever that means so maybe I messed up the first post

Its not tact you lack in the first post, it was the ability to express yourself clearly.

On a whole I think the more people that hunt like us" Rok sliders" like to hunt the better. I think it well hopefully lead to more conservation and protection of habitat. I was into backpacking a few years before I started Backpack hunting. Steve Renilla's show on the travel channel is what got me to put the 2 together.

Remote location are probably getting more pressure then they used to.

 

[Shrek]

It is selfish.

 

[Daniel_M]

Neither. I consider half the "hunters" here in Alaska as guys who barely step off a maintained roadway. Add in a little ambition and a few good picks in gear and I'm already 3 steps ahead.

You can arm a guy with the best of weapons but if he can't use it properly, it's worthless.

 

[orionsbrother]

So, are these fanboys rolling in on ATV's or are they hiking in just like you? When you say that they don't belong, is it because they are novices or don't meet some other standards? Have you had some sort of conflict in one of your hunting areas with a fanboy? To follow some of Luke's train of thought ; When work and family issues reduce hunting time, does that downgrade someone's status?

Or are you just expressing this because someone that you perceive as inferior showed just as much heart as you getting into an area and they had some stuff that you wish you had? I see a lot of guys with gear that I wish that I had.

 

[Buster]

Littlebuf, i hate seeing anyone else while I'm hunting, but love talking about backpack hunting and anything related to it with anyone who will listen. Pretty much shooting myself in the foot. It is pretty cool to see young/new pack hunters as they develop tho.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[ckleeves]

It is selfish.

Oh I agree 100%. I just thought it was hilarious being called selfish. Hunters are all selfish and rightfully so. I really doubt you post adds in your local newspaper about where you saw a big deer, caught a big fish etc.

It's a limited resource with tags, areas to hunt, etc. More people=less opportunity.