ever feel a little guilty?

[Manosteel]

I don't think there is anything to worry about. There are areas within an hours drive from my city which are great places to hunt with lots of game, lots of variety but they are off limits to motor vehicles of any kind. You would think they would be crowded, and they are on opening day but only within a 1 mile area of any of the many staging points. After a fews days its business as usual and only the robust are still around.

95% of the hunting population do not want to pack anything into the woods that doesn't go bang much less pack anything out of woods and those that do will get any help I can provide. There are too few hunters’ period, never mind backcountry hunters. We need more or one day we will wake up with no place to hunt since the majority of the populace sees no use to hunting or worst sees it as backwards and barbaric.

As for the mountains I hunt I rarely see anyone and if I do they get my respect for making the commitment to get to where I hunt and if they are new I will assist with what I can when I can.

 

[luke moffat]

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.

That wasn't my intention to say those that only hunt a week or less are lesser hunters. It was more saying that I have run into guys that say such and such is a great item "lasted me all season". Then I try it and it fails after less than 15 days in the field, turns out there "season" was less than that, making it a bit misleading IMO. We all get out there as much as we can I believe. For some its a larger priority and take leave no pay and other things to make it happen others only get that one week and treasure it each year. Nothing wrong with either. Its all about enjoying being out there, no matter how "hardcore" you think you are there is always some one that will walk or pack you into the ground!!! Thats probably the best thing I like about "backcountry hunting" is that its not competitive, atleast for me as I'm not trying to make money off of any of my outdoor endeavors. Just get out there have fun and work at getting away from folks. I'd much rather do my chores on the weekends and hunt the weekdays to have even less of a chance of running into folks out hunting.

I apologize if it came off as saying those that only hunt X days a year are not serious hunters, that was not my intention.

 

[littlebuf]

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.

Non of this apply to me nor did I sate anybody these scenarios in my post. Good flame though

 

[Trout bum]

I got much more satisfaction from showing others how to do what I did then I ever could proving how much better I was.

I agree with Shrek's statement. I love putting someone else on fish for the first time (children and adults). It's even better than having an epic day on the water. If someone else develops a healthy passion for the outdoors and I can contribute to that in some small way I definitely do not feel guilty. When it comes to hunting I am closer to a newbie (started in 2007) so I appreciate the selfless contributions that Roksliders make. In my opinion, this site is great because people generally put their egos aside. If a new hunter wants to get good gear and learn from others here then so be it. There are more people in the area where I hunt but I still find solitude. I just have to work a little harder which makes success sweeter. That's okay by me. I would rather see more people involved in the outdoors than couch bound.

 

[fillthefreezer]

kind of interesting timing littlebuf... after spending a weekend with alot of folks in the woods with lots of $$$ tied up in gear...

 

[orionsbrother]

Luke and littlebuf - I wasn't intending to flame or accuse anyone. Only one day out of the last thirty that I haven't been at work. I may be coming across like more of a dick 'cause I'm a little more than a little twitchy.

littlebuf- have you had someone crowd you who acted like a dick? Someone beat you to your area?

 

[Rizzy]

As a healthy individual in good shape, I feel obligated to pack in as far as I can and leave the easy ones next to the road for the young, old, and handicapped. I feel I don't see nearly enough other hunters in the back country for the amount of technology, equipment, and resources (like this site) that are available. There should be a lot of hunters enjoying the back country. I like to help as much as I can for the inclined individual that's willing to help himself in the first place and I see long term value in this. Some day I will be the "old" and I hope the young leave the easy ones next to the road for me.

 

[littlebuf]

littlebuf- have you had someone crowd you who acted like a dick? Someone beat you to your area?

crowd me no, beat to a area I think every one has had that at some point and its just part of the game. the question/post a presented is not form any particular experience rather a question of the general state or trend if you would recent internet forum have taken. for example in the not to distant past guys wouldn't even mention much less talk about the high hunt here in Washington. it was some big mystery that only a select few or outfitters with horse could possible hope to accomplish. and guys that hunted it liked it that way. now youll get there gear list and food menu they use on the hunt. and like in my post its a internal conflict if I sit and really think about all the stuff I take part of on the internet. I love the forums but am I contributing the degradation of the hunting in any way. notice I said contribute not cause, I don't think im all that, maybe a bag of chips but not all that

 

[littlebuf]

kind of interesting timing littlebuf... after spending a weekend with alot of folks in the woods with lots of $$$ tied up in gear...

you sound a little paranoid bud. I was on these forums way before last Friday

 

[Hunt'nFish]

*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 it hurts. Simply because I think sites like this speed up the learning curve so much. (btw, thank for help me speed up my backpack hunting learning curve this weekend. wink.) But yeah, I hear what your saying. Learning the old fashioned way of trial & error seems so outdated in todays digital age.
Hunt'nFish

 

[littlebuf]

I think it hurts. Simply because I think sites like this speed up the learning curve so much. (btw, thank for help me speed up my backpack hunting learning curve this weekend. wink.) But yeah, I hear what your saying. Learning the old fashioned way of trial & error seems so outdated in todays digital age.
Hunt'nFish

you just explained how I feel with out offending any one. is that the "tact" thing mike was talking about?

 

[Hunt'nFish]

Tact? I respect a fella that calls it as they see it. Not every has a literary degree right?
Hunt'nFish

 

[fillthefreezer]

you sound a little paranoid bud. I was on these forums way before last Friday

while i was joking i do think you're right on. i havent been doing this for years. i dont have family that does it. i dont really even have any friends, outside of guys ive met from here that id like to consider friends, that do it. forums like this and a couple books ive read and info ive been able to glean from people i repsect is what has helped someone like me. ive never been all that interested in where to go, or anyone to hold my hand, but more of when im looking at a map, what am i looking for? learning what terrain lends itself to finding animals there.
so really, without that type of info that i was able to learn on forums, i doubt i ever would have made it past one trip

 

[fillthefreezer]

of course thats kind of the story of my life without going to deep, i fix things for a living. heavy equipment. diesel trucks. cranes. pretty much anything. im also a certified structural welder. no one in my family is even what id call handy. when i was 15 i bought an old truck. it broke down alot. i had to learn to fix it so i started reading forums and repair manuals and working on trucks...

 

[Hunt'nFish]

When I say it hurts..... I mean it hurts from a competition standpoint. Personally I'd prefer I were the only hunter in the area, aside from those in my group.
But that said, I also see sites like this and fine people like yourselves HELPING our sport by teaching the young & ignorant how to push to higher levels.
It's a double edged sword.
Hunt'nFish

 

[tstowater]

you just explained how I feel with out offending any one. is that the "tact" thing mike was talking about?

I liked the original post. It seemed to have gotten everyone's attention. I do like HnF's explanation. We are here to learn and to give. There are those here with immerse knowledge of backcountry hunting (different thread) and the how to's that is shared without reservation. Does it "shorten" the learning curve-absolutely. Does it make people better hunters-maybe. It still comes down to desire, conditioning, mental toughness and the other attributes that make up a hunter that we can all respect. Does buying the "right" gear make you a better hunter? probably not, but it might make you more comfortable and safe. Yeah, there may be more hunters in the backcountry, but I want hunters rather than not being able to hunt. With LE/high demand tags too expensive or unavailable, backcountry tags that are more available might be the only option for some. You could be considered selfish, but that's okay. I'm trying to be tactful, I could have said this in a different way.

 

[littlebuf]

I liked the original post. It seemed to have gotten everyone's attention. .

oh I got a knack for that

 

[three5x5s]

Mt Everest is haveing the same problem. Mountain climbers cant climb it because all the rich people take up the season.(unless they are a rich Mountain climber) Then they are just called rich fan boy climbers. The word Mountain Climber is only used for the climbers that are broke, with no job so they hang out at the base of the mountain all year with crappy gear they got at goodwill. NOT....Gear does not make the hunter or a climber. having the right gear can make the hunter/climber alot better. I am VERY THANKFUL to all those that give helpful advice. Hopefuly, someday I can pass that on to someone else.

 

[Shrek]

I would point out that you , littlebuf , have had your gear refined at an accelerated rate also. You are being introduced to gear and ideas that you would not have had access to without this site. The connections and ideas will more than compensate for the extra hunters you encounter in the field. Those guys you just met up with through this site may one day drop a tip that leads you to the bull of a lifetime or you may know the guy hunting in your area through here and through this connection be able to get a needed favor. This place is a home for like minded ( sometimes ) people to gather. Some are farther along than others but we are all here to take the hard road.

 

[rodney482]

I evolved into a backpack hunter.

I started out Elk hunting 10 yrs ago. Im a flat lander from IN and there hasnt been elk in my state in a few years.

Limited to 2 weeks I was not going to waste my time hiking 3 hrs in the dark each morning.

I started buying gear and reading reviews and quickly found out that I loved backpack hunting.

Sites like this are great for guys like me. (I dont mind being called a poser)

Anything that promotes our sport is good, we only have so many years on this rock.