Gear is great, BUT you need to get in the field!

[bikerdavet]

So my two cents. I have hunted since I was a little kid and I am kinda old now. Can’t run up and down the hills like I used to. I started hunting the west in 1972. I don’t think we even had GMU’s then. We did a lot of scouting and camping and running the trails for big mule deer and elk. But our equipment was so much different than today’s. And access – that is a whole story in itself. So somewhere in the early 1990’s my career started overtaking my ability to hunt. By 1999 (Y2K) my hunting was down to going to a blind in Texas or Alabama or getting a chance to hunt some birds. Now it’s 2013, I just moved back to Colorado and my career is such that I can again start scouting and hunting in the mountains. But everything has changes – gear, access, licensing. When I found Rokslide it was just the thing I needed to start filling that gap of gear, access, species and where to effectively find knowledgeable folks like Luke and Becca, Ryan and Aron to name a few and then folks like SHFT who sends out an invite to meet Andy Ross, meets you at the shooting range and adds a warm welcome – then he sends you advice when he see you respond to a classified just cause he wants you to choose wisely. I appreciate the folks who take gear and methodology to the field and report back. I can find all the hub bub I want on other forums if that is what I want. Please – keep Rokslide in the spirit it was created for. I have a kid – she is 7. This year I am taking her scouting and camping and introducing her to archery. I feel a sense of duty to pass on the heritage my dad passed on to me. Outdoorsman and hunters who steward as conservationist and appreciate the creation we were given. To be able to do that I need a community of knowledgeable people who can guide me so her experience is enhanced and a community I can introduce her to. In the future I will try to remember this. But I am still going to be a little facetious. Just Say’n.

 

[stephen b]

To add one comment to the gear and field experience issue. Now I personally do love to use good gear and have changed it up over the years.

But.... some of the best hunters that I know here that are successful every year use tried and trusted gear that would be considered ancient to most here on this site. And I am sure that a lot of fellas know people in their own areas that are the same way. If most of the very successful guys I know posted pics of their gear- or their gear lists- well lets just say most of it, if not all of it would not make the top lists of what guys are using here. Plus most of them do not know about this site; or even much about the "internet"

So, yes field experience is a lot more important than what gear you are using. But good and trusted gear helps to enjoy the experience. And I do like reading about guys exploits and reading about what gear they use. But I like getting out more.

 

[crumy]

I agree that there has to be some integrity and full disclosure about posts but that is on the individual and we are all accountable to keep things in check when we see incorrect items and help educate and pass on information. But as this is the Internet and a free forum, there is some due diligence on the consumer of the information.

I have only been hunting out West for 4 years and 2013 was my first true back country hunt. Think I was well prepared, had appropriate gear, and I can say that I owe A LOT of it to rokslide and people here. This is a good "community". What I like is, I have yet to see a "you should do a search before posting that question" or visible disrespect to another member. Now whether that is because everyone here are just standup people or they are afraid aron will come visit them I don't know... but I do know I like it and have my hunting buddies about rokslide. I feel that I can trust most of the information I find on here.

 

[luke moffat]

But.... some of the best hunters that I know here that are successful every year use tried and trusted gear that would be considered ancient to most here on this site. And I am sure that a lot of fellas know people in their own areas that are the same way.

You know Robby Denning too?

 

[Matt Cashell]

Now that's funny Luke!

 

[DeepMauka]

This thread makes me happy. Glad to know I wasn't the only one who was bothered by the T and G phenomenon.

I was thinking of suggesting something to the effect of if you haven't killed anything in the last two years and no pictures...no comments/advice. I understand things happen and you don't always get an animal on the ground, but most guys I know that know their stuff constantly and consistently have animals on the ground.

I realize such a system wouldn't work, but something like that would be nice.
Like said before, you spend enough time here, like all other Internet forums, you figure out who actually knows what they are talking about, and who to ignore.

 

[stephen b]

You know Robby Denning too?

Unfortunately I do not. Only from what I have seen here, and he seems like a super guy. But- from what I have seen and read from him; he would fit into the type in my above post. .

And that is no disrespect- in fact it is a compliment.

 

[afteamroper]

I hope I am not guilty of this! I try and make it very clear in my posts that I am a very green when it comes to back country hunting. I am just so thankful for all the advice and tips that have came from this website. I just try and give back where I can. If I have lead someone in the wrong direction I am sorry.

 

[Justin Crossley]

I don't think Aron is looking to limit people from posting, but rather wants to ensure honesty and authenticity from people who post on subjects. This site is still way better than the majority of them out there when it comes to posers and negativity.

My thoughts exactly. Keep up the good work Rokslide staff!

 

[ScottR_EHJ]

I don't think this thread is meant to discourage anyone from posting. Its more about giving honest assessments about gear you have significant time with.

 

[Aron Snyder]

I don't think this thread is meant to discourage anyone from posting. Its more about giving honest assessments about gear you have significant time with.

Exactly.... Gear, field craft, tactics

Comment on what you know, not what you've overheard from someone else.

 

[Becca]

I don't think this thread is meant to discourage anyone from posting. Its more about giving honest assessments about gear you have significant time with.

I don't think Aron is looking to limit people from posting, but rather wants to ensure honesty and authenticity from people who post on subjects. This site is still way better than the majority of them out there when it comes to posers and negativity.

This is exactly how I interpret this, as a reminder to everyone to keep the forum positive and to encourage people not to post reviews of gear they haven't actually used! We all use different equipment in different situations, terrain, locations and weather, and for different lengths of time. I don't think we want to discourage anyone from sharing their experiences, but I do think it's important to mention how much you have used something (or NOT), particularly when you are advising other people to spend money on a particular product. I feel like the threads that go something like "I just opened the box and used it in my living room, and ***** is the very best pack/jacket/boots/tent/whatever made, everyone should have one!!!" Actually undermine the value of the quality products they are intending to promote. I don't have a problem with folks posting occasional first impressions of new stuff, but I do typically give a lot more weight to reviews from people who demonstrate that they have actually spent considerable time using items in the field. This shouldn't discourage people with less experience from posting, but it should discourage all of us from trying to be "so much cooler online"

Rokslide is the only online community where I feel comfortable, largely due to the fact that members here are respectful and encouraging towards one another. Thus
Rokslide is the only outdoor site where I regularly post and participate. Thanks to everyone who is a part of this community, and let's all work to keep it the best that it can be.

 

[Lukem]

I'll admit there's probably been a few times when I've posted over my pay grade, but hopefully those have been rare. Probably not as rare as I'd like, but always learning...

The issue with this thread is that those that think they're experts will continue to post and assume this is directed at others.

 

[hflier]

I'll admit there's probably been a few times when I've posted over my pay grade, but hopefully those have been rare. Probably not as rare as I'd like, but always learning...

The issue with this thread is that those that think they're experts will continue to post and assume this is directed at others.

Funny, and sadly true.

 

[crumy]

The issue with this thread is that those that think they're experts will continue to post and assume this is directed at others.

But I stayed at a holiday inn express.

 

[tipsntails7]

I have to say I am a member of quite a few forum sites and this is the best one because of all the knowledge that is here. It's rare to find people that take the obsession of hunting as far as we do. Anyone who has lived out of a pack for a week understands the mental strain that puts you in, he'll 2 days trips in the pouring rain with no game in sight can be extremely discouraging. But I agree, comments should be made with experience not hearsay. But I take everything I read I. The internet (and told for that matter) with a grain of salt. And what works for some guys doesn't work for others. Heck a guy stepping down from a kifaru to a Kuiu pack may think the Kuiu carries awful, but a guy coming in from a badlands will think its a dream.

Everything I read on here is a guide line, nothing is gospel till I've tried it myself. An example is a ton of guys on here run the timberline bags, I've never hunted with this particular bag but I've hunted with several other bags that are similar, huge CI with few if any pockets, now guys on here will tell me this is the greatest bag till they are blue in the face. But from my experience I hate it, I love pockets not pullouts, but that's jus me.

So I guess this is my long winded way of saying I don't ever trust just a post, it has to come with real world experience from me before I buy into something or not.

 

[Jager]

I agree completely with Becca's comments and Lukem's last one, you are quiet right there mate, but I guess everyone is entitled to an opinion.

The forum here is a bit of a conundrum really, most are gear nuts, and with the friendly atmosphere, people feel comfortable talking up gear even if they havn't really given it a good going over, each to their own though.

I am a bit surprised that this has been put on the Admin teams shoulders. They shouldn't really be expected to 'enforce' this type of thing imo.

Obviously if people are pming them, they have read a post for what it is worth, or not worth and taken exception to it, so what if we don't agree, I am sure most can read between the lines.

Everyone has something to offer in some way, shape or form, and no one is necessarily an expert in everyone's eyes.

We all continue learning through our adventures, and every time we are in the bush something new will pop up and our once held, firm beliefs will be challenged.

 

[Darren Best]

A few years ago when I first started putting together the gear I needed to pursue backpack hunting, I lurked, read and asked questions and invested a significant amount of money on one thing that was highly recommended. Without digging deep enough I had fallen for the hype from koolaid drinkers high on brand loyalty and discovered to my dismay that this particular item didn't work so hot for me, in fact it sucked pretty bad. Instead of admitting to myself it sucked I kept trying to make it work because I was embarrassed that I had spent so much money on it and after all, the internet experts said it was awesome.

What I like so much about Rokslide is the vast amount of real world experience and the willingness to share that knowledge without having an attitude about it, this is hands down the nicest forum I visit.

 

[Wrongside]

Ryan and I have gotten a large amount of PM's, phone calls and test messages about guys posting advice on the forums with very little field experience.

We started keeping a lot better track of this a while ago, and we can see where guys are coming from with the frustration!

It's great to play with gear in the living room/front yard, but if you don't have much field use with the product, it may be a good idea to at least POST UP that you're just using "theories and guesses".

The "theories and guesses" comment actually came from a member on a recent phone call. The member was bascally saying that a few members are suffering from "T and G disease". Meaning they have very little field time with the advice they're are giving, but post of their theory/guess anyway.


We want Rokslide to be a very informational/informative website, but we want that info to be from first hand HARD use.

This just isn't about gear either! I noticed a few guys that posted something like "never use garbage bags to transport meat", but I know for a fact that some of those guys have never killed or packed out an animal. So how would they actually KNOW that using the garbage bag for transport is a bad thing? Now if a guy had a FIRST HAND bad experience with this, than post away, but if you post up info that someone told you, than that is T and G at its finest.

Hopefully this is making some sense, and all we want is good info and advice from first hand users..... NOT theories and guesses!

I'm opening this up to the court, so let me get your feedback.

Thanks everyone!

Thanks so much for stating this.

 

[boom]

i had a health inspector lecture me about using garbage bags to carry food. i had fish flllets in one from a trip. it was personal food i was dropping off for some workers. he said it was not food grade plastic. he said it was like drinking from a garden hose. well, i've done that too.

whatever floats your boat..it is probably safe, but i remember that guy talking to me about it. now i do have big plastic food safe bags fish mongers use. no BPA's..i get them for free from a buddy.

as far as the rest of the topic..i cant believe it generates PM's to the moderators. maybe we are too friendly? a quick and simple.."i call BS" may be worth the effort. no?