I agree, and if that's what his talk is targeting, then he needs to maintain that consistent tone. But he does not. He consistently detours from it and takes little jabs at the average successful hunter and its off-putting and comes off as something resembling jealousy. If his talk is about influencers and showing things on SM, then he needs to stay the course.
I would be shocked if the average social media influencer has the same intentions as you however. Many of them are focused on smoking a booner or whatever the new catchphrase is and the subsequent grip and grin is the goal, not the meat. What to do with the meat afterwards is an afterthought/possibly viewed as a burden, instead of your mindset which seems like it's an opportunity to help. If it was just about helping others, they'd be shooting cows and spikes like many meat hunters do (where/when legal). I would also say that your situation isn't average, and likely not what he's talking about when he's talking about multiple kills per year for one person/family. But I ain't him so that's just conjecture.
Being in AK, I think you have a different overall experience and perspective. Your motives might also be different from who I interpret the issue of gluttony was directed at.
Send this to Matt in an email and see what he thinks. [email protected]
These guys/ gals, especially cammy. Taking 4,5,6 monster bulls a year is a joke. How can it be about feeding your family when you have 1200-2000 lbs of elk meat for empty nesters… I’m glad he addressed that. I think it has gotten to the point where people are hogging opportunities and tags. I see guys on the forums going on 2-4 elk hunts a year. I get they might not be harvesting on all trips, but I’ve thought for a while you should be able to have 1 elk tag out west a year. I limit myself to 2-3 tags max (elk, deer, bear/ antelope). No matter if I just hunt Co or I’m hunting out of state. Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. I think Matt has a good kind of unpopular but needed message
Eh, while this is social media. I would say dedicated hunting sites posting a hunt story with a kill for other hunters, maybe some of which helped you out with info or ideas is very different than throwing it up on Instagram or facebook. I don’t have social media outside of Rok/MM. also I think if people stumble upon this they might get hunting in a positive light, also waiting for Robby pay me for posting a picture… so the likes here aren’t monetized
I guess it's because I'm a hippie but I just can't financially exploit hunting. It's why I decided to never guide anyone for financial gain. There is just a supernumerary amount of primitive DNA in us to not be drawn to hunt IMO. I just don't agree with how commercialized the hunting industry has become and the media it puts out. I don't believe in R3, it's just to make money, they should be promoting better habitat management and quality summer range habitat. Now that wildlife agencies are proving the effects of elk/deer overlap and the negative effects it has on our mule deer populations, there should be more elk hunting opportunities in many states which is good for all of us.
I do think the greatest need is for more habitat for the animals first and foremost and secondary to that more hunting space available, I would differ with you and say winter range is a little more needed than summer, we in Co at least tend to have plenty of summer range it’s winter range that gets bought/sold and developed most. As far as the elk opportunities I think there should be plenty without jeopardizing overall herd health. And guys don’t need to have 3 plus elk tags every year, spread the love out and it would help with some of the point creep/ get guys through the system. I’m torn between my love of elk and mule deer, but I think I love elk a little more so I’m biased in that regard
I used to hunt many different animals every season and even chased elk exclusively for 10 years before I got burnt out on elk and realized the only thing I thought of constantly, even to the fault of it effecting other species I was pursuing at that time, all I wanted to do was scout and hunt for record book mule deer. I haven't looked back and have had more fun in some crazy places with my horse I can't fathom. I always couldn't put the amount of time it took to be really great at or harvest a mature animal I wanted so I just made the commitment to one thing and I love it. I agree that there should be more emphasis on tags and the amount that get distributed per individual and the point debacle.
Good for you man. I respect that a lot. Takes a lot to dedicate to one animal, a couple years back I decided I only want to ever harvest mature mule deer bucks, they are a ton of fun to chase, and have incredible instincts, but bucks come secondary to my love of bugling bulls. A close second though.
Is it also ironic that he posted the video to Youtube, or has a website or is the brother of Steven? I mean the internet, internet videos and that guys brother have been huge in this obsession with western hunting… and some could argue the overcrowding and overconsumption
I’ve listened to a podcast of his where he literally told people to go to his website and buy his merch at the end. Their website claims it’s at cost, but anyone that has ordered hats and shirts in mass quantities before can easily tell there’s profit being made on them.
He would be (and I believe has been) the first to say his brother is part of the problem.
Surely you can see the problem with that attitude.
I know, we were just talking about ironic things… I think Matt would probably appreciate that his message is getting shared. A social media hunting site is probably a great place to do it. I think we need to have hard conversations to help spur change, like should we get too many tags and the expense of others, or maybe look for new avenues to donate to promote more hunting land/room instead of shelling out bucks to the same big groups who only promote R3
He's a guide, so he has a vested interest in the status quo.
