Thinking about how hunting changed

[akcabin]

I've been blessed to be able to spend some time in the bush. Hunting fishing pretending I know how to trap. Learning how back before electronics. I still use just a compass n map. Don't worry about a phone because where I like to hang it doesn't work. And any help probably isn't close, days away. Living the dream I am.
I'm chilling in the bush. Was wondering if any folks still go out hunting, fishing without electronics. Personally I enjoy the challenge of finding game by looking in my environment not cameras. I get kinda mixed up lost frequently because I just kinda get into the world around me. Using my senses I guess. It works for me.
You ever just grab your gun or whatever n just take off into the bush ?

 

[gbflyer]

Cabin fever? Count me in.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

It didn’t change. Plenty of people successfully hunt without electronics.

 

[LongWayAround]

That all sounds pretty nice.

I have to drive my truck to the starting point and pretty often have private land boundaries to be aware of, many of which are not clearly marked. Those of us with shooting hours to be aware of probably reference a time keeping device. If I get lost, I still have to be back at work Monday.

Sure, if I was surrounded by "bush" and no time commitments or short seasons, I would just take off into the wild. Reality is that most of us can't do that.

Even if we get dropped off in the bush, there is still a need for an electronic device to contact our ride.

 

[Pulleye16]

I have a family so the phone is a must on long trips.

Otherwise, I don’t use any other electronics. Well, my rangefinder I suppose…

 

[tallbuchholz]

Back in my day we used to run buffalo over the cliffs with fire. That was real hunting. No bows and arrows - that stuff is cheating.

 

[BrentP]

What "electronics" are we talking about? Phone with OnX, range finder, game cameras? No game cams allowed in my state, but I use my phone for maps and and a range finder.

Fishing is where tech has really taken over. I only have an old depth finder on my boat.

 

[Whitefox82]

I’ve never been interested in using game cams. It seems everyone uses them now in the Midwest for whitetail. For me, it takes away the mystery of what’s out there. That feeling you had as a new hunter thinking there could be a world record behind any tree. I still like that mystery, although I think more realistically now lol!
Up until a few years ago, I have always enjoyed private land hunting and we had a pretty good sense of the bucks using the property just from scouting, but of course, you never know what may come through during the rut. The private properties I hunted the last 30 years are now gone and I have started hunting public. I am actually enjoying this challenge more. I also realized how spoiled I was hunting private my whole life. There are many days where you see 0 deer in a full days sit. I killed 2 130” bucks the first year by simply old school scouting and using ONX. I go in deep and have to quarter and pack them out just like western hunts. Most guys I run into by the “trailhead” ask me how I drag them out without any help. For some reason, in the Midwest nobody thinks about quartering. You drag everything out!!! Therefore, these guys rarely hunt far from the truck.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

Thanks to game cams and thermal imaging a fella can't even believe in bigfoot anymore without it being some magic inter-dimensional creature. Technology is ruining every outdoor activity.

 

[Will_m]

I do use onx a lot and simultaneously absolutely despise it. I used to get lost plenty and it made things more difficult, but there actually were spots that would be relatively undisturbed.

Not anymore. Know where everything is, all the time and go anywhere without concern. Folks everywhere.

I’m going to use everything at my disposal but holy hell I wish it was all illegal. Benefit outweighs the cost to me.

 

[jayhawk]

More importantly, smart phones have ruined bar arguments. Remember when everyone had a few beers and then argue about who won the Super Bowl in 2003? Now it’s just “I’ll look it up” It’s a shame really

 

[Boarmaster]

I take my iPhone and my range finder. That pretty much covers me for what I want. Everything consolidated into one gizmo. I used to drag four of five different devices with me. GPS, cam , radio, cell phone.
I’m not looking to make life tough on myself.Im an old timer so I remember hunting without any devices at all. So it’s not like it can’t be done or I can’t do it. I appreciate the modern devices myself. I don’t get anymore satisfaction not using them than using them . Hell I’m just trying to get big butt up the hill.
I did draw the line at game cams. I don’t mind what others do but I don’t care to use them myself.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Yeah, IDK.

I like my ONX maps out in the woods…especially when I’m hunting private boundaries. I’m also fond of my Swaro EL Rages that are magical to look through, and tell me what to dial on my scope when I take a shot.

Thermals for whacking yotes at night…yep…count me in.

How about heavy for caliber bullets, with high BCs, I can shoot from a smaller caliber and still kill large animals at longer ranges? This is a new school of thought compared to the 165 shot from a 300 WM. Bullet companies continue to create better/more efficient bullets. For example…the new TMK releases.

What about my fancy backpack that has a meat shelf and is quite pleasant when I need to pack game out.

I could go on and on with some of the wiz bang stuff I’ve bought in the last 10 years. Honestly, I think what ruined hunting and all other outdoor activities are influencers.

 

[Whitefox82]

More importantly, smart phones have ruined bar arguments. Remember when everyone had a few beers and then argue about who won the Super Bowl in 2003? Now it’s just “I’ll look it up” It’s a shame really

Haha,
The bars I frequent don’t have cell service so the arguments continue on!!!

 

[Whitefox82]

Honestly, I think tech is changing fishing more rapidly than hunting. Forward facing sonar is pretty crazy and like cheating in most instances. That would be like ONx with thermal imaging from satellite that you could just zoom in on and find any living creature and know how big.