&*!#@* Hunters!

[calamaridog]

Well,

I'd say the knuckleheads are much more visable. I don't know what percentage of hunters are doing this stuff, but obviously it is too many.

I'd say perhaps the issue isn't gun ownership but rather the ease with which a hunting license is awarded.

 

[fisher205]

Jonathan, you've opened up numerous pet peeves of mine with this topic: ATV's, slob hunters and slobs in general. ATV's have allowed more slobs to get out an abuse the outdoors than any invention. The Bighorns and the Black Hills are overrun with the stupid things. Hunting season look more like ATV fests than hunting season.

I grew up in Winner SD, one of the prime pheasant habitiats in the nation. It is now owned or controlled for payed hunters. I can't go back there hunt any more w/o paying to hunt. I then lived in Prescott AZ, we hunted quail, and ducks out through Skull Valley, North Chino, and the Cherry road. The private areas have been closed to hunters and the public have been over run with ATV's.

Back up here in South Dakota I still have places to hunt, but it will take me all day of hiking, high stepping through weeds to get a limit of pheasants or grouse, if I get them. Luckily I would rather spend the day with a couple of friends and our dogs, than doing the 15 guys marching down a corn field to 4 guys blazing away and then bragging "we got our limit in 30 minute" party Hunt. (Even I will admit it is really exciting to watch 100 birds come out of the end of a field).

So thanks for letting me vent. -Brad

 

[Martyn]

Martain's next

I love the way spell check allows that one to get through

A solution to this whole problem would be to employ these errant hunters at local tire shops around the country. They could specialize in removing those stubborn lug nuts

Martian

 

[tdesanto]

Hunting licenses should be revoked at any sign of littering or disrespecting the land. On the second offense, the hunters should be banned from hunting for 10+years. 3rd offense, lifetime ban?

Ultimately, it all boils down to education.

Also, is there a volunteer program with the local game warden to help them spot these schmucks? I know that the game wardens are terribly outnumbered and have too much territory to cover to catch stuff like this.

Pasquale, that's a pretty scary scenario you describe with the shots coming within 50'.

 

[Desertdude]

Pasquale, that's a pretty scary scenario you describe with the shots coming within 50'.

Tony, Sometimes it feels like the wild west out there...

 

[spressomon]

Each sport has its idiots. I was raised on hunting and fishing and to respect the sport, the weapons, the surroundings and the animals you take...but I am continually depressed at how little common sense and respect go into these activities. As mentioned above: Their latrine is basically anywhere they 'end' up; no respect for the sheer killing power of what they carry/fire; no respect, really, for anything/anyone other than themselves...and sometimes you wonder if they even respect themselves; beer cans, bottles, trash...you name it!

As Martyn stated: These ARE the majority! Scary!


Many (majority??) 4x4'rs display the same type of mentality (or lack of) and lack of regard for where/how/when they travel and the damage (including incredible amounts of litter that lie in their wake). You think hunters can drink some beer and throw cans/bottles around...let me take you to some 4x4 camps!. And look out for the idiots that belong to both groups .

Unfortunately eventually all this will just be a cause to close off the great outdoors: "We have met the enemy: It's us"!.

 

[TigerPaw]

I totally agree that hunting has been completely overrun with idiots. I see it all the time when I'm out with my daughter or some of the other people I hunt with. Being of the "pack it in, pack it out" mindset, it really pisses me off, too, to see trash everywhere. I usually end up packing out other people's left behind trash with mine. I've always taught my daughter and any of her friends that come along with us to have a respect for nature and everything connected to it. I've also worked hard to teach them the hunting ethics that some of the other morons have no clue about. Florida has a hunter safety course that anyone born after 1975 has to take in order to get a license. Even though I didn't have to take it, I did anyway when I took my daughter for her class. One thing we have to remember is to reiterate and practice what the kids have learned in order for it to stick when they're out on their own. I've always said that people who hunt are a different breed of person. They are more family-oriented, respectful, polite, and less likely to get into trouble than other people. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

I'm also a member of a 4WD group here in Florida and it really ticks me off when some of the people on the board just don't seem to understand or care when it's hunting season. I've made it quite clear a few times that I really don't appreciate the extra activity on public hunting land during hunting season. Alot of the areas they ride in are WMA's and I've,surprisingly, had several non-hunters stand up and support my point by reminding everyone that they are guests of these WMA's and that hunters only ask for a few months out of the year to use them undisturbed. The clubs are welcome to use them any other time, but they will share our burden of keeping them clean and enjoyable for everyone. It just shows that some people are responsible and courteous with their 4WD behavior while others aren't. No matter what bunch you belong to, there are always a few rotten ones to spoil it for everyone.

 

[Haggis]

Yep: Haggis himself is asking for a touch of the rapier if he doesn't quit butchering the spelling of my name . . .

Oops, sorry about that. For some reason I get a mental fart every time I spell your name. I'll write it on the blackboard a hundred times to get it stuck in my brain.

Jonathan, Jonathan, Jonathan, Jonathan.............

 

[Martyn]

Oops, sorry about that. For some reason I get a mental fart every time I spell your name. I'll write it on the blackboard a hundred times to get it stuck in my brain.

Jonathan, Jonathan, Jonathan, Jonathan.............

Haggis

Can you do lines for me as well??

 

[Haggis]

Haggis

Can you do lines for me as well??

Not until I spell your name wrong, Marten....

 

[texas taco]

Wow you all think you have it bad. Where I live is the exact location that the "Larry the Cable Guy" hunter originates from.I am not a hunter I do not think it is wrong to hunt. Down here in South East Texas we have Thousands of acers of land that is priviatly owned land that lay waist all year just for a few months of dear season. Years ago I was in a 4x4 club. We worked with the forestry service to build, and maintain nice ohv trails.The local yahoos discovered them. 44"gumbo mudders+Budlight+realtree camo= the good guys gettting the trail's that you could enjoy with your family taken away. Because of that mind set that is preveailant in are area it is extreamly hard to find quality back country experinces.Try taking your 3 year daughter backpacking in forest full of this type of hunter! sorry for the soap box rant, i am just glad i am not alien from another planet. Maybe we should move out west. Colorado sounds nice this time of year!

 

[Haggis]

I don't think this type of behavior is able to be fixed with any form of legislation, society as a whole has become to self absord. To many people are more concerned about immediate wants and to hell with anyone else. That's way there are so many slops in any type of hobby or pursuit.

As far as hunters go, I don't agree that it is a majority of hunters from my experiences, but that might be regional. Also it's not a class issue either, I've seen slobs from rednecks to high rollers, some of the worst being people who think to highly of themselves and their "status". Old english guns and tweeds does not a sportsman make.

All we can do is to follow the principals we hold, pass them on to the next generation, and try to lead those that are willing into a better way of doing things. Some you cannot reach and no amount of training or legislation will change their way and morals can't be tested in a written exam.

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

Mark, I agree that more legislation won't fix it, but if concerned hunters helped their game and fish departments enforce existing laws, it might reduce the slob foctor.

In a way it's unfortunate that game department derive their funding from the sale of licenses. Such a system only promotes selling licenses to anyone and everyone. G&F in Arizona isn't likely to put up posters in their offices slamming irresponsible ATV riders. And they're certainly unlikely to suggest that Arizona hunters get off their butts and walk to hunt.

 

[Mike S]

Increasing nmbers of Bubba hunters...

I eventually stopped hunting big game for the reasons cited in the posts here. Nothing at all to do with the actual hunting, just the dorks that I would meet too often.

On reflection, one of the reasons that we see an increase in the number of Bubbas in the field is that people like myself and others here have quit the field. And what is left?

In California, we have pig hunters. Wild pig hunters. They hunt nearly year around. I have met some of them while bird hunting, and some are people you would be prepared to like. Many are not. If I see any pig hunters in an area, I wll not put my dogs on the ground for fear that they will be shot.

We live in a democracy (of sorts) and have to be prepared for this type of person by being out there and setting a better example - for those people, and for the general public.

JonathAn, do NOT get me started on ATV's. Like jet skis (PWC) they are one of the major annoyances when out of doors. The worst part is that the Bubbas who drive them are breeding more!!

 

[taco2go]

HUNTERS- for love of the land

I think articles like the ones in this month's National Geographic will help inculcate responsible hunting. Hopefully more hunters and non-hunters read it.

As a non-hunter living in a part of MI that is vehemently passionate about hunting, it takes some effort to get away from the “44"gumbo mudders+Budlight+realtree camo” stereotype.
But, as has been alluded here they do help bankroll the nation’s state fish and wildlife agencies- and- apparently they also impact the economics of conservation efforts: Hunters contributed 280 million dollars in 2006 to dozens of groups that devote most of their revenue to conservation.- among other interesting tid bits in the article.
Interesting read.