I'm the "mouth shut, ears open" type. I'm in the place to do one thing, shoot, with that said I try to stay open minded. I am no expert and I don't even come close to knowing everything. I think no matter what level you think you are at, you can always learn something....even if it is that someone is full of bs! I usually only talk about things with my Dad and brother. Those are my hunting buddies.
There are actually only 2 guys I hang around that actually know a little about the sport. I am able to get along with them just fine when talking about hunting. There are a few more that think they do, and are pretty stubborn to their opinions. I just usually nod and stay quiet when they bring up a subject as it is often times easier to just let them continue.
I walk the other way. For some of the lighter topics, I just chuckle. For ones that bother me more, I grind my teeth.
After 35 years in many pro shops and ranges talking archery of all kinds. I always let them talk unless they ask me. Then I tell them what I know. It's their choice if they want to hear or not. Not to say I know everything, but I should know one or two things after all these years.
Personally.. and I'm probably gonna get ridiculed on this one.. But I think hunters on the internet "think" they know much more than they really do.. and think to highly of other internet hunters. So.. when I meet another hunter.. they always get my full attention or ignorance.. depending on my mood that day.. but nothing personal or directed towards them. If anything.. I rarely talk deer hunting to anyone... unless I know them well enough. The funny part of this all.. it's usually me who over-hears other hunters talking about me. Which I find extraordinarily humorous and ironic.
No ridicule from me, I do listen and can learn a lot, I know nothing when it comes to strategies, and such... BUT When a guy tells me his 20 yard pin is dead on at 40... That ain't his 20 yard pin...
As someone who does the Occasional trade show for Ultimate Camo..You hear some whoppers. You do a lot of nodding and wowwing while biting your tongue. This weekend I was set up next to a guy who had a double drop tine 189" and change a 191" typical and a measily 178" non typ buck on display. We became fast friends as booth mates for 20+ hours of the show. We spent a lot of time talking and guy after guy would approach us as we talked and tell us of the bucks they saw that were twice as big as "those" (pointing at his monsters). Or the buck that made his look like fork-horns. As a vendor you don't call BS but we did a lot of snickering after they left.
I really don't talk with many outside of this forum about hunting other than Ben lol. My dad and I will talk, and although he's much better than most, he does still have some old school train of thought in him in regards to hunting. Other than that, it's the members of my hunting club, and while I'm FAR from an expert on anything, it is certainly humorous sometimes.
I usually just listen and let them talk. Most guys around here don't know when to stop talking. They will tell you what big bucks they are seeing and where. Now you've got to decipher whether they know what a big buck is or what a big buck is to them. Since I don't really care for most of the bowhunters around here as most are lazy slobs or worse... I will use their info against them for shed hunting, scouting or hunting. As far as them talking 1 pin to 40 or stuff like that... I could careless what they know, what they use or how proficient they think they are. I either say I got to go or I get them back on the subject of what they are seeing if I need more info. Tim
For me, it has always been easier to judge a man's future by examing his past tracks. If he's willing to learn and his path has no tracks, I lend what assistance I can. If he's willing to learn and his tracks are errant, I lend what assistance I can. If his tracks are straight and endless, I shut up and listen. If his tracks walk circles around a tree, I would think he knows that tree pretty well. Otherwise, Christine is spot on with the kung fu-numchucks are awesome!
