Blood in Blood out NY...that is the only way to get out from being the General. You must drink the blood from a decaying deer carcass.
NY, I think you know what you have to do. I get the feeling that you aren't dealing with quality hunting buddies. I think that you KNOW they are using you and you have finally had enough. There's a big difference between this and you just taking care of good friends. THEY crossed a line. Don't let it go without letting them know.
Pretty much my thoughts to a "T." NYB, You're nicer than I am, yet at the same time, I've lost a few "friends" over their lack of responsibility/effort as well. Pretty much similar situations for me w/ friends who want to use my stuff, yet don't want to take care of it, when they're done. Not fun, not cool, not tolerated by me anymore. And when the freebies stopped, 2 of those friends just kind of disappeared......
Listen Cuz .. Greg H nailed it .... but like others said, dont be surprised if you lose 1 or 2 of them if you do that .... they are using you ...leeches, if you will..... and when the blood supply stops, they will seek another ... as others have said, are they REAL friends? If we hook up this year, you will have to introduce me to these shmuc......I mean, friends
Yeah I agree with everyones opinion. And one of them has been my best friend since I can remember. But honestly I just don't think he even knows any better. He's kind of in la la land to begin with lol. Another guy is my step brother in law (i think) and an ok friend. He's the one that really irritates me the most. He does know better. Everything is on his terms. Thinks everyone owes HIM something etc..... The other dude is just a hunting idiot. Just does everything wrong and doesn't care. Really casual about the whole deal. Almost like he could care less if he hunted or not. But takes full advantage of everything I provide as well. I think a lot of the problem is we've been hunting for awhile. It seems my hunting has gone to a WHOLE different level than theirs over the years. I really go at it pretty hard both during and off season. Just my general knowledge and pursuits are way different than they used to be. And way different than theirs. They've become (remained) casual hunters so to speak. Hell I can't even hardly talk about hunting or strategy/gameplan/ ideas etc..... It would be like talking to my 7 year old. Which is fine not knocking that at all. But I haven't. And in order to hunt the way I do it takes a lot of work. If they don't want to hunt the way I hunt than probably shouldn't be able to take advantage of the way I do it.
Tell them whats up. If they dont like it they can find some where else to hunt. And by the sound of it you have a sweet setup that no one will want to leave so their either gonna change or let their deer rot because you wont butcher it for them.
Make every stand off-limits except 3. These three you set up side by side at the command center and say have at it boys. When they complain say I've seen good deer sign here. The easiest way would be to just make up rules and pass out before season. Such as if you want to hunt you have to help set up, maintain and clear stands. You clean your own animal but will have help from others. You must help in the recovery such as dragging. You help pay for processing equipment when something breaks. You are present and help out with the processing. Put everything down in writing and make them sign it. You are the arbiter, if they break a rule set forth certain consequences. Make them earn days to hunt. You get 2 days for each stand you help with. You get 1 week for gutting and processing your own deer. If you don't help you don't hunt.
Hahahaha.....I was gonna post the same thing but figured it wouldn't be "tasteful". I'm pretty fortunate with my place. My main hunting partner has a camp just like mine, and we split our time between the two places. I help some at his place, and he does the same at mine. I definitely gut more deer than him, but anyone that knows him can probably understand why.......lol......:D.
At my camp we have work weekends. If you don't show for a work weekend you have to pay $50 to the kitty. That fund is used to buy equipment, propane, electric bill, etc. I know your situation is different than a hunt club but it doesn't have to be. Name it "The Country Club Hunt Club" and make a chore list. Split the duties up. Tell each of them what area of the land is thier responsibility. They will have to scout, hang, trim, and anything else needed. If they choose to share thier area with the others great, if not so be it. As General you continue to have access to all areas. Lay out what the plan will be when a kill is made. Who is responsible for the deer from shot to freezer. If they are made to make more decisions they may seek your advise and knowledge. Share with them and perhaps they will want to learn more, particularly if they don't see deer from the stands they hang. Mostly stop being the host and start being the GENERAL!
A buddy of mine has a nice shop building where we hang and butcher our deer. But EVERYONE helps out with cleaning the deer, cleaning the shop, buys him a few beers, gives him a little cash, buys what is needed to be replaced, etc, etc. In fact, we helped him build the shop and poor the floor. I cant imagine just showing up and dropping off a deer. You really have to have a nice chat with your "friends" and explain that what you are doing is way beyond what should be expected. If they truely are friends, you will all have a good laugh about it someday while you watch them butcher their own deer and hang their own stands. They may just feel like they cant do it as well as you and that you just want to do it yourself.???
I gut more deer than anyone at my camp and they have all of their limbs. I guess I am doing something wrong.
Yeah there could be about 3 in the near future lol. Interested? All good advice fellas thanks. I've put up with it long enough. I guess I always just did it because it was so convenient for me as opposed to them. Heck I pretty much live there. Also, I have the time to do most of it because I'm shutting down the course around the time of hunting season. But it shouldn't become my job either. I have enough to worry about myself chasing big bucks and trying to figure my own thing out without worrying about 3 other people and all that goes into that. A kid that worked for me the last couple years lost his permission to hunt his piece that he has been hunting for years. He had a couple doe tags left so I let him hunt my land the last week of gun. Told him he could probably fill them in a day or two if he wanted to. He comes out and I show him around the land. Tell him where to go and the first night he hunted out there he shot a big doe. So he guts it, drags it out by himself, hangs it in the shop by himself, skins it, butchers it, packages it (bought his own freezer paper), takes the tractor and gets rid of the carcass. I was like..... WHOA this is pretty cool. Then he thanked me about 110 times for letting him hunt there and using the shop. So then I ask him what he does with his trim. He said he usually takes it to the butcher and has sausage, slim jims, etc.... made. I said he could use my grinder and smoker and I know a kick ass recipe for summer sausage if he wanted. I showed him the deal from mixing it with the pork, seasoning it, stuffing in casing and smoking it once. He's since done about 20 more lbs of the stuff on his own (buying his own stuff) and hasn't asked me a thing. I told him he could use my stuff whenever he wants. It's always washed and put away like it was never used. Now THAT is the way it should be. I wish I had about 3 of them around deer camp.
