This is a purely personal question.....and if no one would judge another, that would be great. I've slowly become more and more of a "manner of taking" kinda guy v. the "end result". The conflict enters when my bank account is pitted against my desire to hunt a sheep/goat. I could apply for tags in the states that harbor these animals. But....these hunts are VERY expensive...and, drawing a tag is no cakewalk, either. If I'm not mistaken, Huck's sister finally drew her ram tag in CO last year......after NINETEEN failed attempts. God knows what the tag cost her - as a RESIDENT. I turned down a free whitetail hunt (2X)....where I was pretty much promised a "mgmt. buck" of 150". It was in an enclosure (200acres). I can hunt whitetails, right here at home. Everyone has their line of demarcation. For some it's baiting (not baiting - ANY animal). Some think it's OK to bait some animals, but not others. Others draw the line at any fence. Open for discussion.....just keep the judgement at bay.
For me I would never hunt in an enclosure, over bait and or at any outfitter. I prefer to take animals from my grounds that I personally manage or from public land. Other than that I'll pass. I don't need to spend thousands of dollars going to Hadley Creek to see tons of bucks. I have never had any interest in that whatsoever. For you Jeff, it is how you take the animal...for me it's where I take the animal.
I say hunting over bait is fine, but I was brought up thinking that way. I would never hunt in an enclosed farm or any deer that cannot go anywhere they want, no matter how far that is.
When It comes to drawing a line In bow hunting for me, It's all about the equipment that I use. I'm sure there will be a day that I'll be shooting a compound again due to body fatigue or Injury and when I do you will never see a release or a range finder In my hand.
If it doesn't feel right for me, fit into my sensibilities and idea of how I want to accomplish the task, hunting a particular animal in this case, then I won't do it. That is not to say though, at some time in the future, if factors change, that the way I want to accomplish the task won't change though. I reserve the right to grow and mature, regardless of the endeavor, and do something differently than I may have in the past. I have seen "never" happen all to often at this stage in my life to draw a permanent line.
I'd never hunt over bait. If I had the money and resources - I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't consider fencing in 3000 acres to manage. I can dream, can't I?
If your paying for a hoofs, a hides or just the horns, hunt on ebay and save some band width explaining why its the same as really hunting.
Duke...Justin.....somebody..... Just shut this down. It was a pipe dream that this could be discussed without the BS, elevated equine attitude.
I'd hunt over bait in certain situations. I'd use an outfitter in certain situations...because that's pretty much the ONLY way I'd ever get to hunt moutain lions is to pay a houndsman who knows what he's doing. I even thought about hitting up one of those fenced places for a wild boar hunt, I never went & now I don't see me doing that because there are many better options out there to just go for hogs free ranging. Much of my hunting is governed by the how I do it, rather than the end result, but not all. ALL of my hunting is governed by getting out & enjoying myself, and if that comes thru tactics that aren't "pure" or "idealisatic" then so be it.
It's pretty civil so far & I am interested in seeing more opinions. It wasn't going to get thru completely with out snide comments. I hope it stays open
i look at it like this if you got the time & money to fence your land thats your business not mine and you probably got alot of land so its not like shooting fish in a barrel you probably take care of them better and dont have to worry about them getting poached or tearing up somebody's vehicle.theres an old saying if it doesnt feel right it probably isnt right. so do what feels right to you personally and do it legally cause it aint worth the trouble and the bad reputation that you'll get for doing it illegally.
I can see me on guided whitetail hunt at some point in my life. (with the right guys in camp) I will hunt black bears over bait at some point in my life. I will go on a guided elk hunt at some point in my life. I will kill a pig in an enclosure at some point in my life.(probably sooner than the rest of these items) I won't pay to hunt with a rifle. If I am paying, they better be inside of 30 yards.
The shooting of pigs, goats, and feral sheep should always be done behind a fence. No need to introduce these animals into the wild. And to some killing them is a hoot, hence the preservers that make this all possible for a fee. To shoot an animal that range far and wide on public land such as a deer, elk or black bear that are easily available to Joe six pack shooting them behind a fence says allot about the shooter.
This is an interesting thread to me, even something I debated for over an hour while I shot a recurve bow in my backyard today. I purchased a recurve bow for my father years ago but he never used it. Neither have I really until a week ago. Crazy that this thread came up after what I experienced today. I just went out to shoot that recurve to relax tonight, but ended up thinking a ton about what hunting means to me and the methods I employ. As I shot that recurve it just felt simple, pure, and eloquent. I held it and kept looking at it. I stared off into the woods and smelled the wet leaves as my mind drift off into a thoughts of future hunts. I then zipped off about 50-60 shots with that bow. As I was just getting comfortable shooting from 5 yards (lol-I suck) I began thinking of how seriously I have taken to hunting for bigger bucks/mature bucks and how using a recurve could really limit my chances of "success" as I strive to get better at hunting those old creatures. Right then and there I realized I was more concerned about killing larger bucks than I was on really soaking everything up while hunting. But that bow just felt right....the method, the hardwork, it means something to me. Not the kill, not the glitz, not the bragging rights......that bow was like that ring in the Lord of the Rings. It called out to me tonight. My precious. I do not care to judge anyone. I don't care how you hunt. I don't care why you hunt. For some I feel a closeness in regards to feeling the same way about hunting and that is special. But I am not above anyone. I am just a blip on the radar. I am insignificant when I enter/exit the woods, and so are you. Hunt how you like and enjoy every dang minute of it, it could be gone tomorrow.
Those are things I would also choose not to do, especially the enclosure deal...But I try not to worry about what others do, unless it is harming me or my own. Whatever makes someone happy, go for it I say. But "enclosure hunting" isn't up my alley. I enjoy figuring out how the animals are using/crossing our land.
Everyone has their own ideas about things...I may not agree and they may not agree with mine. I do what I want to do as long as it is legal and what I consider moral. I don't agree with how my best friend hunts and that's why we don't hunt together. We are friends who served overseas together first and foremost...We will never give that up. At the end of the day he is still my friend! You do your thing and I'll do mine. The only judge of my life is the one I will meet in the end.
I can definitely see me using an outfitter someday (non-whitetail hunt would come first). Most likely an elk or moose hunt. I'm not sure I would be after bears on a guided/baited hunt. I REALLY want to try and take one in PA. Probably be next to impossible, but I would have a heck of a time trying. I suppose my best response to this would be whatever doesn't give me a rush. If it doesn't feel right, I'm not doing it. That's personal, and that's how it should be. This sport is personal. It's about the individual. Or at least it should be
You have aoudads/rams and sheep on your land?....lol If so....can I come fair chase hunt them? You know I'm joking. But, being lost (I believe) is......IF I could afford to hunt them fair chase, I would. IF I could afford to hunt them, I still would have to draw a tag. Will's sister drew one....as a resident......on her 19th try. I checked into Montana. They issue about 15 out of state tags/yr. They start at around 5K. Out of my league. Everyone has their line. I know people right here in the forums who hunt outfitters (for deer). I know people (in this forum) who hunt baited bears; deer; turkeys; etc.., etc..., etc... . They've drawn their line.....or moved it. It's a discussion (for most).
