Doug, I believe I've evolved in a similar fashion. I guess for me it isn't even about the meat in the freezer (I can afford to feed my family and would probably spend less money buying groceries from the store). It's about tasting and sharing the experience-with or without a successful harvest. I'm way beyond hunting the familiar stuff we have here in Colorado (I enjoy it immensely, don't get me wrong). For me, it is a matter of, "how do you know?". How do you know, for example, if you're a good duck hunter when you have never hunted them from atop a mountain? You know the ducks will come to water (in this case, is water a form of baiting?), but will they come to your call at 12,000 feet above sea level and away from the water? I know this is an extreme but that's the way I think. I'm not ready to settle in-do what is typical. There's way too much explorer left in me. Dori from "Finding Nemo" said it best, "just keep swimming". I am sorry if I subconsciously prod and poke you guys to do the same thing....yep, life IS way too short!
Don't be. I appreciate it, immensely. There's also a saying I love, Will......"Don't die, wonderin'". I won't.
Very simply put, I would never pay to hunt (no matter what I was guaranteed). Just wouldn't view it as any sort of accomplishment. I would never hunt over bait (no other reason than just no my thing). Just wouldn't enjoy it. I'm pretty simple. I only prefer to hunt my land that I put the work into and the deer that I scout and chase every year. Honestly I could care less what others do. Hunt in an enclosure, bait etc.... Whatever floats your boat. If you view it as a great hunt and get a sense of accomplishment, then good for you. I have my opinions about it obviously. But, not for me to say what I do is better than what you do. I've always done my own thing (and always will).and have no concern for how someone in........... Iowa, Kansas, or Hawaii hunts.
Hey NY, I see where your coming from, but, if you had the chance to go to Africa to hunt you wouldn't go because you have to pay to hunt?
I, personally, wouldn't hunt a baited turkey, if it was free. But, many would....and do. I also wouldn't hunt another deer with a compound bow. Takes all kinds.
LOL No, been in lots and lots of planes and even landed with some of them . I have no desire to leave the USA again or even travel that much. Had my fill of it.
We all pay to hunt no matter how you slice it. The real question for each of us is, "how much are you willing to pay?" Some guys pay more while others pay less. Bottomline, it depends on how much of a conservationist/preservationist a person wants to be. People always seem to forget about the trickle down aspect each of us create. These affects go beyond plain old "hunting". It's pretty cool, for example, when you watch 30 hungry orphans drive away with your week's effort. They eat because you were willing to experience and share. Lion's, tigers, and bears survive because hunters are willing to experience and share...
As far as Baiting goes. I have hunted over Bait for Bears. Another option would be Dogs and that doesn't appeal to me in the least, but I would kill a Mountain Lion over hounds. Although I doubt I ever will. Deer & Turkey Baiting I wouldn't do. I have No problem with anybody that wants to. That's their choice if it's legal where they hunt. I doubt where I live and hunt putting out a pile of corn would do much good with all the Natural food available. Prey animals by nature like to move and eat, move and eat, and IMO with the ample natural foods and crop fields there are here you wouldn't have much luck getting them to come to a pile of corn. I'm sure in areas I have Not hunted it is much different, and that's Ok. Weapon does Not matter to me. I've killed deer with Trad gear back in the day, but I really am an equipment junkie and anymore to me that's almost as much fun as the hunting. Tuning, playing with new arrows, broadheads, fletching, bows, etc., etc. I've Never hunted with a Crossbow, although I have shot them a lot. I'm sure if I don't die first the day I hunt with a crossbow will probably happen. I'd prefer to do that rather than quit Dan
I doubt I'd go. I'm just not interested in killing anything with my bow except deer. Also it would be an outfitted deal which I'm simply never going to do no matter what I'm hunting. All about the deer for me. Maybe I'm narrow minded or need to expand my horizons. But I live, eat, breath and sleep deer hunting. Don't have time to think about anything else lol.
I wouldn't pay to hunt deer...just too many around here where I hunt. I'd pay for a moose hunt or caribou,though...which also means I'd need an outfitter to hunt Canada(pretty sure that's the law if you're not a resident) or for an African hunt. As for baiting,I never hunted over bait but if I were thrown in that situation(as a move to another state and it was legal),I wouldn't have a problem with it. As far as how other people hunt...bait,crossbows,high fence,etc....I really couldn't care as long it's legal
NYB, I wouldn't say you were narrow minded you just like what you like! Nothing wrong with that! Before I went to Africa I really had no interest in it at all, then, things came up and I was going there to do a couple rock shows.I started to look into the possibility of a hunt while there and really got serious aboiut doing it. It happened, now, I want to go back bigtime! Just a truly amazing place!
This discussion could go on forever. I hope to never have to pay to hunt, But leasing a place to hunt is becoming the only way to hunt in some places. As far as fenced in hunting I think all game should be removed from the property and let them fence it and buy their own animals to put inside the fence! I do not consider a canned shooting a hunt As far as bait. What is baiting? Is the food plot that you work on all spring and summer considered baiting? maybe. But if you benefit the game for more than just the hunting season I do not see any problem with it! Sometimes the"bait" is to benifit and help keep the game in the area! not just for hunting
