Why so little interest in hunting on the forum?

[sq hunter]

I hunt as often as I can. I realized as a hunter Ifeel more part of nature than an observer. This forum seems more firearm orientated. I enjoy it for what it is.

 

[410bore]

Two of the 3 I shot this evening......

 

[Cocked & Locked]

I AINT NEVER SAW A DOG KISS A DEAR

Well then you probably ain't seen this either!

 

[Peak53]

More than anything else, I'm a bird hunter. I spend my Fall and Winters hiking behind a English Setter or two waiting for the point, the flush, shot and retrieve. I have Smith & Wessons in the safe but my shotguns are my working guns."

Fine looking English Setter there, Bill.

 

[Bill Bates]

I like to hunt. I don't kill what I go after or what I find. I take a pic. I am fine with guys that kill what they hunt. I used to fish and keep. Then I switched to catch and release from a kayak. Now I leave the rods at home. I have learned that animals are easy to find. I had a conversation with a turkey today.

Nice Tom.

I too hunt with a camera. It makes a great excuse, if you need an excuse, to be out in wild places off season.

To get decent photos, even with a large lens, you need to be bow hunter close. It is even a wee bit harder than hunting with a bow or firearm. It isn't good enough to just be close. A photographer needs to worry about light position and backgrounds to get good photos.

I highly recommend photography as good practice for hunters...you get to hunt year round!

 

[Bill Bates]

More than anything else, I'm a bird hunter. I spend my Fall and Winters hiking behind a English Setter or two waiting for the point, the flush, shot and retrieve. I have Smith & Wessons in the safe but my shotguns are my working guns."

Fine looking English Setter there, Bill.

Thanks.

Really my setters Timber and Gentry are the hunters. I'm just along for the hike and to shoot what they find.

Timber

Gentry

Both setters and some old duffer that needs to hike more

 

[nachogrande]

NO HUNTING ENTHUSIASTS

it's a big site with lot's of areas. if you're not finding what you want, I'd bet you are in the wrong area. I'm a bird hunter over good versatile pointers at heart, and wish I could return to doing more of that. the expression happy as a bird dog, should include the hunter too. unfortunately hunting has changed with more deer, turkeys, coyotes and hogs. but less gamebirds imo. free land access, what's that. I used to hunt all day and rarely see another sole. now there are draws, quotas, lines to sign in at state land, getting shot at by sound shooters, walking up on others or having them walk up on you. finding trespassers in your stand, even on private land, you would be a fool now to leave a backup gun or anything of any value in your vehicle. and theft of hunting stands, cameras, feeders etc.etc., someone stole my dam chair when I went to answer natures call. now what kind of idiot steals a 15$ chair from someone you know has a gun. so the hunting shine has faded for me some, but not entirely. love those bird dog pics. my 13 y/o britts and I now both having blown out their cruciate ligaments (me too) are kind of on the same page and it's tougher watching them age than me. when they TELL ME to let them out to pee, then stand there thinking why did I come out here? it strikes a familiar note.

 

[HayesGreener]

I love to hunt-my Dad started me out more than 50 years ago and I still enjoy it. I especially like hunting Upland birds with my flusher/retriever. We worked our way up from retrieving quail to pheasants. Now she's puzzling a solution to this problem........

 

[ostlund]

I'm afraid about all I think about is hunting and staying ready for. Here are three Blacktails taken with a 629-4.

 

[ostlund]

Ran across a couple more pictures which might be fun. I always welcome the gift of a Forest Grouse to bring off a mountain. Plenty of gophers back home.

 

[BigBill]

I love hunting and fishing too. Mainly large mouth bass fishing. Before my illness I was in the hunt for a new state record and my biggest LMB IS up to 10lbs with the record being 12lbs 14ozs. I'm seeing bigger bass than 10lbs too near me.
I enjoy hunting bear, it's the stalking. The hunt is more fun than the kill. I hunt bears every fall. I own land that borders on the national forest.
Bb
Btw, being a great cook helps too I make roast beef wraps for everyone in there stands for lunch. For suppers it's meals like sausage & peppers, spaghetti & meatballs, kielbasa & Kraut etc. We hunt hard and eat good. If we don't kill anything we won't go hungry.

 

[anglaispierre]

Past two seasons I've gone back to huntin the old way.
NO scopes...and I use a Winchester 94 in 30-30 .....

I have posted on this forum about hunting in the past. To me hunting is about man against beast, and scopes and modern technology change the odds too much for my liking. I have several Winnie 94s in different calibers (the 30-30 with no frills is my favorite), and a replica 1887 lever action shotgun. The animal should be given a chance which it always is with me, and if it gets away, which it nearly always does, so what. Old guns and old methods, not to mention old men who would starve if they had to rely on hunting to eat, are what the spirit of hunting is all about. I nearly always return home with nothing at the end of the day, but if I have seen a few deer grazing I am happy (I'm not allowed to shoot them except when I am on an organised hunt).

I see things while I am out hunting that non-hunters never see, and as a result appreciate nature more than they do.

I am surprised by some of the comments made by non-hunters, not because I disagree with them, but because I thought hunting was an American thing, and you all did it, or at least most of you. I respect those of you who prefer to see animals rather than shoot them. I used to feel the same way myself. I took up hunting late in life, and enjoy every moment of it. Animals are relatively safe near me, as are other hunters.