Venting--old fart--whatever.

[jailer]

It's a special feeling being in the woods at day break. You get to listen to the woods wake up, see all the different animals and birds. It's not supposed to be about the taking of animals but the total experience.

[TDH]

Landowners will charge what the market will allow. Don't be a "hater" to the landowner, nor to the guys who are spending the money. It all comes down to business for them. AND, business is good.
Someone asked how/why the landowner can dictate who hunts on the property... That is a no-brainer, he owns the property. If you don't like the rules, get on out the door.
I pay under 1k a year for our lease. Deer hunting is ok, trophy deer are extremely rare. Mostly due to poor mgmt practices by leasees... Turkey hunting is probably some of the best to be found in E.Tx. I love the property, not real keen on most of the guys I hunt with..
Now oddly enough, my nephew, bro-in-law and a couple of buddies are hunting in W. Tx, where they pay around 1150a gun. Only 6 of them on the lease.. they would rather pay more and have less people. To some, that might be too much money. I will add that in the last 5 yrs, the smallest buck killed on their place was a 143"er.
Good places are still out there to hunt. It just requires a lot of time to find them.
While all of the good things that most of us like about hunting have been posted, I find the most common tie to be youth. I've heard a ton about kids not being in the outdoors, they need mentors, yada,yada,yada....
Yet, when I, and others, have looked for help w/our youth programs...you guessed it- no takers. I totally understand that most of us are busy w/our own families but WHO is supposed to mentor kids who don't have the benefit our kids do?

[Africanbowhunter]

Therre are young farts too

I saw a Video of a man that shout a huge bull elk with arifle in Canada. The guide taped it and it didnt make B *C So the guy hauls off and kicks the dead moose


He was totally ****** off.


That sucks guys.


Good Thread All

Tink former guide & PH

[Landrover]

Instant gratification. Some of the hunters I’ve been around lately have even seemed forced to hold the animal’s head up for a picture, as if they really didn’t want to touch that stinky thing to begin with.

Nuff said!!! They are actually what we used to call slob hunters!

My only advise is to try to instill in them your values. Consider it an opportunity.
The country is becoming more and more urban, that's just the way it is. But if they can't skin the deer/hog, then teach them, they're trying to learn.

Very well said and duly noted!!!!!

Never had a TBH thread bring tears to my eyes until now...

Hang around for a while and you will shed many tears!!!

The weekend warriors are ruining it for everyone. The person i work for spends 9 to 12 grand for trophy hunts, and i busting my hump just to buy my gear so i can aleast go hunting so i can put some meat in the freezer. The owners son shot a hog, and he thought they were just to dirty to deal with, so they left it in the ditch.

Whoa!!! This is NOT a bash the "more fortunate" folks out there. Heck, you WORK for him.......do you expect to get paid what he does???? If you feel really that strong about it and have learned enough there you can compete directly with him. Go get the loans, business plan, investors, etc and take the chance. Not trying to hammer on you but we see that so often in our small business it is scary. Oh, as far as ditching the hogs that is what i noted above......pure slob hunters.......well wanna be hunters!

I think about this also. What really troubles me is that too many of these "hunters" are teaching their kids to hunt/think the same way. I just think kids are missing out on something that we obviously were given - a true love and appreciation for the outdoors.

They ain't teaching anything hunting related at all. Buy camo, buy gear and then show up and get pointed to the critter.........really sad stuff!

It's a special feeling being in the woods at day break. You get to listen to the woods wake up, see all the different animals and birds. It's not supposed to be about the taking of animals but the total experience.

God Bless America!!!

[Landrover]

Landowners will charge what the market will allow. Don't be a "hater" to the landowner, nor to the guys who are spending the money. It all comes down to business for them. AND, business is good.
Someone asked how/why the landowner can dictate who hunts on the property... That is a no-brainer, he owns the property. If you don't like the rules, get on out the door.
the smallest buck killed on their place was a 143"er.
Good places are still out there to hunt. It just requires a lot of time to find them.While all of the good things that most of us like about hunting have been posted, I find the most common tie to be youth. I've heard a ton about kids not being in the outdoors, they need mentors, yada,yada,yada....
Yet, when I, and others, have looked for help w/our youth programs...you guessed it- no takers. I totally understand that most of us are busy w/our own families but WHO is supposed to mentor kids who don't have the benefit our kids do?

This is a absoulutely awesome thread sir!!! Thank you for taking the time to think about this situation in all aspects!!!

[HubCityThumper]

HubCity, Bob Robb wrote a very similar article in his editorial in a Bowhunting World recently. I have been wanting to post the same message on this forum for a while and his article prompted me again, so, yes, you probably read the same message, which bears repeating IMO.

DavisHollow. All good points.

Thanks RickyT for the reply. I agree with you 100% and support your word. I just thought I saw some very similar points made somewhere else. I did find that Robb article in my bathroom (my thinking room).

[HUNTNETIME]

I'm no hater. It's just the business of deer hunting has become just that. A business. It takes a little of the fun out of it. Believe me, if I were fortunate enough to own property, I might want to capitalize on that investment. I see no fault in that, but the prices are starting to get a little out of control. See signature below.

Sonny

[AtTheWall]

I agree and hunting has changed for me through more years than I'm willing to mention now. Thank you Ricky and Johnny, well done Amigos!

This year I have only hunted one weekend for whitetail. Have I missed it, certainly but this year off has been a blessing to me. The years I've put in afield carry me through with the memories of the chase and all things experienced through the years.

I am becoming more of a pure hunter as the years roll along. I put every bit of my hunting focus into one hunt this year.... New Mexico. Public Land, freedom hunting, no film, no guides, no fees, no experience in anything but one thing....my years of hunting big game and months of flinging arrows for that one chance. No high expectations, hunting with both eyes wide open and years of archery hunting under my belt for experience. I planned this hunt with a friend there, that has never killed a whitetail in his entire life, only Coues deer. The desert is his world, a kindred spirit, a man of honor and respect. New Mexico doesn't allow feeders or scents, only horns and calls. About as pure as you can get with big game. We set our goals, both of us without ever taking an antelope with stick and string, putting our brains together and simply hunted a new territory, each of us have never experienced beforehand..HARD.

This experience really brought me down to earth in so many ways. One of my best hunting experiences ever! Pure and free, no image, no quotas, no numbers, no expectations....alive with God shared with a brother of the outdoors. Pure soul hunting.

My year of years. I was truly blessed and I can only thank one...he lives with us all. I truly believe if you hunt as one within, you will be rewarded for life. I know I believe and so does Tink, this hunt reassured both of us.

We all will be tested as time moves forward...never give in and always give thanks for everything you have. We all have much...it's a shame others just don't get it.

God Bless!

[HUNTNETIME]

That IS what it is all about ATW. Love that last pic.

Sonny

[Ricky T]

Awesome, Rob. THAT'S what I'm talking about.

[Landrover]

Hey Big Brother......as usual........YOU ROCK!!! Great stuff that MOST just can't and won't try to understand!!!! Absoulutely beautiful speed goats!!!! BOO-YAH!!!!!!!

[Sweptshooter]

Not starting trouble, but i was not trying to bash the owner sorry it came out that way, but what i meant is he pays that kind of money to for a hunt where all he has to do is fly in a guide that has been scouting the whole year takes him to a sweet spot so he can kill his trophey animal fly home and have it mounted. I'm sorry but i like taking time and going out and scouting for deer, or just going out to the wilderness and walking and sitting all day looking for game.