Hey Petasux,

Sounds like you live life to the fullest. It is great to see someone who receives fullfillment from sharing your interests with fam. In our family, I usually break the ice with the (Oh...you kill stuff huh.) crowd by cooking a nice meal for them at my place. By the time they've stuffedall the fresh bratwurst, summer sausage, steaks, etc.down, and they have lathered on the complements, I might say, "Yeah, that deer was good wasn't it." "That was deer?", "Yeah, no growth hormones, high in protein, and low in colesterol." If they want to go hunting/fishing/scouting/spotting/etc... at some point - I take them, and I focus on them being successful, because without that, the interest dies easily.

Gr8's attitude toward promotion is similar to mine. I have taken the opportunity to show, train and take hunting numerous interested parties in my bow hunting career, but few (if you are not around to nudge them) ever stay interested. However, they may do it again someday, you never know. It is awsome to take kids out bowhunting elk, when they hear that first elk bugle in the woods - they are hooked! All they jabber about is how soon can I hunt, when are you going to take me again?

As a member of our local shooting sports association, I help maintain our shooting/archery range from time to time. I have found that simply to volunteer to set up the archery targets in the spring and take them down in the fall helps alot. You might not think so, but quite a few people take advantage of those courses when you are not looking, that otherwise would not (like if people procrastinated and set them up late, etc.). Folks see those targets, get the bow out, dust it off and get excited to shoot with someone.

I certainly don't care for being in the public eye as a promotor of anything except my own business. I'm just not wired that way. The whole competition thing is good though I think. Yeah, I get miffed when someone is dogging in on some good bow-elk hunting spot I might have, but hey, you have to step back and think about it. Sometimes they are non-residents, and I will just move on until they get skunked and leave. Other times they are more local/in state. Sometimes I meet some good folks out there, some of my best friends in fact. I'm an ice breaker. Once they find out you are a good guy and willing to share without holding back, they either become a friend or feel guilty about being in your spot (and don't come back). Communication is the key.