Originally Posted by
cayugad
I would not let anyone move me off my hunting property. Even if I had to change the manner in which I hunt. Maybe I have to go to a environment made ground blind instead of a store purchased one. Well then so be it. But I would still be hunting there.
The overall character of the "hunter" has changed. Gone are the days that when we met a hunter in the woods, all were friendly and cooperative and understood if they were putting pressure on another hunter. A total stranger would even help you drag out sometimes. There was no vandalism to cars, or threating notes left on windshields. It was have a chat with a stranger, maybe a cup of coffee, some good wishes and we hunted. Now its more of a take what you can, its my woods, and to heck with the other hunters.
I wonder if a lot of that has to do with the QDMA/Trophy hunter mentality that is so pervasive today. Maybe folks used to value the act of hunting, but now they only care about the product of it. As a result, instead of seeing other hunters as kindred spirits enjoying the same passtime, they see them as competitors for the "big bucks" that they feel they deserve. Maybe I'm way off base here, but I see what you see with some folks, and most of the real ***holes are the ones who seem to care only about the antlers.
This is another reason for me to teach my kids that the value of hunting is in the hunt itself, regardless of the outcome. Big racks are the icing, not the cake.
Mike