DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY...OF HUNTERS...
 

I'm new to these forums, but I'm not new to the woods/hunting culture by any means.

In my 25 years I have spent thousands of hours in the rockies....and thousands more wishing I was on the mountain.

What I don't understand is why members of my culture are turning on each other. When we criticize our family’s methods, all we are doing is giving our ultimate enemies who include the anti-hunters/extremist activists/pro-wolf/anti-gun ammunition to throw back at us and hurt us.

Instead of pointing the finger at each other, we need to understand that even though we personally would not want to perform certain practices, like baiting or hound hunting, we will stand behind our brothers and sisters that do because our passions are the same.

I do believe we should discuss things and opinions in our development and maintenance as a community....but I do not believe that we should attack one another with non-constructive verbal bashings. If we continue battles among ourselves with this non-constructive fighting, we can expect to get flanked and taken down in our weekend state by the extremists that want us shut down!

We are hunters because it is a way of our life. We live for the crisp autumn air slipping through our nostrils as we watch the first light creep over the mountain top which reveals a peaceful doe nibbling her way down to a turning and bubbling stream.

We are fighting the hardest battle sportsmen have ever encountered right now. The reason that the wolf got slipped in under our noses is because of the lack of education behind hunting and the lack of solid support from the entire hunting community.

I am ashamed and truly sorry that I attacked a family member when he expressed his ideas....I'm sorry for this Andrew (see the post about baiting bears) and I can assure you that I will stand behind you because you are a fellow hunter. However, I feel that you too should adjust your comments to form constructive conflict instead of accusing your brothers and sisters of being lazy or unethical in their practices.

We need to stand together and look our adversaries in the eyes....knowing full well that we will support each other as a community and family through everything we are fighting right now. I havea deep and richlove for and respect for the animals and the vast terrain I call my back yard. Because my passion and love for hunting is so strong; I also love my huge family of hunters that are scattered around this amazing country! We share the same culture and I am honored to be a part of so much experience and so many life changing stories from the hunting community. From forums, small town cafes, local sporting good stores to the shooting range; we all have something to respect and learn from each other. If you don't realize this, then you should be ashamed of yourself. If you attack another hunter, you should realize you are hurting our entire family.

We may be dysfunctional, but we need to stand arm in arm in the up and coming battles....or we will all have to turn to a life without something most of us can't see us living without!

RE: DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY...OF HUNTERS...
 

I do believe as sportsman we need to stick together and only in numbers our we going to be heard. I try to instill this in my Bowhunters Education Class here. We all make mistakes but sometimes things are best left unsaidin mixed company.
Only 10% of the populationare hunters and the other 10% are anti's. 80% of the population are actually undecided and sitting on top of the fence and your actions will reflect on this 80%.
I am pro hunting 120% and promote good ethics to people around me but that doesn't neccesarliy mean I agree with your way of hunting. I am allowed to have an opinion. I can find fault as in all other aspects of life and I don't like some things shoved down my throat making me accept it and I'm not going into High Fence hunting and Crossbowers calling themselves bowhunters, doghunting and the use of bait,ect. so I'll shut up.
Its just human nature, people are going to disagree and there is no harm in that as long as it constructively and not critically.

Bobby

RE: DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY...OF HUNTERS...
 

Dude, thats some serious penmanship there buddy, you should right a book! LOL

Ya got a point though...

RE: DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY...OF HUNTERS...
 

I appreciate what you say . . .but I have some knock-down drag-outs with my brothers. Nobody else better interfere, though, because we're family.

This forum does get a little personal now and then, but it's just typing on computers. If we argue in here we learn more about our own opinions and that makes us stronger.

I think the guys that bust each others' nuts in here would be a pretty tight bunch if we met in person and maybe happened in front of a PETA demonstration.

RE: DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY...OF HUNTERS...
 

I actually agree with Jones and 121.....I know people are going to butt heads...but do it constructively and if someone steps in from the outside...turn on them not each other.

My best friend is my brother who is 13 months older than I am (25 and 26)....we can fight with the best of them, but it always comes back to solving some other issue, and it is not done in front of our enemies.

RE: DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY...OF HUNTERS...
 

We should definitely stick together.

RE: DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY...OF HUNTERS...
 

Well said!

RE: DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY...OF HUNTERS...
 

I was told if you don't have something nice to say ,don't say anything.Some people were never taught this when they were young.Then there are people that have no respect for anyone.

RE: DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY...OF HUNTERS...
 

I'm gonna pin this one to the Top for awhile.

This topic should be a #1 priority among all Hunters,Fisherman.In addition it should be a priority in all HuntingNet forums where methods can be so Hotly contested among members to the point it gets extremely Ugly to put it mildly.

Take a look sometime at the Users/Members online vs the "Guests".Often thousands of Guests lurk in these forums.Who do you think they might be - All Hunters - NOT.I'm confident many watch us here trash each other as fellow Hunters,Fisherman,Outdoorsman.

We can Often be our Own Worst Enemy.

I don't want to get on the Zumbo kick as its been Beat to Death - but - look at the Zumbo fiasco.He made some big time negative comment about certain weapons.With his national exposure in print and media it hurt gun owners and hunters alike.Same holds true here just on a smaller scale.
In his case it cost him his job(s).

My .02 for the day

RE: DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY...OF HUNTERS...
 

with the current state of affairs within our own ranks of sporting arms industry,,,,,,,,,,,the more we shoot our mouths off in public without thinking carefully about what we want or should say is going to cost us,,,,,,,,,,,a sports writer,,,,,,,,,,should be open to new ideas all the time,,,,,,tradition is a wonderful thing,,,,,,,,,,but we do not live in a perfect world,,,,,,,,,,,peoples choice is the Norm,,,,,,,,,,whatever you hunt,target practice or whatever is their own choices,let the people choose...........

RE: DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY...OF HUNTERS...
 

Delete.

RE: DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY...OF HUNTERS...
 

We need to stick together but at the same time, we need to police our own ranks. One snob hunter can erase the good work of many good hunters. People tend to only remember the bad ones.

RE: DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY...OF HUNTERS...
 

Hurtful things are more easily said while clicking away at a keyboard than would never be said face to face.

So next time . . . put a face on it!

I know discussions get heated on here at times, but some of those readings have opened my eyes to another's point of view and has made me a more understanding outdoorsman, hunter, person.

Keeping with the family theme . . . we are a bunch of brothers that sometime argue over the simplest things . . . But let an outsider of opposing views in, and our backs are to each other as we clean house!

RE: DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY...OF HUNTERS...
 

I'm sorry to bust up the group hug, but I don't feel I'm any more family with all hunters than I am with all of anyone else. Some hunters are in it for no better reason than to use their rifles on animate targets. Some will shoot the best game animals at ranges I consider contrary to the exercising of the true hunting skill set. I have known hunters that will break the law if given a chance to not get caught. Hell, I don't even think all types of weapons should be legal for hunting. If that shuts me out of the brotherhood, then so be it. All hunting is solitary anyway.

Ifn' you fellers wanna go ahead an' swap spit, I'll look the other way.

RE: DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY...OF HUNTERS...
 

Things are going to start getting interesting around here!

RE: DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY...OF HUNTERS...
 

I believe it was Ben Franklin that said "Gentalmen we must all hang together or we shall most certainly hang separately."
To beaver jack It's not about feel good buddies it's about being about shareing an intrest with 40 million Americans That 40 million Americans don't believe in .
I learned the most important lesson about family my junior year of high school as an only child I never had blood to stick up for or stand up for me . I was in the marching band and we had gone to an away game (our last for the band) and when we went to get dinner the home football team cornered about 20 of us in the parking lot wher upon the rest of the band came to the rescue just in time for the home jv to show up with the other jock buddies the band was about to get whooped our varsity team came to our aid and evened the odds . The jocks never said a word on monday and the "Bandies " never said a word . our only common ground was our school period ..... Just because I don't think hanging out 20 ft up a tree is hunting doesn't make it wrong an if it were to be outlawed I'd be almost a bent as the guys that depend on it for success .

The point of the post is that if we don't stand up for the the squirle whackers that use a shotgun the bow hunting deer elk moose hunters will lose too.

Heres to Ben Franklin and the rest of the subversive that made this letter possible .

RE: DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY...OF HUNTERS...
 

Hey There;

We are located on Manitoulin Island, in North Central,Ontario, Canada. We have a good but economical outfitters for Whitetails & Black Bear which is geared for working people who could never afford the BIG BOX Canadian Outfitters.
Over the last few years here ,one of our biggest battles has beenThe Canadian Gun Registery, which has cost the tax payers of this country BILLIONS of dollars to harass hunters,farmers & rural people and has done absolutley nothing to stop or reduce gun violence. The criminal on the steet corner in Toronto simply does not carry a registered 9mm hand gun. Our politicans really have to wake up on this issue!!!
Please visit us @ www.youngshighrockoutfitters.piczo.com ( really think you'll like the pics!!!

Reguards;

oldmossyface

RE: DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY...OF HUNTERS...
 

Above all else we must all do our part to introduce young people to the enjoyment of the hunting sports....The kids are our future and the "antis" want our ranks to dwindle......SO; Guys; "TAKE A KID HUNTIN'"

YOURS IN THE LOVE OF OUR HUNTING HERITAGE;

oldmossyface

RE: DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY...OF HUNTERS...
 

Hear! Hear! Could not be put better!

RE: DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY...OF HUNTERS...
 

"All hunting is solitary anyway" is a sad statement. The final moment is between you and the animal, but in between the very occassional 'moments of truth' are many enjoyable times sharing stories of success and failure with your friends, teaching your kids, planning trips with others, etc. Enjoy that while you can.

Fuzzyballs44,

You've spend a lot of hours in the hills, but I've spent many hours in the forums. LOL!

Matter of fact, I've written a very similar post when I started and got a lot of kudos along with nominations I should be a president in that industry for my words. It felt good, but I was a rookie at the time.

I'm just telling you now, it's not near as bad as you think. Yeah, some guys really go at with each other, including me(), but like others have already suggested, we're at computers!

Now if the same bunch of us were around a camp fire nursing some barley-pops, it would be totally different than what you think you're seeing here.

Truth be told, I'd stand shoulder to shoulder with my hunting brothers to keep our rights to fight the antis; regardless if I disagree with their hunting ways and ethics or whether I think they're a jerk. LOL!

:party0007: (Never used this icon before, but feeling the mood. LOL!)

iSnipe

i agree, at the same time if you can't have a sense of humor and give people a hard time every once in awhile what's the point.

sarcasm and just being downright rude are 2 very different things

ya we do need to stick together as far as supporting and respecting eachother. but every man has a right to his own opinion. as long as we voice it with respect, i say all the better. how can we expand our horizon and learn from eachother if we don't voice our opinions? but i do agree we need to do it respectfully.

Ya it will be great if they both get active on this forum... and share their exp. with gaming...
__________________
Financement simulation de credit immobilier de France, Courtier simulation de credit immobilier, Calcul pret et taux credit immobilier

Let the crazies shoot their mouths off all they want...in the end its the hunter who spends hours (even days) in the wilderness, tracking an animal, and eventually hoping to land a humane kill. I personally think all that can get someone much more in touch with nature than sitting at a computer ranting about global warming and whining about hunting laws

Right on the head!

The heritage is disappearing just like that buck back into the woods.
The peta plan is, divide and conquer!

people point fingers because most folks are panzies these days. everyone has a beef, and a indentity crisis going on.
just look at all the tatoos, and bumperstickers. have some faith and move on.

LOL!

Seriously though I think using the word "family" and all the talk of sticking together shouldn't be taken so literally. I don't know if ole BJ still hangs around these boards but I just thought I respond to this post and hopefully add a little perspective.

We all have family and most of us would take a bullet for them. When we really talk about family there is no other adjective that needs come along with that. It's family, period.

When we talk about our hunting fraternity or hunting family I don't think that means we all need to go hang out together and put our arms around each other. It doesn't even mean we need to hunt together.

I think what this thread is really trying to respresent is that even though we don't always agree (i.e. minimum elk cartridge :wink:) we should always remember there are groups and individuals in this country that wish to take this privilege from us or even worse there are more individuals in this country that have no strong feelings either way about hunting and could be swayed one way or the other by our behavior. By default that makes us united, a family, a brotherhood, whatever warm and fuzzy word you want to use to describe our united front against losing our privilege that we hold so near and dear to our hearts.

There needs to be more education amongst hunters to understand how our actions are percieved by others. We need to better understand the political arena and how those battles play out on a national stage rather than just turn our backs to it and calling it a bunch of "hooo-eeee nonsense". IMO we need to be better educated not so that we can turn hunting into a proper tea party and everyone is constantly on our best behavior but we need to understand how fragile the privilege is and that our actions can be a detriment if we aren't careful. We also need to be willing to open our mouths when we see unethical behavior even if it is family or friends. And please make sure you turn in those that are breaking the law. If you can don't hang that deer out the back of your pick-up to show him off. Hunters aren't going to be offended but some will. Throw a tarp over him or something. These are the things we must edcuate ourselves about and be united on.

Nobody is suggesting we get all Broke Back Moutain on each other, but we need to understand that like it or not we all have something in common and we are all one voice each a representative of hunters across this great country.

Just my 2 cents.

Wow, this thread has been going on for a long time. Since I was the first one to reply, I'll add my 2 cents again.
Not only is antis a problem but another big problem we have is keeping our sport from dieing. Thats right. Our youths are failing to participate, ipods, video games and the texing are their life now. It seems much easier for them to stay home and play video games than go out in freezing weather and deal with the elements. We are gradually losing our sport, but its among our own ranks. We have got to get more of our kids pro active and fight against their anti instructors and get our kids more involved in the woods and take their damn ipod away.:kt:

Bobby

Excellent point Bobby.

I am currently losing this battle with my nephew. He is 10 years old and has tagged along on some of our hunts over the past few years. His mother (my sister) is extremely lazy and overweight. She is passing her bad habits on to him and on our last hunt he had a hard time keeping up since he too is getting a bit overwieght.

My sister is a single mom but she refuses to cook and they eat fast food for nearly every single meal. They never go outside and do anything. She sits on her computer 24-7 and he plays Xbox all day long.

Like I said on our last hunt he had a hard time keeping up. He didn't want to shoot any guns including his BB gun and told us camping was boring. He'd rather be playing his Xbox. On previous hunts he would tell us what species the plants around us were and talk about dinosaurs and hoe they went extinct. This year we was quiet and withdrawn. Even though we had said no candy or video games allowed in camp he had snuck a bag full of candy and his PSP into camp. When we caught him he just said that his mother told him those rules were dumb and he could take what ever he wanted. We told him too bad, he has to live by our rules in camp. He quickly called his mom on his cell phone and she demanded we take him home after he started literally crying on the phone with her about our rules.

It's incredibly sad and there is nothing we can do about it. In fact my father and I confronted her about the way she was raising him and now she isn't speaking to us.

Sure sometimes children take their own path but it just goes to show that our behavior does in fact affect children and what kind of people they turn into as they grow up.

Oh, that's bad. Families should'nt be like that.

I don't think there is anything wrong with stating varying opinions, but it needs to be done respectfully. Name calling or putting someone down for their style of hunting just shows the poster's ignorance.

We do all need to stick together and get more youngsters involved! That doesn't mean we can't disagree, just do so in a respectful way.

Americans are systematically advocating, legislating, and voting away each others rights and choices. Support all user groups and we'll all quit losing opportunities! "United We Stand, Divided We Will Fall!

find deerfear.com, it will answer all about this.

Blood is thicker than water. Hunters are my family and no one better mess with any of them or I will fight to the death. But I tend to disagree with my fellow brothers on things and that is ok. But in a disagreement I keep it civil. If I get mad I had probably keep my mouth shut until I have my thoughts planned out. This goes for anything anytime anywhere. Respect is key to survival.

I was told if you don't have something nice to say ,don't say anything.Some people were never taught this when they were young.Then there are people that have no respect for anyone.

Hello,

I am also new here, but I agree I am not new to the woods. It is a big world out there but all of us hunters have something in common and that is we love to hunt and we are all after a trophy animal!

thats right,
 

YOU are so right, everyone should read this and read some of the others i have read in this thread if more people would do as said in this letter and other letters in this thread the better the outdoor people would be with the up in the air ones that don't know what side of the fence they are on, lets get them on our side of the fence. happy hunting to all however you hunt.

Just a quick note from across the Atlantic,

You have the strongest hunting cuilture in the World and some of the best hunting too!

We English threw it away by distancing the shooting community from the rest of the general public and thus left ourselves weak against attact.

We had no single voice to make our defence heard and whilst we drank tea and grumbled about how things seem to be changing, the liberty of hand guns and fox hunting etc was already taken from under ourt feet.

in short, stay together, alway think of the public perception of your actions and keep you eyes pealed. we had a "Pro" hunting organisatoin try support a ban on Lead shot and rearing pheasants right under the noses of its members!

anyway, all the best and Keep hunting!

P.S: I am keen to swap any of my private UK wing or rifle hunting for US Elk, Deer or Bear experience with a hunter who can share the culture of this hunt rather than just the pulling of the trigger. I also work in hunting.

i totally agree united we stand