What do you guys think of the ethical implications of giving gps coordinates to game animals on hunting forums? In this computer age, and with the high technology of weapons out there, is it ethical to give out information on locations of game animals on the internet.
The reason I ask, I have hunted elk in the same location in Colorado for the past 3 years. Every year we watch mountain goats in the same general area. Should I give this information to another hunter who just found out he recieved a goat tag that someone else returned. He has 3 weeks to plan the hunt. I'm willing to bet these goats will be in this area this year, a couple of them are good size billies. Being a non-resident, I don't have a prayer in drawing one of these tags. What do you think, is it unethical in giving out this information?

I wouldn't blindly give out the coordinates but would give them to someone whom I either knew or someone who I was talking to and asked for help. Nothing wrong with sharing information. The person who gets the info will have to earn their trophy and the info is just a starting point in their quest.

Spend just one day mountain goat hunting in CO and it won't matter if you walked him to the site. Aerial, realtime photos might not make that mission easier. When you're talking about mountain goats and "same general area" that could mean thousands of acres not to mention the difficulty in closing the distance. Seeing mountain goats and getting to where they are is an entirely different task.
I see them all the time...............

I see no problem in sharing the info but I would only do so with someone I liked, not just anyone. Plus there is going to have to be a whole lot of sweat and probably some pain to even get close enough to get a shot once you give him the location you have seen them at.

Altitude hunting is a whole other type of hunting, I hope he is in good shape for this.

iI'd share it if your so inclined, but why put it on the internet, and take the risk that the unethical will use it to their filthy purposes? Share it privately. One thing to always remember, the internet never forgets.

Ya give it to him! but don't just put it out the randomly, you dont want certain people to have that info. He's still gonna have to work his butt off to get them if they are even there. good luck to your friend!!
-Jake

gps coordinates? haha.

I mean regardless I think you're giving out an area, not exact spots, so however it helps another guy find the area, so he might not know where "the old blainey barn" is...but he might have a map with gps coordinates, etc.. none the less, I'm not sure of any game that is always in the same spot, I think you're saying hey checkout this draw...etc...

either way I understand if a guy wants to give out a spot or not, certainly some general info is always nice to help someone new to an area out.

I mean if no game exist at the south half of a unit, help a guy out and say hey only worry about the north half, or something to that affect, you don't have to give out your honey hole.

Thanks to everyone for responding. I will definately keep the information private and not broadcast it on the net. My conflict is with "fair chase". Is it "fair chase" and ethical to give out a location of game animals and provide a hunter with information that he would otherwise have to work very hard for, i.e. "boot leather"! I don't know this guy but this unit only provides 8 goat tags per year. Should a guy be able to walk right into a location with the help of another without putting in the effort to find them himself?

I wouldn't give the information to anyone who I didn't know. I wouldn't give it to most people that I do know.

It would have to be someone that I respected and liked, and who I knew was ethical.

Well said.