RE: Poll: Which Would You Choose?
 

The couple I reload for have been to Africa many times and Alaska and BC just as many times. They have a lot of money but its thier dedication to hunting and thier being willing to make hunting thier priority that makes them good hunters. They have a trophy room that they built and have a wonderful collection of animals. Thats thier thing. It means nothing to me to store trophys thats not my thing. I am a meat hunter and hunt only for stuff I can take home and eat. Or I will hunt varmits that prey on livestock or destroy propery. Even though I don't give a hill of beans for trophy hunting, I respect the friends of mine who do. They are not a higher class of hunter than I am but they are a different class of hunter. They have not reached a higher level but are happy on the level they are at just as I am. We all hunt for different reasons and I quess some hunt to become a legend in thier own mind. If thats the level they are on then I quess it worked for them.:D

RE: Poll: Which Would You Choose?
 

Yep, this here's the good ole USA and can't having ANYONE higher or lower than anyone else, just different. That helps everyone feel good about it.

I wonder how they ever manage to pick a US Olympic team when everyone is so touchy about that sort of thing, must break hearts just left and right...

Good Luck and Good Hunting,
EKM

RE: Poll: Which Would You Choose?
 

To me there is one hell of a difference between skill levels and CLASS levels. A lot of people can shoot better than I can and I can most likely build a better house that many other people. That does not put me on a different class level. I can shoot better than many people who are better hunters than I am. That don't change our class level. You can be darn good at what you do without being a class above the other guy. Just because I can build a good house does not put me in a class above the guy who can build a darn good engine. Because I hunt big game don't put me in another class from a good Varmit hunter.

RE: Poll: Which Would You Choose?
 

I think you said it perfect James.

RE: Poll: Which Would You Choose?
 

Whether you like it or not we are put in "classes" by our society and by our government each and every day --- nothing, new, foreign, or un-American about it.

I'd expect that those of you who have been on the forum with me over the last year and a half and have seen/heard enough of the bits and pieces to come up with a total picture and would likely have some measure of "what I've got".

Just using the old education scale, K thru 12 and on up to PhD. Given all the stuff I've shot, places I've been, experiences I've had, AND all the stuff I haven't shot, places I haven't been, and experiences I haven't had.... I wouldn't expect to place much above junior in high school --- with quite a ways left to go --- LOTS that I don't know and lots that I haven't done.

Funny, going thru school, I was in what ever class I was in and that was just the way it was --- all I had to do was keep at it and all things would come. I swear, I can't recall getting all fired goofed up about it.

Next thing you know we'll be hearing from the high school drop outs that want to go spinning down the emotional scars of that path! Wuff!

Good Luck and Good Hunting,
EKM

RE: Poll: Which Would You Choose?
 

EKM -

I completely agree that society and our government does put people into classes .. whether that is by income level, education level, etc.... and I'm cool with that. I believe all men should have equal rights .. but I don't believe all men are created equal.

My issue is with your definition of "accomplished". In your mind it seems to equate to the size and or disposition of the animal as well as the diversity of hunting experiences in chasing those same animals. I think myself and a few others here feel that a hunter can accomplish quite a bit without ever stepping foot on the dark continent or chasing North America's least accessible game and still be in the top of the "Class."

I have been fortunate to hunt many places and hunt a wide variety of game, but when I measure my accomplishments as a hunter it most certainly doesn't start in my game room. It would be in the finding after a very long blood trail, my brothers first deer. The calling in of my Dad's first coyote. Getting a friend from works Uncle his first pheasant in 40 years. I couldn't have done those things without a lot of practice and effort on my part before hand ... but they are what I consider my "accomplishments" I am most proud of.

I think the hunter who puts in the effort year round .. learns the land and game which he chases like he knows himself .. wakes up 15 minutes before the alarm clock goes off .... is in the woods in pouring rain, sleet or snow ... knows when and which way the wind will shift .. knows the alarm bark of a squirrel from senseless chatter .... that hunter is at the top of his "class" even if all he does is hunt whitetails, bear, elk or turkey. That hunter is different and I'll even go so far as to say better than a hunter who may drive tote roads during rifle season hoping to see an animal.

No guided trip .. anywhere in the world and for any type of game can take him to another "plateau" of hunter. The hunter I described above earned his "degree" in the field.

RE: Poll: Which Would You Choose?
 

Just thought I'd weigh in on this discussion. I don't know I guess it depends on what we're talking about here. I mean you might be the best radio controlled car racer in the country but you are not a Indy car class driver. Some things by nature are simply more difficult. I'd say its easier to be one of the best golfers in the country than it would be to be one of the best basketball players in the country. Not that either would be easy, just that one is more difficult than the other and therfore puts you in a different class. I varmit hunt and big game hunt and at least where and how I do it, big game hunting is much more difficult. Thats nothing personal, you're not saying you are "better" than someone. Just that the mastery of something more difficult puts you in a different class in your particular category.

RE: Poll: Which Would You Choose?
 

MA,

If that is what you believe in your heart of hearts, then we indeed have nothing more to discuss with each other.

A mentor (whether legally required or not) helps a novice become better (and if it is a new specie and a foreign environment, then you ARE a novice). A good PH (Africa) or guide (NA) or a good friend (no legal requirment zones) does more than get you into the game, he will educate you as to the ways of the quarry of which you are most likely ignorant, help you judge the animals to pick the proper one in a land where your sense of scale is probably off, explain the foreign flora and fauna that you see, explain the topography and how the animals interact with it, help you understand tracks and night sounds about which you probably don't have a clue, enlighten you as to the history of the area and its people, and generally keep your ar$e out of trouble. So far, I am at loss how any of these are a bad thing.

Personally, I am always looking to grow, increase my knowedge and experience, and expand my hunting horizons ---- others, perhaps not .....

Good Luck and Good Hunting Though,
EKM

RE: Poll: Which Would You Choose?
 

I've been on this forum for about a year and a 1/2. I usually just read the threads and chime in or ask a question once and a while. This is one of those times.
I believe that the question posed in this thread was about which trophy big game animal would you choose Moose,Elk,Mulie,Whitetail. But as always happens we have strayed???? Now the discussion is about better CLASSES of hunters [:-] I don't think any of us are in a different CLASS. I think most of us who have been here know that EKM sets up a world class hunting camp.Does that put him in a different "CLASS" than a person who hunts out of his /her camper or backpacks in. I don't think so!There may be different skill levels in hunting and I for one know that I learn something new every time I go hunting. No matter what I am hunting. A different "CLASS" to me is something of social stature (lower,middle,upper). If you can afford to pay then pay if not don't.That doesn't make any of us better than the other!!!!!!!!!
Hunt what you want how you want. It has no matter to me.....Your still a hunter:)!!!!!
By the way I would choose Alaskan Moose then ELk,Mulieand Whiteail.Mainly because I live in Colorado and can draw a "Trophy" tag evey couple of years!!! And THAT doesn't put me in a better class it just makes me LUCKY:)

(Just using EKM as known example)

RE: Poll: Which Would You Choose?
 

I for one have tried to learn and expand my knowledge and expierence eveery day of my life. I can do that here or in tenbucktwo matters not. I can learn stuff on this site, by reading books by the experts and by doing everything I get a chance to do. I have been hunting since I was six years old. I have hunted in many places for many kinds of game. I am much more exouierenced than many of the younger guys on this site but Am I in another class? I don't think so. Nor do I think anyone else here is in a class above me or many of the young guys who have earned thier star by hunting hard and doing things right. Even if no-one else is watching. I am proud to be in the good company here and this class stuff is hogwash. Amercans don't believe in classes of people even if the Government does. Its true we don't like being looked down on for any reason. Thats one of the things that has built this nation into what it is. Now anyone who places themselves in another class above me, Go ahead it don't cost me a thing.:D