You know gentlemen; I knew I was going to take a whole lot of heat when I responded to this thread. If you think less of me for doing so, well, I cannot change that. I have tried to hunt in as many places and situations as possible. I have learned a lot along the way. The foremost is keeping an open mind. Nothing, and I do mean nothing, is always what it appears on the surface. I do not support canned hunts (“size” does matter). On the other hand, I support high fence hunting- providing high degrees of difficulty and elements of fair chase are introduced. Despite what many of you may think, it is an incredible tool for preserving our various animal species. It’s not always about the “killing”.

Oam,

You are comparing apples to oranges. One is legal and the other illegal.

Sex between consenting adults is legal. Doing it before you’re married is considered immoral. And yet it is happening everywhere. Should we ban sex?

In my opinion, each of us has the right to our own privacy and way of life (providing we stay within the limits of the law. I’m sure you know the difference between “sex” and “rape”). Again, I do not tell you how to hunt. I respectfully ask that you do not tell me how to hunt.

Many of the African safaris outfits operate on concessions consisting of 60 to 120 thousand acres. This is especially the case in Namibia. The fences are not always intended to keep the animals in. They are there to keep riff raff out! They delineate where one should be and where one shouldn’t be. Yet, Poachers still fall heavily on African wildlife.

A lot of fine folks on this forum will be staying home when they find out the majority of Africa is behind fence. Their loss…

And yes, I would love to be the contractor who provides the fence for a ranch that large!


Outdoorslover

I beg to differ! I enjoy nature to the nth degree. I can show you plenty of photographs if you do not believe me. High fence hunting provides me with the opportunity to be out there all year long in amongst the animals I truly love! My hunting season never ends!

How does killing a two year old cow buffalo constitute “showing off” a rack? I simply wanted the meat! It tastes great-beyond belief actually! It’s lean, low in cholesterols and a heck of a lot cheaper than buying beef from the store. I do not believe that’s “stooping”. I believe that’s “prudent”. More importantly, my wife will eat it! I found my cow on a 100 square miles Wyoming ranch. The whole perimeter was fenced. The hunt itself was nothing like running the buffs around the corral ten times and then shooting them. There was an extreme amount of difficulty! I even shot some great photos-one being of a mountain lion. You should try it!

I do not need to “prove” anything. I know exactly where my accomplishments lie. My trophies are my trophies (many of them are a joke-but they’re mine). I could careless if you look upon them! I do not hunt for others, I hunt for myself. Now, I’m beginning to share my passion for the outdoors with my children (one of which is physically handicapped…again, I have first hand experience with regard to accessibility). I look forward to many new adventures and discoveries…high fenced or free ranging!

Kevin,

I hear you, and I agree. That isn’t much of a hunt. But, the examples you are mentioning in your state are not representations of the entire industry! You might want to do a little more homework. Some of these high fence operations are huge!

There is a difference between fair chase and free ranging. Many people get those two confused. I would love to take you to Texas and onto the Bar E Ranch. I guarantee you’ll see the difference. There’s an axis deer there that is very near 40 inches. I’ve seen him twice and have hunted him two times (other proficient bow hunters have battled this buck as well). To my knowledge, he's still standing! The Bar E goes through hundreds of hunter each year. The cover is thick and the animals there are given ample opportunity to evade their pursuers. It’s funny; I’ve hunted on a 66 acre low fence farm in Ohio and killed a 164 inch whitetail. It took me 15 minutes to do so. I’ve hunted a total of eight days on the Bar E (400 acres) and the one buck I truly desired is still running. Hmmm….I should do something about that!

As we sit here pondering all this information, I cannot help but to bring up that old adage:

“its not the size, it’s how you use it”. Having sex with a whore is easy. Doing it with a class act…a whole other realm! Open your minds guys!

that is the most retarded shiit i have ever heard

ComeonCowboy. I'm sure you can add something more intelligent than thatto this debate. Exactly why is that retarded?

Nope Im done with this topic! I know how I feel and I know how you feel I stand by what i have said. All it is, is an opinion of what is right and wrong and i belive and know High fence hunting (where they cant jump over) is wrong I dont care about anyones opinon IT IS WRONG!! thats how disease's get out into WILDlife (WILD) get it WILD cause there WILD!! and just cause these high fence operations are huge doesnt mean that there right!

Best of luck to you Cowboy. I hope you have an enjoyable and successful season.

Same too you

Huck's right. My son and I hunted four days for that axis at Bar-E and we didn't even get to see him. We sat stands in the morning and stalked the rest of the day. I don't mind telling you those exotics kicked our butts - never been so challenged.

Cowboy, I'm afraid you're talking through your hat pardner. You'd get an "F" in debate son. When ever someone resorts to name-calling or foul/loud language rather than a well though out point of view supported by data or at least someone's first-hand experience, that person has lost the debate.

"There is none so blindas he who will not see."

I never loved NASCAR until I went to a race - then I "got it". Up until then I had never been to a race on pavement; if it wasn't on dirt, it wasn't racing. Being from southern Indiana I know what dirt racing is all about!

I dislike canned hunts for able-bodied people and I supported the IBA in their fight to end canned hunting in Indiana especially drugging deer like "that place" that was mentioned earlier (You out there Jimmy Houston?). But, you can't lump all high-fence in the canned hunt definition. If you don't understand re-read Huck's comments.

By the way, Huck's the most accomplished hunter I know and he'll absolutely hunt anyone on this board right into the ground smiling and enjoying every minute of it. He's earned my respect first hand.

By the way, if you're against high fence fair chase hunts (not canned), then you need to change forum/website. Ralph and Vickie hunt high fence fair chase.

It's just their thing. AND.... you should see the bill they get handed at the end of a "SHOOT". That's all it is... shooting. THese outfits pay big bucks for big buck genes to grow their herd. They spend big bucks to feed them that which will make big horns and then some guy with a not so big dick shows up and plunks down the dollars to shoot them. It's not hunting.... it's shooting. It's pure commercialism. I won a trip to a hunt in PA a few years back. The outfitter had a couple bucks in a pen. He sold them both for something like $7000 a piece while we were there to a fenced hunt outfit for breeding purposes. No, my trip was not a fence. It was on public land in the Allegahaney forest.

If it's just "shooting" and "killing" David. I would sure like to know why I've bow hunted 42 days in Africa doing spot and stalk style hunting and still do not have a zebra (of any kind ) under my belt? What about that axis deer on the Bar E buddy? Why isn't he dead? Run your arguement by the leopard or cheetah in Namibia (and the list goes on). They'll laugh at you! By the way, those two animals move through a high fence like a hot knife goes through butter.Lastly, Why is it that many animalsbehind high fence are born there, live long lives and die from natural causes? If itwere just a "slaughter" as you contend, this would not be the case-not even once.

With this maintained attitude, Many of you are missing out on some unbelievable hunting opportunities. The high fenced hunt is what you makeof it. If done correctly, it will provide you with an experience you will never forget.

And one I don't want to experience. To each his own I guess.