Stomping chicks is for people who can't swing a 7-iron properly.

Okie,

One thing I think you should always remember: Man has been manipulating his environment and the way he procured food/sport (yes, predators hunt for sport) since he lifted himself from all fours. The scavenger thing, although successful to a point, just wasn’t cutting it. Do you think we would be here today if this wasn’t the case?

Let’s take a real close look at some of the ways we have learned to manipulate our environment as it pertains to hunting. I call them “tools of the trade”.

1) We have learned to recognize and employ nature and man made barriers. Back then, Indians drove animals off cliffs. Now, we sit over funnels, along river banks, and travel corridors. We also build fences.
2) We have recognized that, not unlike ourselves, animals need food, water, and shelter. We make great efforts to provide or deprive these needs. We plant food plots, build dams, and even employ bait. We provide better or remove habitat (to create funnels)
3) We erect blinds, hides, and tree stands. We sit still and ambush our prey as it creeps by.
4) We produce clothing which always us to hunt in harsher conditions and extend our time within this exposure.
5) We use weapons which propel projectiles into our prey. These projectiles render our prey harmless and eatable. We are not fast enough to close the gap on our own. Nor, are we strong enough to kill large game with our bare hands.


I cannot think of any of my experiences where at least one item on the list wasn’t employed.

Now, if I were to condemn you for manipulating the environment, then, and rightfully so, I would be condemning myself, right?

We are not created equal, nor are we here to lose (its human nature to compete and win). Each one of us will need to determine, for ourselves, how to hunt. We will assess the tools of the trade, and employ them in a manner which is best suited for ourselves and the success we desire. Your definition of “fair chase” will be different than mine. I’m ok with that!

Who's casting those stones…….?

I see hunting as like life in general. Some are happy to exist and that is all the effort they put into it. Others live To achieve, and to achieve in this world effort is needed, and in most cases the effort involved directly results in that level of achievement.

Hunting works in the same way, A four point buck shoot on the last day of the season is an achievement as it involved effort.
A 12 point buck shot ten minutes after the feeders timer went off required little more effort than asking the guide to close the gate behind you.A Little effort for a little achievement.
So I guess how you find happiness is really up to you.
Hunting in its self is so much more than the killing of an animal and if you fail to see that then you really are missing more than you will ever know.

Huckleberry,

It is nice to hear someone with such a broad range of experience and your comments arejust another example of how one cannotstereotype about an entire practice liked fenced hunting. It seems to me, however, that in other countries there may bedifferent philosophies toward fenced operations. Most of the bad examples of fenced hunting in the U.S. that people talk about here, don't involve safari-type hunts on ranches the size of a county,with conservation officers on hand to ensure fair chase. Also, at least as it relates to Africa, it seems that many such hunts are state-controlled and/or they are often specifically linked togame management rather than operating as purely profit driven operations. Or am i way of base here?

Shooting a deer in a pen is just like stompin chicks while wearing snow shoes, It just ain't right.

Well, at least in terms of using those modern snowshoes-pluses. Some of the circa-1650 iroquois indian snow shoes made from birch bark and willow limps, MIGHT be acceptable under some circumstances.

Something sounds fishy to me.
1st of all what was te name of the ranch? How large was it?

If you've ever hunted the Hill Country you would know the 100 deer isnot an uncommon thing regardless of the fence.

WELL PUT THAT SHOULD END THAT TOPIC.Somtimes after the animal I am hunnting is dead on the ground I am disapointed funs over. For me it is the hunt and not the kill.Unless someone left the gate open then I like the round up!Does anyone know where I can find a portable that atches to chain link

I don't know this for a fact but some high fenced operations sound very much like what was described. A person picks out an animal they want to go after. The guide sits them in a "blind" (sometimes much more comfortable than my living room LOL) And they have to wait a few minutes for the targeted deer to come out and then they shoot it.
To me it doesn't seem like hunting


Now other ranches may be a bit better at it than pointing at a deer and saying shoot it. Even though high fenced there may be some with alot of ground and the guide gives you an idea of where to hunt. Then its mostly up to you to figure out exactly were to hunt and what to shoot. Like I said I'm not sure how many allow hunters to hunt. It would have to be a big area andnot sitting by a feeder.

Still not something for me. I can see these people that have more money than they know what to do with going to some of these ....well I don't wantto call them hunts... butnot me.

jmo

Lanse,

It is nice to hear someone with such a broad range of experience and your comments arejust another example of how one cannotstereotype Thank youabout an entire practice liked fenced hunting. It seems to me, however, that in other countries there may bedifferent philosophies toward fenced operations. Yes, I would agree. In Africa, I would say the fence’s main purpose is to keep poachers out. Poaching is a huge problem there. It is followed secondly by wildlife conservation and preservation. Many species would be extinct without high fence operations preserving them. Take Rhinos for example there and American bison here. Most of the bad examples of fenced hunting in the U.S. that people talk about here, don't involve safari-type hunts on ranches the size of a county,with conservation officers on hand to ensure fair chase. I tend to agree and avoid such places (unless I am hired to do a culling service) but Also, at least as it relates to Africa, it seems that many such hunts are state-controlled and/or they are often specifically linked togame management rather than operating as purely profit driven operations. Or am i way of base here?You may be correct, but the fact of the matter, it takes money (profit) at all levels to employ a game management plan. Where does that money come from? Wouldn't it be nice if money grew on trees? I understand what you trying to say though. Profit driven places tend to "guarantee" a kill. Are there guarantees in hunting? In my opinion, NO. but that's me! I won't cast a stone on someone with other abilities.

To answer Jim's question,

"A Little effort for a little achievement." Says you! Not Me!

Effort= acheivement?The man worked to acheive the money didn't he? Maybe yes, maybe no? He's got it! How he spends it is totally up to him. If he derives success by spending money, so be it. What he spends it on is totally up to him!Did you spend your money on a bow? Many would sayyour purchase isunethical, especially if you use it on wildlife! Hunting is definitely more than just killing. Unless you want to be judged, then judge not!

To everyone in general,

Have you ever thought what it would be like if we only hunted does/hinds/cows and their weight didn't matter? What if there weren't record books and the trophy was really in theeye of the beholder?Too many people are worried that someone will shoot something "bigger" or betterthan them. That just isn't fair! They go to great lengths to discredit their rival's acheivement. Why?Wouldn't it be nice if we all worried about ourselves? I mean, I do not tell you how to hunt, where to hunt, or why to hunt. Why do you feel the need to tell me?

Mike,

Yes, I have hunted in the hill country...near Campwood (Maverick Creek Ranch-in excess of 3000 acres), near Wimberley, near Mason, near Junction, and near Frederickberg. I know exactly what you are talking about. In Fredericksberg, the land owner was required by the state to remove all white-tailed deer from his property before he could releasehis own stock and exotics. He has four sections. The property was cleared by Texas Parks and Wildlife. 10 years later, he has a 15 deer per acre ratio within the confines.He manages it that way.I hunt a low fence ranch in Uvalde,Tx. It is approximatley 2000 acres (sorry, I will not give you the name) . There are deer everywhere-I do not think I have ever come home without one (ok, five per the legal bag limit). I have also been on the King Ranch near Corpus Christi and on many ranches near Hondo. I do not find killing a deer in Texas a big challenge. Finding a place to hunt...whole nother story.