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Hunting slang?
I'm hoping to get help from some veteran hunters here: I'm writing a book called Talk the Talk: Authentic Slang from 75 American Subcultures, and two of the groups I'm working on (and have had trouble finding good terms for!) are hunters and fishermen. The hardest kinds of words to find are the ones I'm most interested in, slang and informal talk and social terms--like if there's a word for somebody who always scares the game away, or for a gun that's more powerful than it needs to be for the type of game hunted, or for a day when no game even shows up.
If anyone can suggest words, phrases, or resources, I'd be grateful--not only for deer hunting, but for any kind of hunting and fishing. And if you know anybody else who might be able to help and don't mind forwarding the message to them too, that's great. You could post information here or e-mail me at luc[-at-]subculturetalk.com. Also give me a holler if you'd be willing to look over my terms when I'm done and/or suggest quotes for some of them. Thanks, Luc Reid |
RE: Hunting slang?
Here are some words you can put in your book:
Getting Skunked - going on a hunting trip and coming home empty handed. Buck Fever - elevated heart rate that occurs when in plain view of a monster buck. Boiler Room - the area on an animal where you want to shoot to harvest the animal humanely (the heart/lung area) Ground Shrinkage - what happens when you find the deer that your buddy said was sure to make the record book only to realize that he would be lucky to fill the stew pot because he is so small. |
RE: Hunting slang?
I hadn't realized that youwanted fishing words too
Drowning some worms - a phrase used to describe an unsuccessful fishing trip, "I didn't catch anything, just drowned some worms". Hog - often spelled "hawg", a bass of legendary proportions. i.e. ole' bucketmouth. Almost as interesting as fishing slang, would be to find out the "local names" of all your common American fish. Largemouth bass - black bass, wide mouth Flathead catfish - mud cats, shovel nose, |
RE: Hunting slang?
This is great stuff. Thanks, Tom!
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RE: Hunting slang?
"that dog will hunt" .... " shoot them where their the biggest"
DD  |
RE: Hunting slang?
Here's some I noticed in Florida. I came from Maryland
1. Looky Heah....usually what an older black man calls out to you from a jon boat showing off his stringer of fish with a smile. 2. Good ins........ Little bit better than average keeper fish. 3. Slabs............Serious lunker panfish 4.Fryhards.......4/5inch .Bluegills that should have been thrown back but the fisherman is so hard up that he keeps them. Frys the whole fish. 5. Jumpers....Grass shrimp, used mostly for catching specks. 6. Flippin Stick..long fishing rod for reaching in and jigging worms or jigs in thick cover . 7.Tacked up...When a hunting place has illuminated tacks in the trees or brush to help a hunter find his way in the dark. 8. Quota.......A piece of paper that you get to allow you to hunt a certain WMA. 9. Did you get drawn?..What your hunting friends ask you concerning your signing up for certain WMAs 10. Dropplings....usually pertaniing to deer poop. 11. Buck Fever...Usually so caught up with the awe of the situation ...that your deer walks away as you stand there with your mouth open 12. Long range rifle...Usually the hunters excuse to himnself or wife for buying a another rifle. |
RE: Hunting slang?
DAYLIGHT DUMMY- SOMEONE WHO ENTERS WOODS LATE IN THE MORNING
MAGAZINE MORON- SOMEONE WHO BUYS ALL THE BEST AND IS STUPID WHEN IT COMES TO HUNTING. A BEER BUCK-SOMEONE WHO NEVER LEAVES THE CABIN,BUT DRINKS BEER ALL WEEK AND THEN BUYS HIS BUCK OFF A LOCAL FARMER |
RE: Hunting slang?
overkill=a gun that's more powerful than it needs to be for the type of game hunted
boogered it up=there's a word for somebody who always scares the game away head/toad/gorilla= large bass heavy sak= big bag of fish at a tournament m.t.hands= no fish at a tournament[:-] bust up=scatter a flock of turkeys to call/gather back in roost a bird= locate where a turkey sleeps flush= jump an animal from cover birds nest/professional overrun= backlash on a baitcaster ole man murphy came to visit= anything that can go wrong will (bowhunting mostly[:@]) the man=game warden broom pole and a well rope=flippin stick |
RE: Hunting slang?
"K-mart hunter"- A city boy who just bought all new equipmet atk-mart and only hunts a few times. Usually only opening day.
"If it brown it's down"- Someone who shoots bucks or does will say this. "It's veal"-A very young deer. |
RE: Hunting slang?
As others have written there are numerous names for those who buy all of the best equipment and don't know how to use it. The one my buddies and I use is "Bass Pro Mannequin" We use the term "Mo Mo" for big deer and large fish. "Boone and Cricket" for small bucks. When we rib each other for buying a model of gun or bow that we don't think is the best we call it a "Boat Oar". Those are just a few off the top of my head.
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RE: Hunting slang?
Magnumitis- a "disease" for those who just buy the biggest, most powerful rifle because, well it's the biggest...i have magnumitis
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RE: Hunting slang?
I hunt beagles and there are a few slang term that almost any dog-hunter will recognize...
Trashy= Slang term for a dog that will trail anything in the woods, not the specific animal your hunting. Mouthy/babbler= Term for a dog that barks anytime it just gets excited, not just because they have a hot trail. Grinner= a possum "Thicker than hair on a cat's back"= an especiallybrushy area I'll try and think of a few more.... Gh |
RE: Hunting slang?
Sky busting-- shooting at geese or deer that are too high
tree rats, bushy tails-- squirrels jakes-- young male turkeys stick bow-- recurve or long bow used in traditional archery taking a brush shot-- what some idiot does by shooting into the brush when he thinks he sees something move wall hanger-- deer that is large/impressive enough to justify having it stuffed citation bass-- bass that is big enough to earn a state citation muffler dog-- when the rest of the dogs are out hunting rabbitson a cold day, a muffler dog sneaks back to the truck and hides next to the warm muffler stump sitter-- hunter that stays in one place,doesn't participate in drives or still hunt |
RE: Hunting slang?
Coffee Crisps- road hunters
Birdy- Tree stand hunter Weekend Warriors - guys who have the stuff or look the part but just don't get it when it comes to fishing or hunting Cauchy -A hunter who arrives late, spooks game within 100miles, etc. (yes as in Cauchyfrom"Happy Days") Ghost Chaser - hunter who runs around chasing each story of game or the big one. Bush Whacker - a hunter who prefers to silk through the bush vs sitting and waiting on game Bump- scare game Bedroom - Bedding areas Jumper - Whitetail deer Flagged or Tail wave- Whitetail Deer part you see when they are fleeing straight away - Tail Spooky - game that is pressured or acts nervous Swamp Donkey - Moose Dink(sorry but we use this terms lots when talking after a day deer hunting) - Small antlered buck Trashy or Junk- Non-typical antler growth Shifty - Sneaky move by either hunter or game Hawg - big male animal (or fish) Boonie - Record Book Deer Bush Talk - Cursing -stuff you wouldn't say at home or around mom but is AOK around the fire Runnin' - term when a male is following a female Hot Trot - when a buck is nose to the ground trailing a doe Tinkling - Rattling - Technique for luring deer The Call - Moose or elk breeding time (or Rut) Screamin' - Bull Elk Bugling heavy, often or hard Pins - Shoulder area on game Headgear, Rack, Bone - antlers Blue bird - Sunny day when hunting waterfowl Runner - Upland game that won't flush |
RE: Hunting slang?
Squeaker-barely legal ram or buck.
boss hog-huge buck or bull skin head-cow or doe |
RE: Hunting slang?
Smokepole = Muzzleloader
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RE: Hunting slang?
" sling a stick" - to shoot an arrow.
I was going to sling a stick at that buck but he didn't get in range. ;) |
RE: Hunting slang?
slick or slickhead - doe
longbeard (Tom) - adult male turkey |
RE: Hunting slang?
ORIGINAL: UThunter Magnumitis- a "disease" for those who just buy the biggest, most powerful rifle because, well it's the biggest...i have magnumitis |
RE: Hunting slang?
Anna Nicole (from her larger days) andRosie (as in O'Donnel) for big largemouth bass.
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RE: Hunting slang?
Skipper: A young deer; usually experiencing it's first Autumn.
Ballbats...A very large set of antlers. |
RE: Hunting slang?
"Steep as a goats face" Talking about mountains that are straight up and down.
"Slinging lead" Shooting at what ever game you are hunting. I'll keep thinking for others |
RE: Hunting slang?
bruiser- a very large mature buck (rack and body size)
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RE: Hunting slang?
"Mooie Grande"(sp?) Very big buck
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RE: Hunting slang?
Hawging or Noodling - Which term you use usually depends on where you're from. I think southerners use the term noodling while northerners use hawging (maybe somebody can back me up or prove me wrong on this notion). Anyways it's when you "fish" for catfish with your hand and try to get one to grab your arm and you pull it up out of the water.
Hawg or Slob (my buddies use this one...not very common though)- Very mature buck with either a huge rack or huge body Skin Head - doe Fur Chaser - A bird dog thatmisbehaves and likes to chase deer instead of find birds. |
RE: Hunting slang?
ORIGINAL: huntinwv "Mooie Grande"(sp?) Very big buck |
RE: Hunting slang?
That hawg has some tusches!
That hog has some big tusks! Don't shoot the Bor, shoot the Bar! Don't shoot the Boar, shoot the one that has been cut! Man, don't shoot the Piggy Sow! Sow with unweanedpiglets! Sewer Trout> Talapia Turd Rustler> Cat Fish Gay Caballero> Damm ***** |
RE: Hunting slang?
BIG RUBE = a big buck, worthy of mounting on the wall.
WALKING/RUNNING SHOES = when someone shoots a buck early in the season, they will end up being a walker or driver in all deer drives the rest of the season. AIR MAIL = shooting over a deer and not hitting it. BALDIE = a doe or fawn BIRD DAWGING= when a buck chases a doe thru the woods, following her every move. |
RE: Hunting slang?
Wat-ov-air redneck term.
yank term- deer approching or watch out! |
RE: Hunting slang?
"I'm so hongry the air smells like oil sausages" -what you say when you are hungry.
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RE: Hunting slang?
Grunt Em--- Calling in a moose
Skybusters--- Someone who thinks they can hunt waterfowl but cant I have maginumitis!!! |
RE: Hunting slang?
Orange Army - Bow hunter slang for gun hunters.
Flock Shooter - Someone who doesn't aim at a particular target. He just shoots amongst them. Pea Shooter - A small caliber rifle Cannon - A large caliber rifle Bucket Mouth - A really big largemouth bass Smallie - Smallmouth bass Sewer Bass - Carp |
RE: Hunting slang?
A Shooter - a big buck
Reach out an touch 'em - taking a very long shot at game |
RE: Hunting slang?
Ditch Parrot - pheasant
pile rider - big doe that eats all the bait |
RE: Hunting slang?
Haven't read through all the terms...but did anyone list...
Ground Check - Shoot it 1st, identify it once it's down and on the ground (of course, I wouldn't recommend that) |
RE: Hunting slang?
Skybusters--- Someone who thinks they can hunt waterfowl but cant Shooting at the ducks a mile high basically. Kinda like most the guys who duck hunt on TV. |
RE: Hunting slang?
eye- Walleye
eye guards- browtines |
RE: Hunting slang?
Smasher - Really big buck
Shrink buck - a small antlered buck Flat head - Doe |
RE: Hunting slang?
Often times some of my hunting buddies and I will use these terms:
Skinhead - Doe Pot Hunting - Hunting by sitting in a treestand Pushing or Driving - Deer drive On-Stand or On-Post - Going to hunt "standing", on the other end of the deer drive. |
RE: Hunting slang?
As for fishing, here are some terms that I've used:
Keeper - A fish that meets the regulations and you get to keep it Throwback - A fish that does not meet the regulations and you have to "throw back" Doormat - A big fluke Hit - A bite while fishing |
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