My opinion: Some of the high fence, high dollar, game ranch type of places are NOT really true, get-down-and-dirty, types of hunting. I mean, what - do they put a leash on a pen raised deer and parade it around in front of you?

The way I look at it, outfitters are okay, as long as they are fair chase with no huge 20' fences and so on.

The other thing is that (in my case), if you don't have your own secret little place on private land, you end up having to compete with 9000 other hunters on public land on WMA's and state forests. It gets rough and tough out there and the deer just seem to "know" when opening day is. I washed my hands of hunting WMA's here in Virginia when the last time I went out to one, I just kept seeing this parade of blaze orange out there! [:@] The deer (if there were any there to begin with ) were totally nocturnal and/or spooked out of the area, never to be seen again. This is my 3rd year of consistently being skunked, and I am really considering looking into an good reputable outfitter.

Butch A.

As hunters, we all know what going on. Like it or not, it's part of what we call hunting. If anyone wants to spend thousands of dollars to bag the biggest buck of their life, good for them....it's their decison, time and money. What does concern me is non-hunters (not to be confused with anti-hunters) who watch these shows. Many get the impression that this is what most folks do. Wait over a field, watch many deer and pick out the one you want. Then tell your little 10 yrs. old to take him. Call it what you want, but it's not hunting in my book. I'm afraid a lot of people that never take a step in the woods consider this typical of what most deer hunters do to be successful. If they only knew....I have spent an entire year without ever seeing a deer, legal or not. For once, I would love to see any hunting show spend time where I hunt in Maine and NH. Can they come up north, do their scouting etc, and drag out a wall banger, I have my doubts. Like I said, to each his/her own, but when the non-hunting public thinks this is the norm, then ...that ain't right!

Well i can see a guy saving his hard earned money to go to a place and kill him a buck he has always dreamed about, when he goes hunting in his hometown and doesnt see a deer or is bombarded with thousands of other hunters. Some people want to go out and not see anyone for miles i can appreciate that, i am very fortunate, we have a great deer population where i hunt, heck you see them in backyards, on highways, county roads.........there everywhere for me. What gets me is this: How can they be called professionals??? Okay, you pay a place to hunt, there are natural funnels, bedding areas, staging areas, you know all the good spots, but the PRO has only been there for like 2-3 days!![] Yea i would be a pro too if someone did all my homework for me, the guides who spend countless hours planning and learning where trophy deer are and where they are going................THOSE ARE THE PRO'S. OKay, now they say they are a professional caller, well.............if your hunting a place that has an abundance of lets say merriam turkeys, and has no hunting pressure, and here is the "PRO" calling in a dozen birds.........??........ WELL DUH?? I would love to see any of these so called pro's to come and hunt where i hunt, they would get skunked every year, thats why they have sponsers to pay for there hunts and they dont do it themselves. What do they do with all that meat anyway? who pays for the processing? the mounting? The shipping back home? I appreciate those fellas who go out and do it themselves................you who i like? TRED BARTA!! Now he is a pro!!