How many hunters do we have here?

[azsnowman]

I know this is a touchy topic for some, but how many here hunt? As for myself, I don't hunt big game as much as I use to, after seeing my *pet elk heard* I couldn't bring myself to shooting a majestic Bull Elk anymore. NOW....as far as ducks, quail and dove go, THAT'S another story!

Dennis

[mf_dolphin]

I'm a former hunter! The only big game we have around here is Canadian Tourists.

[azsnowman]

LOL Marshall....yup, it's almost tourist season, saw a bumper sticker a few months back "If it's tourist season, why isn't it legal to hunt them?"

Dennis

[mf_dolphin]

The reason..... they keep our taxes down

[chadtm80]

Nope, never been a hunter.. But am a BIG fishing nut.. Hey az how is the fishing over there, my dad was kind of curious, as he is still prob moving out there

[BEER980]

Does hunting terrorists count?

[sunnyday]

I don't understand how someone can kill innocent animals for 'fun' or 'the thrill of it.' And, no, I don't eat meat, either.

[mf_dolphin]

I never killed anything for fun. If I don't eat it I don't kill it. I do eat meat

[stormraiser]

lol Sunny. Most hunters don't do it for the sport of it. I come from a long line of hunters. We were farmers and did it to supplement our menus. It wasn't totally out of necessity, but wasn't for sport either (except the bats). I personally don't own a gun, but that is a different story. I support gun owner's rights and have no problems with game hunting.

[sunnyday]

While I'm aware some people kill for food, I was talking about the people who think of hunting as a sport. Everyone I've known who hunts, and there haven't been many, thank goodness, have done it for fun. Those are the ones I have a problem with.

[streetsoldier]

sunnyday, I used to be a "subsistence hunter", too (mostly whitetail deer); unlike many who use salt licks, scent baiting, calls, tree stands, etc., I'd find a deer trail and "stalk"...walking VERY slowly, watching and listening for hours on end.

It placed me on a MUCH more equal footing with my "future food", since deer have far more enhanced senses than I do. Even with a rifle, the game has the upper hand.

For me, THAT'S "hunting".

[azsnowman]

sunnyday, I used to be a "subsistence hunter", too (mostly whitetail deer); unlike many who use salt licks, scent baiting, calls, tree stands, etc., I'd find a deer trail and "stalk"...walking VERY slowly, watching and listening for hours on end.

It placed me on a MUCH more equal footing with my "future food", since deer have far more enhanced senses than I do. Even with a rifle, the game has the upper hand.

For me, THAT'S "hunting".

"AMEN!" Thanks Bill No...I've never hunted for the FUN of it, I love wildgame, besides, it's the INJUN in me that has the *hunting for food* drive, I've NEVER hunted for Trophy Racks, Trophy points (Boone and Crocket Records).

NOW....the fishin should be AWESOME here in about 2 weeks when the ice comes off the lakes, all the lakes up on top had a 3 FOOT ice cap this winter, never did make ice fishin' besides, I've got enough ice from our auto ice maker anyways "LOL!"

Dennis

[GalvestonDuck]

Does hunting with a bow and arrow count? A long time ago, I went quail hunting with my uncle in KY (and yes, we ate them) after he taught me how to use a compound bow.

[george_r_1961]

I have NEVER been hunting..but I have no problem with folks hunting as long as they eat what they kill. The thought of killing for sport makes me very angry

[blizzard]

I used to hunt White Tail and Grouse. I haven't hunted in quite a few years, becasue I just don't care for venison too much. I love to eat Grouse, so someday I will get back into that. I have bow hunted, and find that that is the ultimate way to hunt Deer. Although I never shot anything with a bow, it was alot more "sporting" I guess you could say than with a rifle. Currently I do not own any guns either, so I won't be hunting anything for awhile...lol

[DaylilyDawn]

When my hubby would go hunting, I told him "you shoot them , you clean them , you cook them and you eat them". I do not care for dove meat and that is what he would hunt.

[streetsoldier]

Oh, I forgot...I didn't use a telescopic sight, either; just "iron sights" on an "un-sporterized" military Czech VZ-24 Mauser variant, 8 X 57mm.

At least we ate well, "some" winters; other years, to the grocery store. (Never said I was Dan'l Boone, did I?)

[coriolis]

I don't hunt, but it's huge around here. My father didn't hunt, so it was never a tradition in my family. I have no problems with it though and some day I may just start. Since most predators have been eradicated, hunting has become a necessity to keep the deer population under control.

[azsnowman]

Does hunting with a bow and arrow count? A long time ago, I went quail hunting with my uncle in KY (and yes, we ate them) after he taught me how to use a compound bow.

That's GREAT and YES....bow huntin' counts, to me, someone whos a good shot with a bow is to be commended! It takes a good eye and a great deal of patience to hunt with a bow....I could never master a compound bow, my choice of weapon for dove, quail, duck (sorry!) is a Remington Wingmaster Model 870 12 gauge with a 28" barrel, full choke.

Dennis

[azsnowman]

I used to hunt White Tail and Grouse. I haven't hunted in quite a few years, becasue I just don't care for venison too much. I love to eat Grouse, so someday I will get back into that. I have bow hunted, and find that that is the ultimate way to hunt Deer. Although I never shot anything with a bow, it was alot more "sporting" I guess you could say than with a rifle. Currently I do not own any guns either, so I won't be hunting anything for awhile...lol

Hey Blizz, what kind of grouse? We have Blue grouse up here and they are HARDER than HADES to find...they live at and above elevations of 9500' to 10,000 feet but GOOD eatin'...."Mmmm, Mmmmm!"

Dennis