Need a Hunting Resume?

[TheKnack]

Some seem to need a hunting resume to justify how good of a hunter they are to everyone. Why?

Does the amount of racks on a person wall you do not even know really mean anything to you?

Do you feel compelled to hold out for something bigger to try and impress others you probably will never meet?

Do you truely enjoy the outdoors or has it become a competition to succeed at all costs?

Somewhere along the line many in my opinion have lost the true enjoyment and reason why they started hunting.
It used to be an annual escape but now it's more of a serious job than anything else to some.
Sure, it's great to share pictures and stories if you do succeed in the field with others, but did you take that animal for yourself or to achieve some mythological status to others?

Some truely great hunters do exist that share stories and help others by trying to give tips and hunting stratagies. They hunt for themselves and truely could care less if you think the world of them or not.
In my opinion there are less of these type out there these days.

The point I am trying to make is before you idolize or try and build a "resume" to "look" like a huge succesful trophy hunter....Think about what is most important to (you).
Enjoy the great outdoors and give it your best regardless if your succesful taking an animal or not. There is so much more to hunting than just the size of an antler.
I know I may be a stranger to most on here but it's just a thought.
Best,
Jerry

 

[goinhuntn]

I agree with you!! I love to hunt more than anything and it drives my wife crazy. I love just being outdoors and seeing things that some will never see in a lifetime. If I feel my tag well that is an added bonus.

 

[txhunter58]

Yep, it has been the downfall of more than one hunter who wanted to maintain his status as a "master hunter". I would love to kill a big-un as much as the next guy, but I try and not let it consume me.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

 

[sageadvice]

Then again, if a guy already has killed a 60, 80, 100 bucks and has a wall of nice racks taken from many years and many places, why shouldn't he hold out, hunt for a big buck only if that's his enjoyment and he's willing to go home empty?

"There is so much more to hunting than just the size of an antler."

Sure there is and who doesn't know that? But i also know some guys who claimed to only hunt for meat...until they happened to kill a really nice buck. Funny how they so quickly changed their tune!

Joey



"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

 

[DBLung]

Just curious if you happen to live in the Wasatch front area of Utah? I went to school there a few years back and it was always a competition. No matter what you've accomplished or experienced they have always done more and they were better at it. I know 90% of MM members live in the Wasatch front so my post will get chewed up and spit out many times before this thread is over.

And I have to say there are great people who live along the Wasatch and not all people that live there are as you or I described.

 

[theox]

i disagree. I get my enjoyment from passing on smaller bucks in order to shoot a big one. I have went home empty hand many many times. but for me its the drive to kill a big trophy buck. I could kill tons of smaller bucks every year but i always hold out for a nice buck. i usually get an opportunity or two at nice one. usually buck fever consumes me and i miss most of the time. trying to hold my composure is part of my love of hunting, its a challenge in itself for me. I dont have any desire to kill a small buck, i like too pass on them but i have no desire to shoot. I love the challenge of stalking or trying to outwit a big smart mature buck. i love not filling my tag and hunting the whole season in hopes of finding one that excites me. I dont do it to impress people i do it for me. i really dont like showing stuff off too much, i like to share it with friends and family and be able to have a great story to go with it. it does not take much luck or skill to kill a small buck in most areas, so it seems to me the drive to shoot a big one means more time spent hunting. so i think its not done to impress but done to enjoy. at least for me.

 

[bucklover]

I'll throw my penny in. I wait all year long to go hunting. Why in the heck would I shoot the first little, (or sometimes pretty decent) buck that comes along. The hunt would be over and I would have to wait another whole year to do it again. Hunting is a year around thing for me. If I have a good one spotted, then I will end it early. Otherwise, every day I don't fill the tag is another day I get to go back out.

 

[TheKnack]

theox-
I think you misunderstood my post which is fine but I am talking about just that...Shoot or hunt for what makes (you) happy, be it a doe,cow, spike or a B@C trophy.
Too many worry about what others think and get engrossed on the almighty tape.
Too many these days do it to maintain the "I am a monster slayer" tag more than for the enjoyment of the hunt and at all costs.
Best,
Jerry

 

[smitty]

Hey DBlung, nobody likes anybody that lives on the wasatch front anyhow. Especially if they live in Utah county! Bunch of in-bred, self-righteous, BYU lovin, wack jobs!!!!

 

[sageadvice]

"Too many these days do it to maintain the "I am a monster slayer" tag more than for the enjoyment of the hunt and at all costs."

As long as they are within the laws, it's none of your business how those other guys want to hunt!

What would you expect to change by voicing your strong opinion on this thread?

Personally i don't know any guys like you describe bur i do know guys who hunt their butts off and seem to kill big bucks every year. Some are and have been friends for a very long time.

Joey


"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

 

[TOPGUN]

I couldn't have put it any better than theox did in his post for the way I hunt. I also love helping others whether I have a tag or not.

 

[theox]

if i misunderstood theni guess the type of hunter your talking about would be one similar to the almighty stinkystomper? haha.
I get what your say tho for real, im just saying most guys i know hunt for the love not the status. my buddy has killed some great bucks the last 5 years 167,172,175,188,189 2 of them are 30" ers all on general archery and he does not even like to show them to anyone. he hates the hype. I just dont think there are that many that do it for status. Usually when you start killing big bucks people just expect it out of you. and i dont think the hunter is necessarily doing it to try to prove anything. but maybe.... i just know i dont care to kill a little one myself, but i love to watch people kill any deer. my GF is hunting archery the first time this year and ill be just as stoked if she makes a 2 pt hit the dirt as a 180"

 

[nickman]

Lets try a little math.

There are about 10 active websites touting big game hunting and offering bragging forums. If even each one has 10,000 exclusive members, that is about 100,000 guys "online".

Some figures state that about 3 million people hunt big game in this country, so there are a BUNCH of hunters who don't care much what everyone else thinks of them or their "trophy". I know MANY that have no concept of any measurement other than width and number of points......and don't care about scores, books or records.

There are still several Big Buck contests, where width and point count are the ONLY scores that will win you a new rifle.

I wouldn't worry too much about where the "trophy/resume" guys are taking the sport.

"I could eat a bowl of Alphabet Soup and
sh!t a better argument than that!"

 

[marley]

The only person I'm in a competition with is myself. I find enjoyment in the hunt, don't have to kill to have fun so why knock over the little guys. I hold out for the big racks and have fun watching the little guys walk by and still consider it a successful hunt going home empty handed. I'm most excited to be with my son this year on his first hunts.

 

[TheKnack]

Does anyone really need to justify to me anything? (Heck no)- Besides why would you if your hunting for your own enjoyment in the first place as I stated in my post?
It's just an opinion that may help a few from falling into the hero or nothing club. (There actually is a middle ground)
Some that have been around awhile know and have seen what I am talking about.
I agree the majority of guys and gals on this site are good people....
Best,
Jerry

 

[BLooDTRaCKeR]

TheKnack,

Could you provide specific examples of those that you think are part of the "hero or nothing club"?

I don't see it on this sight. I enjoy the sport and would love to take a giant buck every year....even if it was at first light of the opening day.

As far as I'm concerned, the people that you are refering to are called POACHERS, low life scum that cannot earn the buck they want, so they acheive "hero status" by plucking a giant buck from the honest hard working sportsman illegally.

 

[txhunter58]

The guy who started this thread:

http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID6/23083.html

Luckily the vast majority of responders dissagreed

I have found myself "driven" on certain hunts, to the point that if I didn't succeed and get a "big-un" I didn't enjoy the experience. Have to take a deep breath and remind myself why I am doing this. Don't get me wrong, I am driven to hunt! But there is ceratinly a line anyone can cross

Another reason why taking young people on hunts is so rewarding. Reminds me what it is all about.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

 

[Gator]

I always say kill the one that trips your trigger and makes you happy, some years it a 3x4 or 3x3 other years it might be a hog.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]

 

[Zeke]

I read every post, and for the most part, we agree on about everything. We simply have another way of phrasing things.

It really is none of our business why a guy hunts or why he posts a photo. Some do it to share, some do it to drum up business, some do it to brag and some do it to build their resume.

I like seeing all the photos and reading the stories and I don't care why they posted. I like the entertainment.

There should be no competition, but there is... within certain folks and that's OK. It's their business, not mine.

Remember; the #1 need of the human being is to feel accepted and relevant. No one can escape that unless they're a social misfit.

Keep posting your photos guys!
Zeke

 

[TheKnack]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-20-12 AT 10:56AM (MST)[p]Zeke- you are right everyone wants to share there hunt and feel accepted....However in my opinion the ones that scoff and make fun of the other guy, gal, or kid because they shot a deer or elk not up to "there" standards are the true social misfits as you put it.

BTW- These are the same people that when they post a picture of there deer or elk, they want nothing but praise. Then they see a bigger buck or bull pic from another hunter and make no comment and feel jealous or make accusations about them as well.
My opinion.
Jerry

 

[Zeke]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-20-12 AT 11:30AM (MST)[p]You're correct but we don't have the right to look down our noses at those who look down their noses at others. I've said it before, "the tape (or other people) shouldn't tell you if you had a great hunt".

I like to talk score and numbers to get a feel for size but it's not to puff myself up or look down on others. The few times I've posted photos I don't usually include the score until someone asks. I really think they ask because of curiosity rather than to puff me up or belittle me.

Like Sage said, "we're all meat hunters until we get a chance to kill a trophy". There are some hunts where size really matters to me and others where the thrill of the hunt, the outing, family, friends and taking any animal, or not, is enough for me.

You'll soon find out who's accepting and who's not as soon as you post a photo of a 143" buck. Some will say "good job" and others will say "whadja shoot that pisscutter for?"

Best, Zeke

 

[Ticks N Tines]

Blah, Blah, Blah...

Let each hunter decide what he wants to shoot and what makes him happy. I'm thankful for all the guys "Building resumes", without them where would we get all the horn porn?

Some people do it for the rack, some for the meat, some for the thrill, and some just for fun.

I don't care what your reasons are, just make sure you post a pic on Monster Muleys.

 

[Zeke]

Dear Mr blah blah blah,
You can see a ton of great animals taken by those who don't try to build a resume. They might build an incidental reputation but don't seek the spotlight. They just post their photos to share with others.
Zeke

PS: the fame-hogs do post up some beauties too and I love to see them all!

 

[Ticks N Tines]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-20-12 AT 02:00PM (MST)[p]Does Mossback seek the spotlight??? I believe they do, and that's fine with me. And every year you will see me at the Mossback booth buying videos and taking pics of the animals they helped in harvesting.

Don't for one minute tell me that you refuse to look at Mossback, Tines Up, and other company pics because they decided to make money off doing what they love.

Have you ever posted a pic on MM? I would venture to say anyone that posts up a pic is in someway or another "seeking the spotlight". You may call it sharing you sucess or something else, but the fact is you are doing the same thing as Mossback. You just do it in your own way and form, and you don't make money off of it.

These forums are made for people to share pics and info about hunting. Call it bragging, seeking the spotlight, sharing, or whatever else you have in mind. Everybody enjoys pics of bucks and bulls, and that's what's it all about.

I just don't understand the complaint, mind you business and enjoy the pics everybody posts up. It shouldn't matter what thier goals in life are, that's their own business.

 

[Zeke]

I think we got our wires crossed here. Maybe try decaf??

I agree with you and if you'd read my posts you'll soon see I don't throw stones or look down my nose regardless of where the legal animal or trophy comes from.

We've prob bumped shoulders at the Moss booth! I like to see all the horn porn.

And if you read the posts you'll see I said "live and let live". The other guys business is not my business! I also don't slam a poor guy for not shooting a critter that's a trophy. That's his business too.

I was just answering your question on where else you could see good animals in response to your "Blah blah blah" post.
Zeke

 

[orion23]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-20-12 AT 08:21PM (MST)[p]i understand where your coming from knack. hunting really has changed in the past 20 years with internet especially. im not sure what it is. maybe it is a 'resume' or maybe it is just the excitement with all the internet photos of what caliber of bucks are really out there and guys are trying harder. there is so much education out there now about how to hunt and how to kill bigger bucks, this might contribute to it too. maybe its just boys being boys, its the competitiveness within us.

im not pointing finger at anyone, but i do see what your talking about. i guess as long as they are enjoying themselves and doing it within the laws, so for it.

Travis
www.RidgelineOutdoors.com