sportsman01
Active Member
- Messages
- 356
You know, I go through all of these forums quite frequently and often enjoy the pictures and stories of hard earned hunts and well placed shots. I couldn't be happier for the younsters and other hunters that harvest their first animal after years of waiting. Most of the hunters here are true sportsmans but recently I've begun to get a bit upset. It seems nowadays everyone is so concerned about the size of the animal and the "400" class bench mark or the 200 class muley. What ever happened to enjoying the hunt for the shear fact of the outdoors and appreciating each and every animal that's harvested...big or small? A small 3x3 bull elk is no less a trophy to me than a monster 6x6 if I've worked hard and thoroughly enjoyed the hunt for what it is. I get sick of some of the members hear always boasting about mamoth kills and the next world record they are going to set. In most of those cases the "guide" is doing all the work for you. He does everything but "pull the trigger" if you will. Is your 400+ bull that was picked out, scouted constantly and practically handed over to you more of a trophy that the 4x4 bull taken on a DIY hunt that took 5 years to draw? I think not. Don't get me wrong, impressive animals do lie in every sportsmans thoughts, but I think a majority of you are losing sight of what our sport is and what it stands for and are more concerned with bragging rights at the next "good ol boys" meeting. I've even heard of a new trend that allows you to call a bull in, shoot him with a tranquilizer gun, have his 415 class horns removed, get your picture taken and be done. Not to mention the fact that he's penned up and thinks you're there to feed him. Is this hunting? When you look at those giant horns over the mantle do you think about that fantastic hunt you had? All i see is a dollar sign and a mockery of hunters everywhere. Is a whitetail hunt in Texas from a blind that has cable TV, stove, electricity and leather seating over a feeder really a hunt? Can you really feel proud about harvesting that animal through the glass panes that swing open while the game is playing on the TV?
Maybe I'm crazy or maybe I'm tired of our sport becoming a numbers game and all about size and money rather than about tradition, sportsmanship, comradery, and passion of the outdoors.
And don't get me started on harvesting Giraffe's.
Maybe I'm crazy or maybe I'm tired of our sport becoming a numbers game and all about size and money rather than about tradition, sportsmanship, comradery, and passion of the outdoors.
And don't get me started on harvesting Giraffe's.