Older guys..is this the mentality out there

[Shot]

I was recently speaking to a famous hunter ( I won't mention his name) about elk hunting. I thought I could learn a few things from him since he has killed over 50 elk and has lots of P&Y listings. Everything was fine until we got on the subject of the future of hunting. His reply shocked me. He said that he doesn't care because in a few years he will be dead and all he cared about was killing record animals until then. This just blow me away. Before I even met him I thought highly of him, but after speaking with him I did a complete 180. How could someone who loves hunting so much not care for its future? Is it just the old age talking? Is he bitter at something/someone? Heck, he has had a tremendous record, what else does he want?

I was just wondering, Have any of you guys experienced this? Is this the kind of thing that floats out there?

 

[Bwana Turtle]

Maybe his view of what the future of hunting was, was so depressing that he didn't want to discuss it. I use very similar words when I discuss the future of this once great nation.

 

[Common Sense]

Sounds like hunting may have been the most important part of his life, so the statement makes sense.

If family was more important to him than hunting, then he would care about the future of hunting for his children and grandchildren.

Just sounds like priorities to me.

 

[Franklin3]

Sounds to me like he's not really that into hunting and more into getting his name into the record books in as many catgegories as he can before he can't hunt anymore.
Personally I feel that getting your name into a record book is simply a lucky side effect of the hunt. I recently took my son and grandson with me in on a bird hunt. It was one of the most rewarding days of my life. I look back on my life and the highlights include the time I spent in the feild deer hunting with my dad and grandfather. Grandpa has his name in a couple record books because his brother made him do it, but given his druthers the family photo album is all that mattered. I want my kids and their kids to learn the appreciation and respect for the earth the way I learned it and I want them to take it to heart. We must pass on our love for the land and the thrill of the hunt to the younger generation it is our responsibility. I am doing my part with my family, and it is a labor of love
like getting paid to do nothing so to speak it's so much fun I can't stand it!

Brother Ted really has this dialed in, It's truly a mystical experience "long live the Beast"

" the only requirement for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing."

 

[ELKBUSTER]

Hey Shot,
Let's take the high road and do what ever it takes to allow our future generations of hunters the opportunity that this individual now seems to take for granted. I know how dissappointed you must feel but hold onto those values that you thought were also part of this persons life. Good luck!!!!

 

[fossilman]

Bad attitude indeed,sounds like"Chuck"

 

[Big Moose]

Shot I think that at one time hunting was very important to this guy and now he's caught up in the "numbers" end of hunting and lost sight of the real meaning we go hunting. The more hunting shows these guys do the more they think their success depends on getting more animals and higher scoring ones at that. It's an ego thing brought on by other hunters admiring his success. Also, many will comment to him that they or someone they know has more or bigger animals than them and that just fuels the fire. Soon hunting does not mean the same anymore. These days , so much is being placed on the animal's score (usually gross) that guys are going off the deep end trying to better themselves or some one they think is more successful.

It used to be a six-point bull or a thirty-inch buck. Now it's a 350 bull or a 200 buck. So much pressure is being put on these animals that i'm glad we have game biologists that help limit the tags.

Just my take on this.
Moose :xmas-hat:

 

[Speckmisser]

You know, Shot, the only person who can answer your question is the person himself. I know this thread has been here for a little while, and to be honest, it made me think a bit.

But bottom line, for all anyone on JHO knows, this guy was just shooting from the hip and didn't mean a word of it. And if he did mean it... then nobody but him can explain his thinking. I think it's fairly clear that the attitude you saw doesn't really jibe with most of us here... young or old.

Kinda sucks to see the human side of a hero, huh?

 

[Whoadog]

Well hopefully the guy isn't trying to ban any kind of hunting on his website.

Brian

 

[BOWUNTR]

Shot, I agree with Speckmisser. I'll bet he was blowing smoke, or he has some serious problems if he is in the industry. Too bad for him.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Bad attitude indeed,sounds like"Chuck"[/b]

Hey Fossilman you obviously don't know "Chuck".

Ed F

 

[CA Bowhunter]

Originally posted by BOWUNTR@Dec 22 2005, 07:44 AM
Shot, I agree with Speckmisser. I'll bet he was blowing smoke, or he has some serious problems if he is in the industry. Too bad for him.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE

Bad attitude indeed,sounds like"Chuck"

Hey Fossilman you obviously don't know "Chuck".

Ed F [/b][/quote]
I am with Ed

 

['Ike']

Yeah, I'd say that's not Chuck also........