Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game When hunting became shooting

Never knew that pigs and pheasants were native critters to the Americas. Learn something new everyday.

Minor point, but Pheasants are not a native game bird.

In Pa. squirrels and rabbits are way below historic numbers of the 50s and 60s. Combined with the fact far fewer hunters try and kill them.

Kudu numbers are higher now in the US of A then they were in 1801....

If you ban crossbows in archery, you ban compounds IMHO. I've no issue with either and hunt with all kinds, at my will.

I don't think the crossbow has ever given me and advantage that I couldn't have done with any of the other bows, but I like a bit of variety at times. ANd at times I don't have the time to practice as much as I should and feel I owe it too the animals to do the right thing.

Note I shoot the same distances with the crossbow if not less, on average, than any other bow I own. And I own more than a couple.

Yep hunting is commercialized. But haveing more "hunters" as well as "shooters" makes our sport that much more solid and hard to get rid of.

I don't agree with everyone on a lot of things, but as far as I"m concerned, you are the one that has to sleep with yourself at night, and beyond that if its down within the rules, who cares what others think.

Do it the way you want to, and the heck with others.

But too many people want to force their personal thoughts down everyone elses throats.

Jeff

This is the answer to the question posed in the thread's title.

I've called calf elk in so close I could kill them with an axe, let a herd of doe muleys walk within 2 steps and browse for 30 minutes, and been almost run over by coyotes.

I guess to eliminate the "problem" that the author sees hunting degenerating into just "shooting", one would have to use a weapon that doesn't require "shooting" such as an axe, spear, or rock.

It seems the people who see the "shooting" part of hunting as a problem are those who can't

Pisses me off to agree with something you typed.

Lol, nothing too judgmental there.

I have two main objections to long range hunting and the like: It takes place at such ranges that an animal's natural defense mechanisms are null and void, and that it crosses the line where a large portion of the non-hunting public (at whose discretion we are even allowed to hunt) objects based on perceived unfairness of chase.

Like it or not it matters how we are perceived by the non-hunting majority. And as far as I can gather they think this stuff stinks.

As far as John's objection to hunting degrading into an engineering problem? That would be an improvement over some of what I have seen. At times we, as a group, act like we have declared war on the animals we hunt. No technology too advanced, no advantage too great, no efficiency gained too extreme.

Will

Never said they were. But they occupy a lot of hunters these days, do they not?

I think you could call this thread "when hunting became killing" and it would be just as fitting

I wouldnt be sad if they banned bows,crosswbows, muzzleloaders etc. They all contribute to huge amounts of wounded game and they typicaly have choice seasons dedicated to these stunts. And yea I have bow hunted, and currently crossbow hunt. Never lost an animal i shot yet, but know many that have.

That's the whole point. It really doesn't take much to become efficient at long range's anymore. Buy the Scope with the computer engraved turrets set for your bullet coefficient plug in your hand held computer program the correct information, and walla you kill your animal. There's no woodsman ship skills there, just technical ones. You can do the same thing on a game boy.

Our big game are getting killed easier, they are at a bigger unfair advantage. When does this long range shooting interfere with fair chase?

If your shooting a bow that shoots 100yrds as easy as the old long bow does at 20, then you belong in a muzzy season. If your muzzy shoots as good as the old 06, then you belong in the general rifle season. If your able to shoot past 500 yrds and kill then you belong at the range shooting competively, or shooting for the military at objects that can shoot back.

The resource will not be able to withstand this continuation,proliferation of making it easier to shoot things past 5 or 600 yrds. In much of the open west this will have, and is having a detrimental effect on our activities. Therefor, it's going to ruin what we have enjoyed for generations. It's a direct threat to sport hunting.

If there are animals that can take the pressure then I'm fine with the technology, but very few will be able to. Do we go limited entry for everything just because people want to use this technology?

Because one man might be more fit, stronger, or faster than another is a lame example of why technology should expand. I'm sorry but not everyone will be as competitive with each other physically, and that's the way it should be. We learn early on in life that certain people are gifted at one thing or another. I can't draw for chit, nor hold a note. I don't feel that I should be able to go on "America's got Talent" and get to sing using a karaoke machine,because I'm not gifted and win the contest. Nor do I feel that I should be able to use bionic legs to compete in the Olympics to make it fair.

All those things take away from the real act.

Do we want that?

Even though the data shows a population decline, I maintain the population in the state is greater than in the 1800's. Grouse habitat comparison is key. For example 1812 versus 2012 the landscape has changed dramatically. Don't want to hijack this thread further. Would be open to discuss in PM's.

Wayne

No need. I probably agree with regards to the 1800's comparison. With Grouse numbers I only have recent historical data-last time I checked it went back to the 60's-to make a comparison.

Journey of Challenge

Thought some of you might like, or understand more by watching this video.

Sorry, my bad. I assumed you talking to the question asked, as roundoak was.

"What native game animals other than Whitetails have a proven population increase over the numbers of the 1800's? "



Kudo are up since the 1800's, Axis deer, Oryx, Water Buffalo, Zebra, lots of stuff.

No real reason to stick to the questions asked, FFE

Nilgai and Oryx, too

What's the challenge that bow hunting offers that rifle hunting doesn't?

Didn't watch the video did you?

I just did. Great vid, thanks for posting it.