The Simplicity of Hunting
Most modern hunters deny that their embrace of technology has eroded sportsmanship and hunting skills. Curiously, they still see themselves as old-fashioned woodsmen, intimate with their prey and with the outdoors.
But I have the strong suspicion that if one were to ask a high-tech hunter if he had the slightest notion how to track and stalk a whitetail buck, he would slink away in embarrassment.
I read the above statements in an article I found this morning. Nothing like reading others opinions to get the old brain to working, is there? It definitely got me to thinking about how true this is.
Hunting, in it’s simplest form, is something that requires nothing more than skill and a basic understanding of your prey to be successful. In today’s world, it is quickly becoming something that requires a lot of equipment and very little skill. If anything, all that is required is a little bit of luck.
Before blood pressures start to raising, I’m not saying that we should get rid of all our modern equipment and gadgets. They do have there place. But when it comes to new hunters actually knowing how to do things like track a deer, stalk their prey, and shoot instinctively without sighting devices, how many actually know how to do these things?
When I first learned to shoot, I did so with open sights. It wasn’t until much later that I moved to using a scope. Likewise, I learned to shoot a bow sighting down the arrow shaft. Then I moved on to using sight pins.
I think that a lot is being missed by not learning to hunt with the bare essentials needed to do so. It robs many of the full understanding of the relationship between hunter and prey. They never fully develop the level of respect most hunters have for the animals they hunt. But that is an entirely different topic, one that could open up an entire other can of worms.
I personally believe, if for no other reason, that a hunter should know how to hunt without the help of all these extras we normally use for one simple reason. If, by chance, any of these gadgets failed, we should still be able to enjoy our hunt and not have to call it quits and head to the house for the day. How many hunters that learned to hunt while relying on these things that make it easier could actually do that?
Link of Interest: If your looking for hunting gear catalogs, check this out.
hunting, hunting sense, hunting equipment, hunting gadgets, traditional hunting, high tech hunting
December 4th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Cliff,
I agree with some of what you are saying. I believe that every hunter should learn the basics. As the father of two, I am currently teaching my oldest son how to hunt. He shoots with open sights, helps me look for sign and tracks, and also helps me glass for animals in the summer (he is 7). He has been on a few antelope hunts with me, but he will not hunt himself until he is12, and then only if he is mature enough. I am trying to teach him to hunt the same way that my father taught me. I agree everyone should know how to survive without their gadgets, but I think modern gadgets have a place in hunting. I am a firm believer in putting all of the resources that are legal to use when it comes to hunting. With busy schedules and short seasons, why not? Also add in the increase in hunting pressure and the changes to habitat. The average hunter may not be able to spend more than a few days in the field every season. So why not use these gadgets to your advantage? Does it make him a poor hunter because he uses these tools? If it does then there are a lot of respected outdoor writers and hunters that are in the wrong. Or does it help the hunter to make a more ethical harvest by allowing him to place his shot better, or know the exact range so that he doesn’t try a shot that is too far, or allow him to stay in the field longer because he has better clothing to repel the elements. If you want to go basic, shoot a recurve bow, but for me I will stick with the gadgets.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:17 pm
My first hunt was this past season… I have the benefit of not being able to afford all the latest techno gear
But, having started hunting at 38 I have missed ~ 30 years of experience that gadgets can help make up (like rangefinders, GPSs, and scopes).
I do appreciate the notion of keeping it basic and would teach my children the basics first.
To me this concept boils down to respecting the sport and the animals enough to make it a challenge, while making sure I can take the animal cleanly, and to learn as much as possible about the animals and how to hunt them.
Tracking is actually what I think is most interesting about hunting, at present so I have learned all I can about that in a short time this season and will continue to do so throughout the year and during next season.
Eventually I hope to do bowhunting to increase the challenge and decrease the distance and detachment.
I think the most important thing is to encourage respect of hunting and game, and if gadgets are what’s required to flatten the learning curve so that more hunters join our ranks, I am ok with that.
Michael
December 5th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
I think I see what you’re saying, and I appreciate your perspective. I think far too often we get caught up in the success of hunting (a kill), instead of appreciating the pleasures of the outdoors - perhaps because we’re weighed down with a few thousand dollars worth of equipment!
December 6th, 2007 at 9:02 am
I started with a simply bow with no sights and wooden arrows and then have slowly progressed to the modern bow technology that is available.
I have never shot through a scope. I use open sights on my shotgun, but I still do believe that modern equipment does have its place.
I totally understand where you are coming from. I think starting the kids out with the basics is an excellent idea. Then once they get those down moving on up to the better stuff with the knowledge of the simpler devices to help them just in case.
Kind of like giving a kid a crappy car to start out with so that once they get the nicer car they appreciate it that much more and also know how to take care of it!