mark knapp
Well-known member
First of all, these are my thoughts, I am not imposing them or mandating them on any one. I am writing this in general and not aiming it at anyone in particular.
I'm writing them because this is a chat site and meant to share thoughts and ideas. If you are offended by what I say, I don't see why. You can certainly disagree but why be offended.
Because they are my thoughts, I think I am right and I'd like to talk about them with whoever wants to.
A successful hunt has nothing to do with the licenses or tags you have in your pocket. In my opinion, a hunt is a chance to get away from your regular life, a chance for experiences you don't get to have on a day to do basis and a chance to be in nature. It's also a chance to spend quality time with those you don't normally get a chance to do that with. If you do those things, you have had a successful hunt. If you guage a successful hunt by the meat or horns you brought home, or didn't, you have screwed yourself. It's so much more than that.
These are not the words of a vegetarian. I have been and am a consumptive user of Alaska's wildlife for 38 years both commercially and privately. I have four plugged in freezers right now and share a lot of what I catch and kill with other people. I seldom buy meat or fish at the grocery store and haven't for almost 40 years.
In my opinion, outings should be by the book. You are no kind of a man or hero if you break the laws to become what some people call successful. There are no negative connotations associated with anything I do when it's according to the law. If I want to kill ten wolves or anything else, and it's legal, there is nothing wrong with that. I don't need to boast about it but I don't need to talk like it was a dirty deed either.
I personally like to hunt silently on foot or a raft with binoculars rather than tear up the rivers or mountains with a jet boat or four wheeler. I would rather hear birds and other wildlife than roaring engines and people while I am out.
I personally don't think alcohol and guns should mix. If I wanted to drink I can do that in town. I have been Known to have a Peppermint Patty or a cold beer after dinner when all other activities are done with.
I waist nothing. All wanton waste laws are adhered to and more. I think as an outdoors-man I have the responsibility to use whatever I take. I respect animal life and kill nothing for no good reason.
I don't leave trash in the wild. I think it's ridiculous to bring trash out on outings and leave it in the woods. I like to leave things with no sign of my passing. I have picked up after others and think it's a huge lack of respect ( and honestly, a weakness) when others leave their trash in the woods or on the lakes. I think that people that leave trash in the woods are lazy, and no kind of sportsman. Please just stay home or take your trash with you.
I would not like to see your poop. When you poop in the woods, please cover it up. I will do the same for you. I burn the toilet paper too, when I can, but you will not see it. I have a cat that cleans up after itself, in my opinion a human should be able to do the same thing.
It's easy to go to the woods, it's only a little bit harder to be responsible in the woods.
I know I've said a lot. Nobody died and made me boss, this is the way I do things and I think the wild places would be better if people leaned in this direction.
All of this is open to comment. Agree, disagree?
I'm writing them because this is a chat site and meant to share thoughts and ideas. If you are offended by what I say, I don't see why. You can certainly disagree but why be offended.
Because they are my thoughts, I think I am right and I'd like to talk about them with whoever wants to.
A successful hunt has nothing to do with the licenses or tags you have in your pocket. In my opinion, a hunt is a chance to get away from your regular life, a chance for experiences you don't get to have on a day to do basis and a chance to be in nature. It's also a chance to spend quality time with those you don't normally get a chance to do that with. If you do those things, you have had a successful hunt. If you guage a successful hunt by the meat or horns you brought home, or didn't, you have screwed yourself. It's so much more than that.
These are not the words of a vegetarian. I have been and am a consumptive user of Alaska's wildlife for 38 years both commercially and privately. I have four plugged in freezers right now and share a lot of what I catch and kill with other people. I seldom buy meat or fish at the grocery store and haven't for almost 40 years.
In my opinion, outings should be by the book. You are no kind of a man or hero if you break the laws to become what some people call successful. There are no negative connotations associated with anything I do when it's according to the law. If I want to kill ten wolves or anything else, and it's legal, there is nothing wrong with that. I don't need to boast about it but I don't need to talk like it was a dirty deed either.
I personally like to hunt silently on foot or a raft with binoculars rather than tear up the rivers or mountains with a jet boat or four wheeler. I would rather hear birds and other wildlife than roaring engines and people while I am out.
I personally don't think alcohol and guns should mix. If I wanted to drink I can do that in town. I have been Known to have a Peppermint Patty or a cold beer after dinner when all other activities are done with.
I waist nothing. All wanton waste laws are adhered to and more. I think as an outdoors-man I have the responsibility to use whatever I take. I respect animal life and kill nothing for no good reason.
I don't leave trash in the wild. I think it's ridiculous to bring trash out on outings and leave it in the woods. I like to leave things with no sign of my passing. I have picked up after others and think it's a huge lack of respect ( and honestly, a weakness) when others leave their trash in the woods or on the lakes. I think that people that leave trash in the woods are lazy, and no kind of sportsman. Please just stay home or take your trash with you.
I would not like to see your poop. When you poop in the woods, please cover it up. I will do the same for you. I burn the toilet paper too, when I can, but you will not see it. I have a cat that cleans up after itself, in my opinion a human should be able to do the same thing.
It's easy to go to the woods, it's only a little bit harder to be responsible in the woods.
I know I've said a lot. Nobody died and made me boss, this is the way I do things and I think the wild places would be better if people leaned in this direction.
All of this is open to comment. Agree, disagree?
