What is a successful hunt?

[mark knapp]

Wonderfully said! Thank you! I have been on many hunts that I did not bring home meat but so much success! Spent time with my husband and boys - priceless. Enjoyed the beautiful outdoors - in snow, rain, fog, sleet and sunshine. I have now had the blessing of hunting with my daughter-in-laws and my granddaughter- this is all success!

Bravo.

 

[acg515]

If you had fun, made it home uninjured and got out into the wild it qualifies as a good hunt for me.

 

[kliudahl]

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?

Amen. I think you said it all

 

[grndthunder]

It's nice to see you. How are things in Delta. We come down there once in a while for bird hunting. Mostly we just fish Quartz Lake and the Clearwater though.

Thanks
Fields are planted and the sun is shining - life is good

 

[mark knapp]

Thanks everybody. At least some of you know what hunting is, not like Patsfan.

Just Teasing, Patsfan .

Everyone has their own idea of what hunting is and that's the way it should be, IMHO

I personally think you are screwing yourself if the only thing you bring home with you is horns and meat. I bring home a whole lot more than that with me.

 

[alaskashaun]

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?

Beautifully said.
I have been out far less than I thought I would. If everyone acted in this capacity when in all there life adventures the world would be in a better place now.
I learned young most of this isn't taught, you have to want to learn this. I was lucky I am a Eagle Scout this is where most of my experience came from. Plus my father was a farmer and a predator, that experience is priceless. There is nothing as peaceful as a float or as fun if you have the skill for a 3 to 5 grade rafting trip. Also learned in Scouts.
It is my ambition to raft to Eagle from Chicken or somewhere abouts there. The game I saw in the off season on the forty mile was amazing. I think I saw most every species in the wild even a wolverine for about 15 minutes at less than 25 yards. Living 4 summer months on the river was the best experience I could have had in my life. I worked in the river and never made it to Eagle by water.
Everything you talked-about is a minimum to enjoy the time and having the memories knowing that you acted in honor and grace. This makes the people that follow have the same honorable experiences if adhering to the minimum standards of a in the wild expedition. Thank you for sharing your favorite ways many years of experience has given you.
I do feel some have to have help getting to locations that are not accessible to them without transportation of vehicles. The poo needs to be buried no mater what or your portable bucket needs to go with you back home.
I've been skunked more times than not and I wasn't sad by any means. As I have probably been more productive than most that don't go every year in some form or another as in fish or game.
Meat management, the cleaning, care, and transportation of your game is the most important knowledge you could have. If you don't do this correctly you will have nothing worth eating when you get back home and your efforts will go unrewarded and may discourage you from ever going again. The real work begins when the game has been dropped.
There are many videos and people that will share this knowledge. Some you pay for some is free. Sometimes the free one is every bit as good as the one purchased. There is warm weather care as well as cold weather care. Citric acid and a spray bottle is your best friend in all conditions.
Knowledge of all game in the area will help you decide how much you can shoot and plan to carry out. If rafting and you kill more than your boat can carry safely with you and gear could leave you all without a way out. An extra raft or two will guarantee your safe return with all you gained on the trip.
Every newbie should know in the wild while hunting you can also be hunted or the game you kill may need to be protected to keep it. And if you have to kill a bear that wasn't planned then you are behind the curve. So that decision needs to be made before you leave on the trip. There are more considerations for the beginner. Following your thoughts make for the best start anyone could hope for.

 

[mark knapp]

Beautifully said.
I have been out far less than I thought I would. If everyone acted in this capacity when in all there life adventures the world would be in a better place now.
I learned young most of this isn't taught, you have to want to learn this. I was lucky I am a Eagle Scout this is where most of my experience came from. Plus my father was a farmer and a predator, that experience is priceless. There is nothing as peaceful as a float or as fun if you have the skill for a 3 to 5 grade rafting trip. Also learned in Scouts.
It is my ambition to raft to Eagle from Chicken or somewhere abouts there. The game I saw in the off season on the forty mile was amazing. I think I saw most every species in the wild even a wolverine for about 15 minutes at less than 25 yards. Living 4 summer months on the river was the best experience I could have had in my life. I worked in the river and never made it to Eagle by water.
Everything you talked-about is a minimum to enjoy the time and having the memories knowing that you acted in honor and grace. This makes the people that follow have the same honorable experiences if adhering to the minimum standards of a in the wild expedition. Thank you for sharing your favorite ways many years of experience has given you.
I do feel some have to have help getting to locations that are not accessible to them without transportation of vehicles. The poo needs to be buried no mater what or your portable bucket needs to go with you back home.
I've been skunked more times than not and I wasn't sad by any means. As I have probably been more productive than most that don't go every year in some form or another as in fish or game.
Meat management, the cleaning, care, and transportation of your game is the most important knowledge you could have. If you don't do this correctly you will have nothing worth eating when you get back home and your efforts will go unrewarded and may discourage you from ever going again. The real work begins when the game has been dropped.
There are many videos and people that will share this knowledge. Some you pay for some is free. Sometimes the free one is every bit as good as the one purchased. There is warm weather care as well as cold weather care. Citric acid and a spray bottle is your best friend in all conditions.
Knowledge of all game in the area will help you decide how much you can shoot and plan to carry out. If rafting and you kill more than your boat can carry safely with you and gear could leave you all without a way out. An extra raft or two will guarantee your safe return with all you gained on the trip.
Every newbie should know in the wild while hunting you can also be hunted or the game you kill may need to be protected to keep it. And if you have to kill a bear that wasn't planned then you are behind the curve. So that decision needs to be made before you leave on the trip. There are more considerations for the beginner. Following your thoughts make for the best start anyone could hope for.

Thanks, this has been a great discussion.