A traditional mentality?

[Arwin]

I honestly think traditionalists have more respect for the critters they harvest because of the amount of skill, patience and perseverance it takes is far above "just shooting something".

 A good comparison is eating a prime cut of steak vs  a McDonalds cheeseburger. Your going to take time to enjoy every bit of that steak vs. chowing through that cheeseburger.    

[Hoyt]

I don't consider myself traditional, I just like to hunt with recurves and flintlocks. Don't claim to have anymore respect for the animals I hunt than anybody else. I just try to do the right thing when in the woods. Hunting is not a sport for me it's a way of life and these days being in my old weakened, physical condition, just about deaf, can't see nearly as good as I once did, I figure I give the game I hunt all the chances they need to get away.

What few don't make it, I give thanks, take em home and fry em up..all with a clean conscious.

[Kevin Dill]

I like the way Hoyt just said it.

I've stopped examining others and comparing my way against theirs. That's probably a result of my age more than anything. I spend almost no time thinking about what's in the other person's mind. They're free and welcome to enjoy hunting as they want, without input from me. I've known a number of 'modern' hunters who exhibit every bit as much commitment and respect for the game they pursue as more 'traditional' hunters. As my time passes, I've progressed toward being less about segregation.

[Bowwild]

Like most here I'm in the camp that equipment doesn't define the hunter or his respect for the hunt and hunted. The equipment I use is 1st chosen because I enjoy the preparation and process of developing competence with recurve. Secondly, I want to milk the most of the hunting experience I can. In most situations the recurve is the ticket to that feeling for me.

My Dad, who I respected and loved dearly would sometimes ask me when I returned home empty-handed if I wish I had taken a gun instead of the bow (this was many decades ago). He thought it odd that the thought never crossed my mind.

From time to time I have hunted with almost all forms of legal equipment. I think my ethic has been the same since at least when I was 16 years old on my first big game bowhunt in 1970.

For those of you who haven't heard, the news is very good for hunter numbers. For the first time in almot 25 years the decline in hunter numbers has turned around and is up 9% the past 5 years! And that's WITHOUT counting those who are under 16 years old. I think (and have some evidence) the number of youngsters is growing even faster.

So fellows, we ain't done yet!

[buckeye_hunter]

I think on Tradgang the mentality, in regards to respect for the animal and other hunters, is ALMOST self governing at this point. If people put threads or posts up that are way out of line, they get reported quickly. Terry, Rob and the other mods don't allow trash on here. Some of the guys are fist pumping and high fiving while others are quiet about it. As long as the animal is respected, it is allowed.

Tradgang has been built around respect and it is now somewhat self perpetuating. I believe that is why we see so many "hero" posts done with class. Terry and the other moderators work hard to keep it that way. Even if this was a gun site, Terry would keep it classy.        

So, I'm not sure if it is the traditional archery tackle or really a mind-set that has been developed and nutured here on Tradgang. I do know there is no other site where I feel more at home.    

     

Just my thought and God bless,
-Charlie

[Mr. fingers]

[Mr. fingers]

After reading all the reply's I had to go back and read the original post. About trad hunter having  more respect and  holding ourselves in higher esteem.
I do agree I am sick of the commercialism of all the hunting shows. And the latest best bow and cam system ever (until next year).They seem to want to recruit more people to the sport to sell more equipment . pro hunters who always seem to be hunting some at some prime outfitter who have the stands all set up and bring the hunter to where the deer are.. Instead of the hunter actually hunting...O.K now I'm of topic
I too am new to this forum and I look at all the pics and stories and I am so inspired . I been shooting trad equipment since 08 a have taken deer with it but have been back and forth between it and my compound This fall my trad shooting just was not where I wanted it so I decides out of respect for the deer  and making an ethical shot I chose my compound and had a great season. Hopefully next yr. it will be all trad.
Tim.

[Hummer3T]

I believe we hold hunting and being outdoors and the environment with higher esteem and the rest follows.

[tradtusker]

Originally posted by moleman:

Maybe its just me, but do we as traditional hunters hold the game we hunt in a higher esteem because of the equipment and limitations that we choose to place upon ourselves in order to more closely even up the odds while on the hunt?  
     

No

[gringol]

We sound like elitists when we say stuff like that.  There are plenty of wheelie and gun hunters that have plenty of respect for game and the outdoors.  

If you are comparing yourself to the hunting commercialism that exist today you might have a point.  Hunting shows spend way too much time talking about gear and fawning over the size of the horns of the dead critter.  They should spend more time on the "hunt", i.e. reading the woods to get close enough to the game to make a shot.

[Izzy]

I would surely high five and hug a hunting buddy if they were next to me when approaching a downed animal I worked hard for or even just got lucky and killed.
     To me it only shows emotion and appreciation of what you have done. On the other hand, to hide emotions because of what you have read of others etiquette is politically correct and political correctness is just another term for deception and unoriginality.
     The strange fellow that I am, I kiss all of my game on the nose, even hogs      . Is that disrespectful? Not to me. To each his own, especially my own.    

[Running Buck]

I believe respect for the game we hunt starts when we are brought into the sport. It doesn't matter what hunting implement you choose but rather the ethics learned from past and personal experiences. As traditional bowhunters we savor the sweetness of success through hours of hard preperation. Other hunting implements result in a faster success rate but lack the personal, hands on approach to the hunt.Unfortunately, there is good and bad in both camps.

[Possum Head]

Perhaps there are some who do.

[So-Mo Archer]

Amen, Duncan!

I feel that to be a true sportsman, you must have a true love of the game, and understand that you are upholding your responsibility to Creation. The mandate of right stewardship and respect to all beings from Genesis 9, is what should drive us as hunters. Trophies are nice,  but when you take to the field with trad gear and tactics, anything you take is a trophy.

[So-Mo Archer]

Izzy, you are right about three pc thing. Further, I think all of us express our emotions in our own way. No one is saying you can't be happy of your good fortune on a hunt, just that trad archers seem to be more humble in our successes.

Oh, and you're not the only one to kiss your take    
I've been kissing caught fish and killed game for decades.

[subsonic]

The gear a person chooses to use does not determine their respect for the game in my opinion.  We all use some degree of technology we are comfortable with.

If it was all about the gear, I could make the argument that the the most efficient killing instrument has the highest respect for the game.

To me if is all about the decisiones we are faced with, the choices we make and the consequences of those decisions.

[cuboodle]

Well I'll weigh in  on something that's been bothering me only in the trad community do I see a celebration of success in taking a yearling doe some of the pics I've seen on this site are more like a 5 month old deer and the congrats that follow have me feeling a little twisted "should be a good eater" come on guys you can do better look at the wensel brothers taking 5+ year old bucks I'm not saying to take 5 year old doe just mature does pass up the chip shot on a yearling that's respect

[kill shot]

This could be a new thread, "the things I don't care to hear". He's down He's down, track em wack em and stack em, if it's brown it's down, if it flies it dies,YES YES ha ha ha....etc. Just go hunting, do your best,enjoy yourself and be a decent person.

[Altiman94]

The TV shows have really dramaticized our sport.  

I see no issue with taking a yearly doe if that's the animals in your area.  Most of us hunt public land and just dont have 5+ year old bucks in our area.  I've been hunting public land in IA for 15 years and only ever seen 2 bucks I thought would be 5+ years old and 150" or better.