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Frustrated with the haters

CJD3

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
14,630
201
NE Ohio
I understand your frustration Phil.

You live by a code and try do everything properly and be a "good guy" but yet there are people that skip through life taking short cuts and cheating...
The bitch is that people like you see what's going on but could not knowingly stoop to their level like trespassing or slob hunting. You may think about it but it's not in your template to do things in such a manner.

It's a fucked up thing to have to wrestle with when you see it going on around you in life but such is the price we pay...
Your ok. It just seems like some days there are a lot more of them than there are us.
I would like to think karma's a bitch but anymore I just don't know.
 

Lundy

Member
1,307
127
I have come to believe over the last 40+ years of hunting that the majority of hunters are pretty useless. Many seem to be driven primarily by ego or peer pressure. They might be OK in the rest of their lives but deer, turkey, duck season kicks in and they become worthless and create a very bad image for hunters in general.

The really sad part is that this peer driven pressure has been created by the hunting industry itself. It is a fact that many think that their hunting prowess is measured by their peers in inches of antler only. Ask some hunter how his season went and he says he killed a couple of does and no one asks for him to recount the story of his success. The industry, the hunting shows, websites, make many a hunter believe that they are just a new bow, or stand, or scent, or clothing away from killing a booner and being admired and revered by the masses. It is this same passion for "success" that leads many hunters to be slob hunters, trespassing, bad shot selections, poaching, cheating, etc.

Only around 1/3 of ohio deer hunters will be successful in any given year. That leaves a lot of people that want to be "successful" and many are willing to do about anything to achieve that goal.
 

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,721
248
Ohio
Thank you CJD and Lundy. Maybe a better summary of what I was getting at. Every now and then it weighs on me enough to bring my spirits down. It is simply frustrating. Nothing I can do but do what is right and teach my kids the right way to go about things. Good lesson on integrity. AKA doing what is right when no one else is looking.
 

finelyshedded

You know what!!!
Supporting Member
31,855
260
SW Ohio
It's tough turning a blind eye to all the negativity that's infiltrated deer hunting nowadays. It existed back in the 70's,80's and 90's but not near close to the way it is today!

Just keep doing what you've been doing Phil and let the rumor starting haters wallow in their jealousy. You won't be able to change em, IMO.
 

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,721
248
Ohio
Thanks Gordo. I am not perfect. We all have our flaws. I do play by the rules though. Truthfully, it is all the more satisfying beating a cheat playing by the rules.
 

CJD3

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
14,630
201
NE Ohio
I can't imagine bending or breaking the rules of "fair chase", taking a buck of a lifetime, getting it mounted and then having to look at it for the rest of your days knowing you cheated...
I know it happens. I just couldn't do it.
 

Bigcountry40

Member
4,554
127
I feel ya Phil, because politics property lines,lies, cut throat leases, etc, I have considered just going back to hunting state land and the hell with it. The crap your talking about can gets tiresome, I got 3 properties that guys are hunting right on the line with the stand literally facing my side and all their shots would be on my side. I like to hunt care free and friendly, not worry about ass hats ruining my hunts, etc.
 
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Great post Phil. It is definitely eye opening to see how antlers can change a person. I've seen what the antler envy can do to a friendship first hand and I honestly believe at times people don't realize what they are doing to themselves and especially others. In the case of trespassers all we can do is fight the good fight, in the end only the important people in our lives know the truth. As far as the hate talk and someone trying to make another look bad (because of antlers) it's simply a jealousy thing. Those people will always be a mess and again the important people in our lives already know the truth.
 

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,721
248
Ohio
Thanks guys. My intent was not to whine, moan, and complain. More a statement of how disheartening it is to watch it happen. Isn't worth it. I keep finding myself hunting my old stomping grounds this year. It is littered with people. Everyone has access. One property owner has 26 or 29acres. "Maybe" 5 acres of it is woods. 8 people have permission that I am aware of. You want a challenge? Kill a deer in there. Crazy how I find myself in there where EVERYONE can hunt. Great part about it? My 12yr old and I had two deer within 50-60yds this weekend and we were hunting a makeshift ground blind we had just built. Safety was off. Crosshairs were aimed at the heart according to Garrett. He decided he wanted to wait for a buck. That was the most satisfying hunt i had all year. The time with my boy is exponentially more rewarding than any set of antlers I could lay my hands on. Life is short. I love deer hunting. I love big bucks. I am fascinated by the antlers like many of you. I am going to do my best to stay grounded and not let a set of antlers dictate my standards of morality.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Last year I was stuck on one buck...I hated it during and after. Really was upset with myself after the season. I have already hunted with my kids more often then last year. I've actually hunted more times with a kid with me, then not. I guess what I am saying is that I've been guilty of this "antler rage" that is being talked about. Maybe on a different level, but all the same, I shorted my kids last year. I hope I never get blinded again.

After my last two seasons of fails, I have a whole new set of priorities. I had a lot of fun growing up hunting "brown is down"! Forks may be in trouble...
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Thanks for this thread, Phil. Really gives me some hope for our future reading all these replies. "Pay it forward" ain't that right, Jesse...