Technology is taking the hunt out of hunting.

[Jon Boy]

Old Hunter, awesome heep! Im a jeep fanatic ha ha built an 89 YJ from the ground up through out high school. Miss that thing.

 

[Old Hunter]

I love Jeeps too. Been 4wheeling for 40 years.

 

[Grantbvfd]

I agree with Fink.

Another thing on sellouts question. Is the hunt still there? Camo is technology, centerfire rifles are technology, compound bows are technology...... Should we all hunt with a homemade recurve and a loin cloth?

 

[Old Hunter]

A loin cloth at 12,000 ft might be a little chilly.

 

[Kevin Root]

I agree with Fink.

Another thing on sellouts question. Is the hunt still there? Camo is technology, centerfire rifles are technology, compound bows are technology...... Should we all hunt with a homemade recurve and a loin cloth?

Good point Grantbvfd. The only thing is that homemade recurve and loin cloth falls into technology too . All of us that hunt use technology to some extent. Below is the definition I found on Wikapedia.

Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function.

I just hope that everyone has a safe and successful hunt useing the level of technology they are most comfortable both buying and useing on their adventures.

 

[dhershberger]

Technology is pricey but great! Its especially important for the bowhunter because I dont know about you guys but no matter how much technology I have, i still get busted by many animals each year. I like having an edge because sometimes times it is the difference between success and failure in the woods. Thats part of the reason why I'm a camo freak and I'm very particular about how my gear works and I test it before each hunt. But like most things in life, gear and gizmos can't replace good old hard work, effort, and sweat. I guarantee you that a new bow, rifle, or set of binoculars isn't going to get you in better shape or farther into the backcountry.

 

[MOHunter]

I have no problem with technology advancements like GPS, better clothes and boots, etc. You still need to be a very good hunter even if you have them. I do agree with the idea of hunting becoming a rich man's sport. And I attribute that to losing hunting ground. We all know the story of our favorite hunting spot that was purchased by some rich man who now charges thousands of dollars to hunt on that ground. When states cater to these ranchers with their own special tags it just promotes the situation. And it's even worse here in the midwest. In KS and MO there is very little public ground, relatively speaking, and farmers can get thousands of dollars for hunting rights. The private land costs the same to access, and there is a fraction of the public land available.

 

[mcseal2]

I like technology personally, but I don't think it takes the place of hunting knowledge and shooting ability. A hunter still has to find, get close to, and make a killing shot on an animal to take it regardless of equipment used.

I've known people with cheap gear that were rude, lazy, and broke every law in the book to get their game. I've known rich people who thought they could buy their way to whatever they wanted and felt entitled to hunt on anybody's land they wanted to. I use the term "people" not "hunters" there for a reason. I've also known great guys in both classes, there are good and bad in every bunch.

Also on a side note, not everyone who has nice gear is conceited and rich. I have some Sitka, Russel, and Core 4 clothing that I've put together over the past 4yrs by watching ebay and camofire. Much of it was used when I got it and doesn't match, but it still works. I have a couple nice sets of binos, Vortex and Minox, that I saved up for, then used the trading and price match features of SWFA to get bought. Same with my ED50 spotter, I waited and watched until Natchez Shooters Supply came out with their deal this year. My gunsmith a mile down the road has built my custom rifles at a discounted rate as we trade almost everything back and forth. My custom guns aren't fancy and pretty but accurate and functional. I have between 1/3 and 1/2 of the cost in my gear that it should have cost new. I'm not out to waste money but quality gear is often easier to use and less likely to fail when you need it most. Also with quality gear you can buy once and hunt for years without upgrading, or if you choose to upgrade your old gear still has value you can get back by trading or ebay.

 

[Kevin Root]

Hunting going over to the private land does seems like it is getting more prevalent or at least if you count up all the hunting TV shows it sure looks like a high percentage to me. Some states have had that issue for quite a while now just because they have very little public hunting land in their state to begin with. My hope is that we will continue to be able to hunt and to be able to hunt public land. There is some awesome public land hunting out there still.

Some folks in my neck of the woods, even though we have a lot of public hunting land prefer to just pay for a hunting lease or pay to hunt private land. It's not that they were or are real rich but hunting public can be much harder and more leg work to find public hunting honey holes or to draw premium tags. A hunter can get on some private land, pay for a hunting lease, get their animal and see a lot of animals to choose from instead of driving across the country and paying non resident tag fees. I've been guilty a time or two doing that myself, although getting something on public land in my state or another is just more gratifying, more of an accomplishment and more of an adventure to me.

Are far as me buying modern technology for status? That's just not my case. I'm just trying to help my success however slim or non existent that may be. I'm trying to keep myself safer, and as I get older perhaps aid in my comfort level in the backcountry however slim those levels are or are not. That's just my intent.

 

[buckbull]

Is modern technology making us better hunters? Does the so called top of the line equipment make us a better outdoorsman? Does a new custom rifle make you a better shooter? Does a high dollar scope make you more accurate? I say No to all of these questions.

I'll actually say Yes to all these questions. Better clothing such as sitka and russel keeps a person more comfortable in the elements and more time in the field. Better boots can get a person further back into the high country for a better chance at game. Most custom rifiles will outshoot a production rifle any day of the week. High dollar scopes are certainly more accurate during low light conditions. They will also hold up to more abuse keep their zero much better than cheaper scopes.

Of the few hunting related websites I go to there always seems to be class warfare topic pop up. There is nothing wrong with making lots of money. There is nothing wrong with buying top tier gear if you can afford it. If any of us had a money tree out back, I'm certain that most of us would all buy top tier gear.

 

[Old Hunter]

I'm glad you said most.

 

[Zim]

I think technology actually made a much bigger impact on the communication side: Computers, GPS, cell phones. Computers really changed things. It's so much easier for everyone everywhere to apply for tags, get information about units & hunts, scout via aerials, etc., etc. Dang when I started applying in 1995 there was virtually none of that yet. Draw odds were way, way easier for the best tropy hunts everywhere. Since then everyone is in the game and odds have skyrocketed. States have taken advantage by making a lot of money selling guys the opportunity to NOT hunt.

 

[NoMoreOldNo7]

I had a real issue with this thread yesterday, in fact it went as far as thinking I would just drop this site from my list. But sometime through the night it came to me that it is not this site or the people posting to this thread that I have a problem with, the problem is me. There is just a lot of acceptance to where I am at today, nothing more that I have to learn to deal with. I do appreciate the post from Jon Boy and tim. Ethics and experience go a lot further to what I consider a good hunter rather than how money someone spends to go afield. I have witnessed both side of the coin as far as hunters go, good and bad hunters with and without money. How much money you spend has nothing to do with integrity and skill. These expensive toys can help out no doubt about it, but you will find me out in the field with the same Remington 700 7RM I got when I was 15, a 20 year old Leupold scope, 20 year old Busnell spotter and a wool shirt treeking through the ridges of the west this fall. I could be more comphy in the latest apparel, maybe get one more ridge with top of the line boots and maybe one less trip packing an Elk out to the truck, but that is not going to stop me from hunting, not now or never, at least as long as I can still physically do it.

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

I'm not sure how this thread went down the class warfare path, but I thought the thread was about if technology has taken the hunt out of hunting, and if it helped the hunter.

I think that people that use good equipment as an excuse to be slob hunters are just slob hunters, but the equipment doesn't make them such. they just are.

Good hunting gear are just tools. Good hunting is a skill.

 

[Fink]

Good hunting gear are just tools. Good hunting is a skill.

Tru dat.

 

[MOHunter]

I'm not sure how this thread went down the class warfare path, but I thought the thread was about if technology has taken the hunt out of hunting, and if it helped the hunter.

I probably didn't help the situation with my post. I was not trying to start an argument about class warfare. I am a financial advisor to high net worth individuals and have nothing against them. I just read into the original question that some people use money rather than skill to accomplish their hunting goals. My point is that I think that is true when it comes to hunting property, not technological advancements to help in our hunts.

Coming from Missouri and having to basically learn about western hunting completely on my own I can say that satellite, GPS, and certainly the internet have helped in making it available to me. It may make for more crowded applications, but I now at least have a chance at taking an iconic big game animal like a bull elk in the Rocky Mountains.

Thanks to great guys like you all I'm able to put a hunt together and know what gear is needed to make it an enjoyable experience.

 

[Joe Hulburt]

There is too much emphasis on gizmo's that will aid in finding success lately IMO. Broadheads that will compensate for horrible shot placement, nocks that guide you in the dark, rifles off the shelf that can shoot a half a mile. Nothing in the ads talks about learning the fundamentals of hunting etc....

I don't think all the hype over gizmo's really amounts to many more kills but it does confuse people as to what it takes to get it done.

 

[Timberstalker]

Technology make things easier, thats pretty much it. We all use some level of technology. I do believe some poeple think technology will compensate for lack of skill and desire, thats a misconception IMO.

 

[Old Hunter]

I keep reading that technology makes hunting easier. I think that's where we have the dividing line here. Other than the clothing that makes us more comfortable. Some of us don't want the hunt to be easier. I want a hunt to be hard. I want to be challenged to my limit. For me, the hunt is everything. Not the kill.

My dad was the best hunter i've ever known. It's true I might be a little biased, but he got an elk every year. He did it the old way, with old equipment. I've seen him turn down shots that baffled me. I'd ask him.."why didn't you you shoot dad?" He'd simple say...."too easy son." It took me many years to understand that.

 

[BobT]

I keep reading that technology makes hunting easier. I think that's where we have the dividing line here. Other than the clothing that makes us more comfortable. Some of us don't want the hunt to be easier. I want a hunt to be hard. I want to be challenged to my limit. For me, the hunt is everything. Not the kill.

I use a BLM map to make sure I'm in the right hunting unit. I use a GPS to make sure I'm not trespassing. I use a cell phone to let my wife know I'm okay. I don't have a problem hunting hard, I have a bad back that would make it impossible to pack out a deer or pronghorn in a laundry bag so I have an Eberlestock pack. I enjoy hunting whether I kill anything or not but make no mistake, I hunt to kill stuff, if I didn't I could save a ton of money on tags, guns, packs and a lot of other stuff and just look at animals. For me the kill is the climax of a successful hunt and in fact what hunting is all about.

Bob