Feed Back on Mentorship to the new guys

[Capt.Cajun]

A year or so ago I offered to take on a new hunter from this forum to show what I have learned from others..to pass it on. My mind set was to gain a friend, hunting partner and someone who would help me if I knocked something down..but sentimentally... because I'm an old guy now...to remember me after I was gone, to sit around the camp fire many years past and say to his kids or friends, I learned from this old guy who taught me..My intentions were sincere.
I received many inquiries from this forum...that's what it's here for.
Most that responded were hunters that didn't know where to go or were frustrated with there lack of success. Some just wanted interaction with other hunters even though they never had the intention to go out and hunt...that's cool too because we make friends on this site. Some just wanted to know my spot...I was OK with that because we all start at "0". But, they didn't want to learn, they just wanted to know the "secret spot." As the experienced hunters knows, it's not the secret spot, it's the secret way of hunting or as you gain experience you find it's not so secret...just get out of your truck. I took on a young hunter and after 2 days at elk camp he decided it wasn't for him. OK, as he was a new hunter I was sympathetic to his new experience with me. I hunt pretty remote. The following season I found him and his friends in the area we camped...music..partying..etc..I was disappointed. 
Now, hunting for me is a positive experience, a way to forget about life for awhile.
My point is with the lot of experienced hunters on this forum we should not be Leary of sharing our knowledge but somehow we feel being taken advantage of or at least I do. I'm shaking this feeling hoping that amidst the users out there there are genuine learners too.
 If you are new to hunting or even a struggling hunter who wants to learn
please respect the time, effort and education of those who have put more footprints on the ground than you can imagine and understand. You will eventually realize it if you are dedicated. Remember, to have a hunting friend you have to be a hunting friend.  My 2 cents.

[storyteller]

Fine words you shared with us.  I agree

[ghosthunter]

A year or so ago I offered to take on a new hunter from this forum to show what I have learned from others..to pass it on. My mind set was to gain a friend, hunting partner and someone who would help me if I knocked something down..but sentimentally... because I'm an old guy now...to remember me after I was gone, to sit around the camp fire many years past and say to his kids or friends, I learned from this old guy who taught me..My intentions were sincere.
I received many inquiries from this forum...that's what it's here for.
Most that responded were hunters that didn't know where to go or were frustrated with there lack of success. Some just wanted interaction with other hunters even though they never had the intention to go out and hunt...that's cool too because we make friends on this site. Some just wanted to know my spot...I was OK with that because we all start at "0". But, they didn't want to learn, they just wanted to know the "secret spot." As the experienced hunters knows, it's not the secret spot, it's the secret way of hunting or as you gain experience you find it's not so secret...just get out of your truck. I took on a young hunter and after 2 days at elk camp he decided it wasn't for him. OK, as he was a new hunter I was sympathetic to his new experience with me. I hunt pretty remote. The following season I found him and his friends in the area we camped...music..partying..etc..I was disappointed. 
Now, hunting for me is a positive experience, a way to forget about life for awhile.
My point is with the lot of experienced hunters on this forum we should not be Leary of sharing our knowledge but somehow we feel being taken advantage of or at least I do. I'm shaking this feeling hoping that amidst the users out there there are genuine learners too.
 If you are new to hunting or even a struggling hunter who wants to learn
please respect the time, effort and education of those who have put more footprints on the ground than you can imagine and understand. You will eventually realize it if you are dedicated. Remember, to have a hunting friend you have to be a hunting friend.  My 2 cents.

Yes sir


I have had good results,

I have taken on 8  new camp mates over the past five years. Only one did not fit in. My goal is not to teach anyone. But to do what I can to bring good people together in a hunting camp.

Several came through this forum.

There was a husband and wife. Just starting out hunting. They fit right in to our camp and are liked by everyone. Later they brought their teenage son too.

There was a merchant marine who came turkey hunting with us and killed his first turkey. He hasn’t been back, but he was getting married ,so who knows.

There was another guy same year in turkey camp did not fit in as well.

Last year we had another new guy, He worked out ok and is hunting this year in camp.

Two of our main guys now were solo hunters camping near us that got adopted and are now main members in camp and good contributors.

This year another new to our camp guy who I started talking to on line last year. Met him for the first time couple weeks ago when we went site scouting. Going to hunt elk and deer together this year.

It’s a mixed bag. I have never had anyone show up with friends in our general area and not sure I would care. What we offer isn’t hunting skills because most of our camp were long time hunters with lots of animals over the years. But for one reason or another ended up hunting alone either because a partner died, or son got married, or the camp they were in was disbanded.
You are not going to change anyone. There are no perfect people. The real only thing we look for is folks who fit in, who can play well with others. Share the chores and they get security of a larger camp and help with retrieval of down game.

So far I am Ok with the results. I would like to inject some younger folks. But they are harder to find. My grandson is 19 now and hasn’t missed a camp, but expect  that to change once the responsibilities of adult hood fully kick in.

[NorseNW]

Capt Cajun - certainly sorry that happened to you.  Thank you for taking the chance and sharing your knowledge.  I'm a MUCH more successful fisherman than I am a hunter and I really enjoy taking people out fishing.  I hope someday to be the guy to take someone hunting but I just don't have this Washington hunting stuff down yet (harvested 1 deer in 6 years of hunting elk and deer - archery).  I definitely appreciate the information people like you are willing to share.  I have found it tough to find my way into a camp even with guys from work that I consider friends.  They just already have their group and don't share much information or want you around.  These are even guys I've taken fishing thinking maybe I could pay it forward. 

Anyway as a guy that grew up hunting pheasants and deer in Western Pennsylvania taught by my dad I've found the learning curve out here STEEP to say the least.  I appreciate the nuggets you "old timers" willing share.  I truly don't want anyones spot and respect the time it takes to find places.  People willing to share their techniques and what works for them is priceless information.  So thank you for your willingness to share.

[Daman9091233]

I went for deer my first time this year with no success. At first I was frustrated but looking back it was a amazing time. In the grind its tiring and but the end of a week of short hours of sleep and long hikes it was exhausting but I got to see places I had not seen, got to meet people I never would have, I made new friends and had a great time. Came home with some phesants and a grouse and a yearning to learn more and get out more. That said it makes me sad to hear this guy was out 2 days quit and came back to party at the campsite with a new group using the spot you showed him. If you ever want to take someone out to teach them how to hunt and the things you have learned id be willing to go anywhere even my own spots with you and even in the off-season just to practice locating/stalking/and other tactics to be more prepared for next year. Probably not what your looking for but just saying I personally appreciate guys willing to help teach as guys like me need it and can only learn so much online. So I sincerely thank you for your attempt and understand your frustration and sincerely apologize on behalf of younger inexperienced hunters for your experience.

[pianoman9701]

A year or so ago I offered to take on a new hunter from this forum to show what I have learned from others..to pass it on. My mind set was to gain a friend, hunting partner and someone who would help me if I knocked something down..but sentimentally... because I'm an old guy now...to remember me after I was gone, to sit around the camp fire many years past and say to his kids or friends, I learned from this old guy who taught me..My intentions were sincere.
I received many inquiries from this forum...that's what it's here for.
Most that responded were hunters that didn't know where to go or were frustrated with there lack of success. Some just wanted interaction with other hunters even though they never had the intention to go out and hunt...that's cool too because we make friends on this site. Some just wanted to know my spot...I was OK with that because we all start at "0". But, they didn't want to learn, they just wanted to know the "secret spot." As the experienced hunters knows, it's not the secret spot, it's the secret way of hunting or as you gain experience you find it's not so secret...just get out of your truck. I took on a young hunter and after 2 days at elk camp he decided it wasn't for him. OK, as he was a new hunter I was sympathetic to his new experience with me. I hunt pretty remote. The following season I found him and his friends in the area we camped...music..partying..etc..I was disappointed. 
Now, hunting for me is a positive experience, a way to forget about life for awhile.
My point is with the lot of experienced hunters on this forum we should not be Leary of sharing our knowledge but somehow we feel being taken advantage of or at least I do. I'm shaking this feeling hoping that amidst the users out there there are genuine learners too.
 If you are new to hunting or even a struggling hunter who wants to learn
please respect the time, effort and education of those who have put more footprints on the ground than you can imagine and understand. You will eventually realize it if you are dedicated. Remember, to have a hunting friend you have to be a hunting friend.  My 2 cents.

You can only put yourself out there and hope for good. I've had this same experience this year, to a degree. He wanted to learn, he wanted to chip in, he wanted to know about elk. Well, turns out he didn't want to learn, he didn't want to chip in, and he didn't want to learn about elk. He knew everything already from YouTube. There are some good ones out there but they're awfully hard to find. 

[cameronwe]

Capt. Cajun,
 I'm sorry you had a bad experience. I am really interested in hunting just about anything to figure out what I might like. At 47 I feel like the window for some things can rapidly close. I see you live in Bellingham as I do, hardly the hotbed for new hunters. It must have been really frustrating to have your time wasted. If you (or anyone else who reads this )ever feel like giving it a shot again I would be more than willing. I also have a 14 yr old nephew who is really hunt crazy but doesn't have any outlet for it, though he had done well trapping and skinning squirrels, so is more adventurous than I. If I can gather time and experience I am hoping to be a partner if not mentor to him at some point.
Thanks for at least putting yourself out there,

Cameron

[EyeTooth]

It is a bummer, but, few good deeds go unpunished. It takes patience to help people. When I was younger, I had the patience necessary, but after many, many years of helping people get elk in Western Washington and every one of them being successful at least once, with a couple getting several elk. I will never again offer help or be convinced by requests for help again. Every one turned out to be very ungrateful and unappreciative with some being downright condescending.
My feelings have always been that everyone should experience hunting and being successful at it! Being outdoors is great! The research done, hard work applied, and  satisfaction received feels so good! And elk meat can't be beat (just my opinion).
If you can find a hunter with good experience and a proven track record, latch on to him and don't let go, and Carry Your Weight with regard to everything required in every aspect of what it takes. Good luck to everyone!

[KDfishbiologist]

A year or so ago I offered to take on a new hunter from this forum to show what I have learned from others..to pass it on. My mind set was to gain a friend, hunting partner and someone who would help me if I knocked something down..but sentimentally... because I'm an old guy now...to remember me after I was gone, to sit around the camp fire many years past and say to his kids or friends, I learned from this old guy who taught me..My intentions were sincere.
I received many inquiries from this forum...that's what it's here for.
Most that responded were hunters that didn't know where to go or were frustrated with there lack of success. Some just wanted interaction with other hunters even though they never had the intention to go out and hunt...that's cool too because we make friends on this site. Some just wanted to know my spot...I was OK with that because we all start at "0". But, they didn't want to learn, they just wanted to know the "secret spot." As the experienced hunters knows, it's not the secret spot, it's the secret way of hunting or as you gain experience you find it's not so secret...just get out of your truck. I took on a young hunter and after 2 days at elk camp he decided it wasn't for him. OK, as he was a new hunter I was sympathetic to his new experience with me. I hunt pretty remote. The following season I found him and his friends in the area we camped...music..partying..etc..I was disappointed. 
Now, hunting for me is a positive experience, a way to forget about life for awhile.
My point is with the lot of experienced hunters on this forum we should not be Leary of sharing our knowledge but somehow we feel being taken advantage of or at least I do. I'm shaking this feeling hoping that amidst the users out there there are genuine learners too.
 If you are new to hunting or even a struggling hunter who wants to learn
please respect the time, effort and education of those who have put more footprints on the ground than you can imagine and understand. You will eventually realize it if you are dedicated. Remember, to have a hunting friend you have to be a hunting friend.  My 2 cents.

It sucks stuff like this happens because then people are pretty hesitant to teach newbies like me. For anyone who offered me general blacktail hunting advice earlier this year when I posted about hunting on Weyco land in the Toutle area, I'm pretty thankful. No deer for me yet, but I've seen about 11 does and had a blast getting out exploring new country. These blacktail bucks are elusive, but it's been fun. Also the locals have been pretty friendly but maybe because I'm a girl out on my own. Hopefully others show you all some respect because I sure appreciate the advice. 

[tyfghter]

What a bummer, shame that it ruins it for so many.
Ive been looking for my own places to hunt using onX and driving through logging roads. That way when I do talk to seasoned hunters, I have areas to share.
The last time I went out with my friend whos been hunting for over 30 years we didnt see a single deer, but I learned so much about hunting.

To me its more important to learn how to hunt, then apply that and find where to hunt. Thays my .02 cents anyways, whay the heck do I know.