Ashamed to be a hunter some days

[tbrady]

I just got back from a 3 day hunt on the eastside and overall I feel pretty disgusted.  The behavior of some of the people I saw "hunting" out there is friggin despicable.  And it makes me sick to think that this is the perception a lot of people have of hunters.   

Not everyone who hunts - unloads 15 rounds at some animal and never even bothers to go look for it, trashes the entire area they were camping with trash and beer cans, does rapid-fire pistol shooting in the middle of the night, proudly straps their kill to their vehicle for all to see,  has a total disregard for other people hunting (and the animals they are hunting) and the list goes on and on (this doesn't even include the poachers who should be shot on the spot).

If members of the general public who currently consider themselves neutral towards hunting, were to go out on opening day in some of the more populated GMUs, they could very easily become anti-hunter in minutes.  The few hunters that act like this really ruin it for everyone.  Maybe I'm getting old and "soft" but hunting is a sacred thing to me and I feel some sadness each time I take an animal.  Don't get me wrong, I get really excited but when all is said and down and kneel down next to this incredible animal, I feel some sadness. 

I wish there were a better way to police our own.  It's a shame that guys like this have the same opportunities to hunt as those that truly respect the animals, the sport and the environment. 

I know none of you know me and I'm new to this site but I just needed a place to vent this evening. 

[billythekidrock]

Welcome.

I know how you feel and I agree 100%.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Mr. Brady, Ifeel your pain.

I have many times said that I love hunting so much, I hate most hunters.

[carpsniperg2]

its sad sometimes i saw a 4 door dodge ram today driving the roads between our property that we own on bolth sides all 4 guys at each window had shooting sticks set up with barrels out the windows do i need to say more i talked to them and said what i thought about the whole deal and reported it didn't see them again and 2 nights in a row at camp we watched a chevy drive the roads between 10-11 pm pitch black spotlighting deer they did not like our 20million spot light that my grandpa had in camp shining in there eyes as they drove buy lol its so bad sometimes what people will do

[rainshadow1]

Glad you said it, it needs to be said.

Hunting, fishing, and living the outdoor life is a lifestyle for me, not just something I devote a couple 3 day weekends to per year to blow off steam.

Guys like you describe should be locked up. Plain and simple. I hate seeing them, I hate talking to them, they disgust me, and it grates me deeply that they're what people point to as "hunters."

They're not hunters, they're 

If they're here, reading this, GROW THE HECK UP!

[ribka]

Would have to agree and well said.
Wish people had more respect for animals they are hunting.
I moved here from the east coast and they closed a good deal of hunting areas there because of slob hunters. All it takes is one wounded deer with an arrow in its hind quarters running around some school or neighborhood on the news to shut down and area. People here out West (WA) do not yet understand but in a few years it could affect hunting areas and regs.

[sako223]

It's one of the times when I have compassion for the game warden. One time opening morning we got set before light. Shortly after we see spotlights then shooting lots of it. Some guys found a herd of elk. A 16 year old got the first while his dad held the light. he ran out to tag it when others started to shoot. The 16 year old had to lay behind his first elk for safety. In all they killed about 9 or more with more wounded. The warden was close by and had a true field day with this group. This is the 4th circle shoot we have been around. 
Some years are better but never really good anymore.

[flashover52]

I hear you.

I finally made it out on Sunday. I mentioned in an other post, I never took my gun out of the case or unlocked the trigger lock. I picked up a half a plastic garbage bag of pretty big stuff and went home disgusted.......

Hell, two years ago I found a Honda gas engine on a wheel barrow style air compressor and a metal mattress frame. Too much steel there for it to be tweakers leaving it.....too rough a shape to fix it. Cost me $18 to get rid of it.....

[antlerbolic_bearoids]

This year I was so disgusted I almost snapped and went on a people killing spree.  At least 7 different vehicles blatantly disregarded a no unauthorized vehicles sign, none of them disabled hunters, and then proceeded to leave the closed road and just drive across the hillsides.  One of them had his gun out the window the entire time!  As if that wasn't bad enough, three of them left the public land and drove across a farmers winter-wheat field.  I took down license plate numbers and called the sheriff, and two game wardens showed up.  They check MY hunting license and then left.  How much of this is going to go on before we all are punished? To those hunting this way, you are a discrace and make us all look bad.  Park and WALK!  

[NWBREW]

I agree 100% with all that is said here. Sad thing is you see it year after year. It does ruin it for the rest of us who have morals and ethics. When the non-hunters see that you can't blame them for being pissed off, and they DO SEE THAT. That is how good hunters get bunched in with the frikin moron hunters. The last time I hunted the Manastash for elk there were a group of a$$holes camped about 80 yards away. Drank and partied till $hitfaced and then shot there pistols at around 1 am, next day me and my hunting partner both shot elk and he asked if I wanted to rest up and stay another night.............HELL NO.    Since that day I only hunt elk by my cabin in the N.E. corner.When a drunk is shooting a pistol at 1 am. there is nothing you can do but call the sheriff. So I geuss we all need to do what we can. Thanks to all who do. Wheather it's shinning a light in a spotlighters face or picking up garbage...Thank you

[EastWaViking]

All the the above are the reasons I now archery hunt mostly private land.  It is unreal how many slobs are out during general rifle season... not hunters.... slobs and poachers.  And they are the most visible to the non-hunting public because they don't get back in the woods and hunt like most of us on this website.

Just keep reporting them and collecting points!

[Tony 270WSM]

I didn't bother reading your entire post or any here, but I disagree with your title completely.

Ashamed to be a hunter some days? The idea seems to be the actions of some look and reflect poorly on you... right?

Let me spin this a different way. Are you white? Are you ashamed to be white some days because there are some racist POSs out there? Some members of KKK, some "good 'ole boys" down in the south? Do their actions make you ashamed?

Black? Do the thugs and wanna-be thugs make you ashamed to be black? The stereotypical whistle blowers who cry racism every time things don't go their way? You ashamed?

Do poachers make you ashamed that you hunt? Are you engaging in illegal hunting activities? Are you doing these things?

There are some lousy people out there. Those that do illegal things, unethical things, downright disgusting things. Doesn't matter what color you are, what activities you engage in. How you carry yourself defines who you are and how you should feel, not who you might be perceived to be associated with. If you don't like what they are doing, do something about it, don't feel bad about yourself.

[EastWaViking]

good point Tony.   I'm proud to be a hunter.  The people causing the problems are not worthy of being called hunters.

[ouchfoss]

All the the above are the reasons I now archery hunt mostly private land.  It is unreal how many slobs are out during general rifle season... not hunters.... slobs and poachers.  And they are the most visible to the non-hunting public because they don't get back in the woods and hunt like most of us on this website.

Just keep reporting them and collecting points!

I Can't agree more. Thats one of the great things I like about archery hunting. Theres far less idiots running around the woods ruining things for us ( at least for the most part).

[bearpaw]

Tony that is very well put, I hope some people will read what you wrote and think about it. Those are slobs not hunters. I read all this once and had to leave this topic, but it was bothering me what was being said on here, I checked it later and read your post and agree whole heartedly with what you wrote.

I want to say I also find it very disappointing to read all the complaints and all the ideas everyone has for outlawing everything from recreational quad riding to horseback riding. Why can't we all just share the outdoors with each other and respect each others preferences to enjoy the outdoors, as long as a person isn't breaking the law intentionally. When you observe someone obviosly breaking the law, report it. We don't need to limit everybody else from recreating in ways that we don't personally enjoy. This self centeredness will be the demise of our freedoms....

I didn't bother reading your entire post or any here, but I disagree with your title completely.

Ashamed to be a hunter some days? The idea seems to be the actions of some look and reflect poorly on you... right?

Let me spin this a different way. Are you white? Are you ashamed to be white some days because there are some racist POSs out there? Some members of KKK, some "good 'ole boys" down in the south? Do their actions make you ashamed?

Black? Do the thugs and wanna-be thugs make you ashamed to be black? The stereotypical whistle blowers who cry racism every time things don't go their way? You ashamed?

Do poachers make you ashamed that you hunt? Are you engaging in illegal hunting activities? Are you doing these things?

There are some lousy people out there. Those that do illegal things, unethical things, downright disgusting things. Doesn't matter what color you are, what activities you engage in. How you carry yourself defines who you are and how you should feel, not who you might be perceived to be associated with. If you don't like what they are doing, do something about it, don't feel bad about yourself.