POLL--what makes a good hunter?

[Jblack]

I'm doing an argumentative essay for my Eng. instructor for college, and I would like to know, what your thoughts are on,
"What Makes A Good Hunter", my first argument is that a good hunter is a person; who is <u>ethical, conserves, and preserves</u> the animals being pursued. but I want to know what is your first thought on "What Makes A Good Hunter" (I need resources to list on my work cited page) and I can't think of a better place to list than Kyhunting.com, so thanks for all the input and thoughts that you care to share, whether it's negative or positive.

just bein out there is enuff

[uplandchessies]

Obeying the laws and bag limits, introducing a child to the sport, supporting wildlife (habitat) org's such as QU, PF etc. Also, respecting the land being hunted -- private or WMA and respecting the game being pursued (i.e. using every effort to retrieve wounded game, using appropriate weaponry).

I forgot an important one for bird hunters. Using a dog to conserve game.

Chessies CAN do more than waterfowl!!!

[REGULAR JOE]

A good hunter is one who bags the "big one" every time through tedious scouting and pre-planning.

A good outdoorsman is one who is adept at all things related to the outdoors but none of the traits of this person really identifies themselves as hunters.

A good sportsman is someone who gives back two-fold of which he takes, is ethical in the chase and kill and is willing to stand up to what he/she believes is right. Also, a good sportsman will defend not only his/her rights (e.g. protect whitetails/whitetail habitat) but those of his brethren that prefer to harvest other species.

This only my "first thought" so I could elaborate if my first thought doesn't explain my position fully.

[raktrakr]

"if you can be an effective squirrel hunter, you can be a good hunter period" Harold Knight

[KyHorse]

Jblack,
No offense to Regular Joe, but bagging the "big one" does not make some one a good hunter. Maybe a trophy hunter, but not a good hunter. I do agree with his other comments though. You will likely get 10 different opinions from 10 different people, but I will share my thoughts.

One thing I feel being lost today is woodsmanship. Not many taking up the sport learn the woods or the game they are pursuing for that matter. Often they get stuck in a heated blind out of the wind and away from the cold. I refuse to introduce my sons to this type of hunting.

I feel that a good hunter is someone that is dedicated to the way they hunt (bow/gun/muzzleloader,etc), but not to the point of bashing what others use. They are proficient with what they use in both an ethical and lethal manner. They are also dedicated and have a love for the game (deer/ducks/turkey,etc)they pursue. I also believe woodsmanship is a big part of being a good hunter. Being a good woodsman will often lead to game being in the bag before anything else. I also believe a good hunter is a good sportsman as Regular Joe eluded to. They do not have to be part of every not for profit club or association, but abide by game laws, seasons and take part on educating others when they can and introduce new persons to the sport.

[Jblack]

KyHorse, thats pretty much my sentiments, on the subject, but I still need different views on the subject, so that I can, be objective on how I can write my paper and have different outlooks on the subject, with some very different views it will make my paper more educational, to the general public that are not hunters, which is what I need

just bein out there is enuff

[Al]

Patience, hard work off season, attention to details, hunting as if you were being hunted, improveing the habitat all go a long ways toward makeing a person a sucessful hunter. Most people I know dont want to do the work or take the time to do it right but most seem to look for what is the easy way. Hunting is hard work but very rewarding, at least it is for me. But what do you mean by a "good" hunter? A good hunter is ethical. He is not lazy. He is law abiding he is respectful of land owners, other hunters, law enforcement and the game he pursues, He always takes out of the woods what he takes in, he respects boundrys, he cares for his game after the kill, always gets his lisences, and does not go over his limit. The opposite is true of a "bad hunter".

[thunderstorm]

There is some good information about "resposible" hunting in the hunter education manuals. If you don't have a copy and have time for me to mail it let me know.

[Grant]

I would try to stress that a hunter doesn't always have to bag something for him or her to consider it a successful hunt. Many of my more memorable hunts I never fired a shot.

http://www.hunt101.com/img/097736.jpg

[GSP]

JBLACK, which way are you going with this paper as compared to Joe's reply? I have some links that may help if you are going with the reasons man still hunts, I'll try digging them up. I agree with Joe if you subsitute meat for "the big one". After all, that is what a "hunter" is, a taker of animals, ie, cougars, yotes, man and spiders are all hunters.
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by REGULAR JOE</i>
<br />A good hunter is one who bags the "big one" every time through tedious scouting and pre-planning.

A good outdoorsman is one who is adept at all things related to the outdoors but none of the traits of this person really identifies themselves as hunters.

A good sportsman is someone who gives back two-fold of which he takes, is ethical in the chase and kill and is willing to stand up to what he/she believes is right. Also, a good sportsman will defend not only his/her rights (e.g. protect whitetails/whitetail habitat) but those of his brethren that prefer to harvest other species.

This only my "first thought" so I could elaborate if my first thought doesn't explain my position fully.
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[Multidigits]

Instinct, desire, determination-not nessasarily in that order

[ksp771]

I would have to say Conservation, legal harvesting and sellective harvesting.

http://www.wrightsweaponsystems.com

[moosehead rollins]

It surely doesnt matter if you kill big bucks or not. My friends on this board on this forum are great hunters yet they dont kill big ones all the time. Lots of times, its the area a person gets to hunt that determines how many big bucks they kill. I know crappy hunters that see 10 bucks a day. I also know great hunters that might see 5 bucks all year.

[Highbow]

To me a good hunter consists of many things, I'll name a few. Someone who is as honest with himself as he is with others about the pursuit of game, one who enjoys what nature presents to them on each trip afield and goes to share the experience with others, one who is willing to devote much of his own personal time to protect the future of the hunting sport for the youngest of those today, one who can with just a few words make it known to another hunter that they are indeed brothers of the wildlife they share.

Member-United Bowhunters of KY, ASA, IBO, East KY Archery, Cyberhunters of KY

[Multidigits]

i'll disagree with some of what's been said. The question was what makes a guy a good hunter, not an good, ethical hunter. We've all known or heard of some very good poachers that could flat put some game down on a consistant basis. You'd have to say they were good hunters, just not lawfull in their ways.

[moosehead rollins]

Well spoken fellas

[Strutter]

As far as taking game is concerned, a good hunter is only as good as the area he hunts. If the area has very little game, then it doesn't really matter how good a hunter one is cause he is going to draw a blank more often than not. If the area is overrun with game, then you don't have to be much of a hunter to take game. I guess there is a difference between hunting and finding though. I know guys that are great at hunting but can't find anything to shoot. Do you know what you call a person like that? Hungry

[GSP]

jblack,
Read this article and be ready to deal with it before you get into a classroom debate. I think it is one of the best articles written, Jim Zumbo, Outdoor Life, <i><u>Why We Hunt</u></i>.
Hope everyone reads it. Before you do, answer this question. Why do you hunt? You think long and hard, it ain't an easy answer. I think it is a born urge and a developed need.

http://www.outdoorlife.com/outdoor/hunting/biggame/article/0%2C13285%2C385444%2C00.html

[mounting man]

The ABILITY to APPLY what was LEARNED at an early age and follow through with it all the rest of your hunting days. Oh yeah, and ETHICS.It don't matter if we kill or not,killing doesn't make you a good hunter, but it helps. [:D]

Chris @ Dales Taxidermy

[buckdroppings]

All of the above, and the ability to stay awake.[:D]

[P. Beyer]

One who "passes the torch" is a GREAT hunter. Introduce the "little ones" to the outdoors and our outdoor lifetyle, PLEASE!

"It makes no difference whether I got anything; it has to do with how the day was spent"

Fred Bear

[Jblack]

to all who have posted or will post this is a great thread that has and will help me be more objective on what I write in this essay, because in a way we're all right and we all have our own opinions about this subject and I'm just glad there's people out there willing to put in a little time and thought on the subject, as my quote in the bottom of every post states
just bein out there is enuff for me, and a few sightings is like icing on the cake and everyone ought to be thankful for the right, and have the ability to make the decision to hunt or not to hunt. I know I am, especially after I think about this it really makes a person think, so thanks for the replies and thoughts on the subject

just bein out there is enuff

[COUNTRYBOY]

I would have to say it like this:

1. RESPONSIBLITY- You are responsible for the property you hunt on,the safety of fellow hunters and yourself,responsible for the weapon you carry, responsible to obey all laws.
2. RESPECT- Respect the game you hunt. Don't overkill small game and only take the deer you need to take.
3. PATIENCE- Patience is a kingly virtue no matter what you hunt.
4. SKILL- Skill to well place your shots,not in the next set of woods across from you.
5. LOVE- You if really truely love the outdoors and the game you hunt, all these rules will fall into place without even thinking about them.

A COUNTRYBOY CAN SURVIVE

[aceoky]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Jblack</i>
<br />I'm doing an argumentative essay for my Eng. instructor for college, and I would like to know, what your thoughts are on,
"What Makes A Good Hunter", my first argument is that a good hunter is a person who cares for the animals in which the hunter is pursuing, otherwise the animals would just become over hunted. and have lots more, but I want to know what is your first thought on "What Makes A Good Hunter" (I need resources to list on my work cited page) and I can't think of a better place to list than Kyhunting.com, so thanks for all the input and thoughts that you care to share, whether it's negative or positive.
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Being a 40 year old college student myself; I decided to answer this as if "I" were writing it(but more breifly I hope)...without reading your other replies......

A "good" hunter is one "who cares more about the game(whatever it is doesn't matter) than the anti hunters....why can that be possible? A good hunter doesn't focus on "the kill" or even it's size.....he or she is more focused on the animal, IT"S well being if it probably won't survive the winter then it's a "trophy"(and then ONLY if you can get a quick kill shot with what you are using)

A good hunter has to deal with laws, regulations and time restrictions and after all of that he/she has to deal with "public opinion" and often they (the public want to judge US on what THEY have never done or been exposed to) which makes it even harder to be a "good hunter" in the public eye!

So why you ask do "we" do it??? The answers though many (and will surprise you) are (not all but enough so you just might comprehend)

We love the outdoors and the animals that exist therein(yes we love them enough to kill them)

We KNOW that without hunters most species would not prosper and in fact we KNOW that our $$$$$ are what got them to exist in the numbers they are now seen in ( the money from hunters directly without any doubt got the whitetail deer and the wild turkey to where they are now NO ONE can/will argue that fact)

Elk are the same, where they once roamed then were NEVER seen they are now seen because of no one other than hunters!!! Green Peace or "save the planet' (or whoever else) ...even though some gave their money in "good faith" they didn't do ONE THING to bring any of these species back (or keep said species in check)....see you have to LOVE them to bring them back and kill them to make sure they SURVIVE in the wild and sometimes harsh habitat THEY choose to live in...they are in fact wild animals so they are FREE to live where they wish.......so if 100 wish to live in an area that will only support 79 .......problems??? That's why we are an "advanced species" so we are able to "help them" to actually survive.....if we "take" the suprlus they win we win..... actually a simple thing to understand .....if we didn't do that........50% or more may die or more ........."nature's way" starvation low birth rate etc.

That is the REALITY without hunters of what REALLY happens "in the wild" if hunters don't hunt....... deer have one instead of 3 or at least 2........young deer starve to death!!! ( the future of our deer!) etc.

I have NO way of knowing what you need, or how much info/ words pages etc. I think this may be what you need ( in part)....( I'm not going to do your "homework" for you just to try to help) [:D] and I hope I did.......

just bein out there is enuff
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[Jblack]

aceo, well put and I think your info will used, not copied, and for everyone else thanks all the input it will be used, because thats what I needed, different answers, so I can define my paper as an argumentative definition essay, and with many having different opinions, it is definatly argumentative. for example some say a good hunter is a hunter who kills the intended quarry on a regular basis. but I think before you can be a good hunter, you must first be an ethical,conserving, and preserving hunter. before you can be called a good hunter. now thats my outlook on what it takes to be a good hunter, but with an argumentative paper, I needed the different answers. so thanks for the many different answers, it is greatly appreciated.

just bein out there is enuff

[turk2di]

An intense love for what he is doing! Dogged determination with unbounded confidence along with a no lose attitude[;)]

what u get out, is what u put in

[thunderstorm]

Wow, alot of responces here. I guess it all boils down to what the definition of "good" is. You could begin your paper with an impersonation of clinton. What is a good hunter?... What is the definition of "good". BTW did clinton ever figure out what "is" meant?[:)]

[ksp965]

Buckdroppings, I'm not sure about that staying awake. More than once I have gone to sleep, to be woke up by a deer stepping on a stick near me. Once, by a buck within no more than five steps. Now if they will just make my pillow in camoflauge...[:D]
What is a good hunter? Is that a person who kills game consistently or is it a person judged by other than his bag limit? If hunting was just killing, there would be no need for me to ever buy another license. Its the experience that makes the hunt and the hunt makes the hunter. A good hunter is a person that comes back satisfied with his adventure, whether or not he has anything to show for it.

[REGULAR JOE]

I was trying to differentiate between on who goes into the woods soley to take an animal that would be tropy class and an individual that not only hunts, but gives back as much as they take. A well rounded hunter is a sportsman who gives as much or more than they receive. I admire those who take what the land gives them vs. one who holds out to bag something to brag about. A SPORTSMAN is one who introduces others to the outdoors, manages land for the benefit of all game, picks up their casings and other junk they take in, even carries the trash of the neglectful that preceeded them.
A hunter is just that....track, pattern, prepare, kill. In my concept of a "hunter", it differs because their only goal is to locate and kill what they can.

Opinions differ I'm sure and that is what makes this board so unique. If everyone thought the same, we would get bored pretty quickly. lol
I'm sure glad that I have my B.S. and all I have to do now is b.s. It's much easier when you don't have to come up with ideas for a paper for oneself.

[Jblack]

Thanks everyone for their opinion on this subject, my ENG instructor didn't want to let me use a website like this but after I printed it out and she read it she agreed to let me use this forum, she said that everyone has some interesting points, and she wouldn't feel right if she didn't let me use it after so much of a response so thanks and I will be turning my paper in Friday (3/05/04)

just bein out there is enuff

[T Rex]

Of course safety first then follow all your regs, after that I would have to say the next most importantly thing is to be a predator, hunt hard

"Put your game face on boyz, Be a predator"

[Jblack]

finally got my paper back and got a 81%, the only reason I got that was because I didn't use all the resources that she wanted me to use and I used this website as a reference, but other than that I was pleased with the paper, and thanks for the replies everyone

just bein out there is enuff

[aceoky]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Jblack</i>
<br />finally got my paper back and got a 81%, the only reason I got that was because I didn't use all the resources that she wanted me to use and I used this website as a reference, but other than that I was pleased with the paper, and thanks for the replies everyone

just bein out there is enuff
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Congrats on a passing grade(those papers can be TOUGH)[:I]

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I'd rather be lucky than good any day!!

Reloaders Haul Brass!