Hunting, Technology, and a little Reflection

[glennw89]

EP 596: Easy Isn't the Point (NMO Part 2)

Podcast Episode · Beyond the Kill · 05/12/2025 · 1h 11m

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The latest Beyond the Kill podcast is an excellent conversation around the complexities of technology and hunting. This is something I've been increasingly thinking about in recent years. The last decade has brought a virtual tsunami of new/enhanced technologies - cellular/live streaming trail cams, drones, integrated ballistics programming, long range laser rangefinders, powerful GPS mapping tools, near instant backcountry communication devices, stabilized optics, "smart" scopes, etc.

Obviously technology has been in continual evolution since the beginning of our species. We started throwing rocks and we now shoot high powered rifles. But it seems to me the flood of recent technologies seems to have reached a bit of a "tipping point" in my mind at least.

By its very nature, hunting has a visceral connectivity between the hunter, wild places, and wild animals. As our experiences are increasingly filtered through and curated by technology, something is lost.

There's also no denying that these technologies do represent an "Easy Button" of sorts. You can now be less skilled and more successful. It makes for more efficient killers. Whether or not that also translates into better "hunters" is food for thought.

I'm not looking to be an evangelist on the topic. But I do strongly feel that all hunters would benefit from from some deep reflection around the growing influence of technology in hunting and some of the unintended consequences stemming from. Having a listen to this podcast is a good start.

 

[Hammsolo]

I agree on many points. We need to keep the conversation going. What do we want to show the non-hunters? What do we want to teach the next generation?

Do we need to think about categories? Technology used to find animals versus tech used to make the kill more efficient?

I would love to hear arguments for drones and thermals for big game hunting?

 

[gouch]

I came to the conclusion that technology in hunting had gotten too advanced back around 1980. I also realized that the only thing in my control was what I did. So, since then I've always limited my use of technology to a point where I am comfortable with it.

At this point, I don't even own a modern rifle, inline muzzleloader or compound bow. I haven't gone so far as self-bows and flint knapped arrow heads, but I've thought about it.

 

[D_Walt]

Technology is definitely making more efficient killers out of continually worse “hunters”. Not that big of a trick to kill an elk at 1200 yards (in calm conditions) with off the shelf gear. I tend to think “modern rifle/gear/scope” seasons will eventually need to be severely limited in tag numbers and a shift to more archery, muzzleloader and limited optics seasons will need to happen in order to continue to provide opportunity and not diminish the wildlife resource.