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

podcasts.apple.com

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.

 

[Nameless Range]

I saw an instagram post where the owner of some company out of Idaho that makes holsters was lamenting some decision by the fish and game commission there that limited technology somehow.

He then said that wildlife today are becoming “more evasive” than they have historically been, and we need that technology to pursue them. He then said that it’s just a fact. I thought he was being silly and trolling, but no, that was his genuine argument.

Folks love their toys.

 

[bigsky2]

I saw an instagram post where the owner of some company out of Idaho that makes holsters was lamenting some decision by the fish and game commission there that limited technology somehow.

He then said that wildlife today are becoming “more evasive” than they have historically been, and we need that technology to pursue them. He then said that it’s just a fact. I thought he was being silly and trolling, but no, that was his genuine argument.

Folks love their toys.

I just read a post on Rokslide yesterday where a guy was saying how deer and elk have adapted to avoid being shot by long range rifles.

 

[RowTheBoat]

I just read a post on Rokslide yesterday where a guy was saying how deer and elk have adapted to avoid being shot by long range rifles.

Too funny. So they’re moving in to 400 instead of staying at 1000?

 

[bigsky2]

Too funny. So they’re moving in to 400 instead of staying at 1000?

Probably just trying to increase their range

 

[cgasner1]

I just read a post on Rokslide yesterday where a guy was saying how deer and elk have adapted to avoid being shot by long range rifles.

Stuff will rot your brain

 

[Stone_Ice_1]

I know of an outfitter that is taking drones with infrared thermal cameras on them in the woods at night to locate the animals. They are getting around the law of saying they aren't "flying" by doing this before midnight so that they can go out the next day. Then the next morning before light they go back to the area with their infrared thermal binoculars to locate exactly where the animals are and send their clients right at the animals. Getting around the laws here by their interpretation of the law and what they can do before it is shooting light.

This is no longer hunting to me. Normally with technology and hunting I don't bother myself with what other people are doing. But the problem with this is it is getting to the point that even if I don't use these kinds of technology it is still having an effect on my hunting. This is in thick timber and brush country in an area where there aren't many animals. The challenge here is finding them but technology has a way around that now. The few animals there, especially the bulls, are now being killed.

 

[bigsky2]

I know of an outfitter that is taking drones with infrared thermal cameras on them in the woods at night to locate the animals. They are getting around the law of saying they aren't "flying" by doing this before midnight so that they can go out the next day. Then the next morning before light they go back to the area with their infrared thermal binoculars to locate exactly where the animals are and send their clients right at the animals. Getting around the laws here by their interpretation of the law and what they can do before it is shooting light.

This is no longer hunting to me. Normally with technology and hunting I don't bother myself with what other people are doing. But the problem with this is it is getting to the point that even if I don't use these kinds of technology it is still having an effect on my hunting. This is in thick timber and brush country in an area where there aren't many animals. The challenge here is finding them but technology has a way around that now. The few animals there, especially the bulls, are now being killed.

I'm assuming this is in Montana?