I think I’m done with big game hunting

[COEngineer]

Have you thought about becoming a hunter ed instructor? You have a wealth of knowledge that would be a waste to not pass down to the next generation of hunters. Also, the boy scouts might like the gun and outdoor skills knowledge you possess. Many kids don't have fathers or male relatives to show them the ropes and mentor them. You are a wealth of knowledge, skills, and woodsmanship. Pass it on. Maybe volunteer on some wounded warrior hunts?

My thoughts exactly. I will add that there are groups like BHA and local gun clubs that will support any hunter that needs help with logistics or funding for setting up a mentor hunt, range day, sight-ins, scouting classes, fly-tying or whatever you can come up with.

 

[406dn]

I can't even kill the damn rabbit in my yard.

From time to time, I have a rabbit infestation to deal with.

I do not feel any remorse when killing an elk, game bird, trout, yada, yada. But killing a rabbit, because it is a nuisance, does bother me. I do it, but I do not like doing it.

I also need to rid the pole barn of pigeons. That will be another thing I won't enjoy doing. I am plenty tired of them shitting all over my tractor.

 

[Dave N]

From time to time, I have a rabbit infestation to deal with.

I do not feel any remorse when killing an elk, game bird, trout, yada, yada. But killing a rabbit, because it is a nuisance, does bother me. I do it, but I do not like doing it.

I also need to rid the pole barn of pigeons. That will be another thing I won't enjoy doing. I am plenty tired of them shitting all over my tractor.

You missed my other post. I have TRIED to kill the rabbit. I've just been unsuccessful at doing so. Multiple times.

 

[JohnCushman]

My thoughts exactly. I will add that there are groups like BHA and local gun clubs that will support any hunter that needs help with logistics or funding for setting up a mentor hunt, range day, sight-ins, scouting classes, fly-tying or whatever you can come up with.

Also summer camps for kids. When I was younger I worked at a Rotary camp for disabled kids. They absolutely loved the shooting sports clinics. Skeet, archery, and .22 rifle range were huge hits and we actually had to change the daily club routine to accomidate all of the kids that wanted to shoot. Boy scout camps would be a hit too if they are still a thing. Seems like the scout have kinda shit the bed in the past few years.

 

[406dn]

You missed my other post. I have TRIED to kill the rabbit. I've just been unsuccessful at doing so. Multiple times.

I finally bought a pellet rifle. It doesn't always kill them as cleanly as I would prefer.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Maybe it's different for people who live where they are able to hunt big game anytime they feel like it. Such as in TX deer farms are everywhere.
Or some western states where people can just buy tags for multiple big game animals EVERY year. Such as Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. Perhaps it would get old.
In my state of NV you could possibly have 4-5 years between deer tags and much more than that for elk.
As for myself, I still get a rush even now that I'm almost 64 when I harvest an animal because we don't get the opportunity that often. If I don't take an animal I still enjoy the heck out of just the hunt.

 

[Dave N]

I finally bought a pellet rifle. It doesn't always kill them as cleanly as I would prefer.

I use a 12 gauge. Just haven't been able to find the damn thing even with snow. I think it's a ghost.

 

[rjthehunter]

I don't foresee my desire to hunt ever running out or fading.

It's a challenge, you are participating in the food chain. The whole process, from acquiring a tag to enjoying the meat with your family is an irreplicable feeling for me. I will say that I too really enjoy taking others hunting or seeing a friend or family member harvest an animal. It is all exciting to me, and frankly it's what I look forward to.

The wild places we find ourselves in can really humble you. Close calls with predators, weather, terrain, and such always keep you on your toes.

I spent a lot of time bird hunting in college because it's what I could afford to do all the time, but it can't touch big game hunting for the challenge and excitement.

 

[Steiny77]

Fishing can be a bottomless pit till you get to the point you wonder how you ever had time to even hunt

 

[Beignet]

Conversely to big game hunting, I cut back / quit grouse hunting as it started to feel like a lot of killing for not much meat.

As for big game, I kinda personally stop going out seriously once our household has killed enough to fill the freezer. Considering we’re only two adults and one toddler the freezer doesn’t take a lot to fill.

I do really enjoy everyone’s input on mentoring and guiding others. I do think I’ll make a conscious effort out of doing that more next season. Perhaps even for people I don’t already know who are looking for an in.

I do however owe my spouse some serious guiding next fall. She gave up a whole lot of hunting with me this year to let me go work on a limited entry tag I had at my own pace.

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

 

[Caseknife]

Have you thought about becoming a hunter ed instructor? You have a wealth of knowledge that would be a waste to not pass down to the next generation of hunters. Also, the boy scouts might like the gun and outdoor skills knowledge you possess. Many kids don't have fathers or male relatives to show them the ropes and mentor them. You are a wealth of knowledge, skills, and woodsmanship. Pass it on. Maybe volunteer on some wounded warrior hunts?

Excellent post, John, I was thinking the same thing.

 

[howl]

I use a 12 gauge. Just haven't been able to find the damn thing even with snow. I think it's a ghost.

Completely unrelated, but a neighbor's rabbits got loose. He gave up trying to catch them and started shooting them. It's worth noting here that all our lots are several wooded acres each. The rabbits had room to roam and hide. One big white one left his place and went feral around the neighborhood. The owner asked me to shoot it if you could.

I sort of forgot about it until my wife, who had not spoken to the neighbor, starts talking about the white rabbit she's been seeing around. I gaslit her from the beginning saying she must be seeing things. Not having acid flashbacks are ya honey. Was it running late for anything?

She saw it a few times each week along the driveway. It's long and winding. You can't see most of it from the house. So, I could claim I had not seen any rabbits because she wouldn't be able to see me and the rabbit at the same time to point it out. This went on for about a month until she started to think maybe she was imagining it. Then she stopped talking about it altogether.

The joke was on me because the rabbit started eating my English peas. That's when I went hunting for it. /story

 

[mtmuley]

Completely unrelated, but a neighbor's rabbits got loose. He gave up trying to catch them and started shooting them. It's worth noting here that all our lots are several wooded acres each. The rabbits had room to roam and hide. One big white one left his place and went feral around the neighborhood. The owner asked me to shoot it if you could.

I sort of forgot about it until my wife, who had not spoken to the neighbor, starts talking about the white rabbit she's been seeing around. I gaslit her from the beginning saying she must be seeing things. Not having acid flashbacks are ya honey. Was it running late for anything?

She saw it a few times each week along the driveway. It's long and winding. You can't see most of it from the house. So, I could claim I had not seen any rabbits because she wouldn't be able to see me and the rabbit at the same time to point it out. This went on for about a month until she started to think maybe she was imagining it. Then she stopped talking about it altogether.

The joke was on me because the rabbit started eating my English peas. That's when I went hunting for it. /story

Go ask Alice. mtmuley

 

[Hem]

Go ask Alice. mtmuley

SB halftime show outta help reduce the rabbit population.

 

[mtmuley]

SB halftime show outta help reduce the rabbit population.

I never watch the halftime show hardly. Last one I saw had Janet in it. mtmuley

 

[Outlaw99]

I’m over antlers. I could honestly care less if I ever shoot one again. I get as much joy seeing my boy or my blood thirsty 72 year old mom go out and get them. I DO however still enjoy killing elk! I don’t care about horns, and I’m just as happy killing a spike or a cow, but I absolutely love elk hunting.

 

[2rocky]

SB halftime show outta help reduce the rabbit population.

Does this mean people will engage in unprotected intercourse during it and take old fashioned pregnancy tests?

(The rabbit test, or Friedman test, was an early pregnancy test that required killing and dissecting a rabbit to obtain the results.)

 

[mtmuley]

Does this mean people will engage in unprotected intercourse during it and take old fashioned pregnancy tests?

(The rabbit test, or Friedman test, was an early pregnancy test that required killing and dissecting a rabbit to obtain the results.)

Ummmmmm. Thanks? mtmuley

 

[jpc01101]

Interesting post/topic. While I still did my fair share of hunting and was lucky enough to harvest several animals the high points of my year were with my Son when he got his first Turkey, Blesbuck, Impala and Deer and my wife when she got a bear and a Zebra.
The most excited I got for myself was when I got my coues solo in a place I’d never been before after 6 days of grinding, but that paled in comparison to any of their hunts if I’m honest with myself. I think my next several years will include more trying to get them on animals and hopefully have them with me more in the field.