That's such a huge part of hunting for me, and something I feel a lot of people cheat themselves on. The hunts that I went in completely blind and succeeded without any outside help are so much more rewarding, and all I've done the last 2-3 years. I hate getting outside information any more because it never feels right.
Knowing you are capable of finding a new location and succeeding is a very powerful tool to have. It makes getting burned on a spot much easier to swallow knowing you can pack up and go elsewhere and do just as well.
My post count belies how long I've been here (yes, my 'join date' is correct). Your description of what Hunttalk was a decade ago lines up with how I remember it.
But to your point I quoted above - Today it is FAR easier/more possible to research and e-scout from afar than it was when I joined this place, so signing up now to post a "where should I go?" seems more obnoxious today than it did 'back when'. Back in the day I spent a bunch of time before I ever signed up just reading those brag posts/hunting shares; they kept the inspiration level high for me, an easterner with basically zero western experience. When I actually joined, the motivator was an Idaho elk hunt I was planning for. A member who lived in Idaho at the time contributed some valuable input via PMs and phone convo, and actually planned to hunt with me, but had to bail at the last minute. The hunt itself was an abject failure so far as finding elk or filling tags was concerned, but it was a great experience that showed me just how much I had to learn. Since then, I don't think I've asked for information about a specific hunt area, though I've been fortunate enough to make a few trips to the west over the years. I haven't asked in part because I enjoy the planning and doing the research myself, but also because I have seen what happens when folks post area-specific info for the whole world to see.
Having said that, I have received helpful input from people via PMs here without asking for it. A simple post, after I have a tag in hand for one of my kids' hunts, has led to PMs, even though I didn't ask for help. Just decent sportsmen offering suggestions and advice that have contributed to better hunting experiences for me.
I spend more time than I care to tally just reading and living vicariously through the stories of the members here. Every now and again a poster with at least two zeros in his/her 'join year' posts a hunting story that takes me back to those early days, when a much greater majority of the members were western folk and we flatlanders generally knew enough to respect and appreciate that we were basically guests in a place flush with generous hosts. The www seems to continually erode that understanding of reality.
To those of you who still make the effort to share your hunts, pictures, and updates on what is happening with game, agencies, and public lands in the West: A sincere THANK YOU!!
Now I'll return to quietly following along, and intermittently using the search function.
