Technology in hunting today

crazy_davey

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Instead of hijacking the crossbow vs compound bow thread, I am curious what your opinions are on technology in hunting today.

*Should trails cams be legal to use for big game hunting?
*Should e-callers be legal for predators?
*Should e-callers be legal for big game? (I am not sure where they sure legal to use, just another example)
*Should modern muzzle loaders with modern projectiles and high power optics be legal in muzzle loader or primitive weapon seasons?

These are just a few off of the top of my head, I know there are many, many others. Tear it apart if you like, I am more curious in opinions on technology in hunting today. Where do we as hunters draw the line or do we? Advancements in technology over the past while have really increased a hunters effectiveness in the field IMO, Is this good or bad, I don't know...

What do you think?
 
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Myself, I don't use any of those mentioned, or anything else electronic, in fact I hunt mostly iron sights. Our m/l's are percussion patchn'ball, although if it were in the budget they'd be flinter's.
The items mentioned simply don't fit into my own personal description of, "fair chase".
 
I find that in today's world, the more advantage you have, the better. Our seasons here are short, my vacation time is short, and in general, time is short.

Add into that the increasing hunting pressure, more developing areas, less hunting grounds, and it leaves less opportunity overall. So when I do get time to go hunting, if I can up my odds of taking an animal, with a rangefinder, binos, quality scopes, and maybe turrets, I'll take it.

I fully appreciate my heritage, but I'm not stuck in the past.
 
I have more success going the opposite way. Leave all the trucks and quads and technology behind in favor of being on foot. Mosin 91/30 with open sights= 0 unused tags.


I have buddies who play with all the electronic stuff. they spend more time fixing, adjusting, moving it than they actually do hunting. Its all a bunch of crap for people who have never learned how to hunt for anything but shortcuts, IMHO. If its your thing, go for it. I'd rather spend my time hunting.
 
technology that allows a hunter to improve his ability to make a clean kill, like better bullets, better optics, rangefinders, etc are just an extension of using smokeless vs black gunpowder.

Technology that allows 'remote' hunting, like trailcams that show ol' Rufus crossing the creek every day at 04:30AM while you are still in the fart sack, and then can wake up on the day you are ready and its not raining and snowing, well, that, to me starts to push the definition of 'fair chase'.

E-callers are similar to hauling around someone who knows how to call to call for you. It's no big deal either way, but why would you? May as well have the guy shoot it for you too, or have motion sensitive Claymores strapped to the e-caller.

High tech muzzleloaders, no. If you want to take advantage of an extended season, you should be willing to take the hit on the arms you are weilding
 
Instead of hijacking the crossbow vs compound bow thread, I am curious what your opinions are on technology in hunting today.

*Should trails cams be legal to use for big game hunting? YES
*Should e-callers be legal for predators? YES
*Should e-callers be legal for big game? (I am not sure where they sure legal to use, just another example) YES
*Should modern muzzle loaders with modern projectiles and high power optics be legal in muzzle loader or primitive weapon seasons? YES

These are just a few off of the top of my head, I know there are many, many others. Tear it apart if you like, I am more curious in opinions on technology in hunting today. Where do we as hunters draw the line or do we? Advancements in technology over the past while have really increased a hunters effectiveness in the field IMO, Is this good or bad, I don't know...

What do you think?

Guess you know where I stand.

By why stop there:

Should a mechanical release for bow-hunting be allowed?
Should aluminum/ carbon arrows be allowed?
Should fibre-optic, telescopic (or any sights) be allowed?
Should smokeless powder be allowed?
Should jacketed bullets be allowed?
ETC...ETC...ETC.

Would some people be happier if we hunted with stone knives/axes/spears? If NOT, deal with it.

Progress...it happens. ;)
 
-yes to all.
-i don't even have a problem with an e-caller for turkey, if it were legal.
-there is natural selection, and the smart critters keep the population going. there are BIG bucks, despite enormous hunting pressure. use all the tools you can to find to take them, if you can.
-lastly, and import too, you want a quick clean kill
 
I would say that if given the choice modern technology allows for a better experience. I would rather centre punch a whitetail buck at 85 yards using a modern scoped inline shooting a sabot than shoot him at the same range with an iron sighted relic shooting a roundball and have him run far enough to escape into the heavy cover. Modern muzzle loaders are still a 100 yard single shot slow reloading gun to me and that suits the way I hunt perfectly.

Though I will not use a trail cam, I understand that there are those who do and I respect the decision to keep the bucks obtained by sending messages to your cell phone or home PC out of the record book.
 
I don't have a problem with others using advanced technology, but I myself usually do not find any enjoyment in gadgets and don't waste my money, kids stuff...if it gets them hunting, great.

More time is spent checking trail cameras than hunting...so proud to post trail pics of a big buck, shoot the damn thing.
 
*Should trails cams be legal to use for big game hunting?

Yes. I've got lots of bucks on my cameras that I have never seen in the daylight. They are a scouting aid, but not going ot kill anything for you.

*Should e-callers be legal for predators?
*Should e-callers be legal for big game? (I am not sure where they sure legal to use, just another example)

Yes and yes. Predators are hardly hunted at all these days and using an e-caller for biggame isn't a magic bullet.


*Should modern muzzle loaders with modern projectiles and high power optics be legal in muzzle loader or primitive weapon seasons
?

Probably not, if conservation is a concern. If conservation is not a issue then why not just open it to rifle hunting, too?

These are just a few off of the top of my head, I know there are many, many others. Tear it apart if you like, I am more curious in opinions on technology in hunting today. Where do we as hunters draw the line or do we? Advancements in technology over the past while have really increased a hunters effectiveness in the field IMO, Is this good or bad, I don't know...

Technology is good, anything that helps get hunters out in the bush is good, anything that helps a new hunter be successful is good. But all the tech in the world isn't going to kill a buck for you. Might make it more comfortable (good clothing and boots) and safer (GPS, SPOT, etc)
 
Hunting is hunting!!! If you like to hunt primetive then great if you want to use all of the modern technologies then also wonderful. Honestly I know a gentelman who uses an old flint lock and takes great bucks every year. I also know another gentleman who has it all and doesn't have much luck.
I think we need to support all forms of hunting and if it isn't your thing then just praise that which is!!! There is enough negativity.
 
Agreed, and Beefman makes a good point. While I personally feel a primitive weapons season shouldn't include inlines, and don't use gadgets we all have our own "window" of what we want/like/will use for tools on our hunt.

While I am vocal about mine, I also couldn't care less what someone else does, as long as it's within the regs, and done in an ethical manner.

Everyone talks about truck hunters, but some of the absolute worst hunters I've come across are trophy bow hunters. Point being all rifle hunters aren't bubba, and all bow hunters aren't holier than thou.

I also think you'd find there's more gadgets used in areas of super dense brush and high human populations.
 
If someone wants to go old school, go for it. But where would you draw the line? No gortex, scopes, ......?

Most, if not all of the new technology is designed to take money out of your pocket- not put meat in your freezer. Some of it makes a day out in the field more comfortable. Use what you want & good luck :shotgun:
 
I think everyone should do everything exactly like I do regarding equipment. If they vary from the dogleg approved format, it can only be in a downward direction. Useing equipment the is more effective than mine is UNETHICAL and owning equipment nicer than mine should be outlawed on general principals.
 
i'm looking for a trail cam, i believe that the potential of *knowing* there really is a big buck around can improve the overall experience.
 
I think everyone should do everything exactly like I do regarding equipment. If they vary from the dogleg approved format, it can only be in a downward direction. Useing equipment the is more effective than mine is UNETHICAL and owning equipment nicer than mine should be outlawed on general principals.

ha thats it. if its in my freezer, it's fair chase, if it's in my neighbors freezer, it was a slob hunt road kill, if it's in the brother-in-laws freezer it was poached.
 
The bowhunters did not take enough deer in our area when we only had a bow season for deer. The MNR introduced, 3 days, 5 days to 6 days shotgun season. Than a muzzleloader season, plus a 2nd shotgun season plus a longer archery season.
So I will say yes to everything because we as hunters need all the help we can get.
 
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