Really having 2nd thoughts about all of this...

I have turned down invitations several times over the years... some because I saw the booze listed on the packing list, a case of beer and 40 ouncer per guy, per day... no thanks. Other times, I knew the crew were slovenly, passionless hunters... my time is too limited and valuable to waste playing cards in a shytey cabin or tent. When I hunt, I hunt hard... with humour and good food... but hard... getting out there, close to big game animals is what I love to do.

There are more of us around... just keep connecting at ranges and wildlife conservation clubs etc... you will eventually establish your own group or partner, or join a group that really appreciates and respects the outdoors and the game we pursue.
 
Could be worse. I had a guy point a loaded rifle at me at least twice this past weekend. He ALWAYS has a round in the chamber, yet he has terrible muzzle control... He also had two beers before lunch, a belt of vodka upon getting out of the truck, and smoked more dope daily than I do in a week.

You'd think he was a biologist with how much he thinks he knows about animal behavior too. Does 50km/hr down the gravel road, then tells me to slow down when im going 30... I could go on. (and I probably will next week when I get home and document my two weekends with two best friends and a retard they suggested we bring along...)
 
I enjoy a few pints at the end of the day and am not opposed to a bit of hippy hay but I wanna hunt from sunrise to sundown as vacation time is hard earned and meat in the freezer is always the end goal. Lousy firearm handling is never to be tolerated. Never, and dont be afraid to speak up when u see it.
 
I much prefer to hunt alone. I've been involved with numerous groups over the years, usually for very short periods (i.e. one hunt...) and unfortunately this type of BS is far too common.

As others have stated, time spent hunting is limited and way too important to waste. Hunt alone until you find like-minded individuals with whom to join up. They do exist, and odds are they will be as happy to find you as you are to find them.
 
When my dad first started hunting in Ontario in his 30s he had a bunch of guys he worked with that were all dedicated and committed hunters. Hunt camp was run like an army barracks, Everyone up for morning post, chores and small game in the mid day, afternoon post and then super after dark, to bed early for the next morning post.

Booze was to toast the downed animal, or to serve as the stock for some tag soup at the end of the week. Over time however, things started changing. After 25 years, the first day show and tell of all their new hunting gadgets slowly turned into a bunch of beggers asking my dad if he had spare this or that, as their was broken or neglected. The booze started coming out earlier and earlier until it became an every day, affair. The last year my dad went with those guys, sadly the only year I was old enough to go and hunt, My dad and I were the only ones up before lunch. Evening posts were often cut short to get a head start on a long night of #####ing about their wives and playing cards.

We only had calf tags. We never saw any calves that year, which suited me just fine cause it was good time with my old man but the thing that galled me the most was that if me or my dad had got a calf, it would have been expected to split 10 ways with a bunch of free loaders who barely contributed at all.

I would be just as happy in a tent on my own than to be in a beautiful hunt camp of people like that. IF I had anywhere to hunt on my own I wouldn't both with parties, but right now I am looking for a new group and/or land permission as well.

Sometimes it seems like finding a great hunting group is about as hard but equally as rewarding as finding a good mate. Don't be afraid to shop around and play the field. YOu will know a good fit when you find it.
 
TaylorJW said:
I enjoy a few pints at the end of the day and am not opposed to a bit of hippy hay but I wanna hunt from sunrise to sundown as vacation time is hard earned and meat in the freezer is always the end goal. Lousy firearm handling is never to be tolerated. Never, and dont be afraid to speak up when u see it.
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^^^THIS^^^

Like minded when it comes to safety and the end game and it will always be a fun outing.
 
I hunt with my dad or alone usually small game stuff and coyotes - I may have a drink two three times a years during the holidays - I often hear of too many stories of people boozing up, hunting without the proper tags, shooting what moves and leaving it there - sadly I think this type of behavior is going to worsen when they legalize pot - just imagine your sitting in your stand and someone nearby is smoking weed - you really expect to see that prized buck come by soon? or the guy is loaded before the hunt even begins. Pick your hunting partners wisely and do not be afraid to go at it alone.
 
IvoB said:
I hunt with my dad or alone usually small game stuff and coyotes - I may have a drink two three times a years during the holidays - I often hear of too many stories of people boozing up, hunting without the proper tags, shooting what moves and leaving it there - sadly I think this type of behavior is going to worsen when they legalize pot - just imagine your sitting in your stand and someone nearby is smoking weed - you really expect to see that prized buck come by soon? or the guy is loaded before the hunt even begins. Pick your hunting partners wisely and do not be afraid to go at it alone.
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Your last line shows wisdom. Your comment about the legalization of pot equating to the behavior you outlined shows tremendous ignorance.
 
I hunt alone, yeah,
With nobody else
I hunt alone, yeah,
With nobody else
You know when I hunt alone,
I prefer to be by myself...

(like George Thorogood - except substitute 'hunt' for 'drink')

No such issues. Just me, myself and my gunbearer. :p
 
TaylorJW said:
I enjoy a few pints at the end of the day and am not opposed to a bit of hippy hay but I wanna hunt from sunrise to sundown as vacation time is hard earned and meat in the freezer is always the end goal. Lousy firearm handling is never to be tolerated. Never, and dont be afraid to speak up when u see it.
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After the 4th time I had a loaded rifle pointed at me by the same guy who has zero muzzle control I called him out in it. (actually it was the 2nd or 3rd time I brought it up.) He got all uppity, said its my fault and I shouldn't walk so close! (this while we're standing together, he's glassing and his rifle is pointing at a 45 degree angle off his back where he has no clue where it's pointing) I almost lost it at that point. I shouldn't have to (although I did) explain to him that HE needs to control HIS muzzle at all times, that's not my responsibility. I also said If we're both walking down a hill, and he's in front, then he should change the way he carries it. He then went on to say it's his sling that's the problem - to which I said I don't care wtf your excuse is, stop pointing a loaded gun at me!

I will not be hunting with him again. Period. He's already not invited back to moose camp next year.
 
patriot1 said:
As he's explaining and pointing the one guy swung his barrel right at my head! Like 3 or 4 times. So now I don't want to be a #### because I'm thankful for these pointers and to be shown these spots but I'm like, "hey can you please not point your gun at me?'" So he replies that it wasn't loaded. Well that's great but in my world, loaded, unloaded, defective, broken, YOU PAY ATTENTION TO WHERE YOUR GUN IS POINTED AT ALL TIMES and as much as these guys seemed to be experienced hunters I was extremely disappointed with the lack of firearms safety I saw. Actually saw far too many safety violations to list here.
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I bet you 100 bucks it WAS loaded.

After pointing out to someone that resting the muzzle of a firearm on their own foot was probably a bad idea, that person proceeded to literally shoot themself in the foot, attempting to demonstrate that their firearm was in fact unloaded. "Its not loaded" are famous last words.
 
Cameron SS said:
I bet you 100 bucks it WAS loaded.

After pointing out to someone that resting the muzzle of a firearm on their own foot was probably a bad idea, that person proceeded to literally shoot themself in the foot, attempting to demonstrate that their firearm was in fact unloaded. "Its not loaded" are famous last words.
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You're probably right. Good news is I probably won't see these guys again anytime soon and I don't care if I ever see them again.
 
would it be politically correct if I would have phrased it "having someone that whose judgement has been impaired"? without stating marijuana? not ignorant but wise in my humble and often correct opinion
 
IvoB said:
would it be politically correct if I would have phrased it "having someone that whose judgement has been impaired"? without stating marijuana? not ignorant but wise in my humble and often correct opinion
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No. Your mistake is assuming legalization will change anything. Ontario has already announced that it will be illegal to smoke anywhere but a private residence. Furthermore, anyone who's going to smoke pot in the woods while hunting probably already does.

Marijuana being illegal stops few, if any, people from smoking it now. If you want to smoke it, it's not hard to get...
 
Hunting/camping with ppl I find similar to traveling with ppl... you will know them on a deeper level and you will find out within 48 hours how you really feel about them.

Working with someone, being casual friends, or even being roommates with someone wont tell you as much about someone as a weekend of travel or hunting/camping will.

If I have traveled, camped, hunted with someone for 48 hours, I would say I likely know that person more than someone I worked with for a decade.

I'm sure there are plenty of hunting camps where it's not that bad, unfortunately many do seem to be that way from what I hear. I admittedly don't have much experience either other than small game hunting. When I go grouse hunting with my friend we we don't even walk behind one another regardless of where the firearm is pointed, we stay side by side with space in-between with guns pointed forward... and I admit I unload my shotgun when going over some rough terrain bc I might fall. I'm probably going overboard on safety but whatever, I would rather that then the other way around.
 
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I guess it really does boil down to personality compatibility and mutual respect/understanding that all parties are on the same page. Took me over 8 years and I thought I had a reliable snowboard buddy, but that damn weed was more important than a season pass so back to square 1 with that one. I really don't need gas money that bad to get to the hill. Looks like hunting is no different.

As far as weed/alcohol/impairment goes I refuse to handle firearms if I'd had a drink and I will leave if those around me are handling firearms while impaired. I think society will only get dumber and dumber once weed is legal. I don't dispute the medical benefits of cannabis products but regular recreational marijuana users simply will never have the same drive and motivation in life as those who don't smoke it.
 
Wow... just wow.... :evil:

I love all your input. Makes me super thankful I have a great hunt camp situation. All dedicated hunters (most with passion) and the rest of us are very experienced trigger pullers (IPSC, IDPA, CQB, 3 Gun). Maybe... just maybe the small shot of single malt after dinner/before bed. Hardly any drinking AND almost all of them are foodie types so I'm just cleaning up which I don't mind. :cool:

With the avid shooter crew we have, everyone is so cognizant of their muzzle control and I am blessed! :wave:

Thanks for helping me appreciate all that I have! :eek:

Cheers and regards,

Barney
 
patriot1 said:
I guess it really does boil down to personality compatibility and mutual respect/understanding that all parties are on the same page. Took me over 8 years and I thought I had a reliable snowboard buddy, but that damn weed was more important than a season pass so back to square 1 with that one. I really don't need gas money that bad to get to the hill. Looks like hunting is no different.

As far as weed/alcohol/impairment goes I refuse to handle firearms if I'd had a drink and I will leave if those around me are handling firearms while impaired. I think society will only get dumber and dumber once weed is legal. I don't dispute the medical benefits of cannabis products but regular recreational marijuana users simply will never have the same drive and motivation in life as those who don't smoke it.
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Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg, Lady Gaga. All pot heads. Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Johnny Depp. All pot heads at one point in the past (potentially still). John Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Rush Limbaugh, Bill Gates, Labron James.... I could go on, but you get the point. Smoking pot can make you lazy in the here-and-now, but it does nothing to impact your drive or motivation in life long term. Anyone whos going to become a deadbeat from pot would get there just as well with alcohol or cigarettes and coffee.

Furthermore, legalizing marijuana isn't going to make everyone start smoking it. Those who want to smoke it already do. I know a lot of people who smoke weed, and quite a few who have quit smoking it, and guess what? None of them quit because its illegal. The legality of it (especially in large urban centers) is a complete joke as is. I can literally walk into a store and buy weed now.

The only big difference legalization is going to do is add revenue for the government(and other legitimate businesses), while undercutting revenue streams for organized crime.


To me, its all about moderation when out in the woods. Just like I have no issues with a beer at lunch, I have no issues with a bit of pot at appropriate times. For a regular user, a quick toke is comparable to having a cigarette IMO - no long lasting inebriation, just a few minutes of relaxing mellowness and maybe heightened focus for 5 or 10 minutes. That said, smoking a fat doobie to yourself in a tree stand is irresponsible and unacceptable - if you wanna get baked (notably high) then you need to do that without guns around.
 
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