Changing attitude about pay to hunt ?

[Montana Husker]

I was with you until the last sentence. I choose to hunt public land quite often, even having private options. You don't have to kiss anyone's ass and it's a challenge. Using your logic, Mike Eastman has no alternative to hunting public land, and that is his fault. No, some folks like the challenge of laying down a whitetail, or mulie that most would pay thousands for . I think it's a bit disingenuous to state that someone who lives several states away, should be out here doing a PR tour in order to sew up some private land. Lee Brewer has at least six B and C mulies, all taken off public land in the Kootenai, you?

I hunt amongst my friends and neighbors. Whether hunters care to admit it or not, public lands are way to over run, people are way to mobile in this country, puts a lot of stress on just a few states to tolerate them all, and it is all about the $. As far as B&C numbers......so...LOL. Hey, if you love to hunt, and hunt a given state, move there, become part of the community, I get so tired of the ....I can't live there crap....you CHOOSE not to live there, I CHOOSE TO.

 

[Chestle]

Yeah, 80-100,000 dedicated pheasant hunters choosing to move into SD as residents wouldn't increase the hunting pressure much.

 

[small munsterlander owner]

I have watched this thread for awhile now, very comical at times, have to enjoy people who think they know everything. These folks that know a lot less then they realize......we would not have the pheasant, turkey, whitetail deer hunting in the U.S. without farming. Private landowners play a major role in wildlife in oh so many circumstances. I live in a state with one of the greatest amounts of public land, yet, I almost never hunt it, why? I have invested my time and heart into foresting relationships with landowners, it is not just about the $. I go to high school games to root for their kids, I buy them a cup of coffee or beer when I run into them. I ask them how the family is doing. I give them a hand now and then. I became part of the community, helping others when it is needed. So, no, hunting public land does not make you a man, it just means your one of the thousands that have no alternative, no one to blame but yourself.

Maybe you mean ranchers??? Now them guys I do like ...

Yes I'd rather live in Nebraska then Montana I've been to the kootani ntl forest beautiful area loved it great place to visit...

Not going to move to a state to get friendly with the locals to be able to hunt there lands later I'll just hunt my over run public witch is Definitely not true on 100% of the public that's a broad very generalized comment especially in Montana...

 

[Montana Husker]

Yeah, 80-100,000 dedicated pheasant hunters choosing to move into SD as residents wouldn't increase the hunting pressure much.

My guess is that won't happen, that would take sacrifice, way too many folks have it to cushy where they are at. A lot of the west where there are huge chunks of public land are not to populated, probably for the reason there is not a starbucks and a Walmart down the road, but some of us choose to make that sacrifice. One thing to keep in mind is the fact hunting has changed since WWII, no longer do folks grow there own produce and raise their own meat or hunt it. It has become a sport to probably 90% of hunters, NR hunters for sure, could go to Walmart and stock up good for the rate of NR tags. Pretty easy for a guy to Leave Dallas in the morning and be hunting anywhere in the west that afternoon. Perhaps we need a discussion on that. Hunting is a great opportunity, but when do we reach the saturation point?

 

[Chestle]

My guess is that won't happen, that would take sacrifice, way too many folks have it to cushy where they are at.

Of course it won't happen. That doesn't necessarily mean folks won't "sacrifice" or that they have it too "cushy".

I personally think it has to do with the fact that hunting is no longer the key to subsistence/existence in the US. It's a pastime now. It probably falls into one of the top two categories of Maslow's hierarchy, not the lower first three.

So, yeah...people are not going to leave an area where they have met their physiological and safety needs with a good job and go to an area where similar jobs are probably far less available. They are not going to leave their extended family group/friends, the love/belonging needs, and go to where they essentially don't know anyone.

They are likely not going to give up those first three key satisfied needs and start over just to enjoy greater access/opportunity to go pheasant hunting.

I know a very few people that planned their adult lives around great hunting. They did what they had to do to move to and establish themselves in states where their particular type of hunting enjoyed great opportunity and success. They all did this at relatively young ages when they were single. I don't know any family man that uprooted his family and moved just to enjoy better hunting.

It's easy to leave anywhere by plane and be anywhere in the US in about half a day. Unfortunately, it's not too easy to load five dogs and a pickup truck on a plane and do that. For me, it's about 22 hours of driving to get to the place where I want to be each October. Not to mention the 22 hours to get back.

 

[small munsterlander owner]

My guess is that won't happen, that would take sacrifice, way too many folks have it to cushy where they are at. A lot of the west where there are huge chunks of public land are not to populated, probably for the reason there is not a starbucks and a Walmart down the road, but some of us choose to make that sacrifice. One thing to keep in mind is the fact hunting has changed since WWII, no longer do folks grow there own produce and raise their own meat or hunt it. It has become a sport to probably 90% of hunters, NR hunters for sure, could go to Walmart and stock up good for the rate of NR tags. Pretty easy for a guy to Leave Dallas in the morning and be hunting anywhere in the west that afternoon. Perhaps we need a discussion on that. Hunting is a great opportunity, but when do we reach the saturation point?

Wrong again.

I hate buying meat I hunt to eat good always have never to just kill stuff??? Read about guys giving sharptail away cuz they taste bad B/S. I plant & grow my own veggies & plant a food plot for deer to hopefully bag 1 for venison.. Raise chickens for eggs & meat...

Never been to a Starbucks & don't fly I drive 6-8-26 hours to go hunt places 1 way...

U keep generalizeing people & public lands I may be rare but I've met many like minded folks was just talking to 1 t yesterday from this site grow & harvest ur own food & off public lands even better...

Hunters are a dieing breed not at saturation point by far u are on your own for most part here most wildlife organization want/need more hunters & trying to grow hunter numbers

 

[small munsterlander owner]

Of course it won't happen. That doesn't necessarily mean folks won't "sacrifice" or that they have it too "cushy".

I personally think it has to do with the fact that hunting is no longer the key to subsistence/existence in the US. It's a pastime now. It probably falls into one of the top two categories of Maslow's hierarchy, not the lower first three.

So, yeah...people are not going to leave an area where they have met their physiological and safety needs with a good job and go to an area where similar jobs are probably far less available. They are not going to leave their extended family group/friends, the love/belonging needs, and go to where they essentially don't know anyone.

They are likely not going to give up those first three key satisfied needs and start over just to enjoy greater access/opportunity to go pheasant hunting.

I know a very few people that planned their adult lives around great hunting. They did what they had to do to move to and establish themselves in states where their particular type of hunting enjoyed great opportunity and success. They all did this at relatively young ages when they were single. I don't know any family man that uprooted his family and moved just to enjoy better hunting.

It's easy to leave anywhere by plane and be anywhere in the US in about half a day. Unfortunately, it's not too easy to load five dogs and a pickup truck on a plane and do that. For me, it's about 22 hours of driving to get to the place where I want to be each October. Not to mention the 22 hours to get back.

Exactly guys with family won't uproot family for hunting many can't even go hunt outta state once family get in way...

 

[ranchodeluxe]

I hunt amongst my friends and neighbors. Whether hunters care to admit it or not, public lands are way to over run, people are way to mobile in this country, puts a lot of stress on just a few states to tolerate them all, and it is all about the $. As far as B&C numbers......so...LOL. Hey, if you love to hunt, and hunt a given state, move there, become part of the community, I get so tired of the ....I can't live there crap....you CHOOSE not to live there, I CHOOSE TO.

Yup, a lot of people hunt amongst their friends and neighbors, they are called drinking buddies.


No, I CHOOSE to live in SD, for many of the same reasons you choose to live in MT. I have 7000 acres of National Forest right behind my house. It's not over hunted, it's managed through limited draw. I have seen three other people since cat season started Christmas day. You can poo poo another man's efforts all you want, my question stands: How many private land B &C bucks are on your wall? I don't have any, but I can show you more than a handful of 160-class whitetails taken off public land. I don't talk down to folks who choose to pay hunt, and I hunt private land, too. But a limit of roosters, or a 160 whitie, taken from the same land that anyone with the gumption can hunt, does make a testimony regarding one's skills. Hell I could take a big buck right in my yard, but choose to hunt the National Forest 'cause it's great hunting, and it's a challenge. If you choose to sit in a rancher's hay yard, more power to you.

 

[ranchodeluxe]

Yeah, 80-100,000 dedicated pheasant hunters choosing to move into SD as residents wouldn't increase the hunting pressure much.

Classic!!!!!!

 

[ranchodeluxe]

My guess is that won't happen, that would take sacrifice, way too many folks have it to cushy where they are at. A lot of the west where there are huge chunks of public land are not to populated, probably for the reason there is not a starbucks and a Walmart down the road, but some of us choose to make that sacrifice. One thing to keep in mind is the fact hunting has changed since WWII, no longer do folks grow there own produce and raise their own meat or hunt it. It has become a sport to probably 90% of hunters, NR hunters for sure, could go to Walmart and stock up good for the rate of NR tags. Pretty easy for a guy to Leave Dallas in the morning and be hunting anywhere in the west that afternoon. Perhaps we need a discussion on that. Hunting is a great opportunity, but when do we reach the saturation point?

People don't garden?, there is a huge local food movement underway, get out of the house once in awhile. Google "Community Supported Agriculture". They are even using abandoned lots in places like inner city Detroit.

I walk past the garden to feed my chickens, everyday, and I ain't alone, and having a deer in the freezer is still the real deal around here.

Well, you have to say, that, on balance, wildlife in the US is in a better state than it's been since the market hunting days. Is that an indication of if we have reached the saturation point? Do you have any trust in your state GFP, or DNR to manage? If not, what are you doing about it?

 

[small munsterlander owner]

People don't garden?, there is a huge local food movement underway, get out of the house once in awhile. Google "Community Supported Agriculture". They are even using abandoned lots in places like inner city Detroit.

I walk past the garden to feed my chickens, everyday, and I ain't alone, and having a deer in the freezer is still the real deal around here.

Well, you have to say, that, on balance, wildlife in the US is in a better state than it's been since the market hunting days. Is that an indication of if we have reached the saturation point? Do you have any trust in your state GFP, or DNR to manage? If not, what are you doing about it?

Yes exactly I see gardens of fresh veggies in gang hang out neibohorhoods on east side st.Paul MN not far from pheasants forever HQ they sell this stuff at farmers markets never have issue selling stuff... Also most rural areas I hunt most locals have a veggie garden nobody wanna buy corporate farmed S***

Hate to agree but Montana husker needs to get outta his comfort zone townie situation he's not speaking for people I know or hang with...

 

[Montana Husker]

People don't garden?, there is a huge local food movement underway, get out of the house once in awhile. Google "Community Supported Agriculture". They are even using abandoned lots in places like inner city Detroit.

I walk past the garden to feed my chickens, everyday, and I ain't alone, and having a deer in the freezer is still the real deal around here.

Well, you have to say, that, on balance, wildlife in the US is in a better state than it's been since the market hunting days. Is that an indication of if we have reached the saturation point? Do you have any trust in your state GFP, or DNR to manage? If not, what are you doing about it?

Where did I say People do not garden? If you are so dense that you can not see that the majority of folks today neither garden or raise their own livestock, your the one who needs to get out of the house. Lets go to Detroit, the city you mentioned and check it out and see how many beautiful green gardens we see.....fool.

 

[Montana Husker]

Yup, a lot of people hunt amongst their friends and neighbors, they are called drinking buddies.


No, I CHOOSE to live in SD, for many of the same reasons you choose to live in MT. I have 7000 acres of National Forest right behind my house. It's not over hunted, it's managed through limited draw. I have seen three other people since cat season started Christmas day. You can poo poo another man's efforts all you want, my question stands: How many private land B &C bucks are on your wall? I don't have any, but I can show you more than a handful of 160-class whitetails taken off public land. I don't talk down to folks who choose to pay hunt, and I hunt private land, too. But a limit of roosters, or a 160 whitie, taken from the same land that anyone with the gumption can hunt, does make a testimony regarding one's skills. Hell I could take a big buck right in my yard, but choose to hunt the National Forest 'cause it's great hunting, and it's a challenge. If you choose to sit in a rancher's hay yard, more power to you.

You seem consumed with Boone and Crockett bucks, why so? Is that how you measure success? I have never measured a buck to be honest, but have several 5 point whitetails, decent mulies, nothing too huge, my buddies boy took a 172 class buck in 2015, during Montana's hunting season as an 11 y.o. on his dads place. It is surrounded by national refuge, was finally pushed off of that...thanks public hunting! I am quite positive there are public lands that see little pressure, but, generally they are hammered. It would be nice if they put quotas on a lot more public land areas. The best reason I know not to hunt public, I do not run into folks like you...unless they are trespassing...which is not unheard of..

 

[small munsterlander owner]

, no longer do folks grow there own produce and raise their own meat or hunt it.

This help??? You are in a pretty isolated community no matter wear you live in Montana outside of say far western MT.

I drive around & through 4-8 states turkey hunting each spring & in many many of these lil towns people are out planting lil gardens etc. Many many more cul-de-sac/row house/apartment communitys are doing the community garden thing or buying into farmer markets & receiving Produce weekly monthly etc. Things are changing all be it slowly... Big push on knowing wear your food came from b4 it was on your plate...

Watched the city of st.Paul MN buy up 2 lots wear bums were staying they bulldozed the houses & now there is a huge garden there for locals to plant if they wanted... This area has shootings on the regular & heavy gang influence... Same concept is in Detroit the people get tired of groceries stores don't carry cheap veggies aka healthy foods

That 11 yo would not of been able to kill that buck on public im sure... They need ranch trucks & deer that just watch you as you creast a hill for shot type hunts...

 

[steven vecchio]

I am very, very interested in a quail hunt with my son and his young gsp this fall. We live in northern Illinois and would like to stay as "local" as possible, but willing to travel and pay for decent wild quail ground. Any help would be
greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Montana Husker]

My guess is that won't happen, that would take sacrifice, way too many folks have it to cushy where they are at. A lot of the west where there are huge chunks of public land are not to populated, probably for the reason there is not a starbucks and a Walmart down the road, but some of us choose to make that sacrifice. One thing to keep in mind is the fact hunting has changed since WWII, no longer do folks grow there own produce and raise their own meat or hunt it. It has become a sport to probably 90% of hunters, NR hunters for sure, could go to Walmart and stock up good for the rate of NR tags. Pretty easy for a guy to Leave Dallas in the morning and be hunting anywhere in the west that afternoon. Perhaps we need a discussion on that. Hunting is a great opportunity, but when do we reach the saturation point?

Hey small munster....is this where you see I say "no one grows there own food"? Perhaps you can not comprehend the fact I was writing in terms of society in general, do some folks grow ALL there food, I am sure some do, do most, no. I am quite sure you live off the land, growing all your own produce, but believe it or not, most people don't. To claim otherwise is down right false, but that hasn't stopped you before.

 

[Goosemaster]

Curious if others like me have changed their attitude when it comes to a willingness to pay to hunt good private ground? I spend a lot of time in SD and for the most part have good success on public ground and have a few private farms to hunt as well however my approach has changed in the past season or two and it has frankly made for more enjoyable trips.
After years of saying no way I will not pay to hunt I have reached what I think is a great compromise. First let me be clear that the several hundred $$$ per day lodge set up's are not my cup of tea. I have a great place to stay, hunt with my dogs and don't want or need a guide or my birds cleaned for me. I'm quite good at pouring my own Bourbon as well ! Just ask around :cheers: Like most I just want good ground to hunt wild birds. With a little effort I have found locals with family owned farms and acreage ok with a $100.00 per gun fee to hunt excellent non pounded fields.

That said there is no doubt a great sense of accomplishment outwitting and outworking on public ground and my approach is mainly aimed toward the multitude of folks making long trips to chase birds.
My personal approach over the course of a week trip is to alternate public days with private days. This generally gives me the opportunity for limits each day and my total outlay for a week of great wild bird hunting runs around $300.00 which I think is a great deal for all concerned. The best bonus is the friends and connections I have made getting to know some terrific people out there.

Opinions welcome.

100 dollars a day!!!!! That's outrageous!!

 

[haymaker]

100 dollars a day!!!!! That's outrageous!!

Actually I don't know where you can hunt for that around here. Maybe late season.

 

[Goosemaster]

Actually I don't know where you can hunt for that around here. Maybe late season.

Thumbs down on that comment.

 

[Goosemaster]

Yup, a lot of people hunt amongst their friends and neighbors, they are called drinking buddies.


No, I CHOOSE to live in SD, for many of the same reasons you choose to live in MT. I have 7000 acres of National Forest right behind my house. It's not over hunted, it's managed through limited draw. I have seen three other people since cat season started Christmas day. You can poo poo another man's efforts all you want, my question stands: How many private land B &C bucks are on your wall? I don't have any, but I can show you more than a handful of 160-class whitetails taken off public land. I don't talk down to folks who choose to pay hunt, and I hunt private land, too. But a limit of roosters, or a 160 whitie, taken from the same land that anyone with the gumption can hunt, does make a testimony regarding one's skills. Hell I could take a big buck right in my yard, but choose to hunt the National Forest 'cause it's great hunting, and it's a challenge. If you choose to sit in a rancher's hay yard, more power to you.

Thumbs down on mountain lion hunting.Thats bad karma.