How did we ever manage to get to work on a horse and cart, or do with just candle light indoors..? Times change, make life easier.. Im sure if the cavemen could talk, they would be asking the same question about spears and arrows versus an old .303.
What i really think is that good gear covers a lack of skill. This is the man who has a pair of geovids, a PM2 and a custom rifle speaking.. Not saying that i dont have the skill, but its nice to use. same as driving a car or having electricity in your house.
Canadian - Who mentioned the meaning of hunting? Or the views on how far away something is when you pull the trigger?
You make a fair few generalisations and alienate anyone who has bought themselves a new jacket, or a scope more than whatever you deem to be excessive or anyone who has been on a paid stalk.. Im afraid ive done all three of the above, so i suppose that by your ruling, im far from being a hunter. I sort of take umbrage to that!
the fact that ive stalked and shot rabbits and lots of other critters since being knee high to a roe deer, using an iron sighted air rifle, or that ive stalked to within yards of deer before not shooting them, or learning about creatures so that you can snare them or trap them counts for little.
Clothes, rifles, kit in general are materials used (whether needed or not) to let people enjoy hunting/shooting/killing or whatever you choose to call it. Don't chastise people for wanting to spend some of their hard earned money on what they deem nice equipment. Don't chastise them for going out with guide to shoot deer. It may be because of lack of experience or wanting to learn about a new species not present on their land, or more probably because unlike canada, shooting in the UK is as rare as hens teeth to get where you have access to go unguided.
PS: your definition of hunting is incorrect. google it!
PS: your definition of hunting is incorrect. google it!
With your obvious preference to getting up close and personal, do you do any archery?
Luckily we don't get that sort of stuff over here in the UK. As I reckon most hunters have a pretty healthy respect for their quarry. From what I see anyways.
I understand the OPs sentiment and get it completely. Nobody likes that guy he's eluding to..
Your post read to me like you were slating anyone with more than the minimum requirement to shoot with.. And frankly a bit of a rant. That's what the forum is for, and who wouldn't agree with your underlying theme about hunting/stalking.
What's the difference between long range and extreme long range then?! As I said earlier, ultra long hunting (sorry, can't resist the temptation to bait you..) seems to still live on the other side of the Atlantic.
With your obvious preference to getting up close and personal, do you do any archery?
Just sitting here thinking, how did we ever cull deer with calibres like 303 and 270 even 22, and rifles, that did not have fancy stocks and high powered scopes, perhaps deer were easier to shoot, and they have developed there senses to defeat us.
A nice example of a Ross..!Muir, that is a downside. Then again when will the first one be in court for animal cruelty? Will society want professional hunters instead of those who use hunting as a personal kick instead doing a proper job. I condone the quest for ever closer stalking just as much as having to try an extra long shot.
Kano,
When I said that I think that it is better than it used to be, is I think society urges us slightly more to make a clean kill and therefore I believe we should have slightly less wounding or less lost animals than donkey years ago. At least I hope it is the case.
Not sure how it was in the olden days???something like this?
edi