Why some deer stalkers are their own worst enemies!!!

[User00001]

Couldn't agree more.

I joined Facebook a couple of weeks ago because I felt that I was getting left behind. Already I have caught up with a couple of very old friends so that is a good thing.

In my initial enthusiasm I joined a couple of deer related groups which I am now trying to work out how to un-join! (Anyone know how to do this?)

It does seem that the gap between those that are professional (in terms of behaviour rather than employment) and the cowboys is getting wider. Not just talking about Facebook; you see it everywhere. Probably the same in all industries/sports /pastimes not just deer.

I'm afraid standards are falling everywhere. You would think that this would benefit those of us that aspire to do things well but it doesn't seem to be the case; employers, organisations etc seem very happy to settle for poor to average.

 

[roedeerred]

What on earth do people want to post photos of any a for unless for educational reasons ?
It is rather juvenile to want to see mutilated deer especially when they are to go into the food chain !
maybe show how cars and running dogs mutilate deer but not clever to do it with a rifle we are supposed to be caring deer managers.

 

[n3al]

The tie used to be showing the respect for the quarry.[/QUOTE
As a relatively newbie in the sporting shooting world (7 years) this statement is the one I hear that really enoys me. The tie was only ever a fashion statement nothing more, just because I don't wear one while out shooting doesn't mean I don't respect my quarry. At least the Europeans have a ceremony to pay respect.

 

[dalem]

You are right couldn't agree more

 

[berg]

Posting things especially head shot deer is only going to upset and aggravat people, as most people on face book care nothing for shooting and have not even seen a deer in the wild only on TV ,so posting pictures like head shot is only making all shooters look very bad. But posting pitchers on a shooting forum is surly not to bad as I would think that most of us on here have seen are share of dead deer and a well placed head shot is a clean quick way of killing a deer

 

[RED-DOT]

Our syndicate was formed twenty five years ago and the then lady laird laid down a few conditions one of which was a collar & tie must be worn on the peg. I always do. Many of our members have let this slip with one guy turning up in jeans and rigger boots. We run a very safe and social shoot and don't now have guest days due to the guests turning up and displaying poor safety and dress more suited to the hide than the peg.
Big commercial shoots rarely stress the beauty of smart dress and their shoots are more an Agri-industry and the small shoots should display tradition bordering on Victorian splendour?

 

[Hungry hunter]

Mike
didnt you post a video of advanced shooting ie headshots of park deer in 2011 I seem to remember that was pretty graphic .i have no wish to see eyes popping out or jaws hanging off either be it photos or videos but it is rather up to the individual and the forum to police such pictures .its human nature to have bragging rights some folk brag some don't I agree we should all be a bit more tasteful in the way we portray the beasts we've culled not slaughtered ! The Europeans are in my op far my respectful of thier quarry after the hunt .
Regards
Norma

I'm not sure if it is the same video, but the Field sports channel had a video a few years ago of a deer being head shot. It was very distasteful, especially the slow motion replay.
I thought it was a cheap attempt of gaining views be it pro or anti. As they say, there's no such thing as bad publicity.

 

[andreas1980]

I don't see anything wrong with someone taking a picture of an animal they have shot as long as it is tasteful. I also don't see a problem with someone posting such a picture on a deer stalking forum. I have myself posted pictures on here. The issue is people posting videos of bad practice where animals are suffering and sticking them on you tube for everyone to see including the antis. We all love what we do and should be responsible for protecting it.

 

[timbrayford]

Personally I think that live deer make far better photos than dead ones.

atb Tim

 

[howy308]

Great shot tim!

 

[Monkey Spanker]

I like the way that the continental hunters respect their hunted animals. Very tasteful.
Tusker

Do they though?
Driving them to waiting guns and blasting them with large calibres or shotguns as they run past?
Shooting Roe Bucks no further forward than the liver so as not to damage a full shoulder mount?
I'd much rather stalk in close and deliver a humane shot without regard to a trophy.
I'd agree with the fact that we don't really need to publicise graphic detail though. I shoot a lot of sensitive areas such as nature reserves. The visitors are generally nature lovers that know deer management is necessary, but most don't want to be witness to it. Professionalism and discretion is what we should strive for.
MS

 

[Hereford]

I am afraid we are going down the American route glorifying the hunt.

I don't agree with this - there are just as many knowledgeable, decent and respectful American hunters as we have, pro-rata....

This is no different to the ********s that shoot crows @ 600yds over dead ground and post it YouTube. It's just showing off and there's that element that's been creeping in for years now.

As for dress, if you want to walk for 3 or 4 hours in wet tweed then good luck to you!

 

[Yoda]

I could not agree more

Likewise !
There is a definite cowboy element in the shooting scene, not only is there no place for them on forums, they should not have guns in the first place.

 

[defender]

Our syndicate was formed twenty five years ago and the then lady laird laid down a few conditions one of which was a collar & tie must be worn on the peg. I always do. Many of our members have let this slip with one guy turning up in jeans and rigger boots. We run a very safe and social shoot and don't now have guest days due to the guests turning up and displaying poor safety and dress more suited to the hide than the peg.
Big commercial shoots rarely stress the beauty of smart dress and their shoots are more an Agri-industry and the small shoots should display tradition bordering on Victorian splendour?

Our syndicate has been running since 1958, it is a working mans shoot and we still have a couple of the original members. There has never been a dress code however most of us like to make an effort but recently we have had a few new members who want to gentrify the shoot and impose a strict dress code, as chairman I am absolutely opposed to this. A love of country sports and a respect for the quarry is far more important than what you wear and I feel that some dress codes are more an act of submission to the 'ruling classes' than an act of respect.

 

[McKenzie]

Many of you will have seen this award-winning image,'Huntress with Buck' by David Chancellor and it is indeed a very fine if slightly puzzling image with an attractive, innocent-looking young woman on a horse with a dead antelope across her knees, photographed approaching dusk in a style more often seen on the pages of a location shoot for a fashion magazine. In fact it's almost elegant. Photography thrives on juxtapositions & this does it in spades.


View attachment 56127.


However, I'd suggest that you have a look at the photographers website & go through the sections headed "hunters', 'hunted' & safari club'.


David Chancellor Photographer


This shows very succinctly, I think, how the non-shooting population think of us & to my mind every time people put gory images or even just you with a dead animal up for public consumption you are reinforcing the stereotypical negative perceptions of 'hunters'.

Think before you shoot!

 

[jamross65]

This is getting silly IMO. Photos are a way of retaining a memory, in full vivid colour to be looked at when lamenting on our life's experiences.

one of the first things I've been asked for by potential clients or agents is photos of the ground and examples of the heads taken.

how on earth can anyone say photos of dead deer aren't ok for whatever reason, but photos of a cleaned trophy or even the actual cleaned head itself are ok to be passed around and admired???? It's still the result of a dead animal! Some non hunters may just simply see the 'trophy' as a reason for ridiculing us, not necessarily a photo whether gory or not.

Respect for our quarry begins way before a photo is taken. It starts when you decide to kill it. It starts before the shot is taken, when you make your mind up if you can kill it cleanly without suffering, whether head shot or not.

So why do so many stalkers need BDC's and Ballistic Turrets on their scopes? How many have a trained deer dog to ensure the animal is 'respected ' and recovered when injured? How many stalkers would even use a dog to confirm a miss, just in case its in fact been hit? There have been numerous posts on here of dogs stumbling across wounded deer thought to have been missed and praise abounds! Really?

And some are bothered by a ​photograph not showing respect for your quarry? Unbelievable...

 

[toad]

Can't say I've noticed, didn't even know Facebook had a stalking forum, but then I'm only on Facebook once in a blue moon.

M

I have recently joined a stalking forum on face book infact I have just recently joined facebook after years of saying no.this particular forum seems to have a lot of members with different opinions on stalking to me which includes the pictures of headshot dear and an attitude that you are a better stalker or shot if you headshot deer or foxes or any other quarry.there is nothing wrong with showing respect to anything when you take its life its part of it. and I feel sorry for those who just don't get it .I am not saying a headshot should never be taken but I feel it should be done only if it has to be and with full knowledge that the odds of it going wrong are massively increased but if that doesent bother you then you do not deserve the privilege of hunting these animals IMO

 

[NigelM]

I have been on Facebook for 5 or 6 years. I post when I do something interesting that other friends might enjoy or find interesting. Sailing, triathlon, ironman, cars, bikes, but never shooting. Too many find it distasteful. Why would you post something that 90% plus would find distasteful - especially as gory as head shot deer with their eyes bulging.

We enjoy out sport, we have the responsibility of managing some of this countries most beautiful creatures. We do it because we enjoy it, but we also do it because we understand the need to keep a balance and overpopulation is not good for us or them. It's a privilege to do what we do.

You have to have a very warped sense of something to post it all over Facebook. A total lack of respect for the quarry, a lack of understanding of the tightrope our sport walks or a very small penis.

 

[toad]

This is getting silly IMO. Photos are a way of retaining a memory, in full vivid colour to be looked at when lamenting on our life's experiences.

couldent agree more . but the memory should be of the stalk itself the area you where at and the company you had on that occasion and yes of your quarry.but if I had taken a head shot I would be making sure that I did my best to disguise that and making that animal look as good as I could in that picture. not highlight the fact that I took one side of its head off along side myself with a grin and a heading stating that I shot this in the head at 600yards off sticks .I think that's what the original post means and I agree . respect.

 

[Crosshair243]

This is getting silly IMO. Photos are a way of retaining a memory, in full vivid colour to be looked at when lamenting on our life's experiences.

one of the first things I've been asked for by potential clients or agents is photos of the ground and examples of the heads taken.

how on earth can anyone say photos of dead deer aren't ok for whatever reason, but photos of a cleaned trophy or even the actual cleaned head itself are ok to be passed around and admired???? It's still the result of a dead animal! Some non hunters may just simply see the 'trophy' as a reason for ridiculing us, not necessarily a photo whether gory or not.

Respect for our quarry begins way before a photo is taken. It starts when you decide to kill it. It starts before the shot is taken, when you make your mind up if you can kill it cleanly without suffering, whether head shot or not.

So why do so many stalkers need BDC's and Ballistic Turrets on their scopes? How many have a trained deer dog to ensure the animal is 'respected ' and recovered when injured? How many stalkers would even use a dog to confirm a miss, just in case its in fact been hit? There have been numerous posts on here of dogs stumbling across wounded deer thought to have been missed and praise abounds! Really?

And some are bothered by a ​photograph not showing respect for your quarry? Unbelievable...

A great post.

And besides, you'd feel a bit hard done by if reading about an epic Buffallo hunt or a Roe Buck or whatever else in say Sporting Rifle, and there was no picture to back it up- and magazines have been about long before the Internet!!!!