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<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><P align=center>A recent post got me to thinking on hunting, and I finally decided to voice my opinions on a few things. I'm sure I'll ruffle some feathers........so what. <P align=center>To start with I've noticed that it never fails rather here or any other forum, there are people that are so certain that the things they do are the best and better way of doing anything anyone else can, or does. For example......A guy posted on another forum a video of a buck that he stuck by a feeder in OK. The very first response was an accusatory, "Is it legal to bait in OK? I dunno, just askin'. That's really not hunting to me." Who cares? The man was legal and right for what he did. Shut up and enjoy the video. The very first response to Barnacle Brain's post about a club is why I started this thread. It's the same mentality I'm talkin' about. He was sincere in his inquiry and gets insulted and cut down immediately and grilled about his skills as a hunter. <P align=center>It seems it's always some guy from the same group of hunters that have cropped up over the last 10-15 years that beat their chest and pipe up first with the same crap. This may sound like hypocrisy before I'm through but I'm gonna turn the the finger towards these guys and their hunting style for a change.<P align=center>The way you choose to hunt is fine with me. Don't cut me for the way I do it. Manage your deer, grow your bucks like a bunch of tomato plants. Watch them year after year and say "I let him walk 'cause he just isn't big enough yet." yeh let him walk off that property and see how long he lasts. (Not unlike our state's redfish plan, Huh?) Then 3 years down the road shoot him from your warm cozy shootin' house an brag about your trophy tomato plant you "Hunted." Where is the skill in that? And what is the deal with point rules and spread rules? I know the states have them but at least they are reasonable.<P align=center>Deer should be taken when the opportunity arises, naturally. Deer hunting is about food not horns and heads on the wall. What are we teaching our kids about hunting. Are we saying that a man that works his arse off scouting and hiking and looking for deer shouldn't be proud of the 1 1/2 year old 4pt he stuck with his bow at 8 steps because he isn't big enough to mount. That it would be better to raise them almost like cattle and don't shoot them until you have something to show "off" for it. <P align=center>Barnacle Brain.....good luck with your search, but you may have shot yourself in the foot with the expression of your wants in hunting style. By this I mean, there are guys who say they are all for QDM (Quality Deer Management) and say "We need to shoot some does." Then get mad when people in their club do just that. A club will kill 10,15 does and people start getting all anxious." We ain't gonna have no bucks 'cause we're shootin' all the does!" All the does. People just don't realize the sheer number of deer there are. These people don't like folks like you and I in their clubs, but will never admit it 'cause they need your money first and foremost. <P align=center>If I could put my finger on the one thing I believe has hurt hunting more than anything in the last 20 years I would say it is, Jackie Bushman. The Buckmaster. Because of him hunting has become hugely commercialized. A lot of public land became lease land when the $$$ started to get thrown around,and a lot of leases are outrgeous to the point of unaffordable or impractical for the ordinary guy. Public lands are crowded as a result of these leases. I am by no means against leases. I love being able to hunt in an area I know isn't full of people. I've hunted in clubs for about nineteen years, at the same time I've been in the most crowded of all WMAs, St Regis Pasture, Champion Pasture, Bluewater Creek, take your pick of the name. <P align=center>I started out dog hunting when I was 7 with my Dad and brother. The Buckmaster had an unexpected effect on dog hunting also. As the number of hunters grew and the want for land along with it so did the hate for dog hunting. Guys who had never hunted until they were grown and knew only what they had seen on the TV on TNN now were in position to speak out on dog hunting and hunting styles, if you will, complaints grew more and more every year until the dog hunting was shut down. Yeh I know you can still dog hunt, but it's so regulated now and watered down it's not worth it. The hassles with non-dog hunters and nearby landowners aren't either. Bottom line on the lack of support for the dog hunter is this. Just how much hunting apparel do you think a dog man needs?None really. I guess you could get sponsors to paint your truck like NASCAR, with Ol' Roy dog food,and Texaco for the gas you burn up. Other than guns and ammo and dog food there isn't any money to be made in doggin'.<P align=center>It's called Hunting. Some times in some places it should be called shooting. There should be more work than just the work in planting food plots and building shooting houses and setting up feeders. At times I hate what it has become. I'll always love what it is.I'll never stop because of what ithas becomeand I'll keep on hunting the way, and where I do, and I won't criticize you for your choices and ask that you return the favor. Just a little common courtesy among men, that's all. <P align=center><P align=center><SPAN id=_ctl1_ctlTopic_ctlPanelBar_ctlTopicsRepeater__ctl2_lblFullMessage><P align=center></BLOCKQUOTE>