Better or worse hunter?
General Topic
Contributors to this thread:
Has bowsite made you a better or worse hunter? It has made me a better hunter by learning a lot of good tips off of it. And with bowsite I get out earlier cause I know I won't get bored. If I start to get bored, I just pull out my phone and see what getting posted. But dang, it has also made me a worse hunter. Just about time I really get into reading a good post. I hear something and there went my good opportunity at a deer cause I was glued to my phone. (Just like I am right now) Anyone else experienced this problem?
I think anybody that sticks around here long enough is bound to pick up SOMETHING. Personally, being a northeastern whitetail/turkey hunter, reading about the western hunting for elk/mulies here provides me with a few different things. It A) is absolutely scintillating reading that always gets my heart pumping and feet sweating as i envision the hunt unfolding in my mind B) gives me fresh perspective of different strategies to improve how i hunt C) gives me the drive to seek out and hunt new public ground areas that are deeper, because though it is not even close to what the elk guys out west do, its "my" version of DIY hunting with some of the same stuff they are doing only in a much smaller scale. I may hunt elk some day, but probably not.... I used to hunt just private land, same stands, short walks and new what i was hoping to see at my stand because i had trail cams right there. This year i hunted mostly all public and had a blast, enjoyed hunting more i believe.
Beyond that, i just love the overall community here. For every thread that someone posts something that makes me shake my head and feel bad for where humanity sometimes is, there are 10 posts that make me think, i could hang out with that dude around a fire and we would hit it off without a doubt. There are so many good ppl here too, many big hearts and it shows several times a year. There will always be some things and ppl that irk me here, but the stuff u dont wanna see is avoidable by not clicking and checking in will always be an addiction that helps to feed my addiction of hunting and the outdoors. I dont feel there is another place that will give you what you can get here without having to weed thru a ton of crap to find the gems. Love my BowSite.....
Hunting is a good time to shut the phone off. I don't always follow my own advise. I don't get bored hunting even when nothing has happened for long time. Actually, I can't remember the last time I was bored at all. It was certainly before I had kids and probably was when I was a kid myself.
Bowsite has many lifetime's worth of knowledge floating around on it. Before the web, you had your own experiences, the experiences of a parent or a handful of buddies, magazine articles and a few decent VHS videos. It took a long time to learn stuff about gear, game behavior, tactics, calling, locations, etc., that most 22 year old dedicated hunters take as basic knowledge even though they may not have seen or experienced for themselves and may never.
Its a definite plus. The minus is that there were great areas, tags, access points and opportunities that there wasn't a lot of competition for because even a serious hunter could go years without knowing about it and it required more research and time than a less serious hunter wanted to invest. Now a whole lot of those "secret" spots and opportunities are a click away.
I like a lot of hunters on here have hunted for 40 + years w a bow....smart preditors will never let an opportunity to learn from ANYTHING to aid in future hunting.....as said,hell yes,,I have certainly become a smarter,wiser,better informed predator...due to bow site. ..absorbing everything I've read,,,,good,great,bad,or indifferent....imo...it's all positive,,,as Bruce Lee said..study all types of martial arts,,,,adhear to what works for you,,,discard the rest......
Have I learned anything thing on Bowsite for sure I say , tips help and more , most of all when your have a off season you can count on members getting you back on track .
I learned a lot when TBM was still here, now, not so much :-)
Better and it,s good entertainment too
early on the tips one picks up are many but over time it is a lot of recycled info.
what is really helpful are the insights provided as to places to go and outfitters to use. that can be invaluable and worth tens of thousands of dollars or much more depending on the individual. I have found outfitters through this site that have resulted in a lifetime worth of experiences and memories and that is the real value as opposed to someone's thoughts on a broadhead or one's favorite brand of bowstring wax.
Anything that exposes you to "different" views, methods, experiences, good, or bad will always make you better if for no other reason it opens your mind to options and learning. So yes it has made me better.
Better. There is a great wealth of knowledge amongst a group of amazing folks on this forum.
Years ago I realized that trailing wounded deer is one of the best learning experiences a hunter can have, on several important levels. Some of the most valuable things I've learned about deer have been on trails where they don't go down within sight or less than 100 yards, although these are also very important experiences.
The irony is that long blood trails are the exact OPPOSITE of what we strive for and the whole point of learning from them is so we know what to do, or what NOT to do, to avoid repeating them. Good trackers who can find deer didn't learn it from a book or a video, they lived it. So when I talk to another hunter who's had to trail an animal I want to know as much about the experience as can be told so I can add it to my own experiences. This is also why I'm always willing to help someone else out on a trail if they wish it. But that doesn't happen very often, and over the years I've become extremely selective about the shots I take. Reading about the tracking experiences of other hunters here on Bowsite is not as good as actually being there, but it does add to my knowledge base. I like it when someone does post about a deer they hit and the trail and furnishes A LOT of details. Many times if they haven't found the deer yet I like to analyze it from my own perspective and reckon how it'll turn out.
THANK YOU PAT!
Better for sure. Lots of little tips over the years. Like coming straight up the leg, stopping 1/3 of the way. 30 yard blood trails most of the time. Hunt the terrain, look for subtle changes, especially in relation to cover, how to really tune a bow, ... stuff like that. Adds up big time.
Sorry for conveying the message guys. I was more poking fun at myself (and people that have done the same thing) for screwing up a good hunt cause had my face crammed in my phone looking at bowsite. Was not in the least trying to take anything away from the website at all. Sorry. I guess I will call that my attempt at a little humor.
Sorry for conveying the message guys. I was more poking fun at myself (and people that have done the same thing) for screwing up a good hunt cause had my face crammed in my phone looking at bowsite. Was not in the least trying to take anything away from the website at all. Sorry. I guess I will call that my attempt at a little humor.
I believe everyone has picked up some tips and tricks to shorten the learning curve just a little.
The entertainment is priceless at times but the HS debate team antics gets old.
I think it was actually a pretty good question to get some pretty good answers.
I have learned a lot of things from Bowsite. Some good some not so good. I have seen the people here stand up for some truly inspirational events and some great things happen because of them. I have seen some bashing to the point that some have left or worse been banned. The knowledge here varies a great deal with a big variety to look at. Someone should gain something from all it has to offer, even the veteran hunters. I know one thing for sure. It's addictive! Thanks Pat.
Bowsite is an educational, informative, interesting and has humor. Anytime one is exposed to various ideas and views with an open mind, there is opportunity to being challenged to grow.
Patton once said that when everyone is in agreement- only one person is thinking. Lot of truth there.
I enjoy and appreciate Bowsite. I also appreciate Pat and the time that he is willing to devote to make the website available and to help grow bowhunting and to help bowhunters connect.
I have found that Bowsite is very much a caring place for the contributors- I think of the many requests for prayer and volunteered prayers that have been lifted for people and situations. To me this clearly shows the bonding and caring of people. Maybe not the original intent of the website, but it has manifested itself.
In summary, Bowsite has helped me to grow in my bowhunting. I don't think anyone outgrows growing. I hope that I have reciprocated by helping others grow.
Better hunter, and helped get my sense of humor back!
Thankful to those I have met through bowsite because they have made me a better hunter, opened my eyes to everything that is out there and have enjoyed many camps with them.