Hunters are a different breed.

[StartMyHunt]

I have had the pleasure of talking to hundreds of elk hunters across the US over the last couple of months. All I can say is WOW. Everybody has been courteous, informative, and just basically wants to hang out and talk hunting. I enjoy every minute of it.
When I talk to somebody about a certain area, it brings back memories of either backpacking there, camping there, fishing there, or hunting there. What I am trying to say is that 99% of the people I have met through hunting are much more accommodating (and definitely nicer) than the folks who are wrapped up in getting ahead in the world financially.

Your Thoughts?

 

[iccyman001]

Maybe it\'s elk hunters as a category because I have had horrible experiences with whitetail hunters.
But now that you say this, I can not think of me ever having a bad experience with elk hunters! :upthumb:

You guys are all awesome.

 

[elkmtngear]

I feel the same way, Mike. I\'ve been fortunate to meet a lot of folks that are very well known in the Outdoor Industry, and by and large, they have been very accommodating, humble, and down to earth.

Then again, I could stand around all day and B.S. about hunting...it\'s my \"comfort zone\" :upthumb:

 

[StartMyHunt]

Thanks Dan, I meant to say Elk Hunters.

 

[cnelk]

In this day and age, I am finding that people associated with the \'outdoors\' are much more less likely to be OFFENDED.
This offended BS is getting rampant. Like a fad.
And the thats why Im only associating myself with \'the different breed\' anymore.

Anyone that ever wants to talk hunting, fishing or the outdoors, just let me know!

 

[mtnmutt]

In this day and age, I am finding that people associated with the \'outdoors\' are much more less likely to be OFFENDED.
This offended BS is getting rampant. Like a fad.

Interesting observation. I never thought of that before. All my friends are outdoor people. None of them hunt, however, they don\'t give me grief that I do hunt.

Last weekend, a person gave my friend hell for missing a Saturday evening event. We were late getting back from an attempt to summit a 14er. Never mind that we left town at 3 am to start hiking at 6 am and that my friend succeeded in reaching the peak of Mount Princeton. It was 8 hours of hiking, plus 5 hours of me driving. Apparently, the world imploded because we choose to have a fun day on a mountain rather than sit around town on a Saturday waiting to attend an evening event.

Despite a crowded hike to reach Mount Princeton, every single person was polite and looking out for total strangers, especially for the last 2,100 feet elevation of continuous dangerous rock navigation.

The only exception I would say of elk hunters are the unethical elk hunters. I know of cases where elk hunters followed seasoned elk hunters to their spots and hunted over top of them. As noted by StartMyHunt, 99% of elk hunters are good people.

 

[Deertick]

I\'m not sure there\'s anything special about hunters per se, but as I grow up/grow old, I have less and less tolerance for people who are offended by everything. I try to surround myself with people who aren\'t making a Federal Case out of every transgression.

Hunters and horse people are \"my people\" but I\'m sure bikers, runners, quilters, and electronics nerds are good folks too.

Well, some of them, anyway. :angle:

 

[Jaquomo]

As a student of the human condition, I subscribe to the bell-curve theory of behavior in almost all activities. What I\'ve learned about elk hunters, and hunters in general, is that the more people have to gain (financially, fame, notoriety, getting a \"trophy\", etc..) from hunting, the worse they behave and treat others. People in the industry can be the worst, even though you\'d think they\'d treat people well because people pay their bills. Even my honest, ethical friends in the TV, magazine and outfitting business tell me that about their colleagues.

I guess, to Mike\'s original point, people who are in BIG business of any sort are generally in it for money or advancement, and will walk over whomever they need to to get ahead. I was in BIG business for 30 years and saw it everywhere. Now that I\'m on the periphery of the hunting industry again, I\'m seeing it. One company for which I was a Pro Staffer expected me to take their executives to my elk and muley hot spots and basically \"guide\" them. Not going to happen, and my Pro Staff relationship with them didn\'t last long.

Given that, it means that 90% of the hunters are good people, willing to help others. People who are jerks don\'t participate on internet forums because they have nothing to gain from it. Those who do are smoked-out pretty quickly.