DrDeFab
Member
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2005
- Messages
- 251
Prologue: I was reading some other threads in the Hunting section, which I don't often do, and it started me thinking about the topic. So I thought I would post here, and see if anyone has any thoughts or suggestions.
First, it's not that I have anything against hunting, and it's not that I am uninterested.
...but...
It's never been a priority. I won't claim "I never had the time", or give you a bunch of sad stories, but like a lot of folks, I have had to make choices on where to spend my time and money.
I haven't had any friends or family that hunt. Well, my father did as a youth, in depression-era Appalachia. This was for subsistence - mostly squirrel and rabbit with a .22. He quit before I was born, because he associated it with being poor.
I don't run into a lot of hunters at work, that I know of anyway, because discussing it could get me reported for "creating a hostile workspace." (It's not a bad place to work, but times being what they are...) Those I do know, I don't know well enough to invite myself along.
The barrier to entry - at least the perceived barrier to entry - is too high. I don't want to have to figure out the laws, (where and when, with which gear, what paperwork is required, etc.) I have a couple of appropriate rifles for deer, but I don't know the difference between what other gear I really need vs. what Cabela's is marketing to clueless noobs. No idea about the logistics of field dressing or finding a butcher. See the previous points, where if I had someone to show me the ropes it probably wouldn't be an issue.
I'm not a complete couch-potato, but I am not as young as I used to be, I have a desk job, and I don't spend much time in the woods. (FWIW, I work in the city, and live in the outer suburbs.)
I have no interest in a luxury hunting trip, where I pay to sit in comfort and shoot nearly tame animals over bait at short range. Sorry, I guess that sounds judgmental, I just don't see the point.
...so...
While I consider hunting a valuable skill I would like to learn, the clock is ticking and I just don't see it happening. I get the feeling there are a lot of folks in this same boat, but that could easily be selection bias.
If you've read this far, thanks for letting me ramble! Feedback welcome.
First, it's not that I have anything against hunting, and it's not that I am uninterested.
...but...
It's never been a priority. I won't claim "I never had the time", or give you a bunch of sad stories, but like a lot of folks, I have had to make choices on where to spend my time and money.
I haven't had any friends or family that hunt. Well, my father did as a youth, in depression-era Appalachia. This was for subsistence - mostly squirrel and rabbit with a .22. He quit before I was born, because he associated it with being poor.
I don't run into a lot of hunters at work, that I know of anyway, because discussing it could get me reported for "creating a hostile workspace." (It's not a bad place to work, but times being what they are...) Those I do know, I don't know well enough to invite myself along.
The barrier to entry - at least the perceived barrier to entry - is too high. I don't want to have to figure out the laws, (where and when, with which gear, what paperwork is required, etc.) I have a couple of appropriate rifles for deer, but I don't know the difference between what other gear I really need vs. what Cabela's is marketing to clueless noobs. No idea about the logistics of field dressing or finding a butcher. See the previous points, where if I had someone to show me the ropes it probably wouldn't be an issue.
I'm not a complete couch-potato, but I am not as young as I used to be, I have a desk job, and I don't spend much time in the woods. (FWIW, I work in the city, and live in the outer suburbs.)
I have no interest in a luxury hunting trip, where I pay to sit in comfort and shoot nearly tame animals over bait at short range. Sorry, I guess that sounds judgmental, I just don't see the point.
...so...
While I consider hunting a valuable skill I would like to learn, the clock is ticking and I just don't see it happening. I get the feeling there are a lot of folks in this same boat, but that could easily be selection bias.
If you've read this far, thanks for letting me ramble! Feedback welcome.