<P>Heck, the mags I read when I was in High School said nothing about ethics that I remember. As long as I was aspiring to reach the pinnacle of hunting and become a true "trophy hunter" I was allright with them. I'm glad I didn't have to pass a proficiency test the first year I went afield with my old Indian compound and 6 mismatched arrows with various heads on them.<IMG src="http://www.websitetoolbox.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" align=absMiddle border=0></P>
Them girlie magazines may be attractive, but they ain't got a clue.
I read a quote somewhere (or maybe saw it in a movie) that said: "The ethical man knows it's wrong to cheat on his wife, the moral man does not".<BR><BR>This is a good discussion, and one that a less privileged type of society (read: HUNGRIER SOCIETY) probably wouldn't think of. We deal with people everyday that thinks food appears by magic, wrapped in plastic.<BR><BR>I'm just glad we have the opportunity to to live a different type of life.<BR><BR>OkKeith<BR>
I have to agree with Brian and the others. I think you gave him great advice, no better practice than doing. I wouldn't advocate going hunting with zero practice, but once you have the basics down I say go for it and have fun doing it.<br>
<P>I agree that you just can't apply some kind of arbitrary standard to define readiness. Shoot a lot and be in touch with what you can do at any given time--that will probably vary with fatigue, light, what you ate for breakfast, and how much Scotch you drank last night. Work within that sense of your own ability--such self awareness is one of the skills you need to develop, along with sharpening broadheads, being aware of the wind, and keeping a steady bow arm. If pressed to state a range, I would say i'm a 20 yard shooter, but I'ved passed on deer at 15 yards and I've killed at 25. The two deer I killed last fall were both under 10 yards. Just get out there and hunt--there's really no other way. </P>
<P>AMEN,and let them fly!you can't kill'em if you don't shoot at them.</P>
<P>I ran into this , but it was the tackle I was useing. You see I am starting from the Modern side of the sport and going backwards. While no "Traditonel" archers have sed it to me one on one I and those shooting with me have been the subject of off hand comments to the tune of "it would be better if THEY wernt here" or "this should be "traditonel" only. Because of this I have receved no usefull information on how to be proficent with a stick and string. I would not even ask when building my kids self bows because all the populer message boards are just lousey places to get info most of the time. The guy you were talking about NEEDS to go out and miss. When I lerned to hunt with wheels I had shot my bow 6 times 1 houre before my first time on stand. I missed my spike that morning but got my doe that evening. Its like Mre Frizz said " Jump right in , get dirty , make mistakes". You have to do it like that or else it wouldent be any fun. Just my opinion.</P>
Like my daddy use to say, "Hunting and fishing is like kissing girls...you already know what to do, it just takes some practice to do it right" <IMG src="http://www.websitetoolbox.com/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" align=absMiddle border=0><br><br>Ethics can only be applied to one's self. Beyond that, we are simply judging. Personally, I have yet to walk on water, so I think I will keep my ethics to myself...(except for a few hints in a song or article, of course)<br>
beyond and before the LW and the internet, extending to the magazines—even before TBM turned up the volume—this sanctimonious attitude held most of us captive. The popular conceit was that we had to prove ourselves worthy to hunt with supposedly more difficult weapons by adopting a higher standard. In reality, the standard here should be no different whether you hunt with a classic bow, a compound or a rifle. Ethics are ethics, and self-control is just that. <br><br>This is another thing that gets me, the PBS and TBM tout what they do saying that the Big companies turn it into a money game, when TBM has yet to profile a bow under $600.00. Black Widow charges $700.00 to $900 ++ but they are not in it for the money ? this message board and primitive archer and the bowyers den are the only ones I will visit on the net, and I will only read primitive archer and Bowyers journal (IF IT EVER COMES!!!!!!) due to that mentioned sanctimonious attitude. I have had more fun waisting money on wood just to end up with a hand full of tooth picks. One day I will have made a bow that holds and it will be in the woods with me. until then T.J. Conrads, the folks at tradgange and the leather wall will have to deal with me being in the woods with Mr. Evil hang in in the tree next to me. Oh wait they don't hunt public unless it is guided in Canada or Alaska. Say T.J. Dont forget your shot gun!<br>