quiksilver

Just thinking about something... Can you "buy" hunting success?

The whole luck versus skill thread got me thinking... And I have my own opinions of what makes a great hunter (and what doesn't).

One aspect of hunting that is all-too-often overlooked is financial wherewithal. I wholeheartedly believe we live in a society where an individual can easily "buy" his way into hunting lore. Be it financing a5000 acrewhitetail paradiseand wallpapering it with posters (effectively eliminating all outside competition) or blowing $30,000 on a guided bighorn hunt - guys are doing it everyday. Buying their spots in the PY record books, using their own financial leverage to tilt the odds in their favor.

Does this taint an otherwise great accomplishment in your eyes?

For example, I've heard fairly credible grassroots rumors that the Drury's pay (very well) for exclusive leases on properties known to hold 200+ inch whitetails. Does that make Terry and Mark Drury great hunters - or does it dilute the integrity of their harvests?

So what do you guys think? Canan otherwise unskilled hunterreally use his financial assets to gain a competitive advantage on the average Joe? Or is the playing field really level?

I know what I think. I'm just wondering what you guys have to say on the subject.

Jimimac

Personally, I've always felt the haves are no better hunters than the have nots. In my opinion there are quite a few have nots right on this very board that if they were planted firmly on exclusive properties that hold giant bucks, would be just as successful or more successful as these so called "experts".

mauser06

you can pay money to have someone do everything but release the arrow...anyone can release and arrow...

aint gunna say much more than that

gplant

[quote]ORIGINAL: quiksilver


So what do you guys think? Canan otherwise unskilled hunterreally use his financial assets to gain a competitive advantage on the average Joe? Or is the playing field really level?

YES. Thats a givin. You can buy anything.

Greg / MO

I'm sorry, but when I hear that someone went on a "guided" hunt, or one through a big outfitter -- it definitely lessens the accomplishment in my eyes.

Now, there's a difference in leasing land to be scouted and hunted through your own efforts, IMO. Am I somewhat jealous of those who can afford huge tracts of primo land holding monster whitetails or whatever quarry the hunter pursues? You betcha. But if he does the work himself, it's still a great accomplishment in my eyes.

Rick James

Of course money can skew these things........how could it not? Obviously a guy that can afford to fly himself to buck buck country in the midwest fully guided every year is going to probably shoot more big bucks than the poor guy that can take 2-3 saturdays a year to hunt on PA state game lands and can't afford to take any more days off work. It's notrocket science, and I don't hold it against the guys with the $$$ either.

I'm fortunate enough to have a good job and spend good hard earned $$$ trying to make myproperty a better place to hunt, and I am seeing results because of it. Heck, I will spend close to $1000 in gas this year alone for hunting. Does that make me less of a hunter?

IAhuntr

Having the financial ability to lease and manage tracts of good whitetail habitat greatly put the odds in your favor. So yes, money can buy the opportunity for success.

cooter144

I don't know how anyone couldanswer "no" to this question.

There are outfitters that will guarentee you a trophy animal if you have the money to pay for it.

SevenMag

how do you see it when people hunt in areas they can't scout and such??? like say hunting elk in the rockies when you live in the midwest??? does that lessen the accomplishment?? honestly i can't see that... now, if i was hunting in areas i had access to so I could scout and setup during the year, THEN going somewhere close and getting a guided buck, well.......

my point, how is someone from the lowlands spose to scout and etc and still maintain a job unless they pay for a guide?? a difficult and potentially WAY more expensive venture... I don't look down at folks that take guided hunts at all, it doesn't mean they are not skilled, usually means they are hunting in unfamiliar areas after unfamiliar game... that being said, SOME people have no skills and etc and just want a big mount for the wall... those people i have no respect for, but being on a guided hunt does not automaticall diminish the worthiness of the hunter in my eyes...

Jimimac

This is where I disagree with you Greg. For example... to me that real nice public land whitetail that quicksiilverjust took is a much greater accomplishment than a guy who has deep pockets, and can lease up a bunch of land that holds lots of big bucks. To me it's no great accomplishment for that guy to shoot a 160 class buck ifhis place is loaded with them.