Just over the last ten years or so I've sure noticed that the mentality of hunters has changed so much it kind of scares me. Ten years ago, I remember when people got excited because they drew DOE tags. That meant they had a good chance of shooting something, and having meat to take home. Ten years ago, nobody bitched because a tine was broken. Ten years ago, ATV's were somewhat rare. Ten years ago, a 500 yard shot was unethical. Ten years ago, a big bull was a 6 point, not a 360. Ten years ago, people got out of their trucks to hunt. Ten years ago outfitters didn't rule the world. Ten years ago you could knock on a door and ask permission to hunt-and get it. Ten years ago, people didn't leave meat in the field. Ten years ago, there were one or two hunting shows on TV every week. Not 5 cable channels 24/7. Ten years ago, those hunting shows didn't advertise "impact shots" to sell videos. Ten years ago hunting private property had nothing (or little)to do with money.
WTF???

Hunting sure has changed, and I don't like the direction it has gone. The other day I talked to an anteloope hunter who bitched because he could not find a shot at an antelope FAR enough. He was passing up 200 yard shots because he wanted to KILL something at 500+ yards.

WTF???

As hunters we all need to sit back and think about this for a minute. This crap is getting bad, and we are only killing ourselves. We sit back and bitch and moan about wolves, and the government and all but what about the basics? I think everyone needs to sit back and think about why we like to hunt in the first place.

I used to be proud to be seen in blaze orange in October. Now, I'm starting to wonder. I used to think that it would be cool if I hunted every year of my life until I croaked in elk camp, but now I am wondering if I should take up golf or something.

Ten years ago, I think people were more intersted in hunting than killing. How times have changed.

+1 (times a million if I could)

I am also sick of the "hunters" of today. Not all but way to many have the look at me mentality. They have to make a long shot or shot the perfect trophy. Me put me in the woods and have something legal walk in front of me. I kill it take it home and fill the freezer. That is what hunting has always been to me. It is about the kill but not in the same way as it is for the hotshot hunters. I don't kill to get attention like a lot of self proclaimed "hunters". Hunting has changed and their are a lot of "hunters" I will not associate with. Unfortunately these "hunters" are becoming the face of hunting today. Which will affect us all negatively. Including those that still actually hunt and consider any animal a trophy. Because of all this crap I find it harder and harder to get excited about the hunt each year. I am only 31 I am way to young to be thinking of the good old days.

quote:

I am wondering if I should take up golf or something.

Start with a putter.......

You've basically described why I prefer to hunt alone. It has been 25 years since I've hunted with someone that had the same ethics and attitude toward hunting that I have.

I meet very few people in the field that I would describe as real hunters. Most like to get up late, come in early, and in between throw lead in the air as quickly as game appears. Usually somewhere during the hunt they do something incredibly stupid.

Most wouldn't have been welcome in a 1970s deer camp. The men wouldn't tolerate them.

It is refreshing to see that not everyone has fallen to the ground at the throne of the God Of Instant Gratifacation.

I see too many folks here in Texas being squeezed out of hunting because of the fervor over bigger bucks at biggers $$$$$.

Too many folks stopping shooting does and only shooting a bigger buck than what is on the wall, while TP&W keeps raising the limits on does trying to get folks to understand that the WHOLE herd has to be managed, not just the trophies.

Blame our modern society an its "Me First and Winning Is The ONLY THING Attitude".

The only thing I see different than Mr.Hawg, is that this all started rolling about 20 years ago in the late 80's, not just 10 years ago.

The biggest obstacle our various game departments are facing now with their management practices, is Modern "Hunter" Attitudes.

Every buck is not going to be a trophy, and if too many does are left in the herd, those "Wonder" bucks will never reach their antler potential because they can't get enough to eat because of all those does.

I don't know about anyone else, but in many ways for me having been a hunter for over 40 years, it is sad and discouraging to witness the way attitudes and beliefs toward hunting have changed, especially among the younger hunters, 35 year olds and younger.

Our hunting traditions are being killed from within our own ranks, and to many people simply can not or will not open their eyes to that. JMO.

I agree also, yesterday was the last day for rifle deer tags. Where I was hunting I only saw 2 hunters that were hunting togethor. And we was only 7 miles from town. What I like to see is the guys who take their new pick-ups hunting and leave it parked on the main road. I saw that yesterday. I like to get big bucks, if it looks big to me I'll try and take him. I don't care about inches never did. But I won't shoot no spikes eithor. Elks a different story if it is legal I'll take him or her if I can.

First of all, I see what you are saying completely Mr Hawg. ....but, I will offer a little solace at least I hope.

Things have and do definitely get out of hand when $ gets behind sports of any kind and the ensuing marketing mania that spawns. To those that made the comments about managing the deer herds by taking does, they are spot on. I do like folks holding out for a larger buck myself, and in Georgia we have entire counties with trophy restrictions, designed to protect the smaller bucks, and encourage doe harvest.

I, and several of my friends CHOOSE to hunt with archery equipment a lot of times and places when it is guns season, mainly because it puts the emphasis on hunting the deer at close quarters, and really having to know your quarry if you are going to harvest a deer at all, and especially a big buck. Now don't get me wrong, I/we hunt a lot with our rifles, and take pride in shooting well enough to make good clean killinig shots at whatever distance we choose to shoot, but it isn't at the choice of just trying for a longer shot for sure.

We have a lot of guys who got into hunting because of exposure at work instead of throught their families like many of us, and I can tell you we, like you, hold disdain for the big $ spending flashy types, but we also have some guys we hunt with that have $, and have all the gear, like the latest ATV's, campers, stands etc. It doesn't make them any less of a hunter than the rest of us though, and heck, some of that gear makes the hunt more efficient and effective, e.g. it is a lot easier and quicker to get a deer out of the woods when you are a 1/2 mile back in there by getting to the area in an ATV, I can tell you they have probably saved some ankle sprains or heart attacks from happening

We have some great youngsters involved in our hunting, and we are always encouraging strong ethics and hunting responsibility, and demeaning the type of behavior you described. When we are in camp or at home with our young hunters we all like to laugh at the Jackie Bushmans of the world who get to hunt the fine ranches/lands that big $ get you, knowing that those guys couldn't do any better than we do in harvesting game on the same ground we hunt.

Clearly some folks get carried away trying to impress others with the 'long shots' and I don't like it in general either, but I think that all we hear about that stuff is the vocal minority. I know that I would always prefer a 100 yard shot over a longer one on any game, say even anantelope, but I've only been able to get inside 100 yards once in the 12 or so antelope I have taken...I think this is the main thought of most hunters really-closer is better, and they aren't looking to impress anybody, just get their critter.

To Kensco, I hate that you haven't been able to find a good hunting partner,it is so great to be able to share the hunt with someone, but the solitude and peace of hunting by yourself is pretty great too. I would say that I have developed several friendships by getting others involved, or re-engaged in hunting, and learning together, sharing tips and experiences and of course stories of the hunt, which are some of my fondest memories, the simple sharing of stories with fellow hunters.

I'm not saying anyone is wrong, unfortunately I don't think you are, but let's keep getting others involved, preserve the best traditions of hunting and keep it the treasured blessing that it is in this country! It's up to us that really keep it so dear, to show others the best of our sport, and to preserve it--whether you/they have a new truck and ATV or not!

Have you ever noticed, in todays times, men are all too consumed in keeping score on everything. Highest velocity, smallest group, how much did he score, there has to be a reason for everything, how far can you shoot, what was the score on the game, how much money did we make today, etc. Everything is measured. You never hear about just letting things happen. What happened to simplistic values?

+2

From my perspective (79) it seems to me that the type of hunter (in the field and not at a preserve or game farm) has changed because of the ever decreasing area for hunting (no more hunting right out of the house) and because of the rise of "magnums" and larger powered scopes. In my youth, there was an argument between gun editors of Field & Stream and Outdoor Life as to whether the 30-06 or the 270 Win. was better on Alaskan brown bear. Such an argument would be unthinkable today where any cartridge with "Magnum" attached to its name automatically must be "better") I think it still comes back to the fundamentals of learning to shoot and failing to follow the old Hunter's prayer: " Lord, Let me shoot clean and kill clean -and if I can't kill clean, let me miss clean".

MrHawg I believe you make a lot of valid points in your post. i will disagree with none of them, but let me offer a glimpse of what its like through the eyes of the younger crowd.

I'm 28, I've been hunting since the age of 5, starting with squirrels and my single shot .410. moving on to deer at the age of 10 with my youth model .243. I added a muzzelloader at 12 or 13, and started bowhunting at 15. I grew up in southwest TN, and currently, like many places in the south, we are overrun with whitetails, but that was not always the case.

when i first started, if it was legal, i wanted to shoot it. after a few years of this, however, i wanted to start shooting bigger and bigger bucks, for a couple reasons. 1, an older deer is more of a challenge to hunt, and 2, our population started to really explode, so shooting smaller bucks was honestly very easy. Once we were educated on the value of doe harvest for the overall herd, we have had no problems shooting lots and lots of does. Several years from 99 on I have taken 4, 5, or 6 does per year trying to thin the herd... while at the same time, looking for bigger and bigger bucks. because with the shrinking land and more and more deer, shooting a deer isn't what it use to be as far as challenge. i know my dad use to be thrilled to bring home any legal deer when i was a kid, because there just werent' that many deer around. now maybe thats not true everywhere, but i can only speak from my own experiences.

everyone i knew when i started (1991) had atv's, but very few people used them until a kill was made, and we needed to recover the deer and get it back to the truck. we didn't want to ride in and make noise and smell like gas.

i think its a loud minority that hunts strictly for antlers. however, i will say that in certain situations i am a trophy hunter. does this mean i discard the meat, of course not, if i dont' have room in my freezer i find someone that does. but i don't see how this can make me any less of a hunter than in generations past, a little different, sure. but the circumstances are also different. small parcels of land with lots of animals managed for herd quality and trophy potential not only looks good on people's walls, but it also helps the herds overall, with people wanting the herd numbers down and wanting an older age class of deer.

personally i love the tv shows and videos, they are nothing but infomercials for the prodcuts, but i still love to watch other people hunting when i cant' get to the woods myself.

MrHawg,

I agree 100%. There are still a few decent hunters if you look long and hard but the vast majority are working harder to end hunting then any PETA member ever even considered.

Like many I too do not like hunters and so I hunt alone.

Too much money involved in hunting here in Texas, but I don't know how it'll be fixed. I do know that the costs involved make for a different demographic in a lot of this state.

I am a novice at hunting but not shooting and the "least" long range rifle I own is my '06, my longest range is a 338-378 Wby. That said, the only thing I've hunted are cow elk because it is about the meat and I could care less about antlers. The longest shot that has ever presented itself was under 200 yds and I didn't take it because she was running up the other side of a ravine without a clear shot. I practice out to 200 and wouldn't take a shot too much farther then that. I might have the equipment to shoot long distances but that's not the way I hunt.

Great thread.

Ken....

quote:

Just over the last ten years or so I've sure noticed that the mentality of hunters has changed so much it kind of scares me. Ten years ago, I remember when people got excited because they drew DOE tags. That meant they had a good chance of shooting something, and having meat to take home. Ten years ago, nobody bitched because a tine was broken. Ten years ago, ATV's were somewhat rare. Ten years ago, a 500 yard shot was unethical. Ten years ago, a big bull was a 6 point, not a 360. Ten years ago, people got out of their trucks to hunt. Ten years ago outfitters didn't rule the world. Ten years ago you could knock on a door and ask permission to hunt-and get it. Ten years ago, people didn't leave meat in the field. Ten years ago, there were one or two hunting shows on TV every week. Not 5 cable channels 24/7. Ten years ago, those hunting shows didn't advertise "impact shots" to sell videos. Ten years ago hunting private property had nothing (or little)to do with money.

10 years ago the limited quota area I hunt had 50 tags, and drawing every year or two was a treat and a true experience. Now the G&F issues 200 tags, and opening day is a total circus with 4 wheelers racing to prime spots, and it is hard to draw every 5 years, I experienced it again this year.

I also have noticed the commercialization of hunting.Its a business,some places more than others.

It seems that money easily spoils everything. Hunting is a craft and the pleasure is in the experience and not in the dead bones lateron on the wall. Your kids will throw them away anyway, when you are gone.

That does not mean that I do not enjoy hunting a nice roe buck or red stag during the rut or roar. If it's big or small on CIC points or whatsoever does not really matter a lot. I admit that I do enjoy it very much if the animal is either very old with worn down molars or very young and tender for the kitchen.

If plain and simple I look at the relation between cost and benefit, hunting fawns and does is just the better deal. It even safes you from the hassel to boil down those antlers and look for another free spot on your wall.

Let other people waste their money on those big horns, they are the ones who most likely go after silicone boobs, too...

People have become "killers" instead of hunters. It is pretty common now days to hear someone brag how he intentionally shot a hog or havalina in the guts to run off and die. And sadly, I've heard these comments come from church go'ers, supposedly fine upstanding christians. It is not just unethical hunters but all of society in general. Humans are being "knumbed" litterally to death. When I was a kid, there was a T.V. show in San Antonio called the Lone Star Sportsman. It promoted ethical hunting and fishing. Now kids grow up aspiring to be snipers.
I was in the hunting section in a Bass Pro Shop the other day when I had a father (in his 30's) walk past me with his two kids. He was telling his son, "When we go to the deer lease next weekend, and you see a hog, you shoot him right in the eye!".
Yes, it not the same anymore, but I feel it is up to those of us that are still ethical, to make some difference if we can.

Just my two pennorth,I have shot since early teens, now I am 53, I have always admired any big beautiful stag, I have never wanted desperately to shoot a stag although I have stalked as a pair when my partners have taken them ,I've always shot Hinds/Does, for the meat, I shoot at least three evenings/nights a week with a bud for vermin fox etc, & we share our acreages, I have noticed that we are having to shoot many many more crows rabbits & squirrels in our little piece of middle England, as no-one else seems to bother with the year round maintenance side of things on rough shoots, where shooting has taken place, we are walking off with bags of crap & empty casings, has ferreting & drey poking gone by the wayside? Why do people drop rubbish all over? Steve.

Wow! I was beginning to think that nobody else thought like I do. Nice to know there are still some hunters who look at the whole picture and get past the 600 yard or further sniping at "book" animals as the only way to hunt.

It seems that most people today want things now without putting out a lot of effort. here in Texas, way too many hunters have come to the notion that hunting involves sitting in an enclosed blind watching a feeder 50 yards away. The concept of getting out in nature and actually working to get in range of an animal they have spotted doesn't compute.

I shoot does, and cherish each and every one of them. They are as much a trophy as a 200 inch buck in my eyes. Others may differ in opinion, but any time you can honestly say you have hunted an animal and taken it cleanly, you have a trophy.

I would gladly hunt with the other posters on this forum. Hope many more hunters will come forward and post.

I have to concur with much of what has been said here and wonder whether my young children will have the opportunity to really hunt when they are my age. I'm afraid they'll be limited to strictly managed "preserves" where true hunting is not only discourage but probably banned. What is happening to our sport, in many venues, is simply disgusting and unfortunate. But we have done it to ourselves. We actively participate in our beloved sport's demise by watching those TV shows, buying the advertised products, advocating for leases to control access, "trophy" hunting, etc. I'd like to think that I try not to, but I suppose one can't help it to some extent. I have the camo, a magnum, and some gadgets. I'd like to shoot a big deer or elk or antelope, but haven't yet because hunting for fun and meat gets in the way. I love hunting cow elk and doe antelope and will continue to do so as long as I can get tags and find a place to chase them. Show me a doe deer (hunting them isn't legal here) and I'll happily put an arrow or bullet in her and enjoy some steaks. I'm teaching my kids the same, and keep my fingers crossed that they can still shoot a fat ol' cow elk in 20 years.

Great thread! Unfortunately, Maine is no more immune than any other region for the presence of modern "hunters". Last year I shot my moose with a 30 06. This year I'm using a 375 because I am fascinated with the caliber and just because I want to. I'm also shooting 300 grain bullets at a sedate 2300 fps. I know my shooting abilities and having shot up one beautiful buck when I was younger with a hotted up 270 won't ever do so again because I know my limits and because I love the animals enough to hunt them right.

First day out I'm going to the hunter's breakfast at an old country church I go to every year. Don't care if the deer smell the bacon on my clothes or not because I'll be with my dad in the woods. If I see a deer great, if I don't that's ok for the reason I already said. One day I'll take my infant daughter and share what I know with her.

One of the best lessons about hunting I ever got came from my dad when I was young. Problem was I didn't learn it until a long time later. He sat me at the base of a tree and just told me to be quiet and listen. Now I get it.

If a person's value is simply the aggregate of his acquisitions, be they antlers, dollars or whatever, we're in a tough spot.

I just came out of the woods. Bowhunting season it is now in Virginia and I spent two hours sitting under a cedar tree. It was quite an experience, these two idiots deer, less than year old were charging through the forest every twenty or so minutes. I didn't get a deer or even a chance to shoot one, but it was still a hunt to talk about. But one yearling jumped around me and came back to check me out in my ghillie suit, little moron

Hey Czech, You can't explain it those who don't hunt or fish, I spend a lot of time motionless with rifle at the ready & have had something similar to your experience plenty of times, leaning into a bramble bush next to a five bar gate I had a stoat come & stare me in the face, he then decided it was ok to run over my toecap & went about the hunt in hand!

I had to look up what is stoat - but that's exactly what I am talking about. Killing is the last thing - even I love venison as much as the next guy and Northern Virginia is deer overpopulated to almost disaster level.

Thanks guys, I am in great company here.
I love to hunt but it has gotten too easy with the amount of deer today. I always have hunted with a bow. When a rifle or shotgun became too easy, I quit using them and went to revolvers. I even hunt squirrels with a .22 pistol.
I have always hunted for the sport and the meat, never antlers. I can't count the times I let a buck walk or a whole herd of deer feeding right under my stand, bumping into my bow that I let down on the rope because I did not want to shoot one.
I never run down with a tape to measure the size of a deer, if I need or want one, I shoot it.
I learned long ago that a doe is harder to get a shot at then a buck, nothing gets past a lady that has raised young ones.
My big gripes are muzzle loaders to shoot 200 yards and super light, fast arrows that shoot flat with no penetration. Then a 7mm or .300 mag for those 30 yard shots.
A friend mailed me and told me it cost's $100 a day just for access to the farms where he lives.
Don't worry, once Obama takes all the guns he will have to pay government hunters to thin the herd on our dollar, it will cost more!

I forgot, notice how the hunting shows have exact age for the deer? That one is only 3 years old!
Then the idea to shoot a "dry" doe! Do they check for milk?????
I am baffled at the expertise of these guys at 200 yards.
I hate trophy shooters and bet most of the meat goes to waste. Mostly the deer that are shot at last light and left to stew all night so the antlers can be recovered the next day.

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
Too many folks stopping shooting does and only shooting a bigger buck than what is on the wall, while TP&W keeps raising the limits on does trying to get folks to understand that the WHOLE herd has to be managed, not just the trophies.

Well, not all are that way.

My two buddies, and a guy from Canada, just hunted an early gun season in Nebrasak. Doe only. We had a great time, but didn't get anything (for a lot of reasons, one being my baby daughter got sick).

But we had three land owners BEGGING for us to shoot some does. So much that in regular gun season I am buying an extra tag.

But I did notice that in the twenty or so miles of area 18 we ran around in, we were the only hunters out. A few "old timers" were rather upset we would "Stoop to hunting does".

The big buck attitude isn't new.

Headline: Soul- Searching Sparked by AR Contributors

There are some great observations made above to remind me of the bigger picture of our endeavors-- and just in time for the season, mind you.

Your comments caused me to recall the Hunters' Safety Course instructor [-yes, I sat through the class several years ago with my now 14 & 17 y.o. boys] who described a progression / maturation process involved with many young hunters that went something like this:

1st Stage: motivated by the kill
2nd Stage: motivated by the sport/ sense of accomplishment, and the
3rd Stage: when the individual is motivated by the appreciation of the finer aspects of the higher level experiences such as: the love and study of nature and good stewardship thereof, the camaraderie of sharing the out-of-doors with others, and the contemplative benefits of being still and at peace in the midst of beauty.

I confess that there are elements of each stage that I thoroughly enjoy!

Plus, as Uncle Ted and others employ, there is an aspect of exercising a Divine blessing exercising a Divine blessing that started quite early on [see Genesis 1:28]... "God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.""

Now, that's what I'm talkin' about!

PS Might I draw your attention to some interesting aspects of hunting also addressed at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunting including:
Contents

* 1 History
o 1.1 Paleolithic
o 1.2 Antiquity
o 1.3 Hunting in pastoral and agricultural societies
o 1.4 Hunting with dogs
o 1.5 Modern sport hunting
* 2 Hunting and religion
o 2.1 Indian and Eastern religions
o 2.2 Christianity and Judaism
* 3 National hunting traditions
o 3.1 New Zealand
o 3.2 Shikar (India)
o 3.3 Safari
o 3.4 United Kingdom
+ 3.4.1 Shooting traditions
o 3.5 United States
+ 3.5.1 The American Fair Chase Tradition
+ 3.5.2 Hunting ranches
o 3.6 Russia
* 4 Wildlife management
o 4.1 Bag limits
o 4.2 Closed season
o 4.3 Illegal hunting
* 5 Hunting methods
* 6 Trophy hunting
o 6.1 History
o 6.2 Controversy
* 7 Economics of hunting
* 8 Conservation
o 8.1 Legislation lobbied by hunters
+ 8.1.1 Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937
+ 8.1.2 Federal Duck Stamp Program
o 8.2 Conservation organizations founded by hunters
* 9 See also
* 10 References
* 11 Further reading
* 12 External links

+1000 times.

IMO the changes in hunting have mirrored the changes in our everyday society. Instant gratification, why earn it when you can buy it instead. Why hunt hard for 20 years to kill a B&C buck when you can "Grow" one in five years with breeding, food plots, supplemental feeding, etc. Everything is now a contest. Versus Whitetail Challenge - Has to be one of the worst things for the sport ever.

Earlier this month i worked my ass off to kill a mountain goat in AK that was a little over 8 inches. He's no giant but i wouldn't trade him for anything. I looked at lots of outfitters and one of the biggest reasons i went with this hunt is it sounded super hard, it was. When we sealed the deal on the 3rd day i can't describe the sense of accomplishment i felt. In another month I am headed to WY for a cow elk hunt. I am as excited for that hunt as I was for my AK hunt.

It's not just big game hunting either. The waterfowl world is all about getting on a prostaff and killing bands. If you can't post pictures on the internet of big kill piles while sporting a lanyard full of bands (many times the are fake DU bands) you suck.

I'm with some of the guys above. if given the choice i prefer to hunt by myself, otherwise there are only a couple of people I can to go afield with.

Here's a pic of my favorite hunting buddy.

Right now, at this point in time ,in this Country,we have some of the BEST Hunting available.Quit your crying,these are the good Old Days!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by GrayDuck:
+1000 times.

I absolutely agree on this one.

quote:

Originally posted by GrayDuck:
IMO the changes in hunting have mirrored the changes in our everyday society.

Indeed. Just look at the current crisis and big firms that went under destroying thousands of jobs. Most of the times the reason was big but immature egos striving for what you mentioned.

quote:

Originally posted by GrayDuck:
Here's a pic of my favorite hunting buddy.

Gentlemen,

here is mine:

Now this is what it is all about!

I'm in for a treat this fall.. get to hunt whitetails with two of my grandchildren and their parents, my youngest daughter and her husband and my son and his oldest daughter..We'll be hunting NE Wyoming where there is an over-abundance of deer.. need to thin the herd some.. hope to have lots of pictures when we return.. Les

Long thread, and I confess to not having read the whole thread in detail. I agree with much of what has been written here. I suspect that the changes have been driven by money. Business people -- including magazines and TV hunting shows -- have indoctrinated some to believe that hunting success is measured in terms of rack size and propagandized us to think we can't hunt big game successfully without the latest camoflage pattern, the latest high tech coated optics, the newest premium bullet, etc., etc. I think if you do not measure your success in units of biggest rack but count a healthy mature doe/cow equal with a "wall hanger," your hunting passion is not easily monetized by big business. If, however, you need a 90th percentile or 98th percentile rack to feel like you've succeeded, you need to look for every edge and advantage you can avail yourself of -- slick camoflage, best leased land, guides, best optics, etc.

My recommendation, one I follow in my own hunting, is to ignore these voices. I own camoflage but I prefer to wear green military surplus wool trousers and a red-checked wool shirt when I go hunting. I'll also wear blue jeans when I go hunting. If I take a buck or a bull, I save the antlers and make my own simple wall mount, but I'm just as happy to take a doe/cow. In my estimation, the pleasure of the hunt and my satisfaction come from finding my trail by myself in the dark, field dressing my own game competently, quartering my elk quickly and efficiently with my own knife skills, being a good hunting partner in camp, etc. I butcher my own meat and cook my own meat. I'm not saying you aren't a hunter if you don't do it my way. I am suggesting you look to such things -- your skills as a woodsman, your skills as a stalker, your endurance in the presence of discomfort, your physical stamina in packing out your game, your engenuity in figuring out how and where to get within reasonable shooting range of your quarry -- as your measures of success, competence, and mastery.

I also agree with much that has been written. If there were no money to be made on hunters, much what is complained of here would not occur (the exception being the increasing use of those execrable ATVs!! There have always been and will alwys be lazy people.) There are magazines I used to enjoy as a kid and young adult (Outdoor Life, Field and Stream) that I stopped buying a long time ago because of their content being "taken over" by their advertisers. Look at the ratio of stories about woodcraft versus hunting gadgets to see what I mean.
I try to teach my kids to have the right attitude by keeping "hornography" out of the house and encouraging them to read hunting stories by guys like Gordon MacQuarrie and magazines like Bugle and Sports Afield, but NEVER having hunting shows on TV. I have tried to raise them to understand that we eat what we shoot, and butcher what we eat. I think it is important that we see the game we hunt as living creatures, worthy of our respect, and part of the world in which we live, and not as so many inces of horn.