A couple of months ago I asked if there were others on the board who, like me, took up hunting on their own without the encouragement of a father or other mentor. I learned that I’m not the only one, many avid hunters started out on their own.

In that same spirit, I have another question to ask. How many of you are avid, active hunters but have no correspondingly strong interest in fishing? The two activities are, of course, closely related. Both started out as a means to nourish the body and evolved into a way to nourish the soul. Patience, perseverance, observational skills and a code of ethics are common to both the angler and hunter, as is a love of the outdoors. So it’s no surprise that most hunters also fish. In fact many outdoor-oriented people cannot say the word “hunting” without following it up with “and fishing.”

I’ve been a fanatic hunter for over 40 years. Although I have fished, caught fish and have eaten them, I never really developed a passion for it. (The odd part is that my Dad, although no hard-core outdoorsman, did like to do some fishing.) But if I never fished again it wouldn’t matter in the least. Is this unusual?

Conversely, I know that many, if not most, anglers don’t hunt. In fact, I’ve heard of snooty, elitist fly-fishermen types who look down their noses at their cohorts who dare to pick up a rifle, shotgun or bow instead of a fly-rod. (I can relate to their attitude.)

Maybe this sort of specialization is the way of the future. As the necessities of life become more expensive and there is less free time we may have to choose our passions. This trend is easy to see by looking at the literature. 50 years ago you had the classic “cast and blast” magazines like Outdoor Life and Sport Afield. Now we have a whole range of magazines that not only specialize in just hunting or angling, they cover specific species.

Actually as much as I enjoy hunting, I would rather fish anyday than hunt. In actuality for me, there is very little difference between hunting and fishing. To be successful at either you have to know the habits and haunts of the quarry. You have to know their normal periods of activity and preferred feeding locations. I do enjoy hunting, but I get a lot more enjoyment out of fihing.

Fishing IS hunting.

I kind of feel the same way, I took up hunting mostly on my own but I dont allways have the patience for fishing, even though I do like it to some extent I would much much rather be hunting something.....

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Originally posted by Bigasanelk:
A couple of months ago I asked if there were others on the board who, like me, took up hunting on their own without the encouragement of a father or other mentor. I learned that I’m not the only one, many avid hunters started out on their own.

I tell folks, that when I was born, my folks were so poor, they couldn't afford a name for me, only initials. My grandfather was illiterate and worked on oilfield pipelines. He would be gone months at a time. My dad had four siblings and lived in a tarpaper shack. Hunting would have been a luxury. My dad never hunted. None of my 5 siblings hunt. My fise and I chased rabbits when I was six. My step grandfather on my mothers side showed me how to twist rabbits out of a hole when I was about 8 years old. By the age of 10, I had a BB gun. I had a goal of killing a thousand birds a year at 11 years of age. Why, quien sabe as the Mexicans say. I lived in an area where I could go out before and after school and hunt. I made it my mission during my early teens to fulfill that goal. Hunting is literally called out of me. I have ordered my life where, even though I am a city dweller, I escape several days each month for the express purpose of hunting and killing animals. During our hunting season, being October (bow season) November and December (rifle season) my family and tenants know I'm gone hunting. I've already put in my order with my Creator. I'm gonna die afield and let the hogs recycle me. Lord knows it would only be right, seeing as I've killed so many of them.
Best

GWB

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Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
In actuality for me, there is very little difference between hunting and fishing.

For some, there is.

A fisherman can thoroughly enjoy all the sport and excitement of catching fish, just as a hunter can do with game. The big difference is fishermen can release their quarry unharmed.

This is why the elitest-type fly fishermen and others who vehemtly support only C&R fishing often look down on hunting as a sport.

Other than a hound hunter who "releases" lions and bears after the dogs put them at bay, there's no such thing as C&R hunting.

The only other type is capturing the image of a game critter with a camera. But that's called wildlife photography, not hunting.

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Originally posted by Kamo Gari:
Fishing IS hunting.

Kamo - I thought whaling was outlawed years ago???

Now thats fishing!
Only way it could be better is with bullets or nets!

Dad was a fisherman. He gave up hunting when I was very young. I'm told he was pretty good on birds.

Dad and his fishing buddies would go out early in the morning and fish for crappies all day. Hundred fish days weren't uncommon for two guys, and they threw back the little ones. To this day crappy is my favorite fish to eat.

I learned a lot about wildlife sitting in the bow of a John boat, cruising rivers, sloughs and swamps. I like to fish but don't have the passion for it that my dad did. I must have gotten all of it out of my system when I was younger.

I grew up fishing and have continued to fish to this day. I started hunting at 12 and hunted until I was 22, when i moved away from home to new job, married and started a family. Skied, softball, camped, and hiked. Started hunting again at 45 and now enjoy both.

To me fishing seems more like trapping. That is, you put the bait out and wait for the animal(or fish) to get caught. The difference is that one leaves the trap when waiting for an animal, but holds on to it while waiting for a fish. I love eating fish but do not have the patience to wait around for them just as when I set a trap for an animal I don't sit around and watch the trap. When my brother and I were kids I would talk him into going fishing with me and then leave the fishing hole with the BB-gun and look for birds to shoot. He seemed to be OK with the arrangement and I got to eat fish.

IOWADON you know, there IS fishing that doesn't involve the baiting and waiting game, right? lol


I am as much an avid fisherman as I am a hunter. I don't ice fish, although I might give it a crack this year, so my outdoors time is split into 2 seasons. No snow - fishing, snow - hunting lol. I usually start hunting in late Sept or early October, depending on what/where I'm hunting that year. I fish as soon as the fish start getting active enough to make it worth my trip. That can be March, April, or hell this year it was almost July!! My fishing is much like my hunting, depends on the time of year.

Early spring (still bitter cold at night) its time for walleye.

Late spring, time to go after bass that are putting on the feed bags for the spawn. Again, this varies considerably, dependent on weather.

I'll usually continue to fish for a mix of warm water/cool water fish up until about the end of June, then, its mountain time!

July - whenever ice hits, I'll usually be chasing trout up in the big mountain lakes or small streams. This year it was 90% small stream, and I did well! Trout fishing I think I have been skunked less times then I have fingers. Bass and walleye? Different story. Bass not as much, but eyes? Good lord, in 2 years of fishing for them from shore I think I have caught....8.

And, I almost NEVER bait fish, like maybe once or twice a year, and that is usually on a 2nd rod while I'm tossing lures. Ultralight rigs and line is what I do, usually a 5'6" UL, 6L or 6'6" ML, 3-6lbs line, usually 1/4oz or smaller lures, even for bass. I caught my best large and small mouth this year both on 5'6" 4lbs line with what most of you guys would consider itty bitty baits. The LMB I caught were all on 1/16th lead heads with Gulp! craws pre-spawn.

Tony:

Actually there is "catch and release" hunting. It's called "green" hunting and it is done with tranquilizing darts. SCI has record book categories for a variety of animals "taken" this way, including black and white rhino, jaguar, and I don't know what else has been added since I retired from my post as its editor in 1999.

At its worst, game farmers from southern Africa walk around hunting conventions with photos of animals they can provide for green hunts. At best, it helps fund research for jaguar studies in central and South America.

I used to fish a lot for everything from bluegills to marlin and sailfish, but it no longer interests me.

As for elitist fly fishermen, many are snobs who bore me. There is no magic to what they do. I can cast a fly as well as most of them.

As for catch and release, especially when light lines or tippets are used to prolong the fight, it seems more cruel to me than quickly killing the poor creature after you've dragged it out of its environment by its mouth.

Big game fishing is more like hunting, I'll grant you. You watch the birds and the water, and only when you feel conditions are right -- or you have seen a billfish leap -- do you set out the baits.

Hunting big game animals (I liken wingshooting to swatting flies) remains my major interest. It means going afield and searching for an animal, making a stalk, killing it, and finally, eating it.

Bill Quimby

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Originally posted by Outdoor Writer:

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
In actuality for me, there is very little difference between hunting and fishing.

For some, there is.

A fisherman can thoroughly enjoy all the sport and excitement of catching fish, just as a hunter can do with game. The big difference is fishermen can release their quarry unharmed.

This is why the elitest-type fly fishermen and others who vehemtly support only C&R fishing often look down on hunting as a sport.

Other than a hound hunter who "releases" lions and bears after the dogs put them at bay, there's no such thing as C&R hunting.

The only other type is capturing the image of a game critter with a camera. But that's called wildlife photography, not hunting.

quote:

A fisherman can thoroughly enjoy all the sport and excitement of catching fish, just as a hunter can do with game. The big difference is fishermen can release their quarry unharmed.

I have to agree with Tony on this, although, I don't release many fish.

In the overall scheme of the real human condition, hunting and fishing are the two things that allowed us, as a species to evolve to the point we have.

We are the dominant species on the planet, because we hunt and fish. I enjoy both, but of the two, giving up hunting would be easier than giving up fishing.

I can tell you I love hunting as much as anyone but. I love fishing just as much as hunting. The thing I like about it is you can do it all year long. I like to trophy hunt for Mule deer. The problem is I only get a good tag once every 3 to 5 years. I can trophy fish any weekend.
I did a 32 mile float trip in my one man pontoon this summer. I was looking for the next state record catfish. I never even got close but I got some good ones. I got most of these on an ultra light. I got a video of me catching a 30" catfish with an ultra light.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...0prk&feature=related





Then I decided to go REAL big. I went sturgeon fishing in my little boat. I can tell you for a fact this was just as much fun as shooting a big mule deer.




I even got a video of this sturgeon fight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...LMadnEah_9UQ&index=2

Idaho Ron,

You are my kind of fisherman. 32 miles on that rig would be a hoot. Good job.

I am a pretty good fisherman. However, I only fish when I am hungry for fish. I had not fly fished for 20 years and a year ago October proved I could still catch a pan full of trout on a fly rod. Catching an eating trout from mountain streams is one of the things I miss most about living in Colorado.

Perry

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Originally posted by billrquimby:
Tony:

Actually there is "catch and release" hunting. It's called "green" hunting and it is done with tranquilizing darts. SCI has record book categories for a variety of animals "taken" this way, including black and white rhino, jaguar, and I don't know what else has been added since I retired from my post as its editor in 1999.

Yeah, I forgot about that, but I'm not surprised SCI has a record book for it. Why miss out on the chance to make more money and sell more "awards" to its members.

Thankfully, "green hunting" isn't prevalent in the U.S.

quote:

Thankfully, "green hunting" isn't prevalent in the U.S.

Agreed!

Bill Quimby

I consider myself an outdoorsman rather than a fisherman or a hunter. I hunt in the fall, and fish in the spring and summer. When I was in highschool and had a lot more time on my hands, I trapped during the winter. My dad got me into all three at an early age, and I hope to do the same for my kids some day.

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Originally posted by Patricio Gaudiano:
I kind of feel the same way, I took up hunting mostly on my own but I dont allways have the patience for fishing, even though I do like it to some extent I would much much rather be hunting something.....

I am the same, even something kind of mundane like roo culling or sitting in a deer stand I would rather do than fish.

I only like to fish when I am catching them.

Winter's for hunting and Summer is for fishing.
Summer's a long time without fishing.
Thankfully I live in Texas where we have an abundance of good coastal fishing.

quote:

I consider myself an outdoorsman rather than a fisherman or a hunter. I hunt in the fall, and fish in the spring and summer.

I consider myself an outdoorsman also, the difference between me and you is, I hunt or fish whenever the opportunity presents itsself, regardless of the time of day or year.

In fact, I have combined the two many times, such as during the first half of duck season. I don't own a retriever, so I use a spinning rod with a topwater lure to retrieve the ducks I shoot. Many times while trying to hook the duck with the lure I have caught bass up to 5 pounds.

Interesting responses!

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I consider myself an outdoorsman rather than a fisherman or a hunter. I hunt in the fall, and fish in the spring and summer.

I guess I'm the inverse, being an outdoorsman only on account of being a hunter. Coming from an urban background as I did, opportunities for outdoor activities of any kind were few. The limited amount of time (and money) available had to be prioritized, and for me that meant hunting - specifically 4 footed animals shot with a rifle or bow.

Conversely, could it be that the all-around hunter/fisherman outdoorsman grew up in a rural setting where there were fewer opportunities for wholesome recreation that didn't involve a rod or gun? The country boy may have also run a trapline to earn extra money while the city boy had a paper route or mowed lawns. (I'm talking about "back in the day.")

As said in the original post, it's obvious that hunting and fishing are closely linked to each other. But there are differences. I've often wondered about this and the best way to explain is the angler is in his element above the water and the quarry in in their element below the water. The surface of the lake/river etc. represents a boundry between two very separate worlds. A skillful angler is able to, in effect, reach into that other world to acquire his prize.

The hunter, on the other hand, persues his quarry in the same realm. The only barrier between hunter and hunted is distance and the primary skill in hunting is to close that distance as much as possible. The interaction is much more personal. Marksmanship is another aspect. I love to shoot, be it paper or meat. Hunting give me the chance to put shooting skills to practical use and I'm guessing that there are a lot of hunters who are firearms enthuasists. The angler has to be able to cast his line with a degree of precision but its not the same skillset as choosing a specific point on a target and sending a projectile on its way. In fact, an angler who strikes a fish with his hook will very likely scare it away.

I had a discussion with a co-worker who was an avid and successful fisherman that had no interest in hunting. After a few adult beverages he admitted that he tried hunting but couldn't bring himself to shoot a furry animal. At first this sounded kind of silly. "Furry" for an animal is simply an environmental adaptation, just as scales are to a fish. And the life of a trout is no more (or less) significant than the life of any other wild creature. Then his words sunk in my skull a little deeper and it started to make sense. The fisherman normally does not look at his quarry and tell himself "I'm going to kill you." The death of a deer (for example) can be directly related to the death of a beloved pet or human being and the hunter has to come to terms with intentionally causing that death. Of course the fish also dies but it's a less visible, less dramatic and less personal event that's usually masked in the excitement of landing the fish. Maybe that's the reason why there are so many more anglers than hunters or hunter/anglers.

There's a flip side, of course. Once the hunter pulls the trigger or looses the arrow there's no calling it back. No way to have a last-minute change of heart. Unless the shot is a clean miss the animal is either dead, dying or maimed. The angler has the opportunity to catch and release if he has a change of heart. So the hunter and angler (or hunter/angler) are equally culpable, the hunter makes the decision to kill at the start of the encounter with his quarry while the angler makes the decision at the end of the encounter.

Just sharing some random thoughts on a dark, cold Wisconsin winter night.. Or maybe I'm overanalyzing. A buddy wants me to go ice fishing with him. He says it's an excuse to drink beer and talk stupid. That sounds as good of a reason to go as any!

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Conversely, could it be that the all-around hunter/fisherman outdoorsman grew up in a rural setting where there were fewer opportunities for wholesome recreation that didn't involve a rod or gun? The country boy may have also run a trapline to earn extra money while the city boy had a paper route or mowed lawns. (I'm talking about "back in the day.")

Interesting observation and there is possibly a lot of truth in it. Growing up where I did, I had a rifle, shotgun and rod/reel in my vehicle at all times. Moving to Fort worth in 1982 changed all that, and while I did get to fish a lot, hunting opportunities for the most part were slim.

Upon retirement in 2006 and beginning to spend more time back in the area where I grew up and eventually moving back up here in 2009, I reverted back to where I will have fishing stuff and hunting stuff in my vehicle at all times.

That way, whatever opportunity arises, I can take advantage of it.

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Moving to Fort worth in 1982 changed all that, and while I did get to fish a lot, hunting opportunities for the most part were slim.

Your statement brings up perhaps the biggest difference between hunting and fishing. It illustrates how the angler has a great advantage: access. The Earth is 3/4 water and riparian rights in this country means access to great fishing opportunities for just about everybody who wants to take advantage of it. From Maine to California, from Montana to Texas the hunter either has to struggle (or pay big $$) for a decent place to hunt. And we're losing hunting ground every minute of every day. To fish, you just need to make your way to the water. And there is just as much water on the Earth today as there was at the beginning of time. In fact, if you believe in the myth of global warming (excuse me, I meant "climate change") there will be even more places to fish as the sea levels rise.

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It illustrates how the angler has a great advantage: access.

Access is not the only advatntage. In many states, the angler also has a year-long season to enjoy his pastime to the fullest.

Here in AZ, I can pretty much fish every day of the year, especially since I have a lake less than 45 min. away. It holds largemouth, striped and white bass, as well as catfish and crappie.

As for making the decision to let fish live, other than a few from saltwater, I haven't kept a fish in more than 10 years.

A few recent catches, all of which were released.









My wife Ellen who holds the family honors with this 11.5 lb. goodie.



This is the last fish I kept -- a 60-lb. king from B.C.'s Rivers Inlet. I caught it with 17-lb test line on a bass rig.

I enjoy hunting or fishing more than being home on the internet talking about either.

Well put!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bigasanelk:
The angler has to be able to cast his line with a degree of precision but its not the same skillset as choosing a specific point on a target and sending a projectile on its way. In fact, an angler who strikes a fish with his hook will very likely scare it away.QUOTE]

Ummm, I'd have to disagree with you on that.
I'll reword this just a bit so we're talking apples for apples. Hunting requires marksmanship and fishing would be hook set. Both require practice and most likely some pointers from those who know what they're doing. In other words both require some level of skill.
I picked up marksmanship quicker than setting a hook. With shooting I could always tell on a target where I shot. Can't do that with a slow bop bop ten or twenty feet down. Then you have big differences between salt water near shore and off shore and fresh water.
Marksmanship is basically distance to target. Fishing is having some idea of what is biting - easier in fresh water than salt. Salt water you have ling and grouper which have a softer mouth so you don't want to jerk too hard. Then there's amberjack and kings which have a harder mouth and you want to immediately set the hook. Sharks you need to wait to set the hook so it's fully in its mouth.
So you see, it's not just set hook yank. A lot more nuances to fishing than hunting. IMHO
Then there's the whole issue of lure colors, topwater or bottom, worms, blah blah blah