Is hunting on a ranch really hunting?

[CoRoMo]

Oh. Another "I don't think ____________ type of hunting is really hunting" thread. Yipee.

...from the OP's hit and run tactics that he or she isn't really interested in an truthful factual answer.

As I understand the manner in which the mods here use the terms troll/trolling, this OP should fit the definition. He's just trying to get the reaction he did.

 

[ATF]

I have no problem with big ranches if i could afford it i would.. But where i live there thousands of public acres to hunt on. But i do live in the north part of the state and theirs no commercial crops grown here.. So every body and his brother with more than a half acre has a corn feeder.. And its legal in Arkansas to hunt over bait and i have seen deer come running when they hear them go off.. If you go out and scout an area found a natural food source,bedding spot,rubs,trails to me thats hunting..

 

[Oathkeeper1775]

Defining ethics are we?

Example of a deer taken on a ranch:

I shot a deer a while ago while I was doing some fence work (on my ranch). Since I can call it what ever I like, I choose to call it a harvest, a legal clean kill. My ethics could be questioned, but who cares?

Summary:

I don't care if a person puts a feather in their hat for shooting a confined animal, but I do care if the kill is a clean and/or humane kill. In a manner of speaking, all animals are confined to various degrees, are they not?

It won't be too much longer before the so-called "unsportsmanlike" hunters become trusted and valued partners in the war against firearm ownership, why wait?

 

[scythefwd]

Some of those "Ranches" are larger than the WMA I hunt.

 

[noob_shooter]

damn.. so many responses.. (I have been busy and no, I wasn't trolling) I didn't read all of the responses, but i'm sure i got flamed or hated on for even starting this thread....but anyways...................

I've never hunted on a ranch, but I think it's pretty lame. I was watching on the outdoors channel and these hunters were hunting for antelopes in this ranch in texas, I think. A few dudes walked around, spotted a ton of antelopes around 400 yards away (plain grass field), the hunter dials in wind speed and such....... BANG!.. DEAD.. lame.

Another ranch that was just filled with God knows how many deer (Most bucks i've seen in my life on a property). Hunter pick a spot, set up a blind/treestand... waits and kills a 10 pointer. Maybe it's just me or something, but I picture hunting more like venturing into a true wild forest and not some land with electric fences LOL blocking the animals in.

Again it's just me. Didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings if you enjoy hunting on ranches. That doesn't make you any less of a hunter vs me. I just think it's silly. I called it lazy hunting. If you're gonna hunt, put aside some time into it. A ranch = A giant zoo with animals. It's like a farmland with cows, chicken, and pigs.. Feed them until they're ready to be eaten and then kill them..lol!

 

[noob_shooter]

And.. hunting with guides guiding you is so lame.... Maybe it's just me, but i like to do my homework when it comes to hunting. I like surprises and never knowing exactly what will run into me or i will run into. Not just pay someone to take me to this awesome secret spot and kill a trophy animal because we all know there's a ton waiting for me already. What's the point of hunting really then?

I'm gonna take my girl friend hunting for the first time this season.. I asked her, "how do you feel about me taking you to a ranch /property with a guide to kill a trohpy deer?". She responded, "you mean like on the outdoors channel sometime? That's boring... That's not even hunting. I like to explore and spend countless hours in the woods wondering around."

LOL! she's not even a hunter and she automatically responded like that...

 

[BK]

I've never hunted on a ranch, but I think it's pretty lame.

At least you're speaking from experience.

-i like to do my homework when it comes to hunting.

This is incorrect. You like to make ridiculous statements about activities that you've never experienced for yourself.

 

[noob_shooter]

BK,

Seriously? haha! I've experienced the true nature of hunting far more than you... I've hunted in Laos/Thailand jungle using wooden spears, home made long bows, and cheap russian rifles with open sights and i thought they were accurate. I never had your 1/8 MOA rifles or those awesome modern compound bows. My dad wasn't able to sit 100 yards away to shoot at an angry boar. Those boars there are no joke vs the ones here. They've torn up countless hunting dogs. Even splitted one of my dad's buddy's son's head open and killed him.

BTW, i was born and raised in Laos and came to the U.S... So now you know why i think hunting on ranches is lame. Try the jungle sometime if you have time. It's been over 20 years.. Last I heard, there are now guides to guide hunters into the depth of the jungle.. even so, there's a chance, bandits will still ambush and slaughter everyone. Not joking! Back then, my dad and I was on our own waaayy deep in the jungle somewhere over the mountains.

I don't regret not being able to hunt on ranches.

 

[kyle1974]

So basically....it's only "hunting" if the piece of land you're on sucks and has very little game?

 

[noob_shooter]

btw, those dangerous Africa wild hunts are also lame. Riding on a truck with several guide. I could see why those instant oil change and other quick service places make so much money. Some people are either too lazy to do it themselves or just doesn't know how..

Reminds me of some hollywood men stars paying surgeons to implant fake tissues into their chest to make them look bigger instead of actually hitting the gym.. LOL!

Once in a while on the outdoors channel, I would see some shows showing a bunch of hunters wondering the public land mountains of CO chasing elks around. That was a good show. Forgot the name of the show... Most of the shows on the Outdoors Channel (Lee and Tiffany to be one of them), are pretty much all about hunting on a ranch..

 

[noob_shooter]

kyle1974,

Little or huge number of games....... It's about doing your homework. Taking your time scouting and you know, doing the necessary stuff. Would you feel better if you were able to repair your car yourself to get it running or take it to the mechanic shop? Maybe it's just me.. I like doing things myself and nothing feels better than being able to accomplish something on my own. Once in a while, we all need other people's help, but hunting on a ranch with a guide shouldn't be one of them...Handicapped hunters are different, so they must have a guide.. That's understandable. Speaking of handicapped people..... Ever seen people holding up signs at a busy intersection that says, "Need $$$" or "Will work for food"? My dad hates it. He is handicapped and doesn't understand how a perfectly normal, young person is able to stand there all day holding a sign, but too lazy to look for a job. If my dad could trade his montly SSI $$$ for those people's health and physical abilities, he would.. How a perfectly normal hunter can't just go out and scout.............lol. My dad is handicapped, but not disabled. He can still walk, talk, run (somewhat), climb.. Just can't do it for an extended amount of time. He can't stand for a long time...etc. He is not allowed to work. Funny thing is, he has had a ton of success hunting deer with his crossbow on public lands on his own without any help from me or anyone. So many years as a gorilla fighter during the vietnam war must have toughened him up pretty good.



anyways, don't take anything too personally...

 

[kyle1974]

what do you think a "ranch" is?

a "ranch" is "land".... it doesn't mean having a guide, or having someone lead you to the animal.

perhaps they don't have property rights in Laos. I can't speak for that.

 

[noob_shooter]

After watching a ton of shows on the outdoors channel, I get the feeling that a 'Ranch' is a private owned land surrounded by fences to fence the animals inside. Hunters come to these ranches and pay $$$$. They can choose to hunt alone or hunt with a guide. One thing is almost guaranteed: The hunters have a super high chance of killing a trophy animal. They know there are animals and a lot of them in that property. That's 100%.

It's like a business........So give me your definition of a "ranch.." I will be lucky to shoot a small doe this season with my compound bow.. I haven't been back to Laos for over 20 yrs, so who knows...

 

[noob_shooter]

it's a forum, so let's not take it too personally. At the end of the day, everyone is entitled to their own opinions. I won't be back for a few days since i'm a busy guy.. again, i'm not trolling.

opening weekend is this weekend in WI.. Good luck to you guys.

 

[kyle1974]

I own a ranch... does that mean it's not hunting when I go there? there are ranches that have no deer, some deer, or a lot of deer. Some ranches have goats some ranches have cattle, some ranches have sheep, some ranches have oil production. A "ranch" is just land.

If it's any consolation, we have illegal aliens near our ranch... likely some cartel members who will gladly kill you if you get in their way while they transport drugs or more illegal aliens.

Maybe I should import some fugitives from Laos to make it "real hunting"?

 

[jbkebert]

I have only hunted one ranch so I have limited experience. Like I said above the place covers 10,000 acres. That is roughly 15 sq miles. The ranch is bow hunting only. My good friend who has hunted this place 15 times in 8 years. He has come home empty handed more times than not. Last year out of the 7 of us who went. Only three took game. Myself being the only one to take two animals.

The reason we all go is to get away from it all. We are all small business owners who are slaves to the cell phone. Its just nice to get away hunt relaxed and just have a good time. If you are wondering we all bring and set our own stands. Yes we listen to the ranch owner and head his advice. It would be stupid not to. We do not go out with guides the ranch owners drop us off close to our stands and pick us up at night.

The ranch is awsome yes there are plenty of game animals. Yet as you know with archery nothing is certain. if given a rifle the place would be really pretty easy. That's why I don't hunt with a gun. I own 160 acres that i know inside and out. i just bow hunt my property. However if you came and wanted to hunt on my place. You to would be wise to head my advice on where to start looking. Or does that also make it a unworthy hunt??

Folks keep talking about public land. Yes that is great if available. Kansas is 94% privately owned. TX roughly 99% private. So I assume that if you don't own land and live in one of these states. You shouldn't hunt. Perhaps we should go back to Europe where hunting is a elitist venture.

 

[H&Hhunter]

After watching a ton of shows on the outdoors channel,

Noob that just about says everything I need to now about you and your "vast" knowledge base.

BTW They are elk not elks. After you graduate Jr. high come back and talk tell us how much more "experienced" you are. You remind me VERY much of another highly "experienced" hunter who claimed to be lawyer, had hunted 80 countries, and knew everything there was to know about hunting. Except how to post a picture. All pretty impressive for a 13 year old.

You wouldn't happen to know who that was would you? He'd be about 16 now.

I and I'm sure the good folks here in THR would love to see some of your jungle hunting pictures. Or did the "bandits" steal your camera?

 

[WTBguns10kOK]

Hunting on a ranch just admits to the world you can't really hunt without help and that you're not content with taking animals in the wild.

 

[BK]

I've experienced the true nature of hunting far more than you...

If you know so much about me, tell me more. I'll be happy to point out all the ways you are wrong. As you can guess, I'm Native American, and if you want to do some primal chest beating, I'm certain that I can hold my own with you.

I won't be back for a few days-

You mean you are not able to back up anything you've claimed? Why am I not surprised.

You have no knowledge. You have no experience. You have no facts. And now, You have no credibility whatsoever. Congratulations. But you do have a few empty claims and you have a lot of , those are yours.

-i like to do my homework when it comes to hunting- -watching a ton of shows on the outdoors channel-

Indeed.

 

[kyle1974]

where exactly are people in texas supposed to hunt, if they don't hunt on a ranch? 99% of the land here is private. The 1% that is public isn't even all open for hunting.

 

[Vyacheslav]

so, because you came from a 3rd world country where the people are too stupid to use safe hunting practices when going after dangerous game, you think it's "unsporting" to go on a guided hunt?

 

[22-rimfire]

Noob Shooter, good to see you back. It has been a spirited thread.

With regard to many of the programs on the Outdoor Channel... I'm still looking for that field that I can set a tree stand up along the edge and have a huge buck just walz up to me when he has the whole field to feed on. I gave up hunting fields with a bow. You see deer, but they are all 100 yds or more away.

Most of the larger ranches in Texas really are fair chase. Hunting is a business which the owner works to make it so, but in most cases you can't arrive one day and have a 150+ BC buck come within shooting range without some help or a lot of luck.

But I know how you feel sort of. When I lived in Texas, I had some of the same thoughts, but I have spent many many days inside these ranches in South Texas and you simply don't see the number of large bucks you see on the Outdoor Channel at these places. The films are heavily edited over a period of days and sometimes a week of hunting. The show would not be very interesting if they didn't score at some point. And it certainly would not be very good advertising for the hunter not to get that buck.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

As a person who owns and operates a 950 acre high fenced ranch... LOL.

Yes, we can guarantee you that if you come out to hunt on our ranch, we can get you a trophy buck. Not because it's so damn easy to find any particular deer inside 950 acres of roaming area, which magically creates big deer because it has a fence around it.. but because after more than a decade of very careful land management and herd culling, we have whitetail that are far superior to wild deer in the region. It's also because the "guides" on our ranch are the family members who have made that previous decade possible and know the ranch and deer on it by heart. We know how many 140, 160, 180 and 200+ class bucks we have on the ranch and where they are likely to be.

Believe it or not, the kind of work that is required to produce a superior herd costs a lot of money. That's why you don't get to hunt alone on our ranch. If you have $1,500 to spend, you don't get to shoot the $10k buck. Sorry.

Now, if you want some "wild" hunts, you can always go after the 3-400lb hogs we haven't managed to get rid of. We know where they are, but not even I'm stupid enough to go into that patch of cedars...

Of course, it might take a full week of going out every morning and evening to get your deer... They are deer after all, not guaranteed to show up where even the people that know them most will expect them. But hey, that's hunting.

Now, if someone still wants to tell me that when a dad brings his kid out to our ranch and we set him up so he gets his first buck... that look on the kids face isn't what it's all about.. You just don't get it at all then.





PS: Yes, our fence is in fact to keep the local deer out. When in the past our fence has been taken down by storms or other things, our deer have stayed put. They aren't stupid, they know our habitat is much better than the over grazed cattle and goat land around us.

PSS: It's illegal to bring in whitetail from Canada or other states as someone suggested. "northern genetics" are introduced into southern herds by sperm brokers and AI.

 

[Robert]

After watching a ton of shows on the outdoors channel,

So you've never really been on a ranch or in the field have you?

those dangerous Africa wild hunts are also lame.

Ever been to Africa?

Try the jungle sometime if you have time.

Try hunting the Rocky Mountains during 3rd or 4th rifle season if you are looking for a challenge. Don't need bandits here, the weather and mountains will take care of you if you are not careful.

Until you post something more than just drivel deriding everyone else's hunting styles, you know like actual pics of you in the field or with an animal you shot, I will agree with H&H.

He'd be about 16 now.

For the record this was taken November of last year on my Elk hunt. I am the one 2nd from the left in the back. The guy on the left end is a THR member as well. We are both well known to H&H if you are not willing to take my word.

 

[Loosedhorse]

The hunters have a super high chance of killing a trophy animal. They know there are animals and a lot of them in that property. That's 100%.

It's like a business........So give me your definition of a "ranch.." I will be lucky to shoot a small doe this season with my compound bow

So, what's wrong with that? A high chance of "failure" is not a necessary element of hunting. Fair chase is.

Who in their right mind would pay to hunt somewhere and have the same small chance at the same small doe that you'll have? Doesn't make sense. A private hunt would have to offer either a higher chance of success OR more impressive animals to attract hunters. (And, as Click points out, the providers of such hunts get to charge a fair price.)

A high chance of success--even a track record of 100% success over, say, a 4-7 day hunt--doesn't mean that no hunting was done. I have spent days looking over animals--sometimes lots of them--without shooting one, either because I didn't find one worth shooting, or couldn't get a clear (ethical) shot. And there were other days that I saw every animal in creation...except for the species I was hunting for.

Those were still good days! The fact that I eventually did get what I was after means it wasn't hunting?

It begins to sound a lot like sour grapes: you've never done a ranch hunt, you have a low chance of success--so based on the "reality" of a 30-minute TV show, plus what you "imagine" it's like, you decide it's not true hunting?

And let's talk about "not hunting." Outside of hunting, as Oathkeeper points out, there is still the legitimate killing of and trading in animals--anyone who's ever had a hamburger or a leather belt should know that. Would I pay for the opportunity to shoot an animal without fair chase? No--I've even turned it down "for free." But I'm not everyone, and as long as it's legal, humane, and not mis-represented as "a hunt," well, so what?