Hunting and social media

[Doe Shooter]

I was busy out pulling game cams for the season and never finished my thoughts on this Rinella guy's blog.
I agree in general with his idea of spending less time posting big buck pictures on Facebook, but not his core reasons to no do it (if I interpreted his point correctly, as he rambles a little bit during his rant),
I don't agree at all that us "real?" hunters should keep quiet about our hunting so that less new people will go, and we who are left can have it all to ourselves with a lot more room, because we're running out of space to go hunting.
Isn't this greed and entitlement? Is he correct that there's no room for more hunters? There seems to be plenty of deer for wolves, coyotes, bears, and cougars to get a big portion of our deer herds, but he's saying that there's not enough deer to reach around for all the hordes of new hunters that social media has attracted to our sport? Maybe I totally missed his point, set me straight if I did
In PA in the early 2000's the game commission mismanaged and decimated our deer herd, and a fair portion of our generation of young hunters quit hunting altogether, including quite a few of my friends. Now the deer made a comeback and new people are picking up the sport. It appears to me that when there's more hunting opportunities a lot more people go, and when there's less hunting opportunities a lot of people quit.
Is anyone familiar with this fellow, cause I'm curious if there is a touch of sour grapes here, since his brother has attained a lot of fame and he hasn't...

We had a herd collapse some years ago. Recovery has been slow in my area of Illinois. I believe social media is a curse. Phones a mixed blessing. Our group uses them just to text. Agree with the shameless bragging is sad. I believe trophy hunting is a vanity thing. I've met some of the guys who pay incredible $$$$$$ on my neighbors place, but not just here. The move to other hot spots in Ohio,Indiana,Iowa the following weeks. Their big lake fishing boats cost more than my house. They shoot big deer. But they pay for it. I saw it coming. I bought ground in 1990. I think it's a sad state of affairs.

 

[Deuzekko]

Jumping in on this older post because the topic still feels pretty relevant. I’ve noticed more hunters around me stepping back from posting every little thing, but still using social media to learn and stay connected. I’m curious how folks here are handling that balance now. Have your views changed at all since this thread was active?

 

[catscratch]

Jumping in on this older post because the topic still feels pretty relevant. I’ve noticed more hunters around me stepping back from posting every little thing, but still using social media to learn and stay connected. I’m curious how folks here are handling that balance now. Have your views changed at all since this thread was active?

Some people I know post every little thing they do, and some don't. For me it kind of depends on the platform. I'll post habitat work and food plots that I've done on forums like this one, but never post on facebook what I'm doing. And I seldom post pics of the deer I've shot online at all, especially if it's a platform where people can figure out where I live.

 

[yoderjac]

Jumping in on this older post because the topic still feels pretty relevant. I’ve noticed more hunters around me stepping back from posting every little thing, but still using social media to learn and stay connected. I’m curious how folks here are handling that balance now. Have your views changed at all since this thread was active?

It is my experience that hunters generally go through stages. When they start, usually young, they just want to shoot something. If they are squirrel hunting with dad and see a chipmunk and it is legal to shoot, they want to shoot it rather than sit longer and wait for a squirrel. In the next stage, most want to tag-out on whatever game they are hunting. When they feel more accomplished, the next stage is the challenge stage. Some will want to use more primitive equipment, others want to shoot trophy size animals, and some will do both. I'd call the next stage enjoyment. Hunting becomes more about just being in the outdoors in the presence of game. Most become more selective in their targets. For example, folks will let smaller bucks walk, not because they need to shoot a large buck, but because it is a smart management decision in their particular circumstance. Some will pass an easy shot, simply because they don't have the energy to track and process it that day and call that hunt a success because they could have harvested, or just because they enjoyed the experience. I think the final stage is the give back stage. Some will focus more on management than on hunting. Some will focus more on mentoring the next generation of hunters than hunting themselves. What is the next stage? I don't know, I haven't gotten there yet.

None of these stages are isolated, many of them overlap. I don't think for most, not those trying to profit of influence, social media is much different than jawboning with friends down at the old local hardware or market. There were always braggarts and humble folks. Social media increases the size and visibility of those groups.

Forums like this are about the extend of my social media. Because of the work I was involved in, it was prudent for me to avoid social media when I was younger. I've never had a facebook account. I know there are far more non-members reading a forum like this than members who post. I generally post things that I think may have some benefit to newer hunters who may be reading the forum. I've made so many mistakes in my outdoor life that if I can help others avoid a few, it is well worth it.

 

[Mennoniteman]

Some people I know post every little thing they do, and some don't. For me it kind of depends on the platform. I'll post habitat work and food plots that I've done on forums like this one, but never post on facebook what I'm doing. And I seldom post pics of the deer I've shot online at all, especially if it's a platform where people can figure out where I live.

Well, I got a three point today even though the season isn't open, and I'm going to do something different, I'm going to post a picture here of me with this out of season three point