Thread: Long-range hunting: is it sporting?

I respectfully disagree about some of what's been said about Tony or the old guard in general. As much as I admire everyone's right to hunt the way that makes you feel good and allows you to enjoy the outdoors, I think it's important to remember that this country has a very rich history of hunting in a style (bush stalking) which has very much been eroding in many other parts of the world. Alongside that style of hunting, and the pioneers (many of whom were hardcore by today's standards), who helped drive the sport of hunting in this country, were examples of bushcraft and kiwi know-how, which is just not as common today. And I'm writing this from the perspective of someone who grew up in the city.

I think longrange hunting has unfortunately attracted some people who see it as a one way ticket to shooting animals without the need to learn all the other nitty gritty stuff that technology and money cannot buy (Bush sense, appreciation for the outdoors etc). The older guys are then hinging the newer discipline on the unfavourable (in their eyes) mentality of individuals who start out as shooters, and gravitate towards hunting with the goal of practicing on live targets... and not getting into the sport with 'knowledge from the farm' (so to speak).

So, in short, I believe it to be a stigma thing. But a lot can be learned from these hunters of old, and I think we shouldn't be so quick to write them off. They grew up and hunted in a different era. :0) We can still learn a lot from them, and if they want to be skeptical, so be it.

In 50 years from now when all the kids are using drones to zap deer, I'll call them a bunch of new age fuckers, before re inserting a straw in my nose and snorting my soup.