Has anyone who posts these “Some person on public land is doing something I don’t like what should I do?” Or “My neighbor does something I don’t like what should I do?” Threads considered just becoming friends with the offenders?
I mean, just take a smile and the benefit of the doubt and some grace and self awareness into the situation. Invite them for a beer, or a sandwich or coffee. See if they would like to hunt together or scout together sometime. Worst case, you inject a little decency into the situation, and they see you’re a human and you see them as human and they’re less spiteful. Medium case, they stop with the offending behavior because they now see it from your point of view, and realize they can do better. Best case you make a friend or someone that ends up saving your life in a pinch.
That sounds silly in 2022, I know. Talking to a stranger face to face with only good intentions and no expectations is unheard of these days. But surely, whining about it on the internet or calling the law has not made things better. What’s the worst that could happen? It seems like a more interesting use of your time anyway.
Another rule I’ve come to live by. If I encounter someone behaving in a way that most people wouldn’t, and it’s negatively impacting me, they’re usually having a much harder go at life than I am at that time. I either keep that in mind when interacting with them. Or I avoid them like the plague so they don’t bring me down too. Life’s too short, and there’s too many good places to hunt and fun people. Make a friend or go find less hunter density I say!
