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Are you kidding me?

gcr0003 said:
yall may be being a little uptight-ain’t nothing wrong with celebrating a little bit when it all comes together. I’m sure there is a blend of real reaction, theatrical reactions, and just plain staged ones, and the line is probably blurred by the fact that they are recording themselves for entertainment purposes. But I don’t watch those videos for their reactions anyway. I usually fast forward to the shot and recovery of the deer because that’s all I really want to see. I agree the real celebration comes when you’re dragging the deer out. I’ve been let down once or twice myself, and that will humble you real quick. I may tiger woods fist pump and say a let’s go under my breath if I see the deer drop in sight though.

Let’s play a game. Post a video with the timestamp of the celebration and everyone score it.
  1. Real / heartfelt
  2. Theatrical / Show boating
  3. Staged / Cringe

I think it’s only fitting @Jammintree share the first video that got him so worked up in the first place :tearsofjoy:
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Im gonna decline playing the game. I don’t see value in giving the video that inspired this thread more views.

We all celebrate a successful hunt, that’s natural, beautiful and primal. I’m just not into chest thumping like an NFL player at the superbowl while the majestic buck that I just shot may or may not be dying. As other have said - that’s a time for diligence because the hunt may be far from over and our ability to catalog what’s happening is of the utmost importamce. Another element here is the fact that these folks are PUBLISHING the killing of an animal. Because it’s potentially forever out there, the way we act has an elevated significance. These videos impact the behavior of other hunters and also how non hunters perceive us. I’m not suggesting that everyone should have the reverence fo deer that I do, but I am advocating for basic respect of the lives of the animals we pursue.
 
Jammintree said:
With all due respect, humans eat, sleep and deficate all under the same roof - In most cases all 3 activities happen within feet of one another. It’s very hard to claim the moral high ground on this one.
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You and I both know humans can’t be reduced to the same level as a deer. We don’t do all three in the same room.

You gave your opinion. I gave mine. Moral high ground? I just don’t believe a deer is any more sacred or worthy of respect than the billions of chickens we kill every year. That’s okay.
 
BeauWPS said:
You and I both know humans can’t be reduced to the same level as a deer. We don’t do all three in the same room.

You gave your opinion. I gave mine. Moral high ground? I just don’t believe a deer is any more sacred or worthy of respect than the billions of chickens we kill every year. That’s okay.
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If you’re saying that all creature great and small deserve our respect then I completely agree.
 
I can't stand the flat brimmers who immediately yell SMOKED him dude!

And worse are the idiots who run after turkeys with a loaded shotgun. The turkeys face just got annihilated by 100 pellets and we're running after him. Wholly smokes dude relax
 
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Jammintree said:
If you’re saying that all creature great and small deserve our respect then I completely agree.
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The terms of a discussion can’t be “if you disagree with me, you’re wrong”. That is a pointless conversation with little to gain. Hunters need to stick together, even when we disagree. We’re not the enemy. Running dogs is okay. Crossbows are okay. Baiting is okay. Private land is okay. Celebrating is okay. Not celebrating is okay. Spotlighting is…it’s not, but there’s a lot of other okay stuff.
Friends?
 
Jammintree said:
it’s seems like the new trend in YouTube videos is for the content creator to yell- “Let’s Go! Are you KIDDING me?!” After killing a big buck.

Everyone’s doing it.

Now I get that we are fired up on adrenaline. But we need to have more respect. We’ve just taken the life of one of the most majestic animals walking the earth.
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Gentlemen, brothers,fellow countrymen, apex predators lend me your ears.
As annoying as these phrases are. As ridiculous and wrong as staged excitement is for the camera, these young men are doing masculine things. They live in a culture ran by emasculating school teachers/professors. They are told all the time how toxic they are, how privileged they are, how masochistic they are. They are subtlety and overtly beat down constantly by the current zeitgeist of this culture.
But walk with me down the hallway of time.
Those voices of these young men will soon enough, if not already, be choked with tears and grief over their parents, siblings and Lord forbid, their children's deaths. Those fist bumping hands will have no father or mother or loved one to hold, they will hold regrets. Hopefully they will not grieve as those who have no hope. Hopefully they reach for the Good Shepherd.
I for one applaud these young men for living in the present and doing masculine, God given and primal activities. May we have more of these men.
And may all of us show them what mature men act like, with patient firmness. Building them up. They will need it.
 
When I celebrate, I'm celebrating the accomplishment I just achieved. It has nothing to do with the animal at all imo other than I just outwitted one of, if not THE most "intelligent" animals out there. I don't really get a rush at all until I put my hands on my deer, but my adrenaline is 1000% when hunting more dangerous things like 400 lb bears. lol. Also, I'd feel kinda funny celebrating all by myself out in the middle of the woods. Kinda like talking to yourself.
 
The thing that used to annoy the crap out of me in the days when hunting videos were all on TV or VHS was the shot that was obviously a re-take, not the original event. The one that annoyed me the most was one where the camera was steady, like on a tripod, with a close focus of the hunter following the blood trail. He stops and says "it goes down through there - oh, there he is" like he's surprised. Then without moving the focus changes to long distance showing the deer. A silly thing to be annoyed by, but that's me.
Now I'm doubly annoyed when they take a shot that I'm thinking "you're going to have a hard time finding that one" and they're doing the celebration and the "smoked him" routine not paying attention at all to the deer. Success is not taking a shot; it does not come until the deer is recovered. And I might argue that even with recovery, I personally might not consider it a success if the deer went a long distance. (Like the coach telling the team we won but played like crap.)
 
I’m a Bowhunter Ed, Hunter safety and Trapping instructor. Have been doing it for 26 years this month. Especially for bowshot game, our mantra after the shot….. wait, watch, listen…… Implied in that phrasing is very wise counsel. You are directing all of your senses on that animal. If you’re celebrating and the animal is still moving, you are putting yourself immediately at a disadvantage for efficient recovery.

It’s all about pragmatic game recovery. Ethically that’s what we as hunters need to be concerned with.

Celebrate once you wrap your hands around the antler bases or hold that does head in your hands etc.

For me, I have always thanked the Lord in my mind after the shot opportunity. I don’t know why and I don’t know how but something very primal from my creator does this. It overcomes me. A genuine feeling of thankfulness. I can honestly say I did this even before I was an active Christian. I do believe this is one of the many reasons I believe. He instilled this in us innately.
 
HuumanCreed said:
I also hate when they say "Smoked it!"

But yeah, until I respectfully place my shaking hand on the deer and give a little thank for the successfully recovering, its not a finished job. But that's why I average 10 views.....
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Why is always “I smoke him” then proceeds to show a far back shot, then backing out and dogs finding a chewed up by the coyote deer then next day….
 
BeauWPS said:
The terms of a discussion can’t be “if you disagree with me, you’re wrong”. That is a pointless conversation with little to gain. Hunters need to stick together, even when we disagree. We’re not the enemy. Running dogs is okay. Crossbows are okay. Baiting is okay. Private land is okay. Celebrating is okay. Not celebrating is okay. Spotlighting is…it’s not, but there’s a lot of other okay stuff.
Friends?
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I fully disagree with your statement I bolded. If I see bad behavior, it needs called out. I don't feel as though I need to cowtow to everything that happens within the hunting community because, well by golly, my disagreement could be bad for hunting. Conversely, perhaps the poor behavior is bad for hunting and needs addressed.
 
huntin_addict said:
I fully disagree with your statement I bolded. If I see bad behavior, it needs called out. I don't feel as though I need to cowtow to everything that happens within the hunting community because, well by golly, my disagreement could be bad for hunting. Conversely, perhaps the poor behavior is bad for hunting and needs addressed.
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There’s a time and place to stick together and there’s a time and place for discussion about our varied perspectives. As long as we are respectful of eachother and the rules put forth by our moderators, this forum can be a good place to talk about it.
 
huntin_addict said:
I fully disagree with your statement I bolded. If I see bad behavior, it needs called out. I don't feel as though I need to cowtow to everything that happens within the hunting community because, well by golly, my disagreement could be bad for hunting. Conversely, perhaps the poor behavior is bad for hunting and needs addressed.
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Respectfully, you would have to define every “bad” behavior and get every hunter on the face of the earth to agree on it. You would need to determine who is the arbiter of bad deer hunter behavior. The problem is many of us think we’re the arbiters of right and wrong and we’re not. What’s the penalty for bad deer hunting behavior?

I don’t understand the kowtowing sentiment. It’s not about currying favor. It’s about others forcing their opinion on you as if it’s fact. We’re getting worked up over NOTHING.

My statement you disagree with was said in the spirit and context of anti-hunting groups or governmental agencies wishing to strip away rights from one group of hunters and the rest of us allowing it because we don’t care for that style of hunting. i.e. Not supporting dog hunters or crossbow hunters because you don’t like them (I don’t use either of those methods by the way).

Its context can be further expanded to hunters judging other hunters through snarky remarks about the age of a buck, the size of the rack, the type of weapon, the method, public vs private, etc. If you can’t stand baiting and baiting is legal, you don’t owe it to someone who does bait to tell them how much you disagree with it unless they ask for your opinion. Otherwise leave the man alone. (I don’t bait.)

That’s the context of my statement. Meekness is not weakness. You can’t build yourself up by tearing others down. That’s my message.
 
BeauWPS said:
Respectfully, you would have to define every “bad” behavior and get every hunter on the face of the earth to agree on it. You would need to determine who is the arbiter of bad deer hunter behavior. The problem is many of us think we’re the arbiters of right and wrong and we’re not. What’s the penalty for bad deer hunting behavior?

I don’t understand the kowtowing sentiment. It’s not about currying favor. It’s about others forcing their opinion on you as if it’s fact. We’re getting worked up over NOTHING.

My statement you disagree with was said in the spirit and context of anti-hunting groups or governmental agencies wishing to strip away rights from one group of hunters and the rest of us allowing it because we don’t care for that style of hunting. i.e. Not supporting dog hunters or crossbow hunters because you don’t like them (I don’t use either of those methods by the way).

Its context can be further expanded to hunters judging other hunters through snarky remarks about the age of a buck, the size of the rack, the type of weapon, the method, public vs private, etc. If you can’t stand baiting and baiting is legal, you don’t owe it to someone who does bait to tell them how much you disagree with it unless they ask for your opinion. Otherwise leave the man alone. (I don’t bait.)

That’s the context of my statement. Meekness is not weakness. You can’t build yourself up by tearing others down. That’s my message.
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To be fair, hunters having a civil discussion about our behavior after shooting an animal is nothing like the examples you give above. Wether you like it or not the behavior of hunters on social media has an impact on all of us, not so much with anti-hunters, their minds are made up but, with the other 90% of America that falls in the middle.

A person shooting a deer and then fist pumping and yelling the latest cool phrase while the deer runs off with an arrow in its guts portrays a very different image to the general public then a person who shoots an animal and then shows some level of respect and humility.

Hunters can still stick together in the macro while having micro discussions about elevating our image. It will take both of these things to make hunting stick around for a while.

For example, Donnie Vincent’s media does a lot better job of keeping people that don’t hunt on our side than some of the other influencers that portray a less respectful image.
 
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So true so true…. Used to be the 80-10-10 rule. Unfortunately now? As you said more like 90-5-5 and potentially and unfortunately that 5% anti hunting maybe growing.

We as hunters need to convince the 90% that don’t necessarily have an opinion for or against hunting that we are a rational, science based group that are ethical and responsible and educate them about who actually pays for the state programs and other resources that manage and sustain not only wild game populations but also all the non game species that also benefit.

Acting with respect for the animal is of keen importance. We should be happy and have great joy for our ethical kills. We need to peer review when some could be interpreted as not having that respect. Unfortunately, perceptions are reality.

Always need to be mindful of that. Most of us are. Even most of the fist pumpers are I would argue….. but that perception that they are not is what taints when they do something like celebrate when an animal is still on its death run.
 
BeauWPS said:
My statement you disagree with was said in the spirit and context of anti-hunting groups or governmental agencies wishing to strip away rights from one group of hunters and the rest of us allowing it because we don’t care for that style of hunting. i.e. Not supporting dog hunters or crossbow hunters because you don’t like them (I don’t use either of those methods by the way).
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I may have personal preferences on hunting equipment and methods (SRT, one sticking, ECT). But the ONE area I will never get on board with is the dog hunting that happens out east. I have yet to hear a valid argument on why this should continue! I don't see or agree with the "skill" or tactics that these types claim, and the arguments of why this makes it a valid way of "hunting". I continue to hear it's our "heritage" and that's why it needs to stay. Sorry, but NO! There is a big lobby out east and this is why this hunting continues. But there is not fair chase at all in this type of hunting. Their dogs are allowed to trespass on property they do not have permission to hunt on. Driving deer out of that property. And when their dog is on that property and won't come back, they are legally allowed to retrieve their "property" without any repercussions whatsoever. I am surprised that the most popular animal rights and anti hunting lobbies have not made serious moves on this. It's such low hanging fruit for them to make a big deal of. Even most hunters that I talk about this, that have never heard of this being a way of legal hunting, think it's high unethical. It's lazy, not skilled, unethical way of SHOOTING deer. It's not hunting.

Sorry to derail a bit here. The dog hunting stuff strikes a nerve. Lol

**Oh and BTW, they are allowed to shoot the running deer from the road. Wow!
 
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