Lomadelray
AH member
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2015
- Messages
- 34
- Reaction score
- 105
- Location
- North Pole, Alaska
- Media
- 15
- Hunted
- Alaska
AH Friends,
I had to share an extremely disappointing conversation I recently had with a hunting acquaintance. I have not known this person long, having met him through a business relationship several years. I knew he was a well traveled hunter who has hunted North America and Africa for dangerous game. Through our common business dealings I began to like him; he was always friendly and personable and seemed like he was fairly squared away.
My opinion changed forever after we got to have an in depth conversation about hunting with several of our colleagues.
We sipped scotch and swapped tales of hunts and harrowing adventures. As usual the conversation turned to rifles and the best calibers for stopping dangerous game. Ultimately he shared a story about a grizzly bear hunt.
On said hunt he set out from camp and headed toward a bait station accompanied by teenage girl with little to no hunting experience. As they approached the bait they began to hear multiple bears moving in brush around the trail. The girl began to raise concerns about the bears proximity and aggressive behavior as they heard chuffing and the popping of jaws. She wondered aloud what she and he were doing there in the first place.
At this point I opined that it seemed a poor time and place to be having a conversation that should have taken place far earlier with a clear expectation of what hunting dangerous game in heavy brush would be like.
He responded that he was he was not worried because he had hunted this area multiple times and was carrying a rifle (I don't recall which make) chambered in 416 Remington.
He then said that through a small, maybe six inch square, opening in the brush he spotted a patch of brown fur about 20 yards ahead. He stated he could not tell which part of the animal it was or to what gender or age group the animal belonged, only that he was certain it was bear fur. He then placed his crosshairs on the patch of fur and pulled the trigger. He then ran forward to see what he had hit and was delighted to find that he "anchored" a nice boar by gut a gut shot.
Apparently mistaking the disgust on my face for enthusiasm he continued to gush about the massive "margin for error" of the 416 Rem.
There were so many things wrong with the scenario he described I found myself at a loss for words. My first instinct was to eviscerate him for being an ignorant unethical fool, for endangering a novice hunter, and for committing the cardinal sin of not clearly identifying what he was shooting at, nor knowing where on the animal his shot was going!
But chastising him in that setting would have been counter productive to the business at hand.
So I choked down the bile and held my tongue, and I hate myself a little for it.
With our business nearly concluded I will have little, although some, dealings with him in the future.
I just am still flabbergasted that this type of mentality exists, especially in an otherwise rational adult.
I don't really have a question for the group, other than can you f-ing believe this guy? Margin for error on a gut shot, are you kidding me? This wasn't a follow up on a wounded animal, this was a wing and a prayer on a six inch opening in the brush on God knows what kind of animal. I'm glad for the girl's sake it didn't turn ugly, but I kinda of wish the bear had slapped his face off.
Here is a couple of questions; what is the best way to broach this subject with him without completely torching the business relationship? Have any of you ever successfully showed an ignorant unethical hunter the error of his ways and produced a change of behavior?
Let me know your thoughts.
Cheers
I had to share an extremely disappointing conversation I recently had with a hunting acquaintance. I have not known this person long, having met him through a business relationship several years. I knew he was a well traveled hunter who has hunted North America and Africa for dangerous game. Through our common business dealings I began to like him; he was always friendly and personable and seemed like he was fairly squared away.
My opinion changed forever after we got to have an in depth conversation about hunting with several of our colleagues.
We sipped scotch and swapped tales of hunts and harrowing adventures. As usual the conversation turned to rifles and the best calibers for stopping dangerous game. Ultimately he shared a story about a grizzly bear hunt.
On said hunt he set out from camp and headed toward a bait station accompanied by teenage girl with little to no hunting experience. As they approached the bait they began to hear multiple bears moving in brush around the trail. The girl began to raise concerns about the bears proximity and aggressive behavior as they heard chuffing and the popping of jaws. She wondered aloud what she and he were doing there in the first place.
At this point I opined that it seemed a poor time and place to be having a conversation that should have taken place far earlier with a clear expectation of what hunting dangerous game in heavy brush would be like.
He responded that he was he was not worried because he had hunted this area multiple times and was carrying a rifle (I don't recall which make) chambered in 416 Remington.
He then said that through a small, maybe six inch square, opening in the brush he spotted a patch of brown fur about 20 yards ahead. He stated he could not tell which part of the animal it was or to what gender or age group the animal belonged, only that he was certain it was bear fur. He then placed his crosshairs on the patch of fur and pulled the trigger. He then ran forward to see what he had hit and was delighted to find that he "anchored" a nice boar by gut a gut shot.
Apparently mistaking the disgust on my face for enthusiasm he continued to gush about the massive "margin for error" of the 416 Rem.
There were so many things wrong with the scenario he described I found myself at a loss for words. My first instinct was to eviscerate him for being an ignorant unethical fool, for endangering a novice hunter, and for committing the cardinal sin of not clearly identifying what he was shooting at, nor knowing where on the animal his shot was going!
But chastising him in that setting would have been counter productive to the business at hand.
So I choked down the bile and held my tongue, and I hate myself a little for it.
With our business nearly concluded I will have little, although some, dealings with him in the future.
I just am still flabbergasted that this type of mentality exists, especially in an otherwise rational adult.
I don't really have a question for the group, other than can you f-ing believe this guy? Margin for error on a gut shot, are you kidding me? This wasn't a follow up on a wounded animal, this was a wing and a prayer on a six inch opening in the brush on God knows what kind of animal. I'm glad for the girl's sake it didn't turn ugly, but I kinda of wish the bear had slapped his face off.
Here is a couple of questions; what is the best way to broach this subject with him without completely torching the business relationship? Have any of you ever successfully showed an ignorant unethical hunter the error of his ways and produced a change of behavior?
Let me know your thoughts.
Cheers
