Captain Tred Barta - HUNTING: Tech Hunt

[Captain Tred Barta]

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Has modern technology taken the challenge and enjoyment out of this great sport? With participation and enjoyment at historic lows, technology like game cameras, modern blinds, scent blocking chemicals and other non-traditional methods may be to blame for removing some of the points that make hunting enjoyable. Let Captain Tred Barta give you his opinion on hi-tech hunting and its effects. Get into the forum and discuss with Tred how you feel about modernizing the sport and how it changes hunting in positive and negative ways.

[5 Salt]

Originally Posted by Captain Tred Barta

Get the Flash Player to see this video by Captain Tred Barta.

Has modern technology taken the challenge and enjoyment out of this great sport? With participation and enjoyment at historic lows, technology like game cameras, modern blinds, scent blocking chemicals and other non-traditional methods may be to blame for removing some of the points that make hunting enjoyable. Let Captain Tred Barta give you his opinion on hi-tech hunting and its effects. Get into the forum and discuss with Tred how you feel about modernizing the sport and how it changes hunting in positive and negative ways.

"...the trophy is measured by how hard you work..." That sums it up perfectly.

Tech of hunting has negatively impacted the sport and ultimately the satisfaction one nets from all that goes into a succesful "low-tech" hunt. It is the obstacles that one overcomes, in all things in life, that brings the greatest joy and self satisfication.

It's the journey that is to be regarded....

[pitch bait]

Times are changing and there arent as many animals as there where 20 years ago. Could it be because we have better scopes and faster bows or is it because all the free roaming woods are being turned into developments? The deer no longer have the land and forage to support a herd and some are dying off ( I live in NJ)? Im all for the modern stuff, fast bows, laser range finders, scent dispersing clothing, and trail cameras. All that modern stuff is great but you still have to out wit your game, so how much des it help? You have to beat its eyes, its nose, and get into its brain and decipher its next move. The modern stuff gives the hunter that dosent have the time to put in and scout the woods, and learn how to hunt the wind, and learn how to shoot a long bow the chance to harvest an animal. A trophy is different in everyones eyes, the steps that you take to get you to that point as long as its legal shouldnt matter. Tred, I think doing it your way, the hard way is great. I enjoy seeing how it is done, but for me, I dont feel comfortable doing it your way. I think for me to try to shot a deer with a long bow would be unethical because Im not sure I can put the arrow in the vitals 10 out of 10 times. That one time that I gut shot and wound a deer to me isnt right. I know it happens but if I can avoid it Im going to. To me trophys are big bucks. Im going to use what I think is going to give me the best advantage that when that monster buck gives me the shot oppertunity I can capitalize on it with the smallest percentage error. My question is this, why the GPS when fishing, 30+ knot boats, two speed 6to1 ratio reels, spider wire for more line capacity, electric teaser reels, side scan sonar, ect, ect ect. Why not wood boats 13 knot cruise, bambo out riggers, star drags with dacron, cedar plugs and feathers, paper charts, and no air conditioning? I know why because back when they used that stuff there were no doubt more fish and closer runs and cheaper fuel. So now in the day of less deer, less woods, and a bad economy where people have to work two jobs to make a living we use every possible advantage we can to make the best of our time in the woods. Just my opnion. Great thread.

[stuntdogs]

Originally Posted by Captain Tred Barta

Get the Flash Player to see this video by Captain Tred Barta.

Has modern technology taken the challenge and enjoyment out of this great sport? With participation and enjoyment at historic lows, technology like game cameras, modern blinds, scent blocking chemicals and other non-traditional methods may be to blame for removing some of the points that make hunting enjoyable. Let Captain Tred Barta give you his opinion on hi-tech hunting and its effects. Get into the forum and discuss with Tred how you feel about modernizing the sport and how it changes hunting in positive and negative ways.

Tred,
I agree with a lot that you said. I have always stated that the trophy is determined by the size of the effort, not the size of the antler. As far as the long bow vs. the compound, I have hunted with both extensively, and believe that the compound has made the sport better in terms of lethality.The learning curve and accuracy factor have been significantly improved for those who do not have time to exercise the discipline required to become truely proficient with traditional means, but still want to enjoy the sport. Increased participation is good for all of us.

Spot and stalk archery is my favorite hunting method. Although I must admit that I own, and utilize, several trail cameras, and treestands for those times when I am restricted by property boundries and am relegated to stand hunting. I do not see stand hunting and the use of cameras as a sign of unethical hunting strategies so much as a means to hunt in a society that has abandoned a nomadic, boundryless lifestyle of the hunter gatherer. Small huntable parcels are now the rule not the exception, but that hunter instinct still lurks within the soul of each of us, what is one to do if he can not hunt with the "wind in his face" abandon the sport? No, again participation is good for all of us.

As a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, I am also thankful for those who have sacrificed for us to excercise our rights to hunt and to bear arms. Based on that experience, however,I will say that a supported firing position, be it military sling and snapping in position, or a pair of shooting sticks, is a much more accurate, and ethical shot selection in most instances. Fewer wounded animals, and accurate shot placement is good for all of us. Again there is no denying that proficientcy with ones weapon is the paramount consideration.

Overall Tred I Do agree with you. I just don't think that you got it all right. In a country where the pork chop or steak is readily available in the meat dept. of the local supermarket, I believe that technological advances are a tool that enable a good number of people to stay in touch with their most base instinct, To Hunt!!

Keep up the good work, and thanks for your opinion.

Stundogs, Belding Michigan

[Gurn]

I posted this vedio on the ADK Sportsman site and heres what I added.


My prospective is this. If a man as set in his ways as Tred Barta can say I will defend your right to hunt anyway you chose. Why can't we all get on board with that. I myself have hunted in just about every scenario he brought up, and have ended up with the longbow as my primary weapon.
But I could easily hang out and talk hunting with a feller that just shot a critter in a high fence set up, over a big pile of bait. Don't care if he used a rifle, crossbow or what. I would be interested in his hunt, give him respect, and defend him to anyone.
Does anyone remember the story of the Cannibals?

[Dave Sikorski]

I agree that no matter how someone hunts, if they follow the laws and respect the game they harvest, they're a friend in my book.

I am personally against high fence hunting, but I have taken a number of animals over a bait pile.

I shoot one of those fancy muzzleloaders b/c they're easy to clean and I'm lazy. Out of the dozen of so whitetails I've taken with it, none have been outside 75 yds.

I bought a fancy high speed bow a few years back b/c I figured faster is better. Yep, I've missed and wounded some deer since I bought it.

I have bought scent lock stuff, but find myself wearing regular stuff that I wash with baking soda more often. I make my own cover scent, but have a few bottles of commercial stuff on the shelf in the garage. I don't think the deer know the difference, and if they do I'm usually seeing the white end of them. The wind still matters.

Everything I have bought has been a personal choice. A choice I am very thankful to have. No matter what I wear on a given hunt, or what I choose to shoot, the game still tastes the same on the table. It also means just as much to me if I load it on my ATV or carry it over my shoulder.

To me, all of the game I harvest is a trophy, and I hope others feel the same.

Regardless of all of the technology we use to help harvest game, never count out mother nature. I've seen the biggest bucks on cameras that have never been seen by skilled hunters. I've seen deer in a neighborhood act more "wild" then a deer that has never seen a human. I've seen folks with $1k+ shotguns and robo ducks spinning miss just as much as the guy with a rusty old 870.

-D

[JimmyG]

Originally Posted by pitch bait

Times are changing and there arent as many animals as there where 20 years ago. Could it be because we have better scopes and faster bows or is it because all the free roaming woods are being turned into developments? The deer no longer have the land and forage to support a herd and some are dying off ( I live in NJ)? Im all for the modern stuff, fast bows, laser range finders, scent dispersing clothing, and trail cameras. All that modern stuff is great but you still have to out wit your game, so how much des it help? You have to beat its eyes, its nose, and get into its brain and decipher its next move. The modern stuff gives the hunter that dosent have the time to put in and scout the woods, and learn how to hunt the wind, and learn how to shoot a long bow the chance to harvest an animal. A trophy is different in everyones eyes, the steps that you take to get you to that point as long as its legal shouldnt matter. Tred, I think doing it your way, the hard way is great. I enjoy seeing how it is done, but for me, I dont feel comfortable doing it your way. I think for me to try to shot a deer with a long bow would be unethical because Im not sure I can put the arrow in the vitals 10 out of 10 times. That one time that I gut shot and wound a deer to me isnt right. I know it happens but if I can avoid it Im going to. To me trophys are big bucks. Im going to use what I think is going to give me the best advantage that when that monster buck gives me the shot oppertunity I can capitalize on it with the smallest percentage error. My question is this, why the GPS when fishing, 30+ knot boats, two speed 6to1 ratio reels, spider wire for more line capacity, electric teaser reels, side scan sonar, ect, ect ect. Why not wood boats 13 knot cruise, bambo out riggers, star drags with dacron, cedar plugs and feathers, paper charts, and no air conditioning? I know why because back when they used that stuff there were no doubt more fish and closer runs and cheaper fuel. So now in the day of less deer, less woods, and a bad economy where people have to work two jobs to make a living we use every possible advantage we can to make the best of our time in the woods. Just my opnion. Great thread.

I am a tech guy I shoot a very fast bow 352 FPS "speed kills",With that speed I can use one pin up to 40 yards for a clean ethical kill. Believe me with using all my gadgets and technology it's still quite a challenge to harvest a deer in southern NJ Pine Barrens! I see these guy on TV pointing and whispering to each other when a deer is coming in...not gone a happen here! These deer are on springs especially late season, I have a video camera mounted on my bow & stand and with slow motion, as fast as my bow is i still have had deer drop under the arrow! Now on the other hand my son Steve is on the USA Archery team and after traveling the world with his friends on the Olympic team he wants to take off the "training wheels" and try out for the next Olympics...so I guess to each there own!

[Captain Tred Barta]

Hey everybody, appreciate your input and I've read each one of them carefully. I want to compliment everyone here, it's great to be on this site where the mumbo-jumbo is kept to a minimum and people really have something to say. In one way or another, no one is really disagreeing with what I'm saying but everyone has a different style, different weapon, and different technique in hunting. I would never be arrogant enough to tell anyone how to hunt or what to hunt with.

I would like to make a few observations. Each one of us carries our own ethic into the field. Each one of us defines what a trophy is to himself. But in life, all of us know, the harder you make it, the harder it becomes. The harder you try, the easier "the hard way" is. Therefore, my point is, I know the precision of making a great 500 yard shot with a rifle, because in my life, I've made that shot. But you ought to feel the excitement and the fufillment when you release a home-made wooden arrow at a Grizzly Bear at 8 yards. At that point, you're scared for your life. And there is a general feeling of terror and yet a feeling of calmness and a primal urge that's fed that I believe can't be felt at 500 yards. The greatest negative aspect of technology is the disconect between you, the game and the fact that you took a life. When you stick a knife in a wild hog and his life extinguishes, you can literally feel it in your hand. This is not about disrespecting life, it's about respecting how perishable life is. It's about understanding the value of life and the value of your trophy. Perhaps all of us as hunters should experience 500 yards but also should put ourselves in the position to take a life at 5 yards. Food for thought, have a great weekend.

[BruceGibson]

Originally Posted by Captain Tred Barta

"...my point is, I know the precision of making a great 500 yard shot with a rifle, because in my life, I've made that shot. But you ought to feel the excitement and the fufillment when you release a home-made wooden arrow at a Grizzly Bear at 8 yards. At that point, you're scared for your life. And there is a general feeling of terror and yet a feeling of calmness and a primal urge that's fed that I believe can't be felt at 500 yards. The greatest negative aspect of technology is the disconect between you, the game and the fact that you took a life. When you stick a knife in a wild hog and his life extinguishes, you can literally feel it in your hand. This is not about disrespecting life, it's about respecting how perishable life is. It's about understanding the value of life and the value of your trophy. Perhaps all of us as hunters should experience 500 yards but also should put ourselves in the position to take a life at 5 yards..."

I tend to agree TB. At the rate we're going, what hunting goes on won't amount to much more than shooting cattle in a pasture from the back of a pickup.

[BearRecurve]

I agree completely, all my friends hunt compound with sights, and releases and all that gimmick crap. I hunt with a Bear 55 LB. Kodiak Magnum, Custom cedar shafts, and Zwickey broadheads and they make fun of me for it because I can't get a group of arrows in a 3 in diameter at 25 yds. They all shoot deer at 45yds and they call it bow hunting. Just last week I was hunting a natural ground blind since I already got my buck from a wood ladder stand my dad and I made and I already shot a nice buck I wanted a fat doe to end my season. It was about 8:30 when a doe and two fawns popped out of the woods about 120 yds away and worked down the trail towards me. The doe got with in 2 yds of me and when I say 2 yds I mean 2 yds, 6 feet. She kinda turned her head back to her fawns and I started drawing when she turned back around and noticed me and jumped a little and ran about 5 yds. then I shot and missed. I rushed the shot, in the heat of it all I broke my concentration, at least it was a clean miss. I still consider that hunt a success, I accomplished what i set out to do, get into bow range on the ground which I've never done before. To me that is what bow hunting is. Its being able to see each hair on the deer, see the sun reflect in their eye or hear their young chewing on acorns in the back. If anybody wants to shoot deer at 45 yds wait until gun season if you want a thrill of a lifetime and a memory to last forever get a deer to come within 2 yds of you. Fred Bear said it best "...there's more fun hunting with the handicap of the bow than there is hunting with the sureness of the gun." and when you add sights and releases you turn the handicap of the bow to the sureness of a gun.