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Granhaven

Thanks for posting that. It is very interesting.

While of course there is vast differences in traditions between different countries and cultures, I do like the attitude of respect and tradition displayed in your post.

For myself, while my Grandfather, G-Grandfather, G-G-Grandfather etc were all hunters, my father was not. Probably more out of being always left home to work while his father and brother went off to the hunts. So the hunting missed a generation. I on the other hand have the gene very much and basically taught myself to hunt and shoot alone. My personal attitudes of respect and beliefs in sporting behaviour when hunting come either from myself or from reading various writers including guys like Murray Mitchell. A great hunting elder.

In Australia there is a lot more "solo" hunting as well, and less group hunting. By solo I mean either by oneself, or in small groups of friends and usually similar ages.

Group hunting traditions do exist for example in the sambar hound hunting teams in Victoria, guys that duck shoot together every opening day each year, and similar groups.

But the strong syndicates, drive hunting, etc of Europe does not really exist here. So the Junior to Elder interaction does not exist as much.

Some of the European traditions personally I see as not necessary, eg rolling up sleeves

. Might be OK in Europe, but we have flies here, and blood on the sleeves will bring the flies and mosquitoes in. Also we might already have our sleeves rolled up, for God forbid being wearing short sleeves! Because it might be warm here.

Just some humour.

The idea of respect for the game, of using the meat is important I believe. While in Australia we often waste the meat, the game being feral often plentiful, or other reasons it being not utilised, it is often too simply laziness why meat is left behind. Gryphon and myself were just commenting on how one "internet hunter" held a rabbit in a rare photo last night. He held it by his finger tips as if in distaste.

I think the internet is VERY good for hunters in that it makes it easy for us to communicate and correspond even across continents. Make new friends, hunt with each other. Meet people of like mind. A great information resource.

But it is also true the internet is a very BAD thing often for the teaching of the young and newbie hunters. It is easy for the pseudo and keyboard hunters to pretend to be other than they are. And they almost always have a lack of respect for the game and hunting. "Deer is just another pest animal. Just shoot it and leave it rot, like a pig or goat or whatever. Who gives a ffff" is a typical like comment.

Funny thing they never are able to post any photos of what they have hunted.

Another regular comment is "its no one else's business, let every person do what they want, its up to them".

Often said in defence of unsporting practices. Often said by those wanting to make money from unsporting safaris and hunts. The above is called "putting the blinkers on" and don't see what you don't want to see.

NitroExpress.com will always TRY to be a good example and be a resource for teaching newbies, young hunters and experienced guys alike the right way to do things, respect for the game, sporting attitudes, or just new ideas, cultures and traditions to learn from.

Anyway, Granhaven, thanks for your comments. As you say, it takes generations to make a hunter, or at least the traditions of hunting.

NOTE: I'm going to start a new thread, probably cut and paste some or all of the stuff on here. It would be nice to hear from others on what traditions and cultural aspects they have in their hunting lives, and what they like and perhaps dislike too.

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John aka NitroX

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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"