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Don't like the term "Orange Army"

There was a guy that encountered a homeless man outside of a store and the man asked him for money. He said no, but when he got inside he thought to himself, I'll buy that guys some food. He picked up some fried chicken and a couple of other things and when he exited the store the homeless man was gone. When he got home his girlfriend said "whats with the fried chicken"? He told her the story about the homeless man and how he thought it would be nice to get him some fried chicken. His girlfriend exploded at him and said, " you're such a racist" not all black people eat fried chicken. He calmly said " I never said he was black". Who's the racist?

Point is, making assumptions can be dangerous and some things need to be thought through a little better. Just the fact that you made this post means that "you" were the one associating the "orange Army" with poaching, trespassing, etc... There are a lot of good, law abiding, shotgun hunters, but there are a few that make the rest look bad. Seems like all you here are the horror stories about shotgun season. Don't be so quick to assume next time you here someone say "orange army" that it has a negative connotation. :way:
 
Flugge,
I should have clarified obviously if a deer is moving at a walk or a slow trot within 70 yards thats a shot that can be easily taken with a gun; same as a deer walking within 20 yards. Obviously skill ranges vary from hunter to hunter, but every year i watch guys with nothing more than bird barrels lobbing slugs out at deer running full tilt. I don't have any problem with the guys out there hunting ethically and legally during any gun season, I have family that will be out this weekend as well.
 
Thanks for the clarification..I by no means was trying to start a pi$$ing match.. :way:
 
I understand the frustration of shotgun season and some of the smaller bucks getting killed. I personally don't really want to tell someone what buck to shoot or not shoot. If they are happy with it, by all means they should take it. Even if you own the land, you don't own the deer.

Rather than having to tell someone that, you ought to hunt with those like minded as yourself. I've sort of gotten away from the trophy hunting and now shoot whatever I want to. I hunt public ground, so just seeing deer is a success to me. If I choose not to pass up a 2.5 year old buck, then so be it, it's a legal deer.

That said, I've always termed 'orange army' by the # of people hunting. There's more people hunting the 1st and 2nd shotgun season than all the others combined.
 
I do own land and I don't mind telling folks the deer that r off limits. That's why I worked so hard and why I bought the land. But that's my choice and I'd probably have 100 best friends if I wanted to being folks out because of the shooting choices I've made- it's made the ground better and the excitement of the hunt far better. Its fun and exciting for me that I know a giant could walk by. I have chosen to not allow pushes and young bucks to be killed. I can't tell the guys across the fence what to do but I don't feel bad at all telling folks on my land. Thankfully we r on the same page already though. I love managing land and hunting a managed place that's had some dictating done because I know it'll b better hunting and TO ME that's more fun and rewarding. To each his own though and all I can control is what stays within my borders.
 
mattbrown1022 said:
Yeah, I like that. I only drive and post hunt one weekend a year and I truly enjoy it. The people I hunt with are all responsible when it comes to shooting and handling firearms. Call us an army if you want but the best part of that weekend is catching up with old friends and eating great food. A couple of things I don't get to enjoy bow and muzzleloader hunting by myself.
Click to expand...

took the words out of my mouth. Yes, I am a dedicated bow hunter but most of my memories growing up have been made on this one weekend. Yes we do use post and drive hunting but our whole group is dedicated to taking mature does and letting small bucks walk.

I will also share a story that touched me when I was younger. The landowner we shotgun with used to enforce let the smaller racked bucks walk and only shoot the big ones....well about 6 years ago my dads best friend (who I used to be very close with as well) shot a nice buck while he was hunting with us. It was his biggest buck ever and he was SO EXCITED about it. It was a nice buck, probably 130ish but he later realized maybe he should have let him go so he approached the landowner and said, "hey sorry I know i should have let him go". Well that next summer he died of a heart attack at age 40. left a 2 year old and 1 year old son behind. Very sad deal. .....Ever since then the landowner tells us, If it makes ya happy shoot it because you never know how many more years you get to hunt. We still have good management there but I'll tell you one thing...every year I'm out hunting I now count my blessings!
 
I just don't like it when people associate negative meanings behind the term "orange army." I'm not sensitive, it just get's annoying that it seems all shotgunners get lumped into the same category when 90-95% are great, ethical hunters that don't break laws. I just needed to have a little vent session and figured others felt the same a little bit.
 
I've only been hunting in Iowa for 4 years now, but my first year colored my view of the orange army.

I hunt public land. I had been chasing around a couple 8 points for a few days and decided to do a sit in a cut prairie one morning. I watched as a truck discharged 8 guys into the field. They started pushing without having any idea if there was anyone downrange.

I ended up hustling out of the field and hiding behind a metal shed as they put up a few pounds of lead at anything that moved.

Next, I watched as a truck drove across the farmer's field next door. Three guys jumped out and started walking toward me. The farmer flew up in his truck and started yelling a number of profane words & one guy went back to move the truck.

I was scared! I don't think it is safe to push public land.

I started using the muzzleloader and bowhunting. I know that most shotgun hunters are safe & ethical but the others worry me.

Brian
 
i used to group hunt and will never do it again. too much irresponsibility and no respect for the outdoors.
 
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