Laymen: what have they asked you?

[CoElkHunter]

Not gonna lie, I'm primarily a meat hunter. But I'd sure as heck pull the trigger on a 9x9 or a 72" rack in a new york minute. But I live by the rule that I won't pass on an animal on the morning of day 1 that I would shoot at dusk on the last day of the hunt. A bird in hand and all that.

I love all kinds of wild game, and I especially love to find new ways to cook it. A 400# carcass is certainly better than 300#, but I can't cook what I don't have in the freezer.

I agree. When I'm DIY elk hunting on public land like I've ALWAYS hunted, I'll take the first legal animal I have a tag for. For the meat and it doesn't cost a fortune. But I'm not paying $7500+ to shoot ANY moose like my hunting buddy and his son did in Newfoundland. My buddy told me when his son was going to pass on the cow moose he subsequently shot because he wanted a bull, the PH told him that was his choice, but the hunter before him didn't get ANY moose! For $7500! WTF!

 

[ActionBob]

The people that really irritate me are the ones that assume so much yet know so little.... or rather know so little compared to what they are absolutely sure they know!

My youngest brother and his wife were all worried when Ebola was breaking out in West Central Africa and I was going to Zimbabwe. My response was that the ebola case in Dallas was a lot closer that I would be to any ebola outbreaks in Africa as it was several thousand miles and several countries away... that was followed with "oh, we heard it was in Africa and that's the country you are going to isn't it?"

Yeaaaaa, NO you idiots!

 

[ActionBob]

I agree. When I'm DIY elk hunting on public land like I've ALWAYS hunted, I'll take the first legal animal I have a tag for. For the meat and it doesn't cost a fortune. But I'm not paying $7500+ to shoot ANY moose like my hunting buddy and his son did in Newfoundland. My buddy told me when his son was going to pass on the cow moose he subsequently shot because he wanted a bull, the PH told him that was his choice, but the hunter before him didn't get ANY moose! For $7500! WTF!

Sounds like the Newfoundland I've heard about

 

[CoElkHunter]

The people that really irritate me are the ones that assume so much yet know so little.... or rather know so little compared to what they are absolutely sure they know!

My youngest brother and his wife were all worried when Ebola was breaking out in West Central Africa and I was going to Zimbabwe. My response was that the ebola case in Dallas was a lot closer that I would be to any ebola outbreaks in Africa as it was several thousand miles and several countries away... that was followed with "oh, we heard it was in Africa and that's the country you are going to isn't it?"

Yeaaaaa, NO you idiots!

You know, sometimes I think some people are comfortable staying ignorant and uninformed even when others are trying to educate them, so they don't have to do ANYTHING out of their comfort zone? I pity them because life is too short and "we only get so many heartbeats in life". Not my quote. It was from another member here awhile ago and I can't remember who, but I use it a LOT.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Some of the questions I get from the unwashed, this clip enters my mind.

Are you crazy, or just plain stupid?

Forrest Gump (1994) clip with quote Are you crazy, or just plain stupid? Yarn is the best search for video clips by quote. Find the exact moment in a TV show, movie, or music video you want to share. Easily move forward or backward to get to the perfect clip.

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[MTA]

I work in the white collar world and I get the typical “what happens to the meat” or “what did you hunt”

One I get that makes me happy is “where are all the pictures?” I had to create a google drive link of all my Africa pictures for co workers. Lots of hunters and gun enthusiasts at my company

 

[ActionBob]

You know, sometimes I think some people are comfortable staying ignorant and uninformed even when others are trying to educate them, so they don't have to do ANYTHING out of their comfort zone? I pity them because life is too short and "we only get so many heartbeats in life". Not my quote. It was from another member here awhile ago and I can't remember who, but I use it a LOT.

Exactly! And so many want to just live vicariously through others. Gina and I met a couple back in Minnesota one time at the local pub/burger joint. The guy was rabid about football. Had his hair cut to match some Vikings player. It was all he wanted to talk about and it was obviously the single most important thing in his life. He was literally pissed when I told him I was never a big fan and completely stopped watching it when they started kneeling for the National Anthem. I decided to egg him on and tell him that I was really only into participation sports and was no good at chasing balls around however I have a dog that enjoys that sort of thing. I explained my interests revolved around hunting, fishing, motor sports and fun times with my lovely wife! Then I told my favorite Vikings not winning the Super Bowl joke and he got up and left in a rage.... His fiance was laughing her ass off as she was obviously a bit fed up with the obsession. I told her to be sure to remember the joke and tell it at family get togethers. She assured me she would!

 

[Tintin]

My Pelican knock off wheeled luggage case, weighs about 15kg, containing pers gear, clothes etc.

The Uber driver in Sydney said as he man-handled it into his car, thinking it was all ammo ... 'Wow - you sure are taking a lot of ammo'.

Hopefully one day a trip requiring that much ammo will eventuate.

 

[flatwater bill]

As for sex, i always say none. Since they killed Jeff Epstein, at least. ..FWB

 

[Tintin]

There was a really long pause in there, because I almost followed up with, "my internet friends say the guy is legit, so not totally random".

'I mean it's not like I sent the money to a Nigerian prince.'

 

[Neil Molendyk]

In 2013 my wife and I hunted in Namibia and we witnessed what happens to the meat of the game taken as you well know.

And so when people ask what happens to the meat, do you gt to take it home or is it just wasted?

In 2018 I again went to Africa on a DG game hunt, this time without my wife. A lesson learned that I won't go with out her again. Never the less, while I was in Africa, people came over to our farm and inevitably the question was asked as to where I was. My wife told them that I was in Africa on safari. On several occasions there was a look distain from the visitors, so she got a bit smarter on her reply to the question. She now answered with "Oh he is in Africa helping feed the poor". The response typically was "That's wonderful. What church is he with doing this?" To which she replied
" Oh its not a church, he is on safari and all the meat goes to either orphanages, or tribal villages, nothing is wasted". When it was explained to them, they began to see the light.

A little bit of truth and knowledge to counter the misinformed and lied to masses.

 

[John the Electrician]

Several years ago I was preparing to go on safari, unfortunately it never came to be. I do vividly remember being at the clinic and getting the recommended shots and vaccines.

The lady Dr. asked me if I “might have sexual relations” while I was in Africa. I replied that I was married. She said, “I didn’t ask if you were married.”

I then replied “No, I will not be having sex while in Africa.”

I guess, whatever. Not what I had expected when asking for a malaria shot!

 

[CoElkHunter]

'I mean it's not like I sent the money to a Nigerian prince.'

Or to Townsend @Bob Nelson 35Whelen for a down payment on a camel hunting Safari? LOL

 

[mark-hunter]

'Wow - you sure are taking a lot of ammo'.

To honest, that would be my first thought too!

(Its not like that people on this forum are like undergunned... )

 

[Troubleshooter]

So, I think that 80% of my friends and acquittances dont have a gun, and have no idea of hunting.

Virtually all of my friends own firearms, and have a good concept of hunting; otherwise they likely wouldn't be friends. Granted that very few of them still hunt these days due to age and various other priorities and commitments.

Acquaintances are another matter.

Like many of the other respondents to this thread, the #1 question is "what do you do with the meat?" or permutations thereof such as "do you get to eat the meat?" Most are unaware of the legal issues involved with importing game meat from Africa, nor have they considered the potential logistical difficulties, even if it were legal.

And like the others, I also encounter the mindset that "trophy hunters" (whatever that means) do not utilize the meat, and I try to point out that the two are not mutually exclusive. In fairness, these stereotypes are perpetuated by the actions of poachers who do exactly that (leave the animal to waste).

Generally I get the snide "must be nice" comment implying how rich I must be in order to go.

I get that on occasion, and my answer is generally along the lines of "Yes it is! " If pressed, I will add that the ability to afford a safari (like any other objective in life) is the result of hard work, saving, and good life choices (or at least more good ones than poor ones) and yes -- luck. Having never drawn a six-figure salary, I try to keep hammering home that it's not about how much money you make, but how much you keep. But as you mention, some just don't get it.

I reminded him that we happily drive ten-year-old vehicles, own an affordable home that fits, and save to do the things we like to do and have zero credit card debt because of it.

You're a lightweight; my daily driver is more than 30 years old and is approaching 404,000 miles!

 

[Troubleshooter]

Which typically gets a “there’s no way” type answer…

Then I ask them “have you ever spent a week at Disney?”… followed by “what if I told you that you could hunt South Africa for a week for less than you spent at Disney?”…

Some people would rather visit Disney's fake Africa than the real thing. I think to some extent there is a reluctance to get out of their comfort zone, especially if it involves overseas travel "into the unknown" -- which is exactly part of the allure for many of us here.

Story there; remind me to tell you sometime.

My wife told them that I was in Africa on safari. On several occasions there was a look distain from the visitors, so she got a bit smarter on her reply to the question. She now answered with "Oh he is in Africa helping feed the poor".

Good answer! I've used something similar, "I'm going to Africa to help feed hungry people and help them find gainful employment" (although the outfitter and PH do the actual hiring).

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

In a social situation in the USA the question may come up “where do you live?” Answer, Zimbabwe. Question “is Zimbabwe in South Africa?”, next question “what do you do there?”, answer, professional hunter, question, “what do you hunt?”, at this
point as soon as elephant and lion come into the conversation most people are surprised that it is legal in Zim. to hunt elephant and lion. The usual next questions will be about the meat and cost.
It is rare to run into a rude person, just inquisitive.

It is amazing to me how many people think that Africa is a country rather than a continent.

Lon

 

[mark-hunter]

Virtually all of my friends own firearms, and have a good concept of hunting; otherwise they likely wouldn't be friends.

Of course.

In USA, there is more guns then people. Sport related shooting activities and recreational shooting is popular, not to mention CCW community.

On the far end of the World:
At my place, 2.7% of population own some firearm, and only half of them are hunters.

I did collect good number of friends from a target shooting community, hunters, military or police who are also in these sports.
But 2.7% in society remains 2.7%.
Out of these 2.7 % remain the rest - 97.3%, which really have no idea.

I just remember another two famous questions.

1. Do you shoot REAL bullets at the range?
2. Do you really have a license for sniper rifle? (thats a hunting rifle, bolt action, with scope)

But I will give credit, for this. It may even be logical, if a laymen perspective is that real bullets are dangerous, and snipers (whatever that may be) are related to police and military work, and general perception of hunting gun is to be proverbial Elmer Fudds side by side shotgun, with hammers, as it comes from cartoons.

In socialist Yugoslavia, there was school premilitary class, and in primary school we all learned theory, with practical part shooting air rifles. (14 yo)
Later at high school, last year of study (18 yo), we had advanced program with more details, with practical part on the range shooting m48 (yugo clone of mauser 98k)
Nobody from that generation will ask if I shoot real bullets at the range.
They passed classsic school education.

Needless to say, as a kid and teenager I knew both school books of premilitary mil training backwards.
And was comparing my grandpa rifles with what I was learning at school (he had commercial yugo mauser m98 for hunting).
As he was ww2 vet, I would always ask additional questions of his experiences to supplement my knowledge. (I was "A" student in this class, btw...)

Now in modern "advanced" school system, this part of education is gone (because old system was primitive, and so unclassy, and politically not correct).
And majority of population have no idea.

 

[Pheroze]

The best question was from a little kid, maybe 10 years old, who came around last Halloween. I opened the door and his eyes just went so wide when he saw the Kudu in my foyer "wow, what kind of deer is that!"

I get a lot of "is it legal". But, the only irritating one was a friend who refused to believe people eat elephant. He was skeptical and thought that the hunters just take the ivory and leave the rest.

 

[93marlin]

I got this one this year at thanksgiving:

Why Africa? Everything there wants to eat you!

I get that comment about bear hunting in Canada!!