This title of this thread refers an article in the January 2025 issue of the American Hunter. The thrust of the article is competition from other hunters when hunting predators. While it has some excellent advice, this is an issue that I have not encountered in either predator or varmint hunting in the last 5 years or more even on the farms where I do not have exclusive hunting access.
There was a time that I would almost always encounter other hunters, especially varmint hunting but in the last several years, I haven't encountered anyone. In the past I met some interesting fellows. An old timer using a 218 Bee single shot rifle, a long-range specialist using custom built 22-250 seated on a portable field bench, another long-range specialist with a custom 8mm Remington Magnum necked down to 6mm.
But the one I envied the most was another old timer with a 222 Rem Sako shooting off cross sticks with an old Leupold 12X scope. The latter fellow was my chief competition because like me, he moved around frequently increasing opportunities. He was also an excellent marksman off the sticks. I saw him take a medium size standing hog at about 300 yards with his 222.
These were the faces of my chief competition. But after taking my fair share of critters and while in the past I dreaded the competition, these days I miss meeting guys like these and sharing stories, methods, etc.
How about you guys? Are you seeing a lot of fellow predator or varmint hunters? Any interesting fellows you met?
There was a time that I would almost always encounter other hunters, especially varmint hunting but in the last several years, I haven't encountered anyone. In the past I met some interesting fellows. An old timer using a 218 Bee single shot rifle, a long-range specialist using custom built 22-250 seated on a portable field bench, another long-range specialist with a custom 8mm Remington Magnum necked down to 6mm.
But the one I envied the most was another old timer with a 222 Rem Sako shooting off cross sticks with an old Leupold 12X scope. The latter fellow was my chief competition because like me, he moved around frequently increasing opportunities. He was also an excellent marksman off the sticks. I saw him take a medium size standing hog at about 300 yards with his 222.
These were the faces of my chief competition. But after taking my fair share of critters and while in the past I dreaded the competition, these days I miss meeting guys like these and sharing stories, methods, etc.
How about you guys? Are you seeing a lot of fellow predator or varmint hunters? Any interesting fellows you met?
