The biggest problem at the camp is that some hunters enjoying trying to control .... the

[Big Jack]

Is it just me, or are the OP and additional posters talking about opposite sides of the coin here? One seems to be saying he is the one who others are trying to control, while other posters seem to be saying that it's o.k. for one person to be in control at the expense of the other? I don't know, maybe there's a language barrier here.
Anyway, I don't hunt as part of a camp, but I think I wouldn't have a problem fitting in. I'm generally easy going when it comes to getting along with others. I don't think I would stick around though if I felt like I was constantly being disrespected, especially if I was trying to be respectful to the others.

Yeah I had a hard time understanding the post as well. OP seems unhappy about how the gang is run.

Or is he running the gang and unhappy about a member who shows up and wants to change everything?

No idea.

[jaycee]

We have a simple set of rules to follow.

They respect the landowners, the game to be taken, safety, and all members of the group.

All members including me must also prove their competency with a firearm. They don’t have to be marksmen, just capable of taking 100 yard shots. They know that as they get better, longer watches are available to them.

We also have predator control responsibilities that take priority over the hunt. Coyote walks out it’s done.

It is all explained to new members and they need to not only understand the way we do things but also must agree to abide by it.

First year is probation and part time only - no exceptions. We try them out for fit with the gang. We are serious about putting meat on the table and being punctual and prepared is essential.

There are three core guys in our gang and we own all the stands and sort out the plans for the hunt.

The other fellows have to show up for work weekends and be there for planned activities that help the land owners.

We all know if you don’t show up for those don’t expect to show up for the hunt.

It works well and we all have a good time.

This sounds a lot like our camp owned by my old buddy, if you don't show up for work parties /fun weekend or through the week , you had better have a good excuse .
We all get along fine those that didn't work out were not re invited, and we now just have our regular 8 guys , we go up in the winter to cut split and stock up on firewood, in the early spring we check out and clear trails /look for new places for stands, everyone shares in the work to keep the camp going and we all have keys for it to use any time .
No one smokes, or drinks to extremes, whiskey is always left up there, as is the beer when it won't freeze. Some food, canned goods are always there , when we take something up, any thing we doe not use is left there.
For 34 years that is how it's been and we don't expect any changes to this routine.

[sabmgb]

I have hunted in groups at camp and I hunt on my own. I prefer to go on my own no group camps. Camps can be fun, but seem to always be one that spoils it for the rest. the one that thinks the should be waited on, not help in cleaning, cooking, just come back to camp put feet up and drink while everyone else is busy. I some times go with the land owner only, that works out best. I bring all the food and clean up as much as possible and then have help when you get a deer.

[greatwhite]

Never hunted with people like that. I did belong to one group for over 10 years. Everyone knew when to pitch in, there was no camp boss. I guess the camp I( belonged to was full of responsible people. In fact everyone I hang around with whether hunting, camping or anything for that matter we all help each other. Heck my longest best friend of 32 years I just finished helping him install a new heating system.

Maybe I'm lucky everyone who I have camped fishing/hunting with always knew when worked had to be done.

Heck Line052 runs a camp to help mentor new hunters and for others to join. I have been there a couple of times and everyone knows to pitch in.

I have come to the conclusion that hunters are in two groups,serious hunters and vacation hunters.

The serious hunters probably own the camp as they are self starters and end up doing MOST ALL of the work and are truly invested in the land and conservation.

The vacation hunters are the guys who are your buddies for the purpose of hunting their one or two weeks. They are there for the fun of the hunt,are not real interested in working either around the camp and are not invested in the property.They will however make suggestions for improving the camp at the owners cost.LOL

This causes frustration with the owners and resentment because their is a mix/match between the two,the vacation hunters eventually move on to the next camp that will take them in.

Moto of the story is to choose your camp members carefully because they are tricky little beggars,for example they might tell the camp owner they applied for a Doe tag for his area,but behind the owners back,actually applied for another area they intend to hunt later in the season.Use up the camp.s tag,take half the meat and go on to
hunt in another area.They are easy to spot,have the best of gear,ATV,s ,best guns.The camp owners have none of this as they are busy paying for taxes,insurance,road upkeep.

Best solution kick their arses to the curb,enjoy your property you have worked to set up and your success or lack of it is your to own.

[Badbuzz]

I have come to the conclusion that hunters are in two groups,serious hunters and vacation hunters.

The serious hunters probably own the camp as they are self starters and end up doing MOST ALL of the work and are truly invested in the land and conservation.

The vacation hunters are the guys who are your buddies for the purpose of hunting their one or two weeks. They are there for the fun of the hunt,are not real interested in working either around the camp and are not invested in the property.They will however make suggestions for improving the camp at the owners cost.LOL

This causes frustration with the owners and resentment because their is a mix/match between the two,the vacation hunters eventually move on to the next camp that will take them in.

Moto of the story is to choose your camp members carefully because they are tricky little beggars,for example they might tell the camp owner they applied for a Doe tag for his area,but behind the owners back,actually applied for another area they intend to hunt later in the season.Use up the camp.s tag,take half the meat and go on to
hunt in another area.They are easy to spot,have the best of gear,ATV,s ,best guns.The camp owners have none of this as they are busy paying for taxes,insurance,road upkeep.

Best solution kick their arses to the curb,enjoy your property you have worked to set up and your success or lack of it is your to own.

Although I agree with most of this post, it does read that you have an issue with "vacation hunters" I don't know if it was intended that way. For some of us with families and don't necessarily have the vacation time to be able to be gone for weeks at a time, we need to take what we can get. It does not mean all of us don't contribute to camp either.

I find when the owner has a say who is able to come makes a huge difference as well. IF the owner was the one doing the inviting, it is on them as to whether the people are contributing to the camp. Then they have only themselves to blame if someone is not.

W.

[Badenoch]

It's a personality type. They need to be in charge and have you under their control. They aren't that way just at camp.

IMO, this personality type is also at the forefront raising unreasonable fears about the legalization of marijuana. Even though it's not my intoxicant of choice the hysterics warning about the affects of legal cannabis are not the type I'd want to share a camp with.

[Bluebulldog]

I find we get a series of threads like this every year.

My experience has been that everyone shows up for work parties, etc during the year, and "invests". Now...if you can't due to lifes commitments...that does happen. ( little Timmy has that damn hockey tourney that weekend or whatever).....so guess what....you're going to look after more that your share of the cooking, or firewood.

It isn't about "controlling" it's about making sure that everyone comes out with a good experience. Yes, admittedly, I'm a planner, so I get saddled with leadership much of the time, as I take a lot of the guess work out for most of the guys.

I also have been in camps long ago, where there were "vacation hunters". Guys who got one time a year away from the wife and kids. They show up without their rifle sighted in, and more of a lax attitude about getting up to put meat in the freezer. ( They get cut a bit of slack if they show up with a doe tag).

There are also those who treat their time away from the wife and kids as an excuse to behave like a 16 year old with the keys to the liquor cabinet....both those and the "vacation hunters" tend to have their careers at camp measured with a stopwatch....

The trouble that I see, is many "men" live lives where someone else tells them what to do. Be it work, wife, etc. They lead their lives this way because it's easy....and then resent it when they are expected to act responsibly on their own, without being asked.

[Big Jack]

I find we get a series of threads like this every year.

My experience has been that everyone shows up for work parties, etc during the year, and "invests". Now...if you can't due to lifes commitments...that does happen. ( little Timmy has that damn hockey tourney that weekend or whatever).....so guess what....you're going to look after more that your share of the cooking, or firewood.

It isn't about "controlling" it's about making sure that everyone comes out with a good experience. Yes, admittedly, I'm a planner, so I get saddled with leadership much of the time, as I take a lot of the guess work out for most of the guys.

I also have been in camps long ago, where there were "vacation hunters". Guys who got one time a year away from the wife and kids. They show up without their rifle sighted in, and more of a lax attitude about getting up to put meat in the freezer. ( They get cut a bit of slack if they show up with a doe tag).

There are also those who treat their time away from the wife and kids as an excuse to behave like a 16 year old with the keys to the liquor cabinet....both those and the "vacation hunters" tend to have their careers at camp measured with a stopwatch....

The trouble that I see, is many "men" live lives where someone else tells them what to do. Be it work, wife, etc. They lead their lives this way because it's easy....and then resent it when they are expected to act responsibly on their own, without being asked.

Yup that is a good way to put it.

It's a personality type. They need to be in charge and have you under their control. They aren't that way just at camp.

One thing I think is missed is the fact that many camps hunt on lands that are private with one fellow that has permission.

We are like that - I hold the permission on all lands we hunt so there are rules that reflect the landowners wishes. Break those and you are out. But I will say there will be 8 sets of hands pushing you out the door!

Permission is next to impossible to get in our area. Guys that join highly value this land.

[Fox]

I find we get a series of threads like this every year.

My experience has been that everyone shows up for work parties, etc during the year, and "invests". Now...if you can't due to lifes commitments...that does happen. ( little Timmy has that damn hockey tourney that weekend or whatever).....so guess what....you're going to look after more that your share of the cooking, or firewood.

It isn't about "controlling" it's about making sure that everyone comes out with a good experience. Yes, admittedly, I'm a planner, so I get saddled with leadership much of the time, as I take a lot of the guess work out for most of the guys.

I also have been in camps long ago, where there were "vacation hunters". Guys who got one time a year away from the wife and kids. They show up without their rifle sighted in, and more of a lax attitude about getting up to put meat in the freezer. ( They get cut a bit of slack if they show up with a doe tag).

There are also those who treat their time away from the wife and kids as an excuse to behave like a 16 year old with the keys to the liquor cabinet....both those and the "vacation hunters" tend to have their careers at camp measured with a stopwatch....

The trouble that I see, is many "men" live lives where someone else tells them what to do. Be it work, wife, etc. They lead their lives this way because it's easy....and then resent it when they are expected to act responsibly on their own, without being asked.

You define the vacation hunter as someone that is not ready to go or not part of the hunt, I disagree here 100%.

Hunting is time away, time in the woods, time to enjoy nature and time with friends. When you do not have the chance to eat in the morning because you got out of the bunk house late (too small for everyone to get changed at the same time), no stopping to grab any sort of lunch, forced to leave deer on the ground not even gutted because they need to run the next drive. Being told to setup for a drive and half way through the hike to get there you hear on the radio that they saw a track and you better run to get to the new spot.

This is not enjoyable at all, this is not hunting hard, this is insanity.

This is the BS that I never signed up for and left, it was a family camp too. The guy pushing everyone was the one who never had his gun sighted in, told you that you were an idiot for not using his preferred cartridge (270 Win), not shooting at a deer when you did not feel comfortable killing it (head shot at 50+ yards, only seeing the back end, all vitals behind trees, etc), these are the things that make for a bad camp, this is what a controlling camp boss is and this is not needed or normal.

[Bluebulldog]

You define the vacation hunter as someone that is not ready to go or not part of the hunt, I disagree here 100%.

.

Fox,

There is a huge gap between what I've described as a "vacation hunter" and expectations placed on them, and what you've described as the expectations of a controlling hunt camp leader places.....

But the bottom line is that if you're not hunting with those who have a similar mindset, and not enjoying your week or two away...then most folks will vote with their feet.