Seeing Cryptids: The Problems

[Pterodactyl]

Blaze orange is not required in Kentucky or Indiana for deer hunting during archery (only) season. A ghillie suit might serve some purpose in that capacity too, whereas during rifle or black powder season, wearing one would be somewhat pointless.

I don't know any deer hunters who wear them, but know plenty who go all-out with the camo. So, the lack of blaze orange isnt necessarily something out of the ordinary, especially considering that plenty of citations get written each year to hunters not wearing blaze orange even when they are required to.

The hunters I do know who wear ghillie suits are spring turkey guys, who also are not required to wear orange.

 

[AlaskaBushPilot]

Blaze orange is not required in Kentucky or Indiana for deer hunting during archery (only) season. A ghillie suit might serve some purpose in that capacity too, whereas during rifle or black powder season, wearing one would be somewhat pointless.

I don't know any deer hunters who wear them, but know plenty who go all-out with the camo. So, the lack of blaze orange isnt necessarily something out of the ordinary, especially considering that plenty of citations get written each year to hunters not wearing blaze orange even when they are required to.

The hunters I do know who wear ghillie suits are spring turkey guys, who also are not required to wear orange.

You've never hunted by bow, obviously. It makes much more sense with firearms.

I always hunted from a stand by bow, and so did anyone else I knew because of the extreme problems with arrow deflection on the ground. The Ghillie suit is about the last thing I would want with all of its bulk and all of those dangling things that get in the way.

I chose clothing with extremely high insulation value per thickness of material so that my bulk is minimized. You don't want anything touching the string or cams. You also choose clothing for which no sound is made on your draw. I lost my first deer bow hunting because I had a poly jacket outer lining that he heard when I drew.

It seems to me that it would maybe be something to use on the ground if there aren't any trees. But even still, I would want to modify it so the dangling stuff doesn't get into my cams or catch the string on release.

Remember that hunting season was not even open at all - not for bow, and not for firearms. It seems bizarre to me that people would go out of their way to think up plausible explanations for something when you have such a decisive proof of being made up. Bow season only is October to Nov 15 in Indiana. That is a pretty darned big difference from August.

 

[Resume]

Blaze orange is not required in Kentucky or Indiana for deer hunting during archery (only) season. A ghillie suit might serve some purpose in that capacity too, whereas during rifle or black powder season, wearing one would be somewhat pointless.

I don't know any deer hunters who wear them, but know plenty who go all-out with the camo. So, the lack of blaze orange isnt necessarily something out of the ordinary, especially considering that plenty of citations get written each year to hunters not wearing blaze orange even when they are required to.

The hunters I do know who wear ghillie suits are spring turkey guys, who also are not required to wear orange.

In my response in post#1018, I added the caveat gun season to my observation about the blaze orange. But no matter as the entire anecdote rings false. I used to bowhunt back in the day when there was no such thing as a ghillie suit, or Gore-Tex or Thinsulate. We did wear camo, and hunted from tree stands where all that crap hanging from a ghillie suit would have gotten in the way of a bow string anyway. I can't imagine the havoc it might wreak with all the strings and pulleys of a modern compound bow. Never hunted with one, so I can't comment comprehensively. Another thing that doesn't ring true in the anecdote is that the hunter is stalking, or what is sometimes called stillhunting (moving as slowly as possible while looking for movement of your quarry) which is something I associate more with gun hunting because of the longer range of that weapon. Sort of a Western vs Eastern state kind of thing, if that makes sense.

Anyway, I don't find the story credible.

 

[Pterodactyl]

I don't have a strong opinion on the story, I just wanted to point out that the blaze orange detail might not be the deal-breaker it was being presented as. I think other details might be more telling. The excessive anonymity, for instance, although it didn't initially strike me until brought up.

Also, a 2-second google search for "ghillie suit archery" reveals the sale of ghillie suits at archery gear sites, photos of use their on the ground, and discussion of merits of use in archery overall.

 

[Resume]

I don't have a strong opinion on the story, I just wanted to point out that the blaze orange detail might not be the deal-breaker it was being presented as.

Big difference between archery and gun season; this raises questions in itself.

Also, a 2-second google search for "ghillie suit archery" reveals the sale of ghillie suits at archery gear sites, photos of use their on the ground, and discussion of merits of use in archery overall.

Have no familiarity at all with any sort of ground blind for deer hunting. Turkey, varmint, sure, but not deer. Can't imagine pointing any sort of bow downward with stuff potentially hanging in the way; a bowstring striking anything reduces accuracy and arrow speed.

ETA: I suppose you could duct tape up all that hanging crap out of the way, but why not just buy a set of Realtree or Mossy Oak Breakup and be done with it?

 

[Howie Felterbush]

As a lifelong hunter, and living in a state with probably the highest density of hunters per capita,

Not even in the top three, assuming you mean Alaska.

As far as hunting licenses issued per capita, it's Pennsylvania. Texas and Michigan are next and I think Wisconsin is fourth.

Now, if you're counting poachers and violators (peg bead fishermen) then Alaska is miles ahead of everyone!

 

[Northern Lights]

As a lifelong hunter, and living in a state with probably the highest density of hunters per capita,

Not even in the top three, assuming you mean Alaska.

As far as hunting licenses issued per capita, it's Pennsylvania. Texas and Michigan are next and I think Wisconsin is fourth.

It seems to me I recall someone saying something about making stuff up without fact checking first. Hmmm, now where was that.

That's right, it was here:

It's pretty clear you are just making stuff up off the top of your head, without the slightest interest in any fact-checking about your own stories.

 

[Resume]

It seems to me I recall someone saying something about making stuff up without fact checking first. Hmmm, now where was that.

Now what facts exactly can we check in regard to bigfoot?

Oh, that's right, none.

Then there's the lack of fact checking when it comes to your "research" area in Minnesota. You know the logging, mining and population (including First Nations) history. The systematic exploitation of native wildlife. Of course you also haven't researched the venue in which you're attempting to fob off your Goon N Plenty tossing, corn caching footie.

 

[GT/CS]

It seems to me I recall someone saying something about making stuff up without fact checking first. Hmmm, now where was that.

That's right, it was here:

Good shot!

 

[snoop_doxie]

When I saw it the first time, it was night and I had to do a double-take before I could identify it as a giant orange moose. At first I thought it was a leprechaun.

I see what you did there. (Finally!)

 

[LTC8K6]

Not even in the top three, assuming you mean Alaska.

As far as hunting licenses issued per capita, it's Pennsylvania. Texas and Michigan are next and I think Wisconsin is fourth.

Now, if you're counting poachers and violators (peg bead fishermen) then Alaska is miles ahead of everyone!

I'm not sure where that data is from, though I see it a lot. I believe that may be deer hunters?

I believe the actual correct answer is probably South Dakota, with Alaska and Wyoming near the top.
http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/LicenseInfo/HuntingLicCertHistory20042013.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_population

 

[Howie Felterbush]

I'm not sure where that data is from, though I see it a lot. I believe that may be deer hunters?

You might be right, it is from a Whitetail Unlimited mailing from this year.

Here in Wisconsin, when you say "hunting" you mean "deer hunting"

 

[snoop_doxie]

I'm not sure where that data is from, though I see it a lot. I believe that may be deer hunters?

I believe the actual correct answer is probably South Dakota, with Alaska and Wyoming near the top.
http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/LicenseInfo/HuntingLicCertHistory20042013.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_population

LTC, the first link is great, and I think I would use the first column.
Total people with hunting licenses, unless there is a report for only deer hunters.
I couldn't find one, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

If we use the the wiki link for population numbers then it should be easy
to figure out licensed hunters per capita, right?

 

[ChrisBFRPKY]

You've never hunted by bow, obviously. It makes much more sense with firearms.

I always hunted from a stand by bow, and so did anyone else I knew because of the extreme problems with arrow deflection on the ground. The Ghillie suit is about the last thing I would want with all of its bulk and all of those dangling things that get in the way.

I chose clothing with extremely high insulation value per thickness of material so that my bulk is minimized. You don't want anything touching the string or cams. You also choose clothing for which no sound is made on your draw. I lost my first deer bow hunting because I had a poly jacket outer lining that he heard when I drew.

It seems to me that it would maybe be something to use on the ground if there aren't any trees. But even still, I would want to modify it so the dangling stuff doesn't get into my cams or catch the string on release.

Remember that hunting season was not even open at all - not for bow, and not for firearms. It seems bizarre to me that people would go out of their way to think up plausible explanations for something when you have such a decisive proof of being made up. Bow season only is October to Nov 15 in Indiana. That is a pretty darned big difference from August.

In KY, bow season opens the first Saturday of September. This year 2014, it opened on the 6th of September. So depending on where the backdrop of this sighting saga is set, the last days of August are not as far away from the first Saturday of September.

That doesn't mean the sighting is good either though, it means we have to look at the info closer. Bow hunters in KY start their corn pile, (conveniently located a short distance from their stand), about the middle of July. Most pull some new field corn and begin the pile. Later they put out dry ear corn or shell corn and check their corn pile fairly regularly. Have some deer been taken in late August? Yep. It's not legal but it has happened. And it'll happen again.

My point is, to dismiss the story as bogus on the grounds that the guy could not have been deer hunting at that time is not logical until we know the complete setting and background of the story. As I said above , it still doesn't mean the sighting is good or true. But how the sighting is investigated or not investigated determines how much we know about it.

A simple dismissal based on a personal opinion without investigation does not bode well for one's credibility. Chris B.

 

[The Shrike]

Thanks for the insights, Chris.

 

[Drewbot]

Ghillie Suits

The only people I have seen using Ghillie suits, in all of my explorations, and hiking in Northern Michigan, are Paintballers, and Bigfooters.

Bigfooters love the Ghillie Suit, it is thought that a Bigfooter in a Ghillie Suit is less likely to be noticed by a Bigfoot.

I have never seen a hunter in Michigan with a Ghillie suit on.

 

[tsig]

The only people I have seen using Ghillie suits, in all of my explorations, and hiking in Northern Michigan, are Paintballers, and Bigfooters.

Bigfooters love the Ghillie Suit, it is thought that a Bigfooter in a Ghillie Suit is less likely to be noticed by a Bigfoot.

I have never seen a hunter in Michigan with a Ghillie suit on.

WOW, those suits are good!

 

[dmaker]

A simple dismissal based on a personal opinion without investigation does not bode well for one's credibility. Chris B.

And a story is just a story. Without any supporting evidence nothing can be verified. So whether it is personal opinion or pure whimsy that leads one to dismiss an anecdote, who really cares? The truth of it cannot be determined either way.

 

[Resume]

A simple dismissal based on a personal opinion without investigation does not bode well for one's credibility. Chris B.

Anecdotes don't bode well for much of anything.

 

[LTC8K6]

LTC, the first link is great, and I think I would use the first column.
Total people with hunting licenses, unless there is a report for only deer hunters.
I couldn't find one, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

If we use the the wiki link for population numbers then it should be easy
to figure out licensed hunters per capita, right?

That's where I was going...