Fair Chase Hunting page 2

Hunting

States

Ethical

Ethics as a term has the definition of a system of standards. Relative to fair chase, ethics means we, MAHA, as an organization sets the standards for hunter conduct within this fair chase hunting statement and that of our Conditions of Membership (rules). Those two documents set the ethics by which we will conduct ourselves.

Lawful

An action although lawful does not translate into MAHA fair chase (drive hunts). We are a private organization and as such can set the conditions for membership and behavior requirements inclusive of that membership. The minimum of which is the member must obey all federal, state and local statues as well as the MAHA Conditions of Membership to be a lawful member of this organization. The additive is contained within our fair chase hunting ethics statement. They need not be reprinted here. It is enough to say this organizations holds its members to a higher standard that that of the general society inclusive of this fair chase statement that exceeds its original (Boone & Crocket) limitations. Compliance while reliant on self discipline is required and at any incidence where violations are detected will result in being dropped from the MAHA membership rolls.

Example of a fair chase hunting experience over a couple of years.

Gary from Louisiana

Hi John!

I was driving home from [location deleted] after another successful hunt and started thinking about the last four years hunting with MAHA.

2002 was the first year with MAHA and after studying aerial photos for countless hours made my first hunt in [location deleted]. I had picked out a good funnel on an aerial photo and without ever having stepped foot on this property went right to that spot and found a good tree to setup in and before I had my stand all the way up the tree I spotted movement and saw 5 deer coming about 75 yards away. I stopped climbing, pulled my bow up, knocked an arrow and shot a 160 lb. doe.

I got setup and saw two more deer that evening, a 7 and a 5 point. The next morning in the same stand I think I saw 9 deer and killed another 155 lb. doe. Two days later after seeing many more does and bucks came walking up a nice 7 pointer and a real big mature 10 point that looked to be a 160 to 170 inch.

Just as the 10 point walked directly under my stand and as I was drawing to take a shot he stopped dead in his tracks and scratched his head with his right hoof. As he did this he turned his head upwards looking straight at me and busted me. Well I did not get that buck but what an encounter with a great buck.

In 2003 I went back to that same property and saw a Buck 125 yards away following a doe across a cut corn field. He walked within 25 yards broadside. I made a sound to stop him and made a fatal shot. He is in the record book officially at 159 5/8 net 10 point and just missed the top 5 bow kills in [location deleted] for that year by less than 1 inch.

The next morning I killed two does.

In 2004 we drew tags to hunt [location deleted]. Again after countless hours of searching aerial photos came up with some game plans.

After a couple of hunting trips we began to narrow our quest for a big buck down to one property. On the third to last day that we were going to be in [location deleted] for the year and seeing many many bucks and does including a 130 inch 10 point which I rattled in and watched make a scrape and took pictures of him at 15 yards and let him walk I jumped a deer that was probably the largest buck I have ever seen in the wild. When he looked back at me I could tell his antlers were at least 5 or 6 inches outside of his ears and extremely long tines and also had great mass. This buck had everything and I think was one of those 190 class bucks you dream about. He was massive and appeared to be at least 6 1/2 years old.

After jumping him I found several cedar trees 10 inches in diameter rubbed and several scrapes 7 feet in diameter. I hunted this deer for the rest of my trip without ever seeing him again. But what an encounter! Again I went home without filling a tag but [location deleted] proved to be everything and more of what I had heard. It was a blast hunting.

This year we drew [location deleted] tags and the first trip was real slow not seeing any bucks and very few does. But again after a lot of studying and hard work hunting many properties and on the very last evening we would be there for the year on Nov. 11 we started hunting at 11:30 a.m.. I decided I would rattle hard to try and make something happen. From 12:00 noon I rattled about every 1/2 hour and at 4:20 after a rattling sequence this pictured buck came to within 10 yards of where he heard the rattling and found an arrow wedge in his chest cavity. He weighed 255 lbs. (I carry a 300 lb. scale with me so this is not just a guess) and has a 21 inch inside spread and good mass. He is a nine point that green scored 146 3/8 gross and 142 2/8 net B&C. He didn't have long tines that would have scored high but what a great last day buck.

I have enclosed a picture of the 2003 10 point buck also

Two of us hunting this one property saw eight different bucks in the last three days we hunted. Praise the LORD I did fill my buck tag not to mention filling 3 doe tags earlier in the week. [location deleted] started off slow but finished big. What a great state to hunt.

These are just some highlights of the last four years but the encounters and experiences which were countless have been unbelievable. The fact that these were unguided, fair chase, unfenced, hard work makes me proud of my trophies and of MAHA for offering such opportunities, thanks and don' quit..

See Gary's other fair chase deer hunting account >>>

Pursuit

This clause is far more directive in denoting (specified meaning) absolutes applicable to all conditions rather than the guidance framework of a concept for analysis of any condition. Where MAHA draws its line on the fair chase continuum is the purpose of this discussion.

The first MAHA fair chase standard is that all scouting, placement of equipment and hunting is on foot. The lone exceptions are on designated wetlands and their trails allowing the use of off-road vehicle.

The use of hunting dogs for rabbits, squirrels, upland birds and waterfowl is permissible within the constraints imposed by those sections of the MAHA fair chase statement and Conditions of Membership. Dog use for any other wildlife is prohibited.

Something special about training a pup and then watching him work wild birds without another hunter being seen all day.

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