I guess I might be getting old, but...

[jduckhunter]

I recently found myself on a remote hunting trip with 6 younger fellows all of them 20 or 30 something. The days were short, the weather was pretty crappy, we didn't get to hunt the first 2 days and that left us with a lot of down time. It used to be that we would pass the time sitting around drinking coffee, sharing stories and getting to know each other a bit better. But on this particular hunt there happened to be wi-fi in camp and all those young guys wanted to do was sit around and stare at their cell phones, catch up on Facebook and God only knows what else. It was like pulling teeth just trying to get their attention long enough to get them to the table for meals and as soon as they were finished eating they went right back into the sitting room and got right back on their phones. I might be showing my age but if that's the way things are going to be from now on I'm damn glad that I grew up without the internet and cell phones. Have any of you other older fellows ever experienced anything like this? Is this the new norm?

 

[Divernhunter]

They miss so much of the total experience that way. I went to Africa 2 times(so far) and the 1st time I got phone time so my daughter could talk to he fiancé that she was getting married to in a few months. The 2nd trip I was by myself and my PH(same people as 1st trip) kept asking if I wanted to call my daughter(no wife and the reason I could go 2 times) and I kept saying no. I came over there to get away from the world to a degree. I can and would talk to her when I got home. I was there 30 days. Finally they called her and then handed me the phone after they had talked to her.
I enjoyed my total Africa experience and did not want to leave.
Nothing better than being in camp and sharing things with other hunters. To me it does not matter if they are old friends or new people. When I go hunting I turn off the phone and leave the computer at home most of the time.

 

[Ridgewalker]

I’ll have to admit my last two trips I was on the internet almost nightly or mid day break trying to keep you guys up to date on my hunt. Next trip there will be no internet service at the Limpopo tent camp, so you will have to wait until I get back to the airport in Joberg before my report.

But jduckhunter, it even seems like the PHes are communicating a lot on their phones. Partly keeping up with their families and partly communicating with other PHes.

I’ll have to admit I’ve had internet connections with business for over 30 years. It is highly addictive.

It was pretty nice back in the day with a simpler life. My parents when growing up didn’t have indoor plumbing and had to hand pump their water. Not sure I’d want to go that far back in the past!!!

 

[BRICKBURN]

I'm a fairly tech friendly guy, but that's too far for my liking.

My computer and my phone come along as a tool, not a distraction from the wild spaces and experiences.

I share trail cam pictures at camp, share pictures of other hunts or the days pictures to go along with the tales we are all on about.

 

[BnC 04]

I know exactly what you mean. Not sure how we got by without internet and cell phones...oh yes that's right we were more involved and attentive society. Technology opens doors and is convienient without doubt but it can be a distraction as well if not consumed in moderation, imho.

 

[jduckhunter]

I’ll have to admit my last two trips I was on the internet almost nightly or mid day break trying to keep you guys up to date on my hunt. Next trip there will be no internet service at the Limpopo tent camp, so you will have to wait until I get back to the airport in Joberg before my report.

But jduckhunter, it even seems like the PHes are communicating a lot on their phones. Partly keeping up with their families and partly communicating with other PHes.

I’ll have to admit I’ve had internet connections with business for over 30 years. It is highly addictive.

It was pretty nice back in the day with a simpler life. My parents when growing up didn’t have indoor plumbing and had to hand pump their water. Not sure I’d want to go that far back in the past!!!

I too have been connected for over 30 years through work, I usually have a laptop or tablet with me and I check in with home every once in a while. But when I'm sitting around in a small room full of guys thousands of miles from home I just don't think that's the time to be glued to my tablet, phone or laptop. I might be a bit old fashioned but I find that behavior very rude.

 

[jeanes]

It seems to be the way the world is headed. One of my grandsons is addicted to Fortnight. In an attempt to correct this, I gave him a rod and reel and some tackle for Christmas. Not sure it will work, though. My granddaughters think I'm crazy because I seldom turn my cell phone on. Growing up we had one phone and it was a party line. Sitting around the fire telling stories (and some lies) is a big part of hunting for me. Just gettin old I guess.

 

[jduckhunter]

I am so glad that at our camp in Wyoming the cell service is so spotty, about the only place you can even get service once your inside is at the back window. It's kind of comical watching the guys sit their cell phones on the window sill and then jump up and grab them when they hear a message alert. After a day or two the new guys get used to not being able to be text and talk whenever they want to and they learn to sit in front of the fire and just enjoy the flames and the conversation. But then as soon as we get back to quote, unquote civilization they are right back on their phones full time. I'll never be able to understand the addiction.

 

[sestoppelman]

I own no laptop, tablets, or smart phones and don't use them. I have this old dinosaur desktop comp and that's it. I still use a busted up old flip phone! And only for phone calls!

 

[IdaRam]

I own no laptop, tablets, or smart phones and don't use them. I have this old dinosaur desktop comp and that's it. I still use a busted up old flip phone! And only for phone calls!

I’m sure this comes as quite a shock to everyone!

 

[sestoppelman]

Made my day man,

 

[edward]

Bogart,Maltese falcon,rotary phone,we are one step ahead.LOVE IT.talking to your partner,GREAT!

 

[Von S.]

I don't like to talk on the phone at all.....anywhere, anytime as it is, let alone when I am out on a hunting mission.

Sit around drinking coffee? Really? Coffee?

I pass, but should you pull out of bottle of liquid that could put the wiggle in a ducks ass pulled the cork I could be easily convinced to join you in rousing conversation about naked native girls!

 

[1dirthawker]

i generally hunt pretty remote country here in alaska. mostly there is no cell service. my son in law and my uncle both have sat phones. they always ask if i want to use them. mostly i say no. i will call home once a week...sometimes. in africa, i call on whats app every 4-7 days. i let the wife know I'm not dead.

its nice to just get off of the grid. don't understand wanting to interact with a computer instead of hunting buddies.

 

[Jaws]

Man, I wish things were still as simple as back in the day.
To the people that are able to switch off their phones & fully enjoy the time away, consider yourself very lucky indeed.

I'm one of those people that has to be stuck to a computer & phone all the time with a very demanding work portfolio.
I typically explain this to whom I'm planning to hunt or go way with beforehand , in order to avoid anyone thinking me being rude when I am on my phone or miss social situations.
That being said, even though I have to utilize Laptops & phones, I stay far away from the Facebook & other social media BS!

Times have changed & will probable get worse, now days, if you want to be a successful youngster, or at least have a reasonable paying job, you will have to go the extra mile & sacrifice your time.

 

[GuttormG]

Å quick text to wifey now and then. Phone left in my cabin, I didnt go to Africa to surf the Internet...

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Happens all the time where I work. I just started in my new position 6 months ago.......used to be that you would spend your time on break talking and getting know about your coworkers, their families, their likes, etc. Now the break room is utter silence except for the clicking of key pads. I don't waste my time anymore.......I got to the locker room, eat my lunch, and do crossword puzzles. Thing is is that I work midnight shift, so who the hell are to texting/talking to at 2-3 A.M.? I do take my cell phone to the woods with me, but only because I've had recent health scares and I find the means of communication in case of trouble a bit of a comfort. That, and I don't have to haul a camera with me anymore.........
As for facebook: The only reason I joined was to stay "connected" to people I used to work with in Detroit when I moved to Lexington, KY. I tried to get everyone's email address to stay in touch, and they were all like "that's so old; sign up on facebook.....that's where we all hang out now". So, I signed up on facebook and.....as you might have guessed.....no one bothered to friend me. Somewhat disappointing, and I was going to take my profile down, but then I got connected with some cousins/relatives that I haven't talked with in years, so I left it up. Sad thing is, if I didn't have facebook, I would never have known about the recent deaths of two Uncles and an Aunt........I guess that is the place you post obituaries now as well.
At any rate, to answer the question: Yes, this is the new norm........life as we used to know it is dying, but I'm still doing CPR!!!

 

[jacques smith]

I personally hate this rude trend. Conversation has been replaced by a robotic attitude and additition I don’t FaceTime or Twitter or Snapchat or whatever. I don’t have nor want a laptop or home computer
Recently was with three grandkids at my hunting cabin. All three were busy texting friends when I informed them if I even saw their phones again I would load them in the bluerock thrower and blow them to bits. Only then did the 4 wheelers and target practice get some use
Had a couple guys late to shoot in a goose pit after I called the shot. Turned out they were busy on their phones. Jeez
But my day often starts with a visit to on a lighter note. Life is too short to talk to Indian telemarketers or see where u had lunch. Cheers to all

 

[cagkt3]

I am one that is constantly on my cell. Work in an industry that it quite literally 24/7/365 and I will always pick up my phone to check email/text in case it is important (injury on site, lightning strike, spill, etc), but I enjoy the hunt too much. When I go, I tell everyone I'm out of country and let them know who to contact in my place. Put on Out of Office auto replies on my email. My last trip to Zim had zero cell signal or WiFi....it was pure bliss. I did take a sat phone to call the wife daily - earning some points with her - but those calls were limited to 2 or 3 minutes. "Hi, I'm alive, hunted this today, bye".

 

[jduckhunter]

Well it's nice to see that I am not alone in my dislike of over cell phone use while in camp. I retired a few years ago and computers, cell phones, emails and texts had a lot to do with my decision to retire early. I couldn't stand the way doing business was changing, nobody wants to talk to anybody anymore about anything, everything is being done through email or text. I still can't understand how you can make someone understand exactly what's going on or exactly how you feel about something without expressing it to them verbally. I know that I am old school and business isn't done with a hand shake anymore but damn can't we at least talk it. My biggest concern about guys and girls on their phones all the time isn't the fact that it is just down right rude, it's the fact that they are missing so much of what's going on around them. It's very disappointing when your driving out to start your hunt and a big deer or something runs across the road and you holler man did you see that, get no reply and look over to see your hunting buddies on their phones texting or whatever. Ok I'm done ranting, I'll just admit that I'm old and darn glad that I am.