Granted, I've never been out West so I don't know anything other than what I see on TV, but two things I repeatedly see that are just stupid to me...

1. It seems the norm for the hunter to stalk the animal, set up his shooting stick/tripod, then bolt a freakin' bullet into the chamber in a panic as the millisecond shot opportunity is about to slip away. I understand the safety aspect, no real need to ride around glassing all day, or make a 5 mile walk in wide open country (usually with other folks in tow) with a chambered round. But I'm chambering a round once I've begun to get within range of that animal. It's not really different from around here. I load my gun before I leave the truck every morning, and I unload it when I get back to the truck. I've had countless shot opportunities that I wouldn't have gotten if my gun wasn't already loaded.

2. Why in the Sam Hill does the HUNTER have to wear orange, but not a single other guy in the hunting party not have to??????? How freakin' stupid is that???? The least likely guy in the whole group to get shot, is the only one with orange on. TV always shows the hunter and the guide sneaking up to a vantage point, and the hunter is covered in orange, while the guide has on none. The hunter isn't wearing orange for safety from HIMSELF!!! He's wearing orange because he's in the field with other hunters who could shoot him from afar. So why does the guy standing right next to the hunter NOT have to wear orange????

1. Different folks have different ideas of safety. I don't blame someone for erring on the side of caution.

2. I guess because the other guys aren't hunting. Not sure how you could make a guy walking through the woods not hunting wear orange, legally. I usually do wear orange myself even when not hunting.

I did a mule deer hunt on a private ranch in Utah. Guide told us to leave the orange in our packs because it spooks the deer.

1. All hunts I have been on out there, I had my gun bolted and ready. The only time I didn't is when I was in the vehicle. What you saw was done for TV, or the hunter was/is dumb for not being prepared. Possibly both.

2. Some guides wear orange. Hunters wear it because they're required to by state law, or they've been programmed by 30+ years of thinking it's going to keep them safe, which IMO is stupid. If Alabama's minimum -- a cap -- is safe, then with 500 square inches -- which is a vest and cap -- we should never have a single hunting accident. And by those measures, everyone should be wearing full orange from head to knees anytime we're out of the truck during hunting season.

Most folks I've hunted with who live in the west laugh about the "full camo" hunters. They're wearing jeans, lace-up boots, a plaid shirt and maybe (maybe) a camo jacket. They're not decked out from booger holes to toenails in the latest RealOak MossyTree apparel or blaze orange. They know how to stalk, use the wind and terrain, and they kill animals.

It all depends what state for the orange .some as simple as hat like here , colorado hat and vest but New Mexico requires no orange at all .

Southeastern deer are smarter, therefore we need more camo.
What is this unloading of the gun you speak of?

A couple of years ago I read about an elk hunter guide that got killed. He located an elk, the hunter shot and the elk disappeared. He told the hunter to stay and watch for the elk, but when he got to the area the elk was spotted in the hunter saw him, and shot thinking he was the elk.

I've been home after surgery the past few days, watched all kinds of stuff on TV. It just really struck me how this guy had stalked this herd of elk for a long distance, already had a couple of close call opportunities, then finally got the shot (the elk were in some short timber, but crossing an opening and his shot was going to be quick while the bull crossed this brief gap). He already had his gun shouldered and propped on the shooting pod, already looking through the scope. Then he's saying, "okay, here he comes, he's about to pop out" and then bolts a round into the chamber.

Yeah, that’s pretty dumb.

When hunting in NM a few years ago on a guided elk hunt, I had a round in the pipe and didn't wear a stitch of orange .

That hunter is a fuggin IDOT who should be in jail for manslaughter.

The hunter was from Autauga County, Alabama and as I recall he was charged, but I have no idea of the outcome.

Why do the guides wear Wranglers so tight they can barely walk? Must be an out west thing. All we have around here are skinny jean Creedmore guys.

I like your style!

Are you joking or being serious? I can't tell

What makes Southeastern deer smarter? Do they go to better deer schools?

Cause they have to be with Creedmore guys hunting them! If they weren't smarter, those Creeds would have wiped them all out by now.

I wear a Creedmoor hoodie in winter just to make sure anything dies if it walks within eyesight.

I went on a muzzle loader elk hunt in New Mexico in 1998. My guide on the first morning was a 25 year old that walked my a$$ off. We covered 11 miles of walking that morning. He wore full camo as I did and we did not see an elk. I hunted with the same guide the next day with the same results. On the third day of the hunt, his 62 year old dad told me to come on and we would go kill an elk. I was wearing full camo gear and my guide was wearing a light yellow coat and a white hat. Within 20 minutes of walking in the timber I had my first shot opportunity and blew it. Ten minutes later I had another shot opportunity and killed a 6X6 bull at 60 yards. I don't understand how I even got to see either one of those elk, but it was like they just did not pay any attention the guide.

Old age and treachery always overcomes youth and skill
Ain't too much that we won't do ... what Waylon won't, Willie will
Even though we've spent our lives charging up the wrong side of the hill
Old age and treachery always overcomes youth and skill

I don't know about the need for camo but most hunting people and those that have hunted both will tell you that deer and turkey in the SE are more wary, generally, than most other places. I imagine it has to do with being hunted more often for longer seasons.