RT has sadly gone dead


Ravin R10 man

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Yes,

I don' t post much here but do read the boards fairly often.

The slow demise reminds me of one of the tractor forums I frequent.

It is specifically aimed at the Ford N series tractors which were the first tractors Ford built but by no means the best or the last. But the moderators  - and posters would chafe about, or even ignore posts about the later models of Ford tractors which didn't help to expand the reader base.

So the forum is slowly dying off while other forums have gained in readership.

This forum has always been mostly about shooting monster bucks. Actually, shooting monster bucks with a bow. So the average weekend warrior who rifle hunts and is happy to take a spike or doe doesn't feel that he really fits in here. 

It was those types who despite their lack of passion for big bucks, were the bread and butter of a place like this and they did add a lot of otherwise interesting stuff about deer plots, teaching kids and wives to hunt, family events, laws affecting hunting, gun control debates and lots of other stuff that may not have been interesting to you "hard core guys" but was interesting to other weekend warrior types - like myself.

A forum needs a lot of 1 star types to support the platform for you 5 star hunters.

Going back to tractors; another board I frequent is supposed to be about all tractors but has devolved into a place where any and all types of topics are welcome. It's become like a bunch of guys - and gals sitting around at the coffee shop discussing all sorts of things and is hugely popular. Incidentally, sometimes a tractor question does get asked there and when one does it is answered with fantastic advice.

 I have commented before about how I would never show off my deer here. They'e just dinks and does. But I challenge anyone to say that they have a greater passion for deer hunting than I do.

We've lost the weekend warrior types here. The type who added color and humor and news and camaraderie on a daily basis. I do not know how to get them back. But the decline in readership is a bit self inflicted. Just like the Ford N Series forum who didn't much care for posts about other tractors or topics.

Lastly, It must be said that the terrible forum software we suffered through a few years ago really killed this place too. That caused a huge decline. It made a lot of people seek out other venues to chat about hunting - l suppose like Facebook, etc.

Anyway, these are just my thoughts and opinions. I don't claim to be right about it all, just opinionated. And I sure don't mean to accuse anyone of any wrong doing. Your passion is your passion after all.

 

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some good talking points there Ultra...I believe the "UPGRADES"  deleted many users logins, they just never came back.  I dont do other sites, so have not seen what you have seen being on several like you say. Used to be tough to keep up on topics here, now a couple minutes and you've seen the news posts and replys

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8 hours ago, Ultradog said:

I don' t post much here but do read the boards fairly often.

Don't post here nearly as much as I used to either, but then there have not been as many posts to reply to, and I kinda run outta stuff to start new posts with without feeling like I am repeating myself, and then sometimes feels like whats the point when you post something and see that a lot of readers read it and goes without any replies.  That was a gripe of a few old members that quit posting, but always wondered how many of those looks without replies were the guests or bots that viewed.

 

8 hours ago, Ultradog said:

This forum has always been mostly about shooting monster bucks. Actually, shooting monster bucks with a bow. So the average weekend warrior who rifle hunts and is happy to take a spike or doe doesn't feel that he really fits in here. 

It was those types who despite their lack of passion for big bucks, were the bread and butter of a place like this and they did add a lot of otherwise interesting stuff about deer plots, teaching kids and wives to hunt, family events, laws affecting hunting, gun control debates and lots of other stuff that may not have been interesting to you "hard core guys" but was interesting to other weekend warrior types - like myself.

A forum needs a lot of 1 star types to support the platform for you 5 star hunters.

While I respect your opinion, I would have to disagree with some of that.  I think on the contrary, most of the hunters here are not extra ordinary and are not all about bowhunting monster bucks but is rather a pretty diverse group.  Sure there are some of the guys on here that most of us dream of hunting a deer like they post pics of like Rhino or fly.     

The part I bolded, I think most of us still here agree on those points.  Why the posts on those types of topics have been far and few between is beyond me.  I know personally I still enjoy reading posts about kids hunting and seeing pics of their deer.  Enjoy the debates on topics too, but kinda tough to debate when there are only two folks posting in a thread, so kinda goes back to the point I made above about there not being much point to take the time to post if noone is gonna reply. 

I know personally, I have been a member here going on 18 years now and my own hunting has shifted since I started here, but I still will congratulate anyone who shares their success story even if the deer is not one I personally would shoot.  Everyone hunts to fill their own satisfaction, theirs not mine.  For me anymore, I would rather kill coyotes than kill a deer that is not worthy of the wall, but that is me.  I know I will have hours of work into handling the meat, and would rather see my wife or kids take a deer than kill one myself. 

8 hours ago, Ultradog said:

 I have commented before about how I would never show off my deer here. They'e just dinks and does. But I challenge anyone to say that they have a greater passion for deer hunting than I do.

This forum unlike others, I don't think anyone would criticize what you shoot and share a pic or stories of.  That is part of what is missing is the posts from members just like you.   There are other forums that allow bashing of members for posting pics of deer they shoot, as long as I have been here, I don't think that happens here.  

 

8 hours ago, Ultradog said:

Lastly, It must be said that the terrible forum software we suffered through a few years ago really killed this place too. That caused a huge decline. It made a lot of people seek out other venues to chat about hunting - l suppose like Facebook, etc

Unfortunately I think you are probably right with this.  I know there had been several who when changeovers happened that they were unable to log back on.  And then all the "glitches".  I can understand the frustration and could see why some would give up and move on.  Shame that with what RT hoped would make this place better "upgrades" to the software, that they contributed to driving away members.  The last big changeover where it took weeks for the forum to get back up and running and the loss of pics and posts really did not help when there were members already finding other sources for posting whatever they wanted to post.  

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I dont remember anyone slamming somebody for shooting a deer they would not have shot....except the time those guys from some Mule Deer site came in to stir the pot, calling our whitetails "Dinky Dogs" and how easy they are too shoot  compared to high country Mulies etc...  cant think of anybody here I wouldnt pull up a chair and sit around a camp fire swappin hunting stories with

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I have to agree with a lot of William's replies to your remarks.  I've been here for 16 years now and I've always made a point of congratulating hunters when they killed deer.  I've also said a number of times in the past...a trophy is in the eye of the beholder.  That may be a spike, 6 point or whatever...doesn't matter.  If it's a trophy to them, it's a trophy.  Gotta agree, the period of time we had the terrible forum software really hurt the forum participation a lot!

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  • 2 weeks later...

I think that the software updates may have been one of the biggest causes in the decline in members.  Then there was an issue with personality conflicts and some "thin skinned" individuals who were "butt-hurt" over replies to their post.  If we take ourselves too seriously and can not have discourse without feeling slighted then we mirror what is happening in society right now.  Alas, the truth is that everything has a beginning and an end and once the novelty wears off many move on to the next new thing.  Be it a job, a marriage, a public forum, if it's not new or exciting many move on.  The question?  How to keep it exciting?  For the immediate future, deer season approaches and the fabled hunting contest.

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