Fair Chase is More Than the Hunt 

By PJ DelHomme 

Fair Chase is a field ethic. It’s about hunting with integrity, respect, and a sense of responsibility. From interactions with fellow hunters to stewardship of the land, Fair Chase embodies the values that make hunting a meaningful and ethical tradition.

 Last fall in Montana, I sat in the truck drinking lukewarm coffee in the dark of the dawn. The final couple of sips had a mouthful of grounds, and I was careful not to indulge. The air was frosty, but snow had yet to blanket the gated road that I parked next to—a blessing and a curse. There were no tracks to follow, but it also meant I could ride my mountain bike far up the mountain. 

As I was packing up my things, another truck pulled off the road in front of me. Frost on the grass twinkled in the headlights. The two hunters wasted no time grabbing their gear, negotiating the slick cattle guard, and walking up the road. I waved as they departed, but they were in no mood to chat. I took my time and caught up with them in the dark. “Good morning,” I whispered. No response. “Have a good one,” I said as I pedaled away. 

A couple of miles later, I came to another gate, opened it as quietly as possible, and closed it. I ditched the bike, walked a half-mile, and sat down. Slowly and predictably, sunlight crept over the basin. My kids had each been sick with a head cold for a week, and it was my turn to host the virus. I coughed. A buck busted out of the brush below me and never looked back. I watched him bound in my scope 150 yards away.  Well, that was cool, I thought. 

After the excitement, I realized my toes were getting numb. Walking down the old road, I saw another hunter walking toward me. I waved. He waved. We talked. I told him about the buck and asked where he had been. He launched into a story about how he had been hunting this spot for well over two decades. He told me about the nearby ridge that elk like to frequent—and he told told me how to get there. He told me about the bears that he’s seen in this draw, and on and on. It was like we had been hunting buddies forever. Maybe he was messing with me, but he seemed friendly enough. 

I hunted until lunch and scared plenty of whitetail does. I was a little early for the rut, but it was a sunny day in the woods. I’m not complaining. Even though I never pulled the trigger that day, the Fair Chase ethic was very much a part of the hunt. 

Fair Chase Evolves 

The concept of Fair Chase began in response to market hunting at the turn of the 20th century. Early members of the Boone and Crockett Club worked to outlaw what they saw as unsporting methods of hunting, such as the act of driving deer with hounds or pushers into lakes where shooters waited in boats to either shoot, club or cut the throats of deer. By definition, Fair Chase is the ethical, sportsmanlike, and lawful pursuit and taking of any free-ranging wild game animal in a manner that does not give the hunter an improper or unfair advantage over the game animals.

Hunting has changed immensely since the early days of the Club. Many states have regulations regarding the pursuit of game and methods of take. The concept of Fair Chase has changed, too, and it has come to embody more than the pursuit. 

The earliest recorded usage of the term “Fair Chase” is in the fifth article Boone and Crockett Club’s constitution, adopted in February of 1888. Article X of the Club’s constitution declared that the killing of game while swimming was an “offense” for which a member may be suspended or expelled from the Club. Later writings by Club members Theodore Roosevelt, George Bird Grinnell, and Aldo Leopold articulated the term “fair chase” to the public through books and magazine articles. Most notable of these where the Club’s Acorn book series on hunting (1893 – 1933), Leopold’s Sand Country Almanac, and Grinnell’s Forest and Stream magazine – now Field & Stream.

A Fair Chase Ethic in the Field 

Returning to that fall day in Montana, it occurs to me that those interactions I had with hunters, animals, and even that squeaky gate all embody a type of Fair Chase ethic in the field. Start with my early morning friends. Whenever I see someone at the trailhead during hunting season, I like to make sure that we’re not heading to the same place. If I discover their plans are the same as mine, I go with my plan B. Rarely do I pack up and drive away, but sometimes that’s what it takes. Those guys on the road that morning were in no mood to chat.  Thankfully I knew exactly where they were thanks to the elk bugle they tooted every 15 minutes. 

Compare that interaction to the other hunter I met. He was a chatty one! I shared some intel. He shared some. We had a really nice talk, and I would be happy to help pack out his elk should I see him on the trail again. And that’s really where this is going. As hunters, most of us are out there trying to fill the freezer. We’re not adversaries. I want to kill an elk as much as anyone. The Fair Chase ethic extends to our fellow hunters in the field. 

The land I was hunting was enrolled in Montana’s Block Management Program. A giant landowner had agreed to let hunters access public land through their private property. That landowner runs cows, and there are a number of fences crossing the property. Some of these fences have gates, allowing hunters easy access on horse or foot. The only thing they ask is that we close the gate. It seems like a simple request, but more than a few hunters aren’t keen on following the rules. Just close the gate. It’s the right thing to do and another example of a Fair Chase mindset. Pack out garbage. Pick up spent brass. Help get someone out of the ditch. Be an ambassador. 

Just as hunting is about much more than pulling the trigger, Fair Chase is about much more than hunting—it’s an ethic that shapes how hunters interact with wildlife, the land, and each other. It’s reflected in the decisions we make, from respecting other hunters’ plans to following landowner rules and leaving wild places better than we find them. Fair Chase evolves with time, but at its core, it remains a commitment to ethical, respectful, and responsible hunting. Whether it’s a quiet morning in the woods or a friendly exchange on the trail, Fair Chase reminds us that hunting is not just about filling the freezer—it’s about honoring the traditions, values, and connections that make the experience meaningful.
 

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