What is a weekend warrior?

[headbanger]

Thought I would throw this out for discussion. I see this term used frequently on different forums...usually in a deragatory manner. Often if something happens to a hunt and it does not go as the hunter thinks it should...it is blamed on this guy. Deer hunting forums, turkey hunting forums but the worst seems to be duck hunting forums.
So, what makes a w/e warrior? I work 5 days a week and often 6. If I scout, pattern, locate prior to/during any season on a weekend...and then kill the game I'm after on a weekend...is that a w/e warrior?
I killed a nice tom last Saturday @ 2:30. This bird was located on w/e scouting trips. I shoot deer and ducks on the w/e the same way...by the methods described above...all done on the w/e's when I have time to be in the woods or on the water.
I have done this since I began hunting...unfortunely I still have to work for a living
I do my level best not to mess up anothers hunt...just as I would prefer than mine not be messed with. I also understand that even on private land (lease) it can happen the same as on public. Could this be a mistake? A slob? A disrespectful person? One who thinks only of himself? or a weekend warrior?  Please discuss freely and lay it out...I'm an old guy...with thick skin

[stinkpickle]

Being forced to hunt only weekends does not make someone a "weekend warrior".  It's just a description of a half-assed, lazy approach that just happens to be commonly associated with hunters who only bother to show up on weekends.

[headbanger]

So that's the definition...thanks stinkpickle

[Gooserbat]

I have heard it used in two ways.  Stinkpickles description was spot on the other is simply the guy who only gets to hunt the weekend.  Sometimes these guys hunt hard and are rewarded for their efforts but only being able to hunt the weekend dose stink.

[Okiehntr12]

Well I'm a weekday warrior, everybody should try it it's nice. Work Fri Sat Sun at a casino and hunt during the week. No crowd, especially on the lakes. I rarely see another hunter during waterfowl. Only downside is I miss opening day and hunt alone quiet often. Turkey hunting I used to hunt alone and enjoy it but after a copperhead bite incident I like to go with another.

[tomstopper]

I don't mind the true Weekend Warriors (those that can only hunt the weekends  & have actually done scouting/practicing their calling in the off season) but the ones I cant stand are the ones who just come in without little preparation (sighting in/pattering their guns, buy a call & think they have mastered it the first time they ever touch it, etc.) on the weekends and act like some great turkey slayer. On public land I see this all the time. Usually all they accomplish is spooking the birds out of the area or even worse, wounding a bird due to their lack of preparation. This is the derogatory definition that I think of when mentioning the title of Weekend Warrior.......

[redarrow]

I never thought of Weekend Warrior as a derogatory term. As you said you work for a living 5-6 days a week.I did also for 30 plus years.If im hunting public land and have it to myself Mon. thru Fri.Then get over run with hunters who can only hunt the weekend ,then I suppose I might refer to them as weekend warriors . Same thing up north at my deer camp. Nice and peaceful in the woods,the roads,local store etc. until the weekend.Then all hell breaks out.

[BrowningGuy88]

I am a weekend warrior I reckon. I work at least Mon-Thur and usually Friday too during turkey season. I only have the chance to hunt when I am off because I save my vacation time to spend with my family.

Deer season falls during shutdown season, so I hunt when I am not working. Oct - Dec I usually am at the mill 7 days a week 12 -16 hours a day.

[R AJ]

My reference to a weekend warrior a few years ago was a member of the National Guard. Drills were held one weekend a month with a two week summer camp. Does this jive with anyone else's definition?

Anybody who criticizes someone who has to work 5-6 days a week or more and tries to get a little enjoyment over the weekend seems a little harsh to me.

Even on the one day or half day they may get to hunt they may be forced to hunt in an area not of their own choosing  because their prime areas were taken by those hunting every day of the week.

[mudhen]

Definitely two meanings:

1) Negative - Read Stinkpickle's post - spot on.

2) Neutral and/or Positive - a person who is a good hunter, but limited to weekends & holidays for a variety of reasons; work, family, medical conditions, relocation, desire, etc.

Seems to me like 99% (maybe 100%) of the guys here 'get it', and I totally agree, duck hunting seems to be where the negative WW syndrome resides most often 

I really can't define a WW, but I know one when I see one...

mudhen

[catman529]

I hunt whenever my schedule and money allows, weekends or weekdays, I've killed any time of week and haven't had any encounters with more than a couple hunters at a time in one spot. More often than not I think I get the place to myself. Some parts of public land I always avoid because there are trucks parked there at any time it seems.

[redarrow]

My reference to a weekend warrior a few years ago was a member of the National Guard. Drills were held one weekend a month with a two week summer camp. Does this jive with anyone else's definition?

Anybody who criticizes someone who has to work 5-6 days a week or more and tries to get a little enjoyment over the weekend seems a little harsh to me.

Even on the one day or half day they may get to hunt they may be forced to hunt in an area not of their own choosing  because their prime areas were taken by those hunting every day of the week.

I forgot about my friends that were in the Guard. They were often referred to as weekend warriors.

[headbanger]

Thanks for the replies fellas. I also agree that most if not all of the guys on here get it. My question was more in reference to the negative and/or deragatory meaning. I've never had the thought of some almighty yahoo wannabe as a w/e warrior...but seeing some of replies I now think I get it. I run across them from time to time. I guess I just enjoy the outdoors too much to let some jackwad ruin it for me. If I don't kill this weekend I'll just do it next weekend is the way I view it.

[TauntoHawk]

man I'm a weekend warrior for sure.. my last weekday day off was Novemeber 19th to deer hunt, I work 55-60hrs a week and often even a few on the weekend. Come hunting season I hope in the car friday at the office with the truck packed and drive staight 4.5hrs to where I hunt, i hunt hard all Saturday and Sunday and drive home late Sunday night before another work week.

I work hard to provided a good living, and I hunt hard as it is a passion of mine. I am in the gym for several months prior to any out of state or backpacking hunt so that I can bring my best. Practice calls, work with my equipment all year on weekends

It would be great if I could hunt everyday but those aren't the cards I was delt, I will probably be a weekend warroir for the next twenty years. I get how the guy who bumbles out his door without having touched is weapon in a year smacking 50 note yelps on a box call can give a negative conitation to the "weekend hunter" but we aren't all lazy.

[Basin_hunter]

Being forced to hunt only weekends does not make someone a "weekend warrior".  It's just a description of a half-assed, lazy approach that just happens to be commonly associated with hunters who only bother to show up on weekends.

This is my definition as well ! A weekend warrior will still pull up right behind your truck knowing that you are in the area, even if you show up 2hrs before daylight. These warriors do not apply just to weekends anymore. It is getting worse every year. It's nothing to do with somebody's work schedule, rather than his hunting values /methods. There are still some good (real) turkey hunters out there that will be respectful but they are getting harder to find on public land.