Travel / Do Poles like to hunt? Hunting in Poland. [211]

@pawian
You really need to read in context. I have a home in Michigan. I have Whitetail deer in my yard every morning. I know what they look like and taste like coming off the grill. The last one I killed was about 90 kilo field dressed, a 50 kilo pile of meat like you suggested is not typical of any deer in the United States outside of a Key Deer which are protected.

Your attitude toward hunting in Poland is what it is because of your environment, so criticizing others not raised in that same environment does not make much sense.

Natural predators? You mean wolves, mountain lions and cougars? Those that are not and have never been prevalent in most of the US?

Of course you dont account for the explosion of agriculture in the US which has lead to greater winter survival rates for all animals, and thus ever increasing reproductive rates. No sense in taking those factors into account when you can simply go hug a tree.

As for my costly purchase of tenderloin, your comments show you have no idea how expensive it is to live in the US and like most Poles your opinions are derived from the Hollywood presentation if life in the US. Go enjoy your flank steak under plastic wrap and think about how many bullets to the head or nails to the head are going into domesticated cows each day in order to bring that meat to your table. One day you're a pet in a closed environment the next day you're on a truck to the slaughter house. Indeed it all sounds so humane.

Travel / Do Poles like to hunt? Hunting in Poland. [211]

@pawian
"3 deer per year to "harvest" about 50 kilograms of meat. How much does a kilo of raw beef cost in the USA??"

Again you show you know nothing about hunting, and its costs. In Michigan where I hunted for decades, it would cost me a total of about $30 to hunt all season. A mature deer in Michigan will provide in most cases 70 to 100 kilo of meat. The last one I killed weighed almost 90 kilos field dressed.

Deer are much bigger in the US than in Poland. The average cost of beef, if buying a whole cow, is about $8 per kilo. Do the math. If buying in plastic in a grocery store the costs are much higher. For instance, one pound of tenderloin packaged last time I bought one was about $50. The same package in Poland would cost me about 25% of that.

Comparing hunting clubs in Poland to hunting in the USA is nonsensical. Most US hunting is done on public lands and your $16 license is access to those lands and to the game on those lands. No other membership required.

In the US there are so many Deer/Car accidents and deaths because there are so many of them that hunting is required to keep the population under control. Ever see what a deer can do to a car? Ever see what a person can look like after that kind of accident?

Travel / Do Poles like to hunt? Hunting in Poland. [211]

@jon357
"They probably slung it and went for a Big Mac." You not only show your ignorance in that statement, but a latent racism. The tribal leaders in the area I still maintain a home in the US, are very well grounded people. The hunting community in this area has a group that donate meat to poor families in rural communities. That, is the true nature of most people who hunt, providers. People who only want to go down to the local supermarket are "takers". It's ok, providers do not discriminate when people are hungry. Lets hope that does not change due to circumstances around the world beyond our control. We are all only one nutcase away from being a hunting and gathering society once again.

Travel / Do Poles like to hunt? Hunting in Poland. [211]

@Paulina
Killing a bear is just as much for food as any other animal. While I personally did not like the flavor, and found it gamey and greasy, other family members did like it. I donated 150lbs of bear meat to my local Native American tribe as well and they really appreciated it. Wasting meat, store bought or killed wild, is something that should never happen. It happens in massive amounts around the world, particularly in developed countries where hunting is so limited. Because they can always go back to the store and buy more.

The hunting mentality is about being in nature. I have had at least 20 hunts where I did not kill an animal for every one hunt that I did. But, I was grateful for being out in nature, enjoying the quiet, the stillness and all the other things you can get out of the experience. I have friends, while vegetarian still go hunting, and they replace the weapon with a camera. Still getting the same experience and enjoyment.

I said before, I do not support hunting for sport or trophies.

Travel / Do Poles like to hunt? Hunting in Poland. [211]

@jon357
Yes, I noticed it was a question. And you seem to have an obsession with comparing d1cks. Of course you do not know much about North American families. Take your opinions outside of the cities in the USA and you will find a lot of resistance. Voice them anywhere in Canada and you could get into a fight. In Europe yes, it is less prevalent. It has usually been an activity reserved for the wealthy and controlled by the land owners. So of course the supermarket viewpoint is more common here, but it does not make it right or wrong.

Yes. I see magazines with vegans smiling and posing with their fruits and veg. They choose to leave out all the animals that died to produce them. Just because something is unseen or unpublished does not mean it does not exist. Animal rights activists, and antihunting people need to get a grip on themselves in general. Most are not equipped to discuss these kinds of uncomfortable facts. But they sure enjoy their impossible burgers.

Travel / Do Poles like to hunt? Hunting in Poland. [211]


According to who? You? There is nothing wrong with hunting. Traditional hunting families should now take up water color painting? Maybe knitting? No one is in a position to judge. I don't judge vegans who say that killing animals is wrong completely when in order to produce their soybeans, every field mouse, mole, worm, ground squirl, and other living creatures is plowed under, killed and dismembered or injured in order to produce their beans. Thats why the crows and seagulls follow behind the farming combines. Hundreds of animals die to produce soybeans, but no one wants to talk about that. Thats neither sport, or ethical is it?

Travel / Do Poles like to hunt? Hunting in Poland. [211]

@jon357
You are correct, the majority do not hunt. It is not a tradition for them. Most hunters in fact do not kill because most are unsuccessful out in the field. Yet, they were still hunting and enjoying being in the outdoors. I have had many more unsuccessful hunts than successful ones. Yet with each harvest of an animal, there is a sense of understanding that you took a life and that it must be given meaning and used in an appropriate manner. I have taken Bear, Deer, Grouse, Pheasant, Chucker, and Rabit.

All ethically, and all cleanly. All used in an appropriate manner. Hunting for sport or trophies is not something I support. Ethical hunting I support completely.

You can say what you want about hunting, but until you visit a beef slaughter house you have no idea what butchery is. Until you visit a chicken farm, or a pig farm you are just talking out of your a$$. Those places, where you get your nicely packaged parts are the unethical mass production facilities.

Travel / Do Poles like to hunt? Hunting in Poland. [211]

@jon357
The overall majority of people do not hunt for sport or have fun killing. You do not understand what hunting is. It has very little to do with taking a life. I am not even going to waste my time trying to explain it to you because you will only try to twist things.

Travel / Do Poles like to hunt? Hunting in Poland. [211]

Hunting is primitive, yes. People who hunt are not, there is zero correlation between primitive thinking and behavior. Theodore Roosevelt one of the US greatest and most intelligent Presidents was an avid hunter. In the US, hunting is tradition. In Poland it is as well. People who complain about hunters and hunting, in most cases could not survive without other people doing the hunting and gathering for them. Plastic wrap and nice lighting is not what life is all about. Concealing all the steroids and hormones used in all the food in your grocery store is part of an epidemic that is changing the genetics of children. Early onset puberty is just one example. It is a medical fact that people who eat food that is not as processed as what we find in most supermarkets are healthier in general. Why would anyone not want to live a healthier life and live longer because of it?

Travel / Do Poles like to hunt? Hunting in Poland. [211]

@jon357
You have no fvcking clue. Growing veg and hunting is nothing but natural. But keep going to the grocery store where everything is manipulated genetically. Chaining up animals until slaughter is so much more cruel than hunting its not even worth discussing.

Please be civil in these threads, everyone should have an opinion without being abused

Travel / Do Poles like to hunt? Hunting in Poland. [211]

@johnny reb
You can not expect people who buy all their food under plastic wrap to understand the purity of hunting for your own survival. It is easy to walk through a grocery store and be ignorant of the animals that died. To hunt, to kill, to actually butcher your own meat is getting back to what humans have done thousands of years. It is soul cleansing and difficult. There is not glory in the animal dying, but there is satisfaction in providing for yourself and your family in the most natural way possible. Anyone disputing this needs their head examined.

Life / My Opinion About Poland After 2 Years [35]

@jon357
The visa runs are still a thing, and Polish border patrol does not care. Wisely I might add because those Americans are bringing USD into the country and that is always a good thing. I made trips every 90 days to Ukraine before I got settled in and never had a problem.

Life / I'm from China and I would like to ask about the real experience of life in Poland [44]

@jon357
Average life expectancy in USA is only 6 months longer than Poland. While I would agree that many do not age well here, that is really more indicative of the generation that experienced the Soviet lifestyle. People really do take care of themselves in the cities more so than in the country. I believe it is an environmental thing and being exposed to different ways of life in metropolitan area's. The pollution this year is worse than in the last few years, people are burning more due to fuel prices, but still in Krakow it is not so bad. In the mountains though, its crazy how much people are burning.

Off-Topic / Stock Market and Trading Talk [1011]

@johnny reb
I am back your way next Tuesday for a week. Looks like the weather has still been holding out, while its been raining here for a month.

Off-Topic / Stock Market and Trading Talk [1011]

@johnny reb
No. A Bear Run is a small run that takes place in a Bear market. It is temporary. A Bull Run takes place and is usually excessive in a bull market and that usually is followed by a smaller retreat. Bear run is not an often used term, but it represents the situation we are in to a T.

Try some Moldova wines if you can find them. Cheap and very good. Here they are like $5 a bottle, but taste like a $20 usually. My personal favorite is USA Stags Leap Cab, just can not find it here, so I bring it back with me.

Off-Topic / Stock Market and Trading Talk [1011]

This will be a short "bear run". When interest rates get popped again, the market will begin to dive. Banks are already getting nervous. Once the market dives, then the real time to make money will come around in the first quarter of next year. Thats my prediction anyway.

News / Is NORD STREAM dangerous for Poland's natural enviroment? [540]

@Crnogorac3
And if that's what happened, I say BRAVO, BRAVFVCKINGO. Russian gas and oil? Never again. It doesn't matter who blew it up. The net result is fantastic for everyone. Don't you have some rats to catch for dinner?

Life / Is it worth returning to Poland in old age? [168]

@Cargo pants
I am five years from real retirement. I still have business in the US and I am currently buying as much zloty and Euro as I can. When the economy does right the ship, and it will, I will make 20% or more on currency alone. When we talk about people returning to Poland, we are talking about people who have been planning for it for at least a few years. No one just makes a decision to retire in a day without a plan.

The money we speak about, a million or two really is not a lot of money for anyone who saved and invested throughout a career of 30 years or more. A million without touching principal will bring in a nice supplemental income averaging 2K per month. Plus 401K, plus pension, plus social security and you are living a very nice life in Poland. Real estate prices are now coming down. With banks not giving a lot of credit out due to high interest rates, having cash now will put you in a strong position before Spring if you are looking at real estate.

I honestly do not know why more people are not returning at least on a part time basis. But, in Krakow there are many expats from the US, and many who left Chicago to return. Quality of life here is the main reason everyone gives for making the choice.

Life / Is it worth returning to Poland in old age? [168]

@jon357
I never said everyone would be in this group. People in your group described are not thinking about moving to Europe, they are thinking about paying their gas bills and most will work till they die because they have to. The only people looking or considering a move to Poland would be those people who have had moderate to very successful careers who have saved and invested well.

A million in the bank isn't a lot and it isn't about luck. A million is about $3000 a month income if it is in dividend paying products, without touching principal. Add in another $1000 or more for pension, and then social security, and you can live very well in Poland on that. If you cash out a home with the median price of 350K nation wide in the US, then exchange that to zloty you can buy one very nice apartment or house outside of the city limits.

The money I am talking about is really nothing impressive in US terms. A teacher after 30 years will receive about $4000 a month retirement in the US. Nothing by US standards for income, but in Poland in a small city you are living a great life.

Life / Is it worth returning to Poland in old age? [168]

@jon357
John, I disagree. Americans or English or other western countries retirements are usually at least in the 3K USD per month range. If they saved and invested well, having a million in the bank is common at 60 or 65 yrs old. Poles may not have it that way, but foreigners its easy when you calculate the exchange. Earning in USD or Euro for a career makes retirement easy in Poland.

Life / Is it worth returning to Poland in old age? [168]

@jon357
I would disagree. I think many US retiree's want to make the most of their money. Michelin stars in Krakow are all over Rynek, and very affordable for someone who retired after investing well. Food, and quality of life are what these people are looking for. I was trying to be nice commenting on Sioux. IMO it is lower grade than the Ponderosa 20 years ago.

Life / Is it worth returning to Poland in old age? [168]

Jean-Georges in Aria Las Vegas everything is ale carte. Shrimp cocktail starter $28, salad $18, Wagu NY Strip $155, roasted potatoes as a side $18, multiply by 2, plus a good bottle of California Cakebread red $200. Plus tip you are at $800. Comparable quality not anywhere in Poland. Krakow would say Pimiento is the top end here, and you are still going to spend 600 zloty for two and the wine will not be as good. I am only stating that comparably, Poland for fine dining is about 30% of what it is at the top places in the US. Sioux is not in this category.


would not be considered high end dining in the US. That is more like a mom and pop local restaurant. People would go in with shorts and a t-shirt.

Life / Is it worth returning to Poland in old age? [168]

@Alien
That is 4 or 5 people. And it is no joke. Last time in Vegas I spent $800 USD for two people at one of the top steak places in Aria. While I know Poles think the US is great to make money, and it is if you are in the right place at the right time, it is extremely expensive compared to Poland. With $3000 USD per month passive income coming from the US you can retire very well in a smaller city and never have a problem sacrificing your lifestyle.

Tickets to Rome last weekend for two. Less than $400 USD including extra luggage and reserved seating. I couldn't fly Detroit to Florida for that much for one person. I love the US for many things, but the cost of living is not one of them.

Life / Is it worth returning to Poland in old age? [168]

@Novichok
Prices here are not similar to US with the exceptions of gasoline and housing in major cities. Even then housing is much lower within the city center. A million and a half zloty will get you an amazing apartment in Rynek in Krakow. That is roughly 350K USD. You could never get a new, high quality apartment in a comparable city in the US, for that kind of money. You might get a nice place, but not as big, and definitely not new.

Food is still less expensive even with inflation. Private health insurance is peanuts here. Going out to eat? Much cheaper. I can take my family out for 800 zloty for steak, wine, and great service where it would cost minimum 500 USD in Chicago or Las Vegas, in NYC it would cost at least 1000 USD.

If you have a passive income in the US, and good retirement money coming in, returning to any place in Poland you can live a lot better than in the US in terms of lifestyle and amenities. Spain, Portugal and other places, even better. But as with any relocation, whether its Florida or Europe, there will be drawbacks.

Life / Auto parts, fast oil change like QUIK Lub Mokotow [8]

@Videobroker
No such thing as a fast oil change in Poland. No chain store locations, and going to a dealer will take you a minimum of three hours. I went through the same shock when dealing with this the first time as well.

News / Poland to officially demand $1.32 trillion WW2 reparations from Germany [457]

@amiga500
This is exactly what it is. Poland knows Germany isn't going to pay. But the EU and the German head of the EU needs to send the recovery money, or at least part of it. The judiciary is unfair, sure. But what is fair about fining a country daily, and taking the money out of a recovery fund that you have not even given them? Where is the court ruling for that? The EU body is a rotting political carcass, like the US congress and senate. While great in spirit, terrible in execution. VAT? Where the F is any added value in Europe lately?

Now Poland will simply veto every single EU item coming up for a vote. Yet Germany knows this and still says F U to Poland. Watch what happens when Germany wants something now.

News / Poland to officially demand $1.32 trillion WW2 reparations from Germany [457]

@GefreiterKania
And now we know the strategy for elections, and for obtaining the recovery money. Every EU item will now be vetoed.

News / Will Poland be badly hit by Recession ? I don't think so. [70]

@Bobko
My place runs at just over 40% net, because we buy in large volume, have a great lease, limited labor costs, and no gas used in any preparations. Most players in Krakow run at about 20%. Unfortunately they are now pricing themselves out of business. We went to a place we like on the square last week and the cost of a rack of ribs was up over 40% from our last visit, conversely there was no shortage of available tables when in the past there was always a wait. Word is now that he will close at the end of this month. We bought our place because costs were so low and it only needed menu tweaking. We knew fine dining was dead here for at least another year.

Krakow relies on tourism and western money in particular. While Poles do come here, not many do, and not many are spending big money when they do come. Its really sad to see how many places are going under even with plenty of foot traffic. The market has changed here, and if you were not ready for reduced volume along with reduced budgets then you are in big trouble.

News / Will Poland be badly hit by Recession ? I don't think so. [70]

@Bobko
1) Ukraine people for the most part are not helping to offset labor. I have seen very few working in any business other than Zabka a chain of convenience stores. The steak place had predominantly Polish staff that had been kept on through two years of pandemic. However in Krakow specifically, landlords with commercial real estate are now trying to gouge business owners or those looking to start up in order to recoup their losses from the pandemic. This strategy being driven by real estate agents is not working. I recently looked at another opportunity and laughed in the agents face when presented terms.

2) I bought an existing restaurant to diversify my portfolio. Nothing has had to change and though costs are up roughly 10% across the board on COGS, there is enough margin in food to not pass it along to the customer. Some restaurants are trying to take advantage of rising costs and raising their costs even higher than inflation, those are now suffering for their actions.

3.) As I said, rents are crazy if a realtor is involved. Private commercial rentals are realistic because the owners know that getting a lower amount is better than getting nothing. That said, I could take over 70 restaurants in Krakow right now if I wanted. It is a buyers, or renters market if you know what you are doing.

4.) This particular business is really reliant on Poles. The expat community is really the gravy of the business, and that has grown simply because having a real American as an owner helped get more expats in the door with a few menu changes.

5.) Inflation slowing? I would expect in the next 6 to 9 months inflation should slow, but the next 4 months or so will be difficult. Poland, with mental midgets running the country and the bank of Poland will struggle to come out of what I see as a recession. Bad economic policy before, during and after COVID coupled with the war and excessive spending will produce very difficult times for Poles this winter.

I limited my comments to Poland, I have different views on the US and still own business's there in different segments.

My comments regardless of like or dislike will always be honest. It is not a matter of like or dislike really. It is simply a matter of belief systems, ours are very different and directly opposed to each other.

News / Will Poland be badly hit by Recession ? I don't think so. [70]

@pawian
The actual numbers are 60% decrease in tourism in Poland. One of my business is located in rynek, and the traffic patterns are way down over years past. My neighbor with hotel and restaurant is getting killed without bookings. While Krakow is still busy looking, and while inexpensive products, service and dining business are doing better, it is coming at the expense of the higher end business that usually thrives here. One of the best steak places in the city went under with no notice after 8 years, the manager cited 10% of revenue projections in April, May and June. Thats a staggering number.