#1995906 - 07/16/10 05:47 AM
Where are we going?
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Bottom Hunter
16 Point
Registered: 12/29/06
Posts: 15480
Loc: Hatchie Bottoms
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The "broadhead question" thread started me to thinking (a dangerous thing)and since I couldn't sleep, I thought I would entertain myself with this thread...lol.
As time goes on, hunting equipment seems to be getting more and more sophisticated. Camo gets better (or at least the manufacturers want you to think that). Guns shoot further (flatter anyway), bullets with more knockdown, broadheads that bleed a deer out in seconds, and if that wasn't enough, not only can we kill them quicker and at further distances, but if need be, we can draw them in closer with attractants and decoys.
The deer herd seems to be healthier and continously growing regardless of how much "Better" our equipment seems to get. A much better testimonial for the conservationalist and the manager and less for the hunter...!
So, with all this technology and the fact that we are Humans chasing 'dumb" anumals, are we increasing our skills as hunters or are these "gadgets" making the hunts just a bit easier.
I guess my real question here is this......"Where are we going?", in regards to deer hunting?
Where will technology be in ten years? Have we about reached the "technology" peak..? Will much change in ten years?
I know that deer hunting has changed a great deal since I started back in 1974. My tactics have not changed much because I am a "simpleton", so to speak...lol. But, technology has taken deer hunting to another level since then.
Being that we are fastly approaching the 2010 season, give us your thoughts on where we are going and what is the future of deer hunting over the next 10-20 years.
Unless game laws change drastically, will deer hunting be about the same as it is now. Have we hit our limit on hunting technology, or will there be even more changes in how we hunt deer?
I know that when it all boils down, hunting is basically the same ...MAN vs DEER, but you must admit that man DOES do everything in his power to tip the scales in his favor, as much as he can legally.
Has MAN basically run out of NEW tricks...?
thanks
_________________________
There are some people who always seem angry and continuously look for conflict.
Walk away; the battle they are fighting is not with you, but with themselves.
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#1995935 - 07/16/10 06:06 AM
Re: Where are we going?
[Re: Bottom Hunter]
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Snake
16 Point
Registered: 05/03/09
Posts: 15478
Loc: McMinn Co.Tennessee U.S.
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If some one thinks they can market some gadjet and make money then things are going to continue as is . Most hunters have way to many gadjets now but if we think it will increase the odds then most of us will purchase these gadjets ! I myself have tried to eliminate some of these items . But what concerns me most is the avalibilty of hunting property and animal activists !Hunters will use what they can afford no matter were we are headed !! Just my opinion .
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No matter the storm , when you are with God , there's always a rainbow waiting .
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#1995946 - 07/16/10 06:18 AM
Re: Where are we going?
[Re: Snake]
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ghosthunter
10 Point
Registered: 11/30/04
Posts: 3446
Loc: chattanooga
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I won't really say that all the technogly makes you better hunter. In the bow world 20 yards is the same as 20 yards was 30 years ago. I do think that the amount of deer in the woods has defintely tipped the odds in man's favor more than anything of harvesting a deer.
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it's a long way to the top if ya wanna rock 'n' roll
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#1995953 - 07/16/10 06:29 AM
Re: Where are we going?
[Re: Bottom Hunter]
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tndrbstr
16 Point
Registered: 10/06/05
Posts: 12157
Loc: knox co tn
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I think technology is going to move into being able to use multiple cameras located at differant places to track or monitor all those areas in real time directly from your tree stand (a product directly marketed towards the hunting industry)...wheter the hunting regs will allow the use of that tech will have to be seen....
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#1996011 - 07/16/10 07:39 AM
Re: Where are we going?
[Re: tndrbstr]
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BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
Non-Typical
Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59548
Loc: Nashville, TN
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Advances in weapons technology haven't made us better hunters but probably has made us more effecient killers (kill a few more deer than we would have without the advancements).
A few of the new toys and gadgets--especially the trail-camera--have made us more knowledgeable hunters, and increased knowledge usually leads to increased success.
However, we humans are an interesting species. We seem to have an inate drive to challenge and test ourselves. And once we have achieved success, we "raise the bar" to challenge ourselves further. I believe we have seen this in the growing trend over the last decade towards hunting only older bucks. Imagine using our definition of "success" from 20 years ago in today's deer world. How many of us could have limited out in just a matter of days last year if "anything with antlers" was still our goal?
My point is, advances in technology and knowledge may continue to make the opportunities for "hunting success" easier in the future, but we--being humans--will simply raise the bar to keep the challenge in hunting.
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
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#1996089 - 07/16/10 08:50 AM
Re: Where are we going?
[Re: Bottom Hunter]
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Camp
12 Point
Registered: 11/30/07
Posts: 5917
Loc: Rutherford County / Mid TN
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The deer herd seems to be healthier and continously growing regardless of how much "Better" our equipment seems to get. A much better testimonial for the conservationalist and the manager and less for the hunter...!
IMO, I think it is a testimonial that the "average hunter" is now ALSO a conservationist and manager to some degree as well!
Consider this,
Many of the gadgets and "tech" improvements have been allowed to be used in hunting only after the deer herds improved!
I think it is our herd health that allowed use and development of the tech gadgets rather than the herd improving despite the use of gadgets.
Had our TN herd (and many others states as well) not improved, due to the conservationist and manager mentality of hunters, we would likely still see much of the tech improvement illegal to hunt with. Such as the compound bows, crossbows, in-line scoped muzzleloaders, high powered rifles instead of shotguns, trail cams for scouting, etc..
And without the ability to use those things LEGALLY, much of it probably would not have been developed and refined to the point it is now.
IMO the technology has ridden the crest of the deer population wave. And only became popular and used as the herd health allowed state agencies to let many of those advancements into the hunting woods. Then more use, meant more popularity, meant more demand, which meant more competion for $$$$, which meant more development and gadgets to be the newest and best to get the most $$$.
And of course as easier or more efficient equipment has been developed and allowed, it is only human nature, to some degree, to take the most efficient path. (Just like all animals in general. Least energy expended for the greatest gain) What with our faster paced lives and fewer hours and days most hunters have to spend in the woods.
JMO
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#1996147 - 07/16/10 09:29 AM
Re: Where are we going?
[Re: Camp]
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Wes Parrish
16 Point
Registered: 06/12/02
Posts: 16955
Loc: Knoxville-Dover-Union City, TN
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And of course as easier or more efficient equipment has been developed and allowed, it is only human nature, to some degree, to take the most efficient path.
A better question may now be
"Path to what?"
I want my path to lead to the most overall satisfaction.
Sometimes this means going back to simpler ways on one hand, embracing some of the technology on the other.
While I don't want to forfeit the modern hunting clothing and better sights on my weapons, sometimes I just want to head afield without all the other gadgetry, intense planning and preparation. Even though we have weapons capable of killing deer several hundred yards away, I'm often happier with a shorter range weapon, simply stalking a pine thicket, no stand, no magic deer pee, no real strategy other than heading into the wind. Just hunting.
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#1996183 - 07/16/10 09:51 AM
Re: Where are we going?
[Re: Wes Parrish]
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String Music
8 Point
Registered: 09/24/07
Posts: 1428
Loc: Knoxville
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Don't forget, deer will continue to get wiser and harder to kill. No matter how many new gadgets you have, there won't ever be anything to force that mature buck out of a thicket and into your range.
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#1996196 - 07/16/10 10:00 AM
Re: Where are we going?
[Re: String Music]
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BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
Non-Typical
Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59548
Loc: Nashville, TN
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Don't forget, deer will continue to get wiser and harder to kill. No matter how many new gadgets you have, there won't ever be anything to force that mature buck out of a thicket and into your range.
Excellent point String Music. Deer can learn and do so fairly quickly. I'm constantly amazed how a "new technique" for locating hunter-wary deer only works well for one year. By the next year, the deer have caught on to this new technique and adjusted their behavior.
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
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#1996232 - 07/16/10 10:37 AM
Re: Where are we going?
[Re: BSK]
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String Music
8 Point
Registered: 09/24/07
Posts: 1428
Loc: Knoxville
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Don't forget, deer will continue to get wiser and harder to kill. No matter how many new gadgets you have, there won't ever be anything to force that mature buck out of a thicket and into your range. Excellent point String Music. Deer can learn and do so fairly quickly. I'm constantly amazed how a "new technique" for locating hunter-wary deer only works well for one year. By the next year, the deer have caught on to this new technique and adjusted their behavior.
I've notice this in regards to trail cameras. Deer on my property caught on to cameras with a flash in a hurry. I watched a group of 6 bucks skirt the edge of a field right around my camera and then re-enter the field after avoiding the camera.
As we evolve, I'm curious to see how the whitetail evolves. I hope they don't become fully nocturnal.
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