Deer hunting?

[Grill-n-man]

Just wondering if anyone else out there feels the same as me? With all the hype the past several years about killing the "biggest" buck around, does anyone remember what deer hunting used to be. Used to be family and/or friends getting together to spend some time in the woods relaxing, trying put some food in the freezer, tracking, reading sign, hunting with any legal weapon allowed for that season, and passing on a love of the outdoors to the next generation. Both old and young had a respect for the land and most importantly, respect for each other as Gods children. Has that been lost forever? We now have trail cameras, GPS, food plots, almost no public hunting land compared to times past, we don't talk to strangers in the woods or the check station cause they might get our spot, we take someone else's spot cause we are to lazy to find our own, we teach the next generation that the size of the horns are more important than the experience or putting food in the freezer, we say someone is cheating if they use a new type of weapon, we forget that not everyone has the money or land to build the dream spot, and down someone for taking a spike for the freezer instead of letting it walk to grow up. Now don't get me wrong, but my heart just about jumps out of my chest when a nice buck comes thru, but I also get the same feeling when a yearling walks by. When I no longer feel the same no matter what comes by then I will be done. So I ask that if you have taken the time to read this, try to understand my point. Take some of your time to pass on the true meaning of hunting without all the gadgets, money , and the size of the horns matter attitude to so that the next generation will grow up knowing that the outdoors is a wonderful place, a place to learn and not just a place to get a good pic for facebook.

 

[Football Hunter]

I dont see a problem,hunt like you want,dont worry about what anyone else does.

 

[deerhunter10]

I dont see a problem,hunt like you want,dont worry about what anyone else does.

x2 I think parents are doing a good job of passing it down.

 

[BHC]

To each his own.... I agree it's should be more about the experience, but whether you are a trophy hunter or a meat hunter is your own buisness..

 

[Matador]

I remember. I killed my first buck in Rhea County in 1981. Yeah its changed a lot.

 

[catman529]

Just wondering if anyone else out there feels the same as me? With all the hype the past several years about killing the "biggest" buck around, does anyone remember what deer hunting used to be. Used to be family and/or friends getting together to spend some time in the woods relaxing, trying put some food in the freezer, tracking, reading sign, hunting with any legal weapon allowed for that season, and passing on a love of the outdoors to the next generation. Both old and young had a respect for the land and most importantly, respect for each other as Gods children. Has that been lost forever? We now have trail cameras, GPS, food plots, almost no public hunting land compared to times past, we don't talk to strangers in the woods or the check station cause they might get our spot, we take someone else's spot cause we are to lazy to find our own, we teach the next generation that the size of the horns are more important than the experience or putting food in the freezer, we say someone is cheating if they use a new type of weapon, we forget that not everyone has the money or land to build the dream spot, and down someone for taking a spike for the freezer instead of letting it walk to grow up. Now don't get me wrong, but my heart just about jumps out of my chest when a nice buck comes thru, but I also get the same feeling when a yearling walks by. When I no longer feel the same no matter what comes by then I will be done. So I ask that if you have taken the time to read this, try to understand my point. Take some of your time to pass on the true meaning of hunting without all the gadgets, money , and the size of the horns matter attitude to so that the next generation will grow up knowing that the outdoors is a wonderful place, a place to learn and not just a place to get a good pic for facebook.

I have only been hunting since 2010 but I like what you are saying and I enjoy deer hunting for what it is and not just to get the big old mossy horns. Yes a big buck will get me more excited than most other deer but then I get excited shooting a fawn in my backyard and will hunt with whatever weapon legal too even though I prefer the bow. Wish I could have hunted back when you say it was good like that, but I can't say I don't enjoy it now.

 

[catman529]

I dont see a problem,hunt like you want,dont worry about what anyone else does.

I sure would worry about what other people do, if it's inconsiderate or screws up the hunting... I don't want some lazy jack wagon following me into my hunting spot that I spent time and gas money to scout and hunt, for one thing...

 

[BSK]

...Used to be family and/or friends getting together to spend some time in the woods relaxing, trying put some food in the freezer, tracking, reading sign, hunting with any legal weapon allowed for that season, and passing on a love of the outdoors to the next generation...

I think you can still have both. For me, hunting is about hunting with my family, relaxing, and recreating, as well as passing on hunting to the next generation. However, we also use the best science available in an attempt to manage our local deer herd as wisely as possible. Often this means selecting certain deer for harvest while protecting other deer. We are interested in older, larger bucks, but certainly not trophy bucks or only mature bucks. We now have a MUCH healthier and more socially balanced deer herd than during the "good old days" of shooting anything with antlers, and we are having more fun than ever.

 

[tickweed]

I often find myself thinking about the seasons from long ago. I remember back in the mid seventys sitting in class at high school just dreaming about taking my first buck. It happened on Nov. 19,1977, 8:10 am in Medon,tn. A small basket rack 8 that dressed 107 lbs. Me and my friends hunted every chance we got, camping out on the weekends, had a ball. Any buck was a trophy. In a way, those where the good old days, but even now they seem good. I did progress to the stage of wanting to take a huge big racked deer, and to be honest, it did take some of the fun out for me. Many dream of a big trophy deer like you see on the TV shows or magazines, but be careful what you wish for. Once you do take one, it can change things big time. You will find yourself sitting in a stand, wondering what you are doing, knowing the odds of it happening again are very slim. Especially here in the southern states. Its great to be able to achieve taking a big deer, I finally did, but its easy to lose site of what its really all about. I still will pass lots of deer, but not because Im hunting for a big deer, mainly for management. We take a few to eat, but get so much enjoyment out of taking kids, and friends and watching them. They can take what they want. I have my own farm now with a nice hunting camp, and just like being in the woods, much like years ago. I guess its come full circle for me. Its all in how a person looks at it.

 

[hitek7]

First off let me say I do not choose not to shoot the smaller bucks I see but will allow the younger generation or new hunter to shoot one. Our lease if basically a family oriented lease with me, my brother, and my dad. We have fun every time we go eventhough we choose to wait on larger or more mature deer. To us, it is not all about the killing. It is the time with family and the outdoors. If we want meat, we choose to shoot the does and leave the bucks to grow. If we are passing bucks, we carry a kid to possibly get a shot at them. If we shot them, they would not be there for the younger generation. There are varying opinions on this matter and alot of it depends on the area you hunt. We typically see deer on 90% of our hunts. Too me, that makes it easier to let deer walk because if I am seeing them, I am happy. Shoot everyone you see and you will not see them very often.

 

[kldeerkiller]

I think alot of folks are hung up on antlers and they worry to much about what everyone else is doing and should keep their opinions to themselves. If I choose to shoot a spike or let it walk its my business. Not everyone has the luxury on having quality private land.

 

[Grill-n-man]

I think some are misunderstanding. I didn't mention killing everything you see or down - size of, how, where, or what type of means or methods you use. I am simply trying to say that no matter what the size it is still a trophy, no matter if you leave with a tag full or not it was still a good hunt, take an extra few minutes and talk to a stranger cause you may find a new friend, forget the feeders and electronics and talk a walk or sit and listen to the woods, teach what you know.

 

[BSK]

...forget the feeders and electronics and talk a walk or sit and listen to the woods, teach what you know.

I don't use feeders because they're detrimental to wildlife, but the "electronics" have been one of the best teachers of deer knowledge I've ever come across. Without trail-cams, GPS, computer technology, etc., anything I taught to others would have been pure speculation (and much of it wrong). The electronics have taught me the truth about deer, and I would rather teach that to the next generation instead of the old wives' tales so often believed to be gospel and passed between hunters.

 

[hitek7]

Shoot what you want, dont matter to me. The ones that get me are the ones that keep telling me "We shoot about any buck we see because we do not ever see any big deer on our property...". That is is just not MY mentality.

 

[BSK]

Shoot what you want, dont matter to me. The ones that get me are the ones that keep telling me "We shoot about any buck we see because we do not ever see any big deer on our property...". That is is just not MY mentality.

I agree completely hitek7. I want hunters to hunt they way that makes them happy and shoot what makes them happy (within the law and within sound biological principles). However, if you want to see and kill older bucks, you won't get there by shooting young bucks.

 

[Hunter 257W]

The problem comes when neighbors have conflicting goals of deer management. And it gets even worse if one or both of them has a relatively small plot of land. I can certainly see someone legitimatly saying "I shoot them all because there aren't any mature bucks" if he has a neighbor who shoots as many bucks as he can no matter the size. The 1st guy has such a small chance of being the one who gets an opportunity at a survivor buck that he shoots every 6 point that come along.

Back to the original post here. I personally don't like the way bucks have just become a number(B&C score). Competition to get the highest score has affected deer hunting so much that when a hunter shoots a really nice buck and is telling about it, he will start off by saying "it's a nice buck for around here". As if he needs to appologize for it only being a 135" buck. While I agree with BSK on the value of trail cameras, part of me wishes they had never been marketed and the mystery had remained with all it's errors. A lot of the magic left deer season when cameras came along. Regarding hunters treatment of each other - modern deer hunting marketing doesn't even try to pull any punches there. How often have you seen an add about "pulling the neighbors deer across the fence"??

Yes, we have gained a huge amount as far as deer numbers, size and age of bucks but there have been loses too. I still just see maybe 1 or 2 bucks a year that I have an opportunity to shoot but I see some kind of deer most of the times I hunt. In the late 1970's I never saw bucks. (AEDC has gone the opposit though. In the 70's or 80's you couldn't possibly hunt up there without seeing lots of does - now you see NOTHING.) I now have more of my own land so all-in-all I am better off now that say 25 years ago but I wish that old mystery and magic hadn't given way to such a pure technical mentality.

 

[BSK]

While I agree with BSK on the value of trail cameras, part of me wishes they had never been marketed and the mystery had remained with all it's errors. A lot of the magic left deer season when cameras came along.

That is absolutely true. No more wondering if old mossyhorns was on your property.

 

[Football Hunter]

While I agree with BSK on the value of trail cameras, part of me wishes they had never been marketed and the mystery had remained with all it's errors. A lot of the magic left deer season when cameras came along.

That is absolutely true. No more wondering if old mossyhorns was on your property.

Hmmm,kind of the opposite for me,bucks I see or kill ,usually in Nov,are rarely on cam before,less than half the time for sure.

 

[Football Hunter]

I dont see a problem,hunt like you want,dont worry about what anyone else does.

I sure would worry about what other people do, if it's inconsiderate or screws up the hunting... I don't want some lazy jack wagon following me into my hunting spot that I spent time and gas money to scout and hunt, for one thing...

ok,that makes sense,cant imagine someone following me/you in to a hunting spot,never experienced that,and hope not to.

 

[BSK]

While I agree with BSK on the value of trail cameras, part of me wishes they had never been marketed and the mystery had remained with all it's errors. A lot of the magic left deer season when cameras came along.

That is absolutely true. No more wondering if old mossyhorns was on your property.

Hmmm,kind of the opposite for me,bucks I see or kill ,usually in Nov,are rarely on cam before,less than half the time for sure.

Over the last 14 years, our data strongly suggest we photographed 97% of the bucks that used our property during deer season.

 

[BHC]

Most of the deer we kill have been caught on camera. I myself have shot 5 bucks the past 3 seasons and all but one was on camera. I love game cameras not only do you learn a lot by using them, but it helps me to identify home ranges of different bucks and hunt specific deer. I remember the days where I shot everything that walked, but have changed my goals and try to take a 3.5+ buck every yr now. I shoot does for meat and I get just as tore up at the moment of truth shooting them as I ever have. I just prefer letting 1.5 & 2.5 yr old deer grow so I might have a chance at them next yr... I understand why some guys shoot young deer, in locations that if they waited for a 3.5+ yr old they may not shoot a buck each yr and that is tough. Some guys don't mind not killing one every yr and that's fine too... But others are right if you do want to kill older age class deer, or big racked deer, you'll never do it consistently if you shoot young bucks... I still love deer hunting as much as I ever have though! I don't think the "good ole days are gone". Ppl get to hung up on tv and advertising, why do you even care what piece of equipment would you have if it weren't for the companies you complain about...? Of course deer hunting on tv is nothing like hunting the hill & hollow/ thicket country of Tn. That's why you never see them hunting in the southeast! IMO it's strategically the most difficult region of the U.S. to hunt. Winds are unpredictable and deer don't have to travel far for resources, and they have an over abundance of cover, generally. I do think a TV show where a guy hunts 1 property or just a few, and just explains how and why he's hanging stands or planting plots where he is. Half the show is him walking through the woods and standing at a white board with a map drawing up strategic plans, with a few successful hunts mixed in would be awesome, and id watch it every week!

 

[Grill-n-man]

Hunter 257W Its sounds like you remember what it was like, and is still like for me, not knowing the what, when, and where. NOW thats how you get the blood pumping. Also how the numbers have grown so we can choose to be picky on what meat is put in the freezer, if you can. And what it was or is like to meet a stranger and make a new friend. Hunting shows sure don't show that unless you count the ones you pay for.