I am losing it.

[southernhunter]

Every year I say I am going to harvest a few deer for the freezer so I work me butt off on hanging stands, cutting shooting lanes, wasting time and money on food plots. Then when it's time to let the arrow/ bullet go I just can't find it in me. I just smile as they walk out of sight. Yeah its safe to say I am no longer a hunter but now have become a watcher . Yet I don't feel disappoint or ashamed about it. I still rather be in the woods on a cool fall day as any place on earth. Who knows I may still take one for the freezer some day till then I'll just enjoy being out there every chance I get to remind myself why I do it year after year. Hope every one has a safe and enjoyable hunting season in 2016

 

[jard]

I do the exact same thing. I dont necessarily need the meat and love watching deer. the 2 other guys I hunt with both take does at a rate we need so I take 1 or so a year and wait for my shooter buck.

 

[Stykbow]

I understand that. I usually only kill one, maybe two, deer. I just don't have the desire to kill every one I can. Heck I ain't even been hunting this year. I may be sick...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[southernhunter]

Guess I better change my name to southern watcher lol

 

[UTGrad]

Guess I better change my name to southern watcher lol

Lol good one.

I'm slowly heading this direction. Today I had a doe walk right under me. I enjoyed just watching her and seeing if I could let her slip by without getting busted. I'll take me a couple this year but I enjoy just being out in the woods.

 

[TNDeerGuy]

It's called maturation, and we go through it as hunters, as well as human beings--there is nothing wrong with it and I believe it should be embraced. We become more selective in every aspect--the type of shots we take, deer we harvest and when we harvest. I'm there myself, after 30 years in the woods and consider it a good thing.

I had two shots on two different deer Sunday morning I would've taken earlier in my hunting career, very steep and severe angles that required me to be absolutely perfect. I know I have the skill set to pull off the shots, but I didn't consider it worth the risk and the ensuing trouble it would've created if I wasn't. Plus, I had a blast having four deer under me for over 30 minutes and watching them be deer--it was a successful hunt.

 

[Riverday]

Agree, i don't hate then near as much anymore....usually kill couple for meat, and hunt mainly for a big buck. I don't usually kill but one nice buck a year. Our hunting club is 8 point or better and you have to mount the deer...so some years it's just a couple of doe's. 5 of us can hunt and take 2 does each, not including the kids...

 

[Mike Belt]

I've been watching deer for several years. I get a thrill out of observing their natural movements and sometimes learn or see something out of the ordinary. If I killed all the bucks I let walk I'd have to build a storage shed just for antlers. I kind of consider them killed if they come by and I could have killed them any time I was ready to squeeze the trigger. I bested them and they don't even know it and are still walking. The thing is you don't have to make a kill every trip... or even on most trips. As long as you enjoy your time in the woods that's all that matters.

 

[Rjratliff1975]

I've been watching deer for several years. I get a thrill out of observing their natural movements and sometimes learn or see something out of the ordinary. If I killed all the bucks I let walk I'd have to build a storage shed just for antlers. I kind of consider them killed if they come by and I could have killed them any time I was ready to squeeze the trigger. I bested them and they don't even know it and are still walking. The thing is you don't have to make a kill every trip... or even on most trips. As long as you enjoy your time in the woods that's all that matters.

I've done that often myself. Well said.

 

[southernhunter]

Personal I am glad A lot of hunters have moved past the brown it's down mentality.

 

[Redwing]

Take a camera and start Videoing or snapping pictures. Some people make some extra cash doing that.

 

[bigtex]

Yeah I've been watching more than killing for the past several years myself.
Where I hunt it's a treat to even see a deer and shot opportunities are few and far between. The wife and I do like eating venison though and I kill a couple each year for the freezer.
I had three deer at 22 yards opening morning and didn't even pick my bow up lol. I still considered it a successful hunt and enjoyed every minute of it.

 

[Bone Collector]

I surely don't kill everyone I can. I see anywhere from 75-100 deer on average per year and could kill many of them, but depending on what we want to make with the meat (sausage, jerky, etc.) and how much, dictates how many I kill. usually 3-5 gets it done. That also allows me to give some out to my non hunting friends, which keeps them in the mindset that hunting is not bad, it is just not for them.

 

[lazer]

The does you let walk, just might bring in the biggest buck you've ever seen later in the year or give birth to it....Its all good....

 

[WGK]

Great 1st post Lazer. Glad to have on the site.

 

[catman529]

We become more selective in every aspect--the type of shots we take, deer we harvest and when we harvest.

I have become more selective about shots for sure. But not the deer I take, if it's doe its down :D


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tennessee Lead]

Guess I'm in the "Watcher" club myself
Normally kill one buck a year killed a doe 2 years ago hadn't done that in a long time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[muddyboots]

Now I only shoot does if I'm bowhunting and then I take into account how much work it's gonna b. Lol.

 

[Mike Belt]

Where I hunt you have to take a doe before you can hunt your second buck. That means the first one I get a shot at is in trouble.

 

[diamond hunter]

Ive owned my farm 7 years now and never have puller the trigger on a buck.Im gonna shoot a couple does every year though.

 

[duckriver]

I'm getting the same way. I consider it a sucessful hunt if I could have killed one to surive and eat. Other wise I'll kill a couple of does went it gets real cold so I can let them hang over night. As for bucks if I won't spend the money to mount it I won't kill it. It's got to be bigger than the others I have killed

 

[csi-tech]

I enjoy watching deer a great deal. The elite hunting outfit that borders my property has smoked so many does I am enjoying a near 1-1 (based on my camera surveys) doe to buck ratio. I have lots of 110" or better bucks wandering around. I may not "need" the meat, but I want it. Hunting is an integral and essential part of my core ethos. I will kill at least one buck this year. I do enjoy deer camp though. Just sitting by a fire after a nice meal enjoying a glass of Tennessee whiskey. Waking up to a hot cup of coffee and crawling out of my warm sleeping bag.........Awwww Yeah!

 

[Cedar Ridge]

Great thread. It describes me perfectly. Glad to see that many more with the same approach are out there.

 

[fairchaser]

I think it's a natural progression to start enjoying the hunt more than the kill. Deer are such beautiful creatures to observe. I kill more deer than I would want to naturally because of the club's goals and requirements. I want to help them accomplish their goals for conservation and QDM. We are more than hunters, we are conservationists and that requires some sacrifices. Very few properties kill enough does at least in unit L. I would hate to see insurance companies decide that hunting no longer works to control the population. Money talks. Deer are a resource that can be underutilized and that can cause problems for everyone. But, I do understand how one grows less hardened toward taking a life of an animal.

 

[huvrman]

Start taking a camcorder with you. Super fun to go back at the end of the year and look at some of the deer you saw.