ok I stayed out of this for 5 pages......
I'm going to be totally objective and open minded about this debate. I admit that a few years ago I would have been one to totally bash the "deer drive" method of hunting. I've learned throughout the years that the way of hunting I know and practice is not the only way. I can appreciate and respect all forms of hunting done in a legal manner. I just want to gain a better understanding of the thought process of this particular form.
Whew.... with that being said. I just don't understand it.
deer drives or small pushes are an excellent way to kill deer.
This statement may very well be tue. Is that all you are out there for though? I could probably "kill" deer every morning with my truck if I wanted to. The things I see wrong with deer drives are:
1. safety is a gigantic concern. I don't care how well planned the drives are, there are too many people involved and too many strange things happen with deer running around and a group of people shooting at them.
2. (my biggest pet peave). The idea is to jump the deer and get them running and strategically place the shooters in "the escape routes". That's all fine and good except for one thing. The deer are going about mach 10 across a field. Give me a break. I belive in one sure shot = one killed deer. You can NOT guarantee that with a deer drive. GJood way to wound some deer IMO.
3. Why not just hunt them in their natural habbitat? What's the need for the drives if everyone would hunt without them? I hear all the time "that's the only way to get them moving" or " you'll never see a big buck without pushing them". Well why do you think that is? Because everyone has the same mentalilty and romps through the woods on day 1 of gun season. What would happen if everyone just hunted them in their natural environment?
Why can I see 20 different bucks throughout bowseason and see maybe 2 bucks during gun season running 100 mph through an open field?
Again........ I'm not bashing deer drives anymore. I've accepted it as being what it is. I don't look down at anyone that practices it or think they are less of a hunter than me. It's legal and they have every right to hunt how they please. There are just some things about it that I don't think I'll ever understand the reasoning behind.