Originally Posted by Screamin Steel

I think you'll find many more of the lazy, success comes easy- kids in the QDM clubs. I really worry, that as my kids fast approach the hunting ages, that at this current rate,I will even be able to find enough deer to keep them interested. Forget about it being easy. Take a kid to the north big woods now, a good chance he won't even see a deer. Hunting IS and WAS a great family pasttime, and breat bonding time...but we also have all year to do that. You have a few short weeks each fall to hunt deer. A couple months if you bowhunt or hunt late season. That's it. Don't sing that song about '"t's not about the hunting" to me. For a few short weeks each year, it is definitely about the hunting, as it's the only time we can hunt them. Its' not about birdwatching, hiking, etc. All year to do those things, which we also do to varying degrees, including boy scouts of which I've been involved most of my life. I spend alot of times in the woods outside of deer season. Deer season is for deer hunting....fun and social as it may be at times. There is a threshold there of success, or atleast action/ deer sightings...that needs to be met to retain interest...especially in young/ new hunters. It doesn't help that the magazine aisle is pastered with photos of huge, steroid fed deer from QDM farms in the midwest that set our kids up for failure before they even get started. The hunting shows where the celebrity passes on half a dozen bucks your kid will probably never see the likes of, then tags a monster and never cracks a smile. Like it was hard work. Like it was just another head for the wall.Makes your kid feel ashamed to hunt hard all season and "settle" for a yearling, or "fail" to tag a deer at all. Now lower deer numbers across much of PA have turned hunting into some kind of selfish, defensive game, that has as much to do with foiling other guys' plans, as it does with outsmarting the deer. Better "wreck" the first one you see with a .300 mega magnum, because if he doesn't drop in his tracks, the guys over the hill will get him. Better scatter hair and ivory soap around that other guy's stand. There's only three deer left on this mountain, and we want to be the ones to get them. It's alright we spent hundreds of dollars between that new rifle, your gore tex, boots, license, etc. I mean...hey, you saw some cardinals and the trillium is really looking good this year. Bet you can't wait till next year. What? you'd rather stay home and play your Wii? I don't get it. Gimme a break.