While some things have changed for the worse, many other changes have been made for the better.

Scottdnramember hit some good things on the head. I was not old enough to hunt until the early 90s, but when I listen to the stories of those who did in the 50s, 60s, and into the early 70s when the deer herd population in Wisconsin was so low that seeing deer was never a given. I don't even know why my family even still goes deer hunting. How my Father and Uncles kept the interest in hunting going through the 60s just never ceases to amaze me.

Proper deer management has brought the herd up to all new highs, even if the local miss-steps lowered it in some regions, it's still better than it used to be.

Not only that, but Scottdnramember brought gear into the spotlight. Our gear today is so much better than what we had years ago aside from the rifles being used at any rate. Wisconsin had it's first year on record with no firearms accidents ever. Everything has become safer from the clothes we wear, to the stands we use, and to the safety rules that most hunters follow.

There are just as many who don't illegally bait deer where I hunt as those that do. The best hunters in our area are the ones who don't. Those are the ones who do the work to scout the deer, and we are the ones that traditionally harvest the better bucks each year.

Even with a low population of deer in area 8 of Wisconsin my Father and I harvested a couple of nice 8 pts, and had the one buck moved further south, the guy who cut my Father off on that trail would never have gotten the big 10 pt buck he took. It was a 4.5 or 5.5 year old buck with a 20" inside spread. A very nice buck taken on public land.

Many people still hunt as hunting should be done. Sadly, there are many that don't though. When I made my just shy of 3 mile drag this year I was exausted, tired, and happy. Where I hunt you can't take any type of vehicle in on the old logging trails. It's all walking in and hunting. Not many are willing to do that, and I'm willing to take the bucks I have to work for.