Ever see a look on a guys face that hasn't seen a deer in a week of daylong hunts??........now picture a guy that just saw a few deer and felt his heart pounding.......if he got a shot or not.....BIG DIFFERENCE.......even though neither guy took a deer. Hunter's want to feel like there are deer out there to hunt. Just a realistic chance is all anyone expects. They don't want to have to face lottery-like odds and hope they are the one guy out of 50 that is lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.
Very Very well said. My thoughts exactly!! Wonder why the # of hunters is down so much?? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm E=MC2!!! I agree with you 110% about people just being able to see deer while hunting. Look at the not so dedicated hunters like atlas says. The guys who can't hunt as much or dedicate as much time in the woods due to work or family. They may get out a handful of times. I live in my treestand from sunup to sundown every single day of the seasons. I've had that exact feeling the last couple of years. It feels like I'm sitting in a tree hoping to get lucky (like winning the lottery) because that's the point it has gotten to. And I scout and scout and scout and scout and scout.......etc..... my arse off during the off season. I put the work in that is neccesary.
This isn't a crying the blues thing or a pity party. This ISN"T something that is simply brushed off by saying you're not doing something right or I did ok what's your problem. This is just the way it is and it's a shame.
How about the kids that are trying to get going in hunting. How do you excite them?? I took my son out with me 5 times last year and didn't see a single doe ever!!!! I would have given anything for that. Just for him to see a deer while out in the woods to complete the experience!! So now what's his take on the whole hunting thing?? Next year when I ask him if he wants to go with me today what might his response be?? Hmmmmmmmmm sit in the cold for a few hours without talking or moving and look at trees?? Not too overwhelmingly exciting for a 9 year old.
One of the biggest parts of hunting is the stories back at camp. It's funny me and my buddies were talking about this just the other day. We really have NO off season stories about 2003. No great harvest, no stories of how someone hunted a deer etc....... I'm telling ya towards the end of shotgun season it was pretty grim around the lodge before and after hunts. It was actually like my buddies were miserable. There were actual looks of disgust and extreme frustrations sometimes when we all came back to the lodge after the afternoon hunts. There were even a couple of guys questioning whether or not they would hunt the last week or so. These are absolute DIEHARD HARDCORE hunters too.
I dunno I'm glad for the people that are having continued success and dont' notice a decline I really am !!! I just hope things get back to normal around my neck of the woods soon.