I have a problem shooting deer.
 

My reason is I just don't want to shoot. I see deer every day I am in the woods. Plenty of deer around not a bruser buck I only saw a spike but tons of does. I have had just about evey deer dead to rights anywhere from 1 yard from the base of my tree to about 15 yards away. When I get home from hunting my wife asks if I was lucky and got anything and I just say could of had 8 of them today. Then asks why I didn't take any I just say don't know just didn't want too. I just don't know why I just didn't feel like pulling the trigger on my release.

Some reasons that I may be thinking of are

1) In the pine barrens deer run small so a buck that goes 125 is really a good size buck for here in NJ. Does may go 80 lbs wet. So they are not that big.


2) Since they are small I just might not feel like spending $95.00 to get it turned into honey bologna. Yes the price is up there so for a doe that might go 70 lbs I am spending 95.00 on it I feel that I might not be justifing this expense in my head. and that is why I am not pulling the trigger.

3) This one is a sad excuse but I just don't feel like doing all the care for it gutting checking the deer in and expense for just a 70 lb deer. But if it was a shooter buck then YES I would have no problem shooting the buck.

Conclusion. I think I am just waiting for my chance at a nice buck before I shoot anything else. I have atleast 5 oppertunities to harvest does in a 2 hour evening hunt. I just don't want to. I even passed a spiker, but that was not really hard to pass him as the does were bigger than he was lol.

I do remember me saying to myself that I didn't want to take a buck smaller than the one I took last year. So even though I really don't think about it I might be thinking about it subconsciencely. I don't know but I do know one thing I am having a blast just watching the deer in the woods.

I have had the best time watching the deer in their environment doing their thing. I have had one really great experience this year as I had a doe bust me in my stand and snorted and took off but only 15 years away then stopped and lost me again only to bust me as she walked by again. Doing the same thing as last time snorted and took off about 15 years and lost me again. Then finally saw me again but didn't know what I was and we did the dodging thing where she look at me then away then right at me again and wagging her tail stomping her foot and I just loved it. King of wish I had that on tape as it was pretty cool. She finally took off and I feel that it was she made me smile from ear to ear with that game. Just typing it I am smiling about the whole thing as I just don't think I will ever forget.

Well that is how my season has gone for me this year. Plenty of does and one small spike so far. I don't really feel like changing my spot as the rut nears the big boys should come to me with all my does around. Who knows I just might get lucky this year and I might not but that is half the fun. If something does come by that I feel like taking I will let you all know. Thanks for reading my story and season so far.

Brian

RE: I have a problem shooting deer.
 

First of all if you dont need the meat as we replace all the meats we would normally buy in the market with venison each year, but if you dont need the meat then thats fine.
However if you get excited when seeing deer and shooting deer then I would say that you definitly do enjoy deer hunting so I would take advantage of the fact that you are not forced to shoot small ones or does and your opportunity for the big one will increase. I hunt zone 25 in nj and I know the pre rut has started here. I have taken and 11 point and a 12 point this year in zone 25 and things are just now starting to heat up as far as the rut is concerned so If thats the way you are hunting I wouldnt knock myself out over it. You probably have a 300% more chance at the nice buck if your letting does pass.
Just my opinion
Good Hunting fellow new jersian

The Brown-Down is ON!!!!
Steven J. Collins (Trock63)
Bowdaddy Productions

RE: I have a problem shooting deer.
 

Buy a boning knife and or fillet knife)
and try butchering the smaller does yourself
Once youve done a few it only takes
a couple of hours. Meat grinders are
fairly cheap too. I like to keep the hams
and shoulders whole and smoke them. I may be the exception,
but I actually enjoy the cleaning and
preperation part.
If you are seeing tons of does and few bucks,
you need to harvest a few does anyway.
Anyhow, best of luck getting that big bruiser.

RE: I have a problem shooting deer.
 

Good advice benhuntin.
I process my own deer and I find it enjoyable. It's kinda part of the whole hunting experience for me. Try It.

RE: I have a problem shooting deer.
 

I know how you feel Brian..After I shot my first buck, I just sat in the stand to watch. Could have taken another doe each time. My wife asks the same question, " If you don't shoot them, then why do you go?" They don't understand that is satisfying just to see them.

The next time you get a deer, c'mon up this and I'll show you how to butcher it up. It will save alot of money. Ask your butcher how he wants the meat cut to make bologna and then how much it would cost this way.

RE: I have a problem shooting deer.
 

Here's how I see it right now: Pre-rut and rut is good bucks only. You never know when that monster is gonna be hot on the trail of a doe, a few minutes behind her, and you don't want to miss your chance at him. Live decoys are the best decoys.

After the rut I intend on shooting a doe for meat. I've been busy finishing up what little I have left from last fall's hunt and making room in the freezer for this year. Unless of course I manage to bag a nice buck, then I will have my meat for the year.

In your case though, as long as you're still excited to see deer and are having a good time when you go out hunting then don't worry about how many deer you kill. Too many people are so caught up in bragging about the 6 deer they shot this year for no reason. As the saying goes....sometimes less can be more.

-Zarr

RE: I have a problem shooting deer.
 

I'd say that everytime you pass on a small deer your chances for the trophy go up dramatically. You still have your tag!

THWACK!

RE: I have a problem shooting deer.
 

I enjoy Cutting them up to, Sometimes a few friends and I have several to do at the same time and make an occasion of it. I set up a butcher station in my garage. Feels good to go from start "the hunt" to the finish "eating."

As for shooting or not what ever flips your Wig.

By the way I hunted the pine Barrens in Jersey many years ago , Actually I lived in them. And there are some very big Deer there.

Striper Phil formerlt of Barnegat New Jersey

RE: I have a problem shooting deer.
 

Here is an idea for all those who can't make people understand what it is like to just let them pass. Try taking a video camera along and taping the ones that you don't want to shoot. I have found that it is great fun to come home and watch the tape with my family. It is like having them in the stand with you. My 3 year old loves it. My wife who normally doesn't have any interest in hunting loves it as well.

Just a thought.

" Anyone can be a father, but it takes a real man to be a Dad"

RE: I have a problem shooting deer.
 

Have you ever heard of 'Hunters for the Hungry' programs? You may donate the meat in order to feed the hungry. Some butchers take the animals and with a small donation, they package the meat and give it to the local food banks.

Reasons to pull the trigger:

1. Feed the hungry.
2. Manage your deer herd. Thin out the does, and you will get bigger bucks (since you are not shooting them).
3. Don't shoot a small buck. He will be the 'big buck' you didn't see next year...

RE: I have a problem shooting deer.
 

Nothing wrong with letting a deer walk. I have let hundreds walk. If they are not what I want I let them go on. Like it has been said, if you dont need the meat there is nothing wrong with letting them walk. I enjoy setting and wathching them all day. I have been known to set out and rattle up bucks just to watch them. I do bring a gun of course. You never know when that monster might come around.

Lifes a garden, dig it.

RE: I have a problem shooting deer.
 

Thanks for the thoughts. I do need the meat though as my freezer is empty right now. I just feel bad about having to shoot a doe that goes 70-80 lbs. I like the camera idea too and might just do that. Sounds like fun and I know my wife would love to see it.

I do plan on butchering my own deer when We move into our new house on Nov 19 is when we close on it. So I will be butchering it myself and My wife also got me a good video on butching deer yourself. I think its a Dan Fitsgerald video and I love it. So I will have to try that myself soon. I really do enjoy just being out there looking at them and enjoying my time out there with the deer and mybe that big buck will follow one of the does into my area in the next few weeks.

I did put out some doe in estrus sent just to see if anyone was interested in it and had a spike buck walk within 5 yeads of it and payed no attention to it. Kind on makes me say HMMMM... But he did for some reason start walking stiff legged right after walking by it and took off. So maybe it spooked him and its just too early for it. But I did put some in a scrape that is near my tree and the next day saw some doe foot prints in it so maybe some activity will start happening soon.

Thanks again

Brian

RE: I have a problem shooting deer.
 

Brian,

Because you really enjoy hunting, you aren't doing anything wrong. I'm sure you'll get into processing your own deer, you and all hunters really need to in the future. We need to control our deer herds, but none of us want to pay $2-$3/lb to have it processed.

A soon as you close on the house, hunt planning to take the first doe you see, so there is no "trying to decide" and plan to process your own. It will give you another aspect of hunting to enjoy.

Of course, as soon as you decide to shoot the first doe you see, one won't come within 50 yds of you - but thats hunting.

Good, honest post. Good luck.

RE: I have a problem shooting deer.
 

I see nothing wrong with not shooting, even if you can. Hunting is much more than harvesting, I bet you are learning more this year, b/c your watching not worrying about draw, form, pin, etc. I pass lots of deer during every season, some does I have a tag but think oh not yet. As for bucks, the montsa will never reality if you tag a spike.

Butchering doesn't have to be a chore! It is fun, cheaper and gives you a biology class on deer make up...while doing it. We actually have a guys in the garage butchering and grinding, women in the house chatting get together when we harvest some deer. I wouldn't take my deer to a butcher now, I just really enjoy it and I can debone and package a average deer in just over an hour. When they charge 50-100 bucks for the same service, its money in the tickle trunk.

RE: I have a problem shooting deer.
 

Yeah I just can't wait till I move into my new house down the jersey shore or atleast very close to it. I will have a big air conditioned garage to do all my butchering. I think I will hold off till I feel that this is the one for me. If its a doe so be it and If its a buck it will have to be atleast bigger than last years deer.

I will be doing my part in harvesting does as I have so many around me. I mean no more than 5 minutes in my stand I have deer walking by me. But with all the doe activity around and the rut coming I feel that it is just a matter of time till a shooter comes by and you all will see some pictures.

Brian

RE: I have a problem shooting deer.
 

Nothing wrong with waiting for a big un. Personally, I want a doe or two for the meat. Also, if you thin down the does where you hunt, the bucks will have to compete more for the does that are left, which in a well balanced herd would lead to rattling and grunting calls acutally working!!! With no pressure to compete for does, why would 2 bucks fight over it, there are plenty to go around.

So once you close on the house, get a doe or two out of there. Butchering them yourself is satisfying. It take me 5-6 hours for a good size doe here in MO, a small one might not take that long. Thats from the start to wrapped and in the freezer. 2 of us get a whole deer done in under 3 hours.

Anyway, hope you see a big one!

--Jim

RE: I have a problem shooting deer.
 

To me the kill is secondary to the experiece.
I could kill a deer almost everytime I go out if I wanted. However, I prefer to only shoot maybe 2 does a year for meat and then I hunt for only 135 class bucks and up. Therefore, I go home empty handed most of the time. However, its the actual "hunting" not the killing that keeps me going.

Hunt the thickets

RE: I have a problem shooting deer.
 

Boy, i wish i had the problem of deer always under me. my hat is off to you for not shooting.
i also process my own meat (deer pig) you do not have to cut it up imedatly as some people think. skin, quarter, and put in a cooler on ice it will buy you some time. pluss it helps get the blood out of it. i usually keep in the cooler for a day or two. the first batch of ice will melt somewhat quick do to the warm meet getting cool. drain the water off (removing a lot of blood) re ice get to it when you can.
i spent almost $600 on a kick butt grinder (with the optional stuffing kit for making brats, slim jims) last year and it has already paid fot itself. (4 domestic hogs, 3 deer) now i am going to get a killer vaccum sealler hopefully it will be paid off this year. if nothing else you know for a fact that you are eating the meat that you harvested. i really enjoy it

RE: I have a problem shooting deer.
 

You are simply maturing as an individual and as a hunter. You are going from the quantity to the quality stage in hunting.

I've let several does pass this past week - one was hugh for around here. I figure I have several more weeks before rifle season to get a nice buck with a bow. If I don't get the one I want by rifle season then I'll take a doe (just to keep up my confidence) after rifle season.

Jack