Season Ahead
 

Well, last year I wrote a thread on a mistake that I made by taking a deer that I should have let go for this year. This year I am paying the price. Nobody in my area practices deer management (including me last yr) and you can tell. I saw three bucks together last night, spike, 4, and 5 or 7 points. I have yet to see a shooter. Man, how do I get the motivation to get out there when the possibility of taking a shoot isn't there. Looks like I will be hunting in PA a lot this year. I wish MI would do some sort of deer mgt. How is your season looking?

Shoot some does this year and dont worry about the bucks

Wow!! This is really a sad post. It's a shame that we put so much emphasis on killing a trophy that we can't enjoy seeing three bucks and probably a bunch of does in one afternoon of hunting. May I ask how long you've been hunting?

Dan

Give it time, buck sightings my way have been bit slow, bit I also know what my area holds, be patient and enjoy your time in the woods, and like the above poster stated, take some does!

Shane

As I'm looking to take my first this year, I'd have taken any you described. (The spike is iffy, as they must be 5" in my area) To me, if it's legal I'm going to try my best to put it down. However, I may feel different later on.

Yep, 28 years. Yes, I do place a ton of emphasis on taking a mature deer. I shoot all year, I spend a ton of time in the woods studying their paterns and predict their movements. I spend time on this site learning new techniques. I enjoy deer meat, but I love playing out the challenge that I set for myself each year. Guilty as charged, somebody slap the cuffs on a dedicated sportsman.

I like that response. I think people get scolded too often for being "trophy" hunters. That term has become taboo on this site. Get the hell off of people's backs about what deer they choose to shoot. We should spend less time ripping down people who no matter what deer they aim for are dedicated hunters and outdoorsmen and more time recruiting new blood to this great sport that is struggling and that we love so much.

i agree with what your saying niehenke, we all want mature deer be it for antler size, genetic transfer, or just the challenge of taking an old brute. i also am in a situation where none of my neighbors practice management. i, as im sure you really do as well, enjoy seeing anything while im in the woods. and hoping that a mature deer will make an appearance is always a nice thought. just hoping they will get to maturity if you let the deer walk though, is out of your hands in this situation it seems. hunt what makes you happy. if letting young bucks walk with hopes that youll see them again makes you happy do it. if taking a spike or young buck fills you with excitement and keeps you hunting for whatever reason, thats awesome as well. good luck in what your after. im shootin what makes me happy this year, and that will be a few does at the very least!!

During the early part of the season I tend to be picky about what bucks or even does I might take a shot at. But as the season goes by depending on what I have seen or not seen, well if it's brown it's down. I think of myself as a meat hunter first. Don't get me wrong, I would love to take a nice buck.

I dont see whats wrong with being a picky hunter. I, too, hold off on smaller bucks even if they are legal. If it comes right down to crunch time, and a buck that may have been "iffy" to pass early in the season might get an arrow sent his way, but I dont see why thats a problem. I like to let the little guys go and watch them grow. If I need meat, I'll take a doe, otherwise i'm trying to take a mature buck. I usually go out with the intent to take a particular deer or multiple particular deer so if I wait until a certain guy shows I dont see how that is any more unsportsmanlike than any other method.

Some like to shoot trophies.. some like to shoot anything. Who is to say whats wrong or right? Besides, who cares? He can do his thing and another guy can do his thing.

On the same note, enjoy your time in the woods. Even if you only see small bucks or just does, its still a good time. Quite honestly, I dont measure my success by the deer I bring home. I measure success each trip I go out. If I see wildlife, and I see deer while I am in the woods, then my hunt was a success. Getting a big ol' buck is just extra.

[quote][ I saw three bucks together last night, spike, 4, and 5 or 7 points. I have yet to see a shooter. Man, how do I get the motivation to get out there when the possibility of taking a shoot isn't there./QUOTE]

niehenke- I read the above statement when you first posted this thread on Sept. 19th and you sounded like your season was over and yeah it reached me. I thought that you were a new hunter and that maybe the people that started you hunting may have brought you along thinking that the only way to enjoy this sport was to kill a trophy. I was trying to make a point that far too often we lose new people that are introduced to our great way of life because too many folks push the trophy deer philosophy on them before their first hunt. IMHO- New hunters and kids esp. need success or they lose interest mighty quick. We're up against big odds to hold their interest competing against the internet, video games,etc. I realize now that you've been at it for a while and I'm sorry if I offended you. May I ask when the season did start where you hunt?

Dan

I hope that things work out for you. I might set my sights a little higher in the future, but for right now I'm still after my first buck with a bow. I'm telling you, the does where I hunt are terrified, but the bucks don't know I exist.:(

haha, that's a great thing my man!!!:rock:

Exactly - some of my favorite days in the woods had nothing to do with even seeing a deer. Like the time I watched a groundhog climb up a tree, ok it was a half fallen tree but cool anyway.

Get out there and enjoy the sights!

I am not offended. I am near Lansing in MI. I have been in MI for 10 years and I have seen a shooter before the season every year except this year. Last winter was terrible for the deer around here: found a dead deer in a snare, ~5 dead from harsh winter, one injured and the yotes got it, one unknown, several car crash deaths and worst of all, I think that I have a neighbor filling his freezer at night. The good news is that I have a chance to hunt back home, PA for several weeks. PA has a point restriction. Last year I was chasing a 140 and 150 class running together. Never did get a chance but what I blast trying. They kept together in a apple orchard near to a clover feild. They did not go far each day. No trees to get in and when I would try to enter, they would just wrap right around me and disappear.

Great news!!! I saw a 2 brothers ~2.5 year old 8-10pts and 1 maybe 3.5 based on the thick rack. I did not get a great look at the potential 3.5 year old, but I am stoked. That is all that I wanted for x-mas. Season started this week but I could not get out there. Better believe it that I will be out there early. Tough decision, go for the two 2.5 with 15 other deer or go for the potential 3.5 with maybe 1 other. I think I will pick the pontential 3.5. Man does it feel good.