Every year I tell my self if I do not kill a deer I am done. Every year no gun. come summer/fall i drop the big bucks on my tags gear what ever no deer. Well I have yet to say it this year. Still no deer but I know it will never happen why say it. The other day I saw a deer run across the road when hunting. unlike years past i ant sticking my middle finger out at the deer. I think wow thats a nice deer. my last hunt I sit there and watched the sun drop and thought this is a the life.
Even without killing a deer I am still hooked 100%. I think this year I have been more of a hunter then any other season. Though it would be nice to kill something.

Well put.

Up until this year I was always so caught up in the whole idea of killing deer. This year I have realized that the best part about it all is just being there. Thankful for what oppurtunity the Lord has given you, and the things you get to see while your out there. The sunset, the wildlife, even just being with family and friends.

Cherish every moment of it fellas, you won't be able to witness these things forever.

Jeeeeezzzzz guys. All I do is put out a little stink and the deer come runn'en. Kind of like a friend of mine who never shoots a doe, only eight points or better. And then complains when they call in the sharp shooters to wipe'em out of the area!

Great job Tim, you keep getting closer,when it all comes together I wanna be the first to hear about it.

lol.dam public land I hunt is way over hunted and way managed in the ground.

Save your cash, come to Illinois for 4-7 days...I will get you at least a shot at a deer, the hitting it is up to you. I am serious about the offer, even if you cant swing the $$$ for an out of state either sex tag, you can get a Doe tag for $15.00 and as many as you want. Let me know.

I just came back from my second hunt ever. I got an opportunity to hunt a 10 square mile fenced estate and I could take 4 wild boar and there was a wounded doe ( bad gunshot to the rear leg, that's why the owner prefers bowhunters )
Beautiful daym clear skies but -16 degrees celcius.
I had a great treestand spot near a crossing, lots of tracks.
I saw maybe 10 big boar but non close enough or in any decent shooting lanes. So afternoon come I decided to change to the opposite corner of the crossing. Within half an hour a herd of 30 deer with the wounded doe stood before the other stand I was in before I moved. I could just look and be amazed how strong these animals are. The doe's upper hind leg was swollen and full of dried blood and she just followed on three legs.
That afternoon I lost sense in fingers and my face but I saw at least 4 other wild boar shoot past, too fast to draw on.
I still concider this a better hunt than the first one I was on and where I killed a doe.

Frank
Belgium

This is my first season hunting and I've yet to see a deer while holding a weapon. However, I like being in the woods, and I'm thankful for the chance to be out there. I used to be a big dirt-bike fan, and spent alot of time riding in the woods. However, a crash about 5 years ago broke my back and ended my motorcycle days. Now that I've started hunting I get to be in the woods again. Don't know why I never hunted before! I guess the point of this is to enjoy it now, things can change very quickly.

Hunting is about more than shooting a deer. I get just as fired up about scouting and putting up stands in the summer as I do about releasing an arrow. I was indoctrinated in hunting methods by my father, who believed in letting does and little bucks walk. I've only been bow hunting for 3 years (gun hunting for 20). In my three years of bow hunting, I let dozens of little bucks walk and did not kill a mature buck bowhunting until this year-- a 163" trophy. So while this year was a great success, I wouldn't classify the previous 2 years as failures. If you're only in it to put a deer on the ground, I think you're missing out on the greater experience.

Tim, You are learning to enjoy each part of the Hunt, and that is Good!
The killing part will come. It just takes longer in certain areas.

Dan