I never petted them. They will come within about 3 ft. of me, though. I couldn't shoot them. For a while I even considered quiting hunting because of them. I've shot lots of deer, but when I look into those trusting eyes, I do feel guilty for shooting so many.

In the begining,to me, the thrill of hunting was to see deer. I then, got into archery hunting because it was cool to be so close to them. Now, that I get to look at wild deer at 3 or 4 feet, that seems like a bigger thrill.


I doubt I'll ever actually quit hunting, but it sure has made me look at deer in a different way.

WindWalker,
That's pretty neat! I feed deer in my backyard, but I'll admit they haven't come that close to me. I think of a lot of these guys as my pets too, so it makes me feel a little guilty shooting a deer at all.

This past year, I'd come home from hunting and see the deer at the feeder. After I put the quad away, I'd walk out in the yard and make the feeder trickle out a little more corn. I'd be standing there in my hunting clothes, orange vest and all, as the deer would be standing there eating. It was kinda ironic.

I found myself worring about them during the hunting season. Sometimes they were a little late arriving at the feeder. I'd think that maybe someone shot them. then to my relief, they come in the yard. It was weird to worry about them like that, even though I was out hunting in a different area.

That awesome Wind.. I feed some deer behind my house and Have wondered If I could shoot them next year. I think I have two herds living behind my house. I am going after the one that lives a little further back in the woods. I have seen numerous bucks in that herd in the past two weeks. Kinda makes you think of them as pets.

thanks for sharing,here an old one that comes byregularly for his snack. hope to locate his sheds

thats pretty cool wish i could get that close that is awesome