Why do you hunt deer?
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Rural Kansas... Where Life is Good
Posts: 4,139
Why do you hunt deer?
I' ve been rifle hunting since the beginning. It was a way for me to jump into the sport, kill deer with less work, and gain interest quickly. That reason which brought me into the sport is the same one that is shying me away from the rifle season.
I hunt for the sport. Even though my family eats around 5 deer per year, it is not the main reason I hunt. It would be easy enough to get 5 deer per year without myself even hunting(from buddies etc.) Since I hunt mainly for the sport, Satisfaction is the main reason I hunt. And rifle hunting is not giving me that satisfaction anymore, besides the satisfaction I get everytime from just being in the woods.
Just in the past 5-6 years, the amount of rifle hunters vs. bowhunters has turned very lopsided in my area. Places to bowhunt are abundant but places to rifle hunt are now skittish. The vast majority of rifle hunters around here drive deer, mainly because that is almost the only way to hunt, unless you' re hunting on your own ground, or have sole permission. On opening week, the same piece of land will commonly get drove 4-5 times easily. And one of those days, mabey a hunter will get lucky enough to have a big buck move into the area, and get a shot. This kind of hunting to me at one time was, but nowdoesn' t give me a lot of satisfaction. To me it' s kind of like cheating on a test and getting an A and studying hard on a test and still getting an A. Both have the same outcome, but one has more satisfaction.
I really don' t like the trend of the riflehunting these days. A lot of the time bowhunting and rifle hunting involves a lot of luck. But I believe bowhunting takes a lot more skill to successfully kill a big buck.It' s getting them few extra feet closer, getting a shot at that deer, without it being spooked, is what makes a bowhunter have to be more skilled that riflehunters. And that is why I feel amount of bowhunters vs. deerhunters are becoming more and more lopsided everyday. Because hunters often get satisfaction after the rack, rather than before it. And would rather take the easy way to get there.
I' m not trying to put down any rifle hunters because I' ll still do it, to help manage a herd or for meat, and am not saying rifle season is always easy. I just want to know why you hunt and what gives you satisfaction?
I hunt for the sport. Even though my family eats around 5 deer per year, it is not the main reason I hunt. It would be easy enough to get 5 deer per year without myself even hunting(from buddies etc.) Since I hunt mainly for the sport, Satisfaction is the main reason I hunt. And rifle hunting is not giving me that satisfaction anymore, besides the satisfaction I get everytime from just being in the woods.
Just in the past 5-6 years, the amount of rifle hunters vs. bowhunters has turned very lopsided in my area. Places to bowhunt are abundant but places to rifle hunt are now skittish. The vast majority of rifle hunters around here drive deer, mainly because that is almost the only way to hunt, unless you' re hunting on your own ground, or have sole permission. On opening week, the same piece of land will commonly get drove 4-5 times easily. And one of those days, mabey a hunter will get lucky enough to have a big buck move into the area, and get a shot. This kind of hunting to me at one time was, but nowdoesn' t give me a lot of satisfaction. To me it' s kind of like cheating on a test and getting an A and studying hard on a test and still getting an A. Both have the same outcome, but one has more satisfaction.
I really don' t like the trend of the riflehunting these days. A lot of the time bowhunting and rifle hunting involves a lot of luck. But I believe bowhunting takes a lot more skill to successfully kill a big buck.It' s getting them few extra feet closer, getting a shot at that deer, without it being spooked, is what makes a bowhunter have to be more skilled that riflehunters. And that is why I feel amount of bowhunters vs. deerhunters are becoming more and more lopsided everyday. Because hunters often get satisfaction after the rack, rather than before it. And would rather take the easy way to get there.
I' m not trying to put down any rifle hunters because I' ll still do it, to help manage a herd or for meat, and am not saying rifle season is always easy. I just want to know why you hunt and what gives you satisfaction?
#2
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: QDM Heaven
Posts: 847
RE: Why do you hunt deer?
kshunter...I' ve never gun hunted deer in my life and entered the sport of deer hunting with a bow in my hand and will never look back. I never did and never will understand any thrill associated with gun hunting deer. I understand its necessity for herd management and ease of use for meat hunting but I' ll never understand how anyone could consider a buck killed with a gun as a trophy and to go so far as to mount it. Some guys will say, " well, the animal is the trophy in itself and it doesn' t matter how it was killed" but then you don' t see these same ole boys snagging up road kills on the interstate and having them mounted though now do you...no. Now the most unbelievable thing is the guy who will actually pay an outfitter and a guide and a trophy fee to kill a buck with a friggin' gun...must have money to burn with fire but have no fire existing in their heart. [:' (]
#3
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 51
RE: Why do you hunt deer?
To answer the question of the topic. I hunt for the thrill that at any moment anything can happen. You can hunt for a month and not see a deer, but in any given instant, a deer can appear out of any given spot. Thats what I like how they just show up!
#4
RE: Why do you hunt deer?
First off, I hate to hear anybody criticize any legal form of hunting---bow, rifle, baiting, dogs, etc. We get enough of that from antis. We don' t need it among ourselves.
I rifle hunt and love it. I hunt in very steep, brushy country and tend to be pretty successful most of the time, but believe me, it' s not easy! On the other hand, my husband bow hunts, and I absolutely love going with him too. Getting that close to animals is amazing---especially elk. He has a very bad back though, and I don' t know how much longer bowhunting will be an option for him. I know it' ll be a sad day for him when he has to switch to a rifle.
Besides putting meat in the freezer, I love to hunt just to be up in the mountains and enjoying all that God created. Having raised six kids, the solitude alone is incredible!
I rifle hunt and love it. I hunt in very steep, brushy country and tend to be pretty successful most of the time, but believe me, it' s not easy! On the other hand, my husband bow hunts, and I absolutely love going with him too. Getting that close to animals is amazing---especially elk. He has a very bad back though, and I don' t know how much longer bowhunting will be an option for him. I know it' ll be a sad day for him when he has to switch to a rifle.
Besides putting meat in the freezer, I love to hunt just to be up in the mountains and enjoying all that God created. Having raised six kids, the solitude alone is incredible!
#5
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 51
RE: Why do you hunt deer?
I got into hunting a little late in life, I was about 23 and I' m 34 now. I started out bowhunting around the house. Then I decided to try muzzleloading and last year I took up rifle hunting for the first time and killed my first 2 bucks with a rifle last year and am hooked. I' ve been using open sites and just got my scope yesterday for my .30.30. But I still have that bowhunting mentality and think a deer has to be right on top of me before I shoot and both rifle kills were about 10 yards away. So for me, bowhunting is easier than rifle hunting. You don' t want to know how many clean misses I went through with a rifle and muzzleoader before those first 2 fell! LOL
#6
Fork Horn
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 187
RE: Why do you hunt deer?
wolfen68,
Thats a pretty good soapbox you have there. Maybe it was just too much caffiene today. Are you trying to say that getting close to the deer is part of the thrill for you? Being able to see their whiskers move and nose twitch is pretty cool but you can observe that with a gun in your hands too. I really get off on being way inside a deers comfort zone and yet they have no idea. The average shot distance on deer with my gun is 42 yds (13 deer). The average shot distance on deer with my bow is 23 yds (9 deer), including several real chipshots. That makes an overall average of 34 yds. Is that close enough to show that I have fire in my heart?
What a great question. Being close to nature, being part of it, part of the natural food chain is what I really love. Seeing many, many sunrises and sunsets while pursueing a very stealthy animal on their home turf. Bringing home the tasty meat and memories to share with my family and friends. Knowing, that in this super high tech, luxury filled, wanted that yesterday world that we live in that if it all went away tomorrow, my family would still eat very well. I was raised a deer hunter by my father and grandfathers and couldn' t imagine not hunting. My sons love it too and when I bring home a deer they have the same excitement in their eyes that I always have. Wow, it sounds like Ted Nugent is really getting to me.
Thats a pretty good soapbox you have there. Maybe it was just too much caffiene today. Are you trying to say that getting close to the deer is part of the thrill for you? Being able to see their whiskers move and nose twitch is pretty cool but you can observe that with a gun in your hands too. I really get off on being way inside a deers comfort zone and yet they have no idea. The average shot distance on deer with my gun is 42 yds (13 deer). The average shot distance on deer with my bow is 23 yds (9 deer), including several real chipshots. That makes an overall average of 34 yds. Is that close enough to show that I have fire in my heart?
What a great question. Being close to nature, being part of it, part of the natural food chain is what I really love. Seeing many, many sunrises and sunsets while pursueing a very stealthy animal on their home turf. Bringing home the tasty meat and memories to share with my family and friends. Knowing, that in this super high tech, luxury filled, wanted that yesterday world that we live in that if it all went away tomorrow, my family would still eat very well. I was raised a deer hunter by my father and grandfathers and couldn' t imagine not hunting. My sons love it too and when I bring home a deer they have the same excitement in their eyes that I always have. Wow, it sounds like Ted Nugent is really getting to me.
#7
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: The socialist state of Massachusetts
Posts: 1,146
RE: Why do you hunt deer?
I hunt for sport, for solitude, and for meat. I really don' t care what weapon anyone uses. That is their business. I really prefer bowhunting. It fits in well with solitude. I used to drive corners too. Never cared much for it. I feel that any deer taken with a sting and stick is a trophy. I prefer to take a doe or a young buck for meat. Come on, you all know that meat is better! I still enjoy rifle hunting from time to time. Like some of you, I like to be very close to the game. I used to hunt woodchucks with long range rifles a lot in my youth. I killed one with a 25-06 at over 700 yards on one occasion. These days, I prefer to hunt chucks with a 22 rimfire and look them in the eye. Every person has their own idea of what sport is. It varies as we age. We each decide our own behavior. I just do what satisfies me, and let the other guy do the same.
Clint
Clint
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Walnut MS USA
Posts: 871
RE: Why do you hunt deer?
I hunt, because I can. And at age 70 that may be near the time that I can' t. Rifle hunt and the smoke pole. Shoulder surgery caused me to put up the bow and caused me to miss one whole year with the gun. First year since ' 82 that I didn' t have venison in the freezer. The wife was sure glad when that shoulder got better the next year, said I was like a grizzly with a burr on it' s tail. My hearing is mostly gone, aids in both ears, and very near sighted. But with good glasses and a scope on the rifle, I guess I can still stumble on a stupid deer once in a while. I get busted quite a bit, but 50 years of chasing Whitetails has taught me some tricks.
Can' t wait for 11/22.
Russ
Can' t wait for 11/22.
Russ
#10
RE: Why do you hunt deer?
i m 17 and i deer hunt for the rush. i ride mountain bikes, drive a fast car, ride a Racing ATV, play football, drive a waverunner, drive a boat, scuba dived, and have parasailed, and a whole lotta other stuff, but there is no greater rush than staring at a buck at full draw while he is standing 45 feet away staring a hole through you. this year i have hunted from a ground blind, and that was even better than a treestand. i also LOVE deer drives, because they are high-success rate way of shooting big bucks with my slug gun. it is also nice to be out in the woods to have the warm sun land on your cheek and watch life go by. woods time is ten times slower than our daily life that we live in today. everything is one-hour this and 65 mph that. i have hunted probably 70 hours this year and it is only november. it has felt like a lifetime. i wouldnt trade time in the woods for anything.
plus venison is SOOOOOOO good!!!!!!!!
plus venison is SOOOOOOO good!!!!!!!!