If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

I hunt in New England (NH and Maine) where the population is relatively low. Our success rate does not compare with those of other states/provinces with high deer numbers. It's is always a real challenge here to be successful on a consistent basis. To those folks who can and do shoot many deer a year, is the challenge still there? How can you continue the challenge when you can see/shoot deer every time out?

RE: If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

I hunt in Texas with my 2 young sons. Last season I took 3 and each boy took 2. I was with them for every step of the way and my heart pounds just as fast for each and every one. Oh, and we did not, or do not get to shoot every time out, darn. We do have many hunts where we don't see anything or don't get a shot. I would guess that our hunts last season had approximately a 20/30% success ratio. The county I hunt in is considered a high density county at around 45 per sq. mi. :D

RE: If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

Jimmy,

I think I can relate to your question and I can at least provide you with a response from my experience. I grew up in Rutland County, VT and spent almost every day in the woods as a kid. I hunted very hard, yet only managed to kill 2 bucks in VT out of 5 years hunting by myself and with my dad when I was real young, and a few does during bow season. This was a very good success rate as compared to most people I knew in the area.

At 15 years old, I moved to Bradford County, PA and I have hunted there as well as Huntington County, PA every year since then. The first few years, I shot a buck every year on the first or second day of the season. Once I was 18, I got to be more selective though. My best friend owned about 120 acres of property, and we then began to grow food plots, and practice quality deer management. To shoot a deer, it had to have at least 8 points on it or it had to be a VERY large deer wider than it's ears if there were not 8 points on it. We saw more deer, and every one killed a nice buck but on average only every 2 years or so.

Now I have moved back to New England, and I don't know what I will be doing this year. I will be hunting Rutland County again, but am unsure as to how selective I will be. I have not shot a deer with less than 6 points for quite some time, but I know deer like that are few and far inbetween around Rutland.

With that said, when I was in PA and saw tons of deer (sometimes more than 50 deer on opening day alone) my heart pounded every time just like the first. When I began to see that it wasn't much of a challenge, I upped my standards. I still enjoy watching smaller bucks, and they still make my heart pound to see a spike under my tree, but I like waiting for a bigger buck, plus it gives me more time to be outside and in the woods, which is the part I really like the most anyhow. ;)

RE: If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

While I am not able to shoot a deer everyt time out(thankfully) I do get several deer a year, for a good number of years now. The excitement is still there, but you just set your sights higher. Whether its holding out for a bigger buck than you've ever got, or trying to take more does in one season than you ever have. Then there is the change up regarding the means you use to take the deer. I have always tried to fill all my tags using a bow first. Then whatever was left for gun season is what I dealt with. A modern scoped rifle holds little challenge for me, so I dropped down to a pistol caliber cowboy rifle. Now I am going to attempt to take a deer with my revolver this season. There are always things one can do to keep it interesting.

RE: If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

How far up the border are you Jimmy? I also hunt Me and NH so I know what you mean about low deer numbers. I've been luck to have a couple of good set ups that I see deer most every time out. (today it was turkeys);) My standards have changes a lot over the past 16 years (26 now but started at 10) I've always been happy with a deer I shoot but in the past couple of years I've been doing my part in QDM. I hunt mostly bow so I can leagally shoot quite a few deer. I harvest does for meat and don't shoot every buck that happens by. Saturday (Maine extended archery opener) I saw 3 bucks and passed a shoting opportunity on the two that passed @ 30yds. They both looked to be last years fawns 1.5 year old 6 pointers. A couple of years ago that would have ended my season but now I enjoy the memory of those little guys and look forward to spending some more afternoons in the woods. IMO killing a deer is a must for me to have a good hunt.

I by no means see (or shoot) nearly as many deer as a lot of folk on the board. I've scouted hard to get decent setups so I see deer on a consistant basic. By being selective in what I shoot I can always have a challenge. I have good hunts when I see deer I don't want to shoot and good hunts when I only see the anoying little red squirrel. I just enjoy the woods and "company" I have when I'm in the woods.

RE: If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

adams...I hunt just south /east of the Concord NH area. Zones J2/L/M. In Maine I hunted for years near Old Town/Bradford areas and now spend most of my time near Lincoln, around Lowell and Burlington. I'll hunt Opening Week in Maine and then head back to NH and hunt Opening Day (Wed) thru Sunday. Can't wait!!!

RE: If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

I'm just south of you jimmy. I hunt in Strafford Co in NH as well as Coos co. I also hunt Maine primarily in the extended archery zones in southern York Co. I have a hunting camp off the stud mill rd in Old Town. I think the most populated deer area I hut in the souther York co in Maine. I see more deer there then anywhere else. Other parts of the state have very sparse deer populations but when you catch up with one it likely is a bruiser.

Good luck out there! I hope to see pics soon;)

RE: If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

It does not loose its meaning for me. Hunting to me is much more the getting together at hunting camp and seeing old friends again. I like the camp cooking and the memories of hunts gone by and the hope of hunts to come. The talk about guns and knives and all those hunting related things. Our deer hunt is a vacation for my wife and I and one of the things that keeps me looking ahead. And its about the meat big time.:D

RE: If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

James (great name) ...I understand everything you stated and I agree 100%, but is the challenge of the hunt always there?

RE: If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

I must not be as fortunate as others here! We see our share of deer but it has yet to become "guaranteed"! I think I'd quit hunting them if it did.

Anyway, to keep things interesting, I'm always changing my tactics and methods. I switched to a bow. I started trying more spot and stalking, you get the idea.

Heck, there are lots of ways to make it difficult. Try hunting them with a spear!

RE: If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

I really don't hunt for the challenge although I can remember the time here in eastern WV when it was quite challenging to even see a deer. I've seen more deer in a morning hunt now than I used to see all season 25 years ago and I still get excited. I think it's just the whole hunting experience that keeps me going back into the woods and also I've acquired a taste for venison over the years that causes me to bag 3 or 4 every season.....[8D]

RE: If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

I think when people hunt in high deer density area,, it starts off as a challenge to just be successful,, but after years of success,, yes it does become a little easier,, but as hunters i think we all raise our standards little by little or choose more challenging methods of hunting our chosen game,, whether by going to a more primitive weapon, or a diffferent tactic to connect with the game.. Some people raise the bar on what they are willing to hang a tag on, and decide to harvest more does instead of small bucks,, or match wits with a specific animal that they have chosen to take, and spend countless hours trying to learn that one particular deer, then the harvest is very sweet.

RE: If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

Where I hunt in Texas, in a normal year it is no challange to see whitetails every time you go out. Most are at shootable ranges. You could say it is not "hunting", but "game shooting", as the Brits say. Some folks take does with head shots, to keep the challenge (pretty common apparently, been talked to death on this board and others!).
Me? I do different things to keep it from being cut and dried. I shoot with flintlocks, handgun caliber rifles, and handguns. I watch from ground blinds, to bushes to ghiliesuits. I've played games to see how close I could stalk. There are lots of things to do that will make things more of a challenge. My next step is to take a whitetail with my 20 bore flint fowler, hopefully this year.

RE: If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

When I started hunting 30 years ago, the herd was smaller, and it was mostly buck. Things have changed since then. Perhaps the most significant is that we can now use a rifle. Also, 30 years of experience has helped :) No matter what, I think it's still a challenge, when it comes down to it, you still have to execute, and some people do that better than others. Not to brag, but I've had as much success with shotgun as with rifle, like I say, experience/execution. I like my odds every year.

There are two parts to hunting, the tribal part : My friends and family come together for a week or so every year to enjoy the great outdoors. Nothing beats that, period, it's our heretage. Part two is the hunt, secondary, but we all do have that testoserone in us. Must....get....bigger....buck. It's only natural.

I found myself getting so angry at the hunting practices of my party that it was really getting in the way of what was important.

The solution, I took up bow hunting. I get all the time I want to spend hunting the way I want to hunt, yet get the whole hunting experience with my friends and family. Not to mention that bow hunting presents a much greater challenge.

The best of both worlds.

RE: If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

Forgot this,

At least for gun hunting, I've really gotten into still hunting. Awesome stuff, I lucked into a 9 pt. 2 seasons ago at 15 yards doing this, he came to me and was 5'th deer I could have taken that afternoon.

The Trashcanman

RE: If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

I know on my hunts the thrill for me is just being out there. I normally see deer on 2 out of 3 hunts. I have hunted 4 seasons in AR and this is either a pitiful statement or just plain unlucky. I have never, not once seen(go out normally 5 times per season) a legal antlered deer. So my meat has been doe only when season permits. I keep praying to see a legal buck but heaven only knows I'll probably crap my pants :) and scare the thing any how. I just love to be out there.

RE: If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

I hunt in Southern Indiana where there are upwards of 45 deer per square mile , and believe me when I say that having that many doesn't make it any easier . I don't get one every year , so it's just as challenging .

RE: If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

As long as your having fun and have the passion for it still then hunting is still good for you

RE: If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

I only hunt places I think I will see huge deer in. This puts me in spots with herds of deer every time out. Some spots I could gun hunt and I would have a wall full of 150's and up. I choose to bow hunt for the challenge. The challenge I'm talking about is a little different then most. Anyone who bow hunts can shoot a deer when it's alone or with 1 or 2 others but try that with 12 deer feeding below you. There are 24 eyes, ears and noses trying to sense movements. They are good but you need to be better.

It was in the movie The Professional. The first weapon you learn is the riffle. The more you learn the closer you can get to the client. The last one is the knife. One day I may try the knife.

Good luck

RE: If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

I hunt for the meat. I enjoy the whole experience, but have so many other things to do that "the easier the better".

zeke

RE: If it's easy to shoot a deer, does it lose it's challenge?
 

get a bow:D