|
unsure
Nov 1, 2009 12:00:46 GMT -5
Post by dougedwards on Nov 1, 2009 12:00:46 GMT -5
Took this picture with a camera phone. Not a good pic at all but the picture probably reveals my emotion at the time. I also don't know if this is the best place to post this because this post isn't really about a picture. It is about an attitude. October 31st was the first day of muzzleloader hunting for deer in Virginia. I, of course, put down my bow and picked up my two Savage 10 MLs that had already been sighted in. One zeroed at 150 yards and the other at 200 yards. Since I would be hunting a 350 acre tract that just been cut for timber I chose the one that was zeroed at 200 because this terrain offered up to 400 yard shot opportunities. I chose this location because it was raining that morning and I knew I would have trouble hearing so I chose a place where I could use my eyes to the best advantage. My bow hunting experience had not been a fruitful one this year because I had passed up on does, young bucks, foxes and turkeys in hopes of coming within range of a nice buck but that never happened. This first morning of the muzzleloader season gave me my first opportunity at a nice buck and I took it. I never heard this buck coming who was on the heels of a doe but when I happened to turn in my stand to see this chase I knew I only had seconds to decide whether I wanted to take him. He was at an odd angle standing on a crest and would be out of sight in seconds. At 75 yards I aimed 2" below the spine hoping either to take the deer down quickly or shoot over it's back. The buck went straight down as the 300 grain BO shattered it's backbone. You are asking.......so what's the problem? Well, the problem is that I should have been somewhat excited but in the end I regretted taking this young 10 point. He wasn't even close to being a trophy but would have been if he had lived a year or two longer. Don't get me wrong. I would have gladly taken this buck with my compound bow and felt good about it but something about the ease in which the rifle just takes what it wants left me unsatisfied. I have worked deligently to develop the best loads and conditions for both of my Savage muzzleloaders and they were both very ready to shoot accurately. Now I am wondering if all of the satisfaction lies within the process of development and not in the end result of the process. Or, would I be feeling much differently if this had actually been a very nice trophy class buck? Or, as I suspect, am I just an old bow hunter at heart? In the end I regretted taking this 3 1/2 year old buck. Chances are that he wouldn't have lived another two years in an area of intense hunting pressure but some of them are lucky and smart enough to escape. As we so often see it was testosterone that prompted him to be so vulnerable during the morning daylight hours. Some of you are most likely scratching your heads and wondering what the heck is Doug whining about?? Well, I am not sure yet. My reason for posting is to possibly receive some imput as to why I would not be feeling good about this particular harvest. Maybe some others have had similar experiences. Doug
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 1, 2009 13:03:54 GMT -5
Post by Dave W on Nov 1, 2009 13:03:54 GMT -5
I can relate to how you are feeling. I was so ticked off at myself last year when I walked up to the buck I shot last year that I was not going to post anything about it. Almost identical situation to yours, buck only gave me a side view and the palmation of the main beam and the forked G-2 gave it the illusion it was much heavier than it actually was. He too was heading over a small ridge and it was a quick decision whether to shoot or not, a regretted decision a few minutes later when I realized the buck would probably have been a 150 class if I had held off and he had survived another year.
I too look forward to bow season much more than gun season, but I like to shoot more now than I ever did in years past, but hunting no longer brings forth the enthusiasm that it did in my younger years. I have entertained thoughts of beginning to hunt with a camera since the "thrill of the kill" is just not what it used to be. I still get excited when I see deer and I love being out in the woods but the end result brings remorse more than joy now. Maybe I'm just getting soft, I don't know the answer, but things are most certainly different. I also find myself thinking what did I prove other than that I was lucky enough to be sitting in the right spot at the right time.
Congrats, looks like a nice harvest from what I can see in the pic.
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 1, 2009 13:22:47 GMT -5
Post by ozark on Nov 1, 2009 13:22:47 GMT -5
It appears you are a trophy hunter so I wouldn't undestand. I never took more deer than I knew the meat would be used by my family or neighbors that needed it. I have never felt remorse even though I am a softy at heart. I have selected a smaller fat deer over an old buck a few times because I thought the meat would be better. With bows the chance of wounding and not recovering a deer is greater with the average bow hunter. That is a situation that causes remorse for me. Your buck is a nice animal to harvest and although I understand your bad feelings I think you are looking at this from the wrong prospective. Nice job, congratulations.
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 1, 2009 18:57:43 GMT -5
Post by dougedwards on Nov 1, 2009 18:57:43 GMT -5
It appears you are a trophy hunter so I wouldn't undestand. I never took more deer than I knew the meat would be used by my family or neighbors that needed it. I have never felt remorse even though I am a softy at heart. I have selected a smaller fat deer over an old buck a few times because I thought the meat would be better. With bows the chance of wounding and not recovering a deer is greater with the average bow hunter. That is a situation that causes remorse for me. Your buck is a nice animal to harvest and although I understand your bad feelings I think you are looking at this from the wrong prospective. Nice job, congratulations. Ben, I have never been a meat hunter and I don't even understand the concept. After paying for liscenses and guns and ammunition and gas and four wheel drives and clothes, venison will be the most expensive meat that you ever put in your mouth. There are much better and easier ways to feed the family. On the other hand I feel very little guilt for wounding an animal and not recovering that animal. This situation is likely to happen while bow hunting or rifle hunting. Most of my state allows only the use of a shotgun during firearms season and there are many wounded animals left to die in the woods due to this "spray and pray" method of hunting whitetails. However, I always feel a type of remorse after not recovering an animal that I have wounded. It is because I have not accomplished what I have set out to do. In my mind I should always be mindful and skillful enough to place a mortal wound and also skillful enough to track the animal after a hit. You see, this hunting thing for me isn't supposed to make sense. It is all about feeling. In the woods I am being challenged. The instincts and defensive attributes of the hunted animal against my instincts and intellect. The venue is not in my living room but in the home of the prey. My equilizer is the weapon that I choose and limits that I impose on myself. Yes I hunt for what I consider a trophy but that is all a matter of how I challenge myself with limits. On this particular occasion I was challenged with a time limit and am disappointed in myself with the result. You are right! I should be satisfied with the result and I am not. But who can understand feelings? Maybe Dave and I will start a competition of who can take the best pictures of trophy whitetails. Doug
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 1, 2009 20:31:08 GMT -5
Post by rossman40 on Nov 1, 2009 20:31:08 GMT -5
Around here if it was a 2 1/2 year old basket rack 6pt, if you don't shoot it the next guy it runs in front of will. Of course there are also people that will absolutely shoot anything. I think Ohio's success is the gun season is after the rut, that way the big deer has at least had the chance to pass their genes on.
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 5, 2009 14:28:49 GMT -5
Post by savagebeast on Nov 5, 2009 14:28:49 GMT -5
I am in the same boat as Rossman40. If I pass on a young buck I will hear a bang on the next property over 10 minutes later. I don't shoot every young Buck I see, I would rather shoot a nice 2 1/2 year old Doe as I am a meat hunter. I have nothing against someone who is looking for a trophy or practicing QDM as long as you are applying all the principals of the program. I know several hunters who say they are doing QDM on their property and do not shoot any does. That's not QDM. As far as the cost of hunting equipment cost vs your reward with meat I disagree. If I'm able to Harvest three Deer a year yielding a total of aprox 75 lbs of meat, that's a lot of dinners at the table. A trip to the grocery store to purchase 4 strip steaks for my family will cost me $40.00. Do this once a week and it's $160.00 for the month x 12 for the year $1920.00. I would say you shot a darn fine Buck from what I can see. Throw a few steaks and some sausage on the Barby and enjoy your harvest. Just my two cents sir.
|
|
esmd
8 Pointer
Bill Drain
Posts: 109
|
unsure
Nov 5, 2009 21:29:00 GMT -5
Post by esmd on Nov 5, 2009 21:29:00 GMT -5
I had a similar experience last year. I was hunting in a cutover with 10-15 tall pines. We have shooting lanes cut, and as I was raising my Savage to find a doe in the scope, a nice looking buck ran out at 40 yards and looked at me. I had two options, swing and shoot right away, or watch him take off. I shot. Turns out he was a 2.5 year old 8-pointer, with a rack that was ear-width. Tines were only 3-4", and he didn't have much mass. As soon as I got to him, I regretted it.
I still wish I hadn't shot, but I guess I've come to the conclusion that hunting for me is part of who I am, and while I'm fortunate to hunt in times where there are a lot of nice bucks running around, 10 years ago I would've turned cartwheels to have killed that buck. I decided to be proud of it, and use it as a learning experience (and a perspective experience).
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 6, 2009 15:02:42 GMT -5
Post by mike3132 on Nov 6, 2009 15:02:42 GMT -5
Nice buck. If you are hunting horns and have to ask yourself the question "Is he big enough", then most of the time you should pass. Now that being said it also depends on what time of the season it is. At the beginning pass, last day different story. Mike
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 7, 2009 8:34:24 GMT -5
Post by dougedwards on Nov 7, 2009 8:34:24 GMT -5
Nice buck. If you are hunting horns and have to ask yourself the question "Is he big enough", then most of the time you should pass. Now that being said it also depends on what time of the season it is. At the beginning pass, last day different story. Mike I think that Mike is hitting on something here. Since muzzleloader season has begun so has the pressure from hunters been applied to the deer. Yesterday I hunted in a usually very productive area all day and saw not one deer from my tree stand until it got completely dark. Then I was surrounded by deer as I had to descend from the tree. It was from this stand that I had been passing up inferior bucks during the archery season. Reflecting back on the 10 pointer I believe that my attitude was affected by the fact that I had not continued my personal philosophy of "wait and cull" that had begun while bow hunting. But the hunting season is changing. The hunters are flooding the territory and the deer are responding. This happens every year so I don't know why I would negatively respond to such a nice harvest as this young 10 point. I usually hunt with a crossbow but one week before the archery season I went to a pro shop and drew back on a Martin Cheetah compound bow and was shocked. I have had neck surgery and some rotator cuff problems and had to choose a crossbow due to pain and weakness in my shoulder and tricep. These newer compounds are nothing like those of even 10 years ago. Set at 55 lbs it was a dream to draw and I was able to hold back for 30 seconds without trembling. The very first day as I practiced shooting it I was shooting 3" groups at 40 yards. I was excited to once again hunt with a compound bow but took no game with it as I was waiting for a very nice buck to present himself but that never happened. The drama that is associated with bow hunting is electrifying to me. First hearing the deer.....then seeing him......then deciding if you should take him......then waiting to draw until the deer is looking away......then the self talk concerning shooting form.....then the release at just the right time.....then the tracking. It is all such a wonderful process. But my experience on the first day of muzzleloader season was......there is a buck!....aim....shoot....down. Quick and way too easy. It left me feeling unsatisfied. I believe that Mike hit it on the head. The hunting season changes. I have seen many hunting seasons and this one is no different. I have a decision to continue to bow hunt and experience game running by me if I see any at all or roll with the seasons as I usually do. My choice is to roll. I love shooting this new Martin bow and will continue to do so in my back yard. Until next season I will let the Savage do it's job. Reminds me of what a fellow told me when we were discussing hunting with traditional type of weapons. " If Daniel Boone would have had an Uzi maching gun he would have used it!" Doug
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 13, 2009 16:30:26 GMT -5
Post by Richard on Nov 13, 2009 16:30:26 GMT -5
Stop beating your self to death Doug! You shot a darn nice buck. Enjoy the venison. Richard
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 13, 2009 17:36:39 GMT -5
Post by ozark on Nov 13, 2009 17:36:39 GMT -5
This thread has me questioning my reason for hunting. I am and have never been a horn hunter and actually never was a meat hunter. As mentioned there are much cheaper ways of getting meat. I love to hunt and deer has always been a favorite for me. But it must be the joy of realizing success some of the time or maybe just being out there with nature. We spend more than ever now that we have land strictly managed for wildlife. Maybe it is just seeing the fruits of my labor even if I am underpaid. dougedwards, IMO that deer is a good one and you should consider it a success. If I see one that size tomorrow, unless my .243 misfires I will do my best to kill it.
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 13, 2009 18:08:16 GMT -5
Post by edge on Nov 13, 2009 18:08:16 GMT -5
This thread has me questioning my reason for hunting. I am and have never been a horn hunter and actually never was a meat hunter. SNIP I tend to shoot bucks because they don't deplete the herd! 10 years ago we had a huge piece of property that was not hunted and I hunted the edges. Shoot 20 Does in a season was not uncommon, my first year I shot 2 9's a 7 and a 5 point buck. The owner died about 10 years ago and about 5 years went by and all hell broke loose. They shot or removed 800 deer in 1 year and I now only shoot bucks in a hope to build the herd again.....last day of the season and any thing brown is in trouble We are 2 months into the season and I have not shot a deer yet, in years gone by I was selective up-to 8am on opening day!!!! edge.
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 13, 2009 19:12:54 GMT -5
Post by ET on Nov 13, 2009 19:12:54 GMT -5
Doug
I didn’t immediately respond to this success post because you are right about me scratching my head. I have read it a few times and still am pondering somewhat to what is being conveyed here. My thoughts keep returning to one particular part of your post.
“I would have gladly taken this buck with my compound bow and felt good about it but something about the ease in which the rifle just takes what it wants left me unsatisfied.”
It seems to say that the degree of difficulty for the accomplishment of harvesting the nice buck was insufficient in satisfying a need you have if I read this right. Never having experienced such an emotional response about deer hunting kind of leaves me blind so to speak.
Yes the part about developing a load with the 10ML-II to produce accurate loads I can appreciate and has been a goal for me to humanely harvest deer. I also appreciate the fact it is an ethic part of you when hunting. My record for 1-shot, 1-kill for harvesting deer has been maintained even this year. That is a satisfaction in itself for me to begin with. So when I decide to squeeze the trigger I have elected to harvest the deer I am aiming at and expecting a humane kill.
Last year was an empty year because I passed on two doe yearlings, as I didn’t have it in my heart to shoot them. I enjoy my venison greatly but the price of killing those yearlings was too high to satisfy my need for the love of venison. But that decision was made before I would have squeezed the trigger.
Even though I don’t fully comprehend any underlying feelings you are experiencing I do have respect for you as an ethical hunter by what you have expressed here in your post. For what it’s worth nicely done.
Ed
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 15, 2009 12:37:44 GMT -5
Post by dougedwards on Nov 15, 2009 12:37:44 GMT -5
Doug Even though I don’t fully comprehend any underlying feelings you are experiencing I do have respect for you as an ethical hunter by what you have expressed here in your post. For what it’s worth nicely done. <SNIP> Ed Ed......thanks for the compliment. The reason that I posted was that I was also scratching my head as to why I was experiencing a lack of excitement over this harvest. It had absolutely nothing to do with ethics. Actually I hardly ever do consider ethical questions when hunting. I hunt for the thrill and the thrill was not there for some reason. I was wondering if anyone had experienced a let down when they had temporarily comprimised their self imposed limitations when harvesting a deer. My conclusion at this point is that maybe I am just getting old and soft. This year I have witnessed probably 20 bucks that have passed within sight of my treestand and have chosen not to take. Again, nothing to do with ethics at all. I just didn't feel the need to take them. Go figure. Doug
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 15, 2009 12:54:20 GMT -5
Post by dougedwards on Nov 15, 2009 12:54:20 GMT -5
I tend to shoot bucks because they don't deplete the herd! 10 years ago we had a huge piece of property that was not hunted and I hunted the edges. Shoot 20 Does in a season was not uncommon, my first year I shot 2 9's a 7 and a 5 point buck. The owner died about 10 years ago and about 5 years went by and all hell broke loose. They shot or removed 800 deer in 1 year and I now only shoot bucks in a hope to build the herd again.....last day of the season and any thing brown is in trouble We are 2 months into the season and I have not shot a deer yet, in years gone by I was selective up-to 8am on opening day!!!! edge. I actually am in agreement with your accessment but that philosophy is contrary to what the Virginia Department of Game is telling me. They say the way to develop a healthy herd is to diminish the doe population. In previous times I have taken a doe on puplic land but I have never harvested a doe on leased or private land because of the reason that you specify. In fact the leased property where I do most of my hunting is right across the street from a very large and well established whitetail food plot site and buck sightings on our land are rare EXCEPT DURING THE RUT! We have the does because we don't kill them and the female whitetail tends to remain in the area in which they were born. At one time we tried implementing a 6-point rule for bucks but came to the conclusion that bucks are so transient during most of the hunting season that our selective culling of bucks would have no impact on our building a better buck herd on our little 450 acres. But to this day we have a common pact between us.......no taking of a doe unless it is the last day of the season and you haven't taken a deer yet. Contrary to what the Game Commission advises this policy seems to be working well for us. Doug
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 15, 2009 21:01:11 GMT -5
Post by Dave W on Nov 15, 2009 21:01:11 GMT -5
Doug, I don't know what your goal is score wise on a buck, but mine is 150". No doubt I am setting myself up for failure every year, since this is a reachable but lofty goal for the area I hunt. Maybe this plays into it somewhat, at least for me it does when you look at the year as a failure when a goal is not met.
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 16, 2009 23:06:47 GMT -5
Post by Harley on Nov 16, 2009 23:06:47 GMT -5
Doug, I think you're trying too hard for a complicated analysis of a simple situation. You just wanted a better, more mature deer.
Last week, I killed a very nice deer. I regretted it the moment after I pulled the trigger, both because he was smaller racked than others I already have mounted, and because he was only 80 yards away. I'm strictly a long shot hunter; if I kill a deer at 80 yards he should rival something Milo Hanson would be proud to take home. That's my mind set or "attitude", and I'm my own critic when I violate my standards, just as you seem to be, yourself.
Harley
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 17, 2009 14:22:47 GMT -5
Post by dougedwards on Nov 17, 2009 14:22:47 GMT -5
Doug, I think you're trying too hard for a complicated analysis of a simple situation. You just wanted a better, more mature deer. Last week, I killed a very nice deer. I regretted it the moment after I pulled the trigger, both because he was smaller racked than others I already have mounted, and because he was only 80 yards away. I'm strictly a long shot hunter; if I kill a deer at 80 yards he should rival something Milo Hanson would be proud to take home. That's my mind set or "attitude", and I'm my own critic when I violate my standards, just as you seem to be, yourself. Harley Good points Harley. I am just suprised because I have never had these particular feelings before. Sure I have been a little disappointed once I walked up to the fallen buck and noticed that he wasn't as nice as I had thought. But I was never lacking in the satisfaction of a harvest. This year I am surprised at my lack of enthusiasm and exhuberance over killing a pretty nice buck. Dave........you do set your standards high. 150 class bucks are rarely seen in my hunting area although several are taken every year. I am lucky to ever see one. I would say that my standard is closer to 130. Good luck to you this year in your deer hunting. Doug
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 18, 2009 13:48:00 GMT -5
Post by jeremylong on Nov 18, 2009 13:48:00 GMT -5
dougedwards - I know what your talking about. I have prided myself on not taking bad shots and finding my deer even with the bow. Well, this year I shot a really nice buck. I did not give the effort I should of on trying to find him. I made what I thought was a bad shot, I left for the next day and over night it rained. No trace of anything the next day. I didnt find the deer for about two weeks when I was moving the stand. I smelled him and followed the direction. He was about 80 yards in some honey suckle.
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 18, 2009 22:10:14 GMT -5
Post by dougedwards on Nov 18, 2009 22:10:14 GMT -5
dougedwards - I know what your talking about. I have prided myself on not taking bad shots and finding my deer even with the bow. Well, this year I shot a really nice buck. I did not give the effort I should of on trying to find him. I made what I thought was a bad shot, I left for the next day and over night it rained. No trace of anything the next day. I didnt find the deer for about two weeks when I was moving the stand. I smelled him and followed the direction. He was about 80 yards in some honey suckle. Now that one is a dandy! Doug
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 21, 2009 13:29:28 GMT -5
Post by sw on Nov 21, 2009 13:29:28 GMT -5
Stop beating your self to death Doug! You shot a darn nice buck. Enjoy the venison. Richard Doug, Listen to this guy. I do.
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 23, 2009 16:08:28 GMT -5
Post by jeremylong on Nov 23, 2009 16:08:28 GMT -5
Thanks Doug - I guess thats just hunting man. Sometimes things turn out better or worse than you expect.
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 27, 2009 22:33:15 GMT -5
Post by rjhans53 on Nov 27, 2009 22:33:15 GMT -5
Sort of hesitant about getting into this. Am I a meat hunter, if that is eating what I shoot then yes I guess I am. Yes it's expensive meat, yes there is easier ways to get the food on the table, but 90% of what I eat at the house is deer. If not for the meat I gained from hunting I would not hunt. Antlers are more of a visual memory of a sucsessful hunt than anything else. I do not myself understand the trophy hunter. It makes no sense to me Don't get me wrong I don't live by your ethics and you don't live by mine and as long as we both are ok with what we do then we will both be able to sleep at night. My bottom line on your buck is as long as it's not wasted it's good.
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 30, 2009 21:37:49 GMT -5
Post by chuck41 on Nov 30, 2009 21:37:49 GMT -5
Like rjhans53 I am also primarily a meat hunter. Once the freezer is full the Savage goes on the rack and the shooting is done with the camera. I am very close to that point now since I had more than the usual amount of venison left over from last year.
Even with that being said, Doug, if that dude wanders in front of me next week I would nail him in a minute. That is a nice 10 pt and would be a fabulous one around here where anything above an 8 point is rare. Likewise that one Jeremy posted.
Question: How do you tell the age of a deer? I understand counting rings on trees, but haven't seen the analogous thing on a deer.
|
|
|
unsure
Nov 30, 2009 22:27:47 GMT -5
Post by jeremylong on Nov 30, 2009 22:27:47 GMT -5
rjhans53 - This is exactly why this is probably the best board on the web - guys have different views and can post them not offending each other. Its absolutely great.
I don't consider myself a trophy hunter as I shoot several does each year to help feed the family. I just try to only shoot a mature buck if its a buck. So am I a trophy hunter? Heck I dont know, I just hunt. In my mind it only takes passing a deer with antlers 3 yrs and he is really something special. The marginal deer only a year or two and they are. I hunt my ground and family ground so I do feel like I make a difference on letting the bucks mature. Now, if I only hunted public ground, things probably would be different but maybe not. I guess the environment guys have around them shape their opinions. I am blessed with pretty good hunting right out my back door.
|
|
|
unsure
Dec 1, 2009 3:48:12 GMT -5
Post by boarhog on Dec 1, 2009 3:48:12 GMT -5
So far, this has been an odd hunting season for me. I have passed up an un-counted number of shots at does. Not because I have an aversion to killing does, but I don't like doing so when she still has a little one tagging along, and I have seen two does still nursing youngsters recently. We have a 3-point rule here. This means that a buck must have 3 points on one side to be legal to shoot. I have NOT seen a "legal buck", while my Son has seen 8 to 10, and killed a nice 10-point with his crossbow. Sunday I passed up two shots at lone, large does. The first was acting like she heard something coming that I couldn't hear, and by the time I realized it was a squirrel, it was too late. She was in the thick stuff, and I couldn't find a hole to shoot through. The second stepped out into the lane at a previously lazer-ranged 176 yds., and turned toward me. It was getting pretty dark, but I had enough light to shoot, and I was relatively sure I could hit the deer with my Savage. I decided not to shoot because I did not wish to risk an after dark tracking job if I made a less than perfect shot. Years ago, I would have pulled the trigger without giving it a second's thought!
Even though I haven't bagged a buck or hog so far, I have had a successful season. I've done some fabulous nature watching, and have spent quality time with my Sons and a couple of Grandkids. My 12 year old Granddaughter killed a nice 5 point with her 243, and a couple of our camp youngsters have harvested some pretty fabulous bucks. Better than I have ever tagged, and likely better than anything they ever will again.
|
|
|
unsure
Dec 1, 2009 19:25:17 GMT -5
Post by dougedwards on Dec 1, 2009 19:25:17 GMT -5
Like rjhans53 I am also primarily a meat hunter. Once the freezer is full the Savage goes on the rack and the shooting is done with the camera. I am very close to that point now since I had more than the usual amount of venison left over from last year. Even with that being said, Doug, if that dude wanders in front of me next week I would nail him in a minute. That is a nice 10 pt and would be a fabulous one around here where anything above an 8 point is rare. Likewise that one Jeremy posted. Question: How do you tell the age of a deer? I understand counting rings on trees, but haven't seen the analogous thing on a deer. It is almost impossible to pin down the exact age of a whitetail with any degree of dependability without examining the teeth and even then the average hunter is left only to speculate. I have no way of knowing the exact age of this deer but he was thin with long legs, had a skinny neck with no sag in the belly and had no grey on its nose area. Just the general appearance of the buck was rather youthful. This has been some really good posting. Not everyone who likes baseball or nascar or Christmas likes it for the same reasons. That can be said of almost anything in life. I can tell you that if it were only for the meat that I would not hunt at all. I am not hungry for meat. I am hungry for a challenge and hunting challenges me on the most primeval of levels. The prey is physically superior to me in speed and strength and can detect me with a sense of smell that is over 1000 times more sensitive than my own. It's acute sense of hearing can detect the rubbing of the velcro on my coat pocket against my sleeve from 40 yards away while I am already 22 feet up in a tree. It has the reflexes to completely duck under an oncoming arrow coming at 300+ fps in less than half of a second. And to add to the advantage of it's physical superiority......... I am going to meet it on it's own turf. On the other hand, I have a more developed brain and rational capabilities. However, if I were left to survive in the whitetails habitat I am sure that I would die quickly. Smart doesn't help me much when I am thrown completely out of my familiar environment. But while hunting I don't have to depend on just my own intelligence as I also employ the intelligence of others who develop and manufacture the most sophisticated of weapons which will even up the playing field. I do research on my prey and it's habitat. I make plans all year long concerning the strategy of my hunts. I make potions to mask my human scent and wash my clothes in baking soda and spray the same in my hair before a hunt. I do all of this because I feel challenged. If the point comes that I don't feel this challenge while hunting then I will cease to hunt. For those who don't share my obsessive and intense feelings concerning the challenge of hunting there will be great confusion over what I am expressing in this thread. There will be others who will immediately relate to my feelings without any further explaination. My brother-in-law is really urging me to get into duck hunting by saying that it is much more exciting and invigorating than deer hunting. I don't need another addiction.......or any other thing to be obsessive about. I think I am going to stay as far away from ducks as I possibly can. Doug
|
|
|
unsure
Dec 3, 2009 11:23:22 GMT -5
Post by chuck41 on Dec 3, 2009 11:23:22 GMT -5
So far, this has been an odd hunting season for me. I have passed up an un-counted number of shots at does. . . . . . (snip) . . . . . . . Even though I haven't bagged a buck or hog so far, I have had a successful season. I've done some fabulous nature watching, and have spent quality time with my Sons and a couple of Grandkids. My 12 year old Granddaughter killed a nice 5 point with her 243, and a couple of our camp youngsters have harvested some pretty fabulous bucks. Better than I have ever tagged, and likely better than anything they ever will again. Like Boarhog, I too have seen countless does, and yearlings this year. Only one legal buck which now resides in my freezer. I agree that there are numerous things about deer hunting over just killing an animal. I always consider the shot as being the end of the fun and the start of the work! That's why I do the majority of my shooting with the camera these days. Sharing a stand with 9 year old grandson and having him actually see deer was the biggest treat this year. Unfortunately that was small does, at last light in an area surrounded with thickets that I really didn't want to spend all night trying to track a wounded animal. Also enjoyed having friends connect with deer and helping haul them out. Watching kids at camp learning about the outdoors. Shooting the bull around the campfire. And perhaps last but not least, just getting out of the house and into a different environment without the pressures that always seem to lurk around home. First day during modern gun season my 4-wheeler broke and I could not get to my normal stand down in the edge of the swamp. Since then I have used my tree-climber stand on a high area near camp that is accessible by road. Haven't seen as many deer as usual, but the different location has been fun. Also being 35 feet up with the advantage of seeing much more of my surroundings is a nice touch. Haven't done that for a few years. Sure have missed the comfort of my nice dry little box with the padded semi-reclining chair, nice supply of reading materials and the windows that can be closed to keep out the excess wind. Takes twice as long to get up that tree and you have to tie everything to you. When that includes gun, jacket, mp3 player, camera, food, reading material, etc. it gets to be a bit of a pain. At my age comfort is more of a premium than it used to be and without comfort I don't tend to stay on the stand very long anymore.
|
|
|
unsure
Dec 12, 2010 21:23:03 GMT -5
Post by timberman on Dec 12, 2010 21:23:03 GMT -5
When I see a discussion on the price of venison I remember being at a local large grocery store last year. In the back in a small cooler near the other meat was some venison chops. I did"nt buy any as my freezer was full but they were priced at $34.00 a pound. At that rate I had some really cheap venison even with the savage and gear.
|
|
|
unsure
Jan 3, 2011 16:03:33 GMT -5
Post by Savage Shooter on Jan 3, 2011 16:03:33 GMT -5
Nice buck. If you are hunting horns and have to ask yourself the question "Is he big enough", then most of the time you should pass. Now that being said it also depends on what time of the season it is. At the beginning pass, last day different story. Mike Why....... did he grow a lot between the opener and the last day?
|
|