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Post by piercings4u on Dec 9, 2013 20:56:25 GMT -5
Well friends its been a tough season for me and a lot of others. I've passed a spike and a 6pt and came to full draw on a doe all in archery. I've seen a lot of big bucks on camera and in the flesh in archery. I finally scored a doe during firearms season as well as my pops taking a small 7pt. I usually take a buck and doe during early archery but not this season. I also passed on some does during firearms in hopes that a buck would be trailing them but it didn't happen. So this season I have been frustrated just like many of you. So yesterday I decide to take the cva pistol out and do a ground hunt. I set up on a spill pile with a pinch point to my right wgere I know the deer will come from that evening. I was facing north and tge wind was from the south east so I was pretty confident. Well at around 5:30 here comes a doe out of the pinch point, and then here come 2 more. I have 3 doe 25 yards in front of me all broadside with excellent shooting light. I was waiting to see if there was a buck trailing. The longer I waited the more I felt sorry for these deer. All the cold weather they have to deal with and dodging lead everyday. Then I thought about not filling my buck tag yet and if I shoot then its just going to stir everything up in my area. My last thought was which one do I shoot? The mom or one of her offspring? I just couldn't make a decision and couldn't bring myself to break the silence. I am so mad at myself right now that I'm about ready to give up hunting. I have never had this problem. Can anyone explain this to me so o can understand what In the world is going on with me? I might as well stay home. I just can't believe I did this...
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Post by bullseye on Dec 9, 2013 21:08:23 GMT -5
Sounds like you need to decide if you want to eat venison or antlers. I personally will shoot a doe and not worry about what is behind it, but I seem to be the minority in this sport. I kinda get tired of hearing about bucks.
I do know what you mean about shooting mama. Question that myself sometimes, but they should be on their own by now. Might not be mama, could just be small deer in a group with bigger deer.
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Post by dbd870 on Dec 9, 2013 21:15:54 GMT -5
Maybe not quite the same but X number of years ago I was in KY and had a doe at 300yds broadside with the crosshairs on her with a rock solid position with about 5 min left of legal shooting time. I whispered "bang" and packed it in. Had a couple already and I just didn't feel like dealing with it; sometimes just knowing you had it dead to rights is rewarding enough
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Post by tony on Dec 9, 2013 21:42:48 GMT -5
We are all human and I think it is natural that we have remorse when it comes to taking a life even if it meant to be food for us meat-eaters. That is why we strive to dispatch the animal as quickly and humanely as possible. When you are behind the weapon you are in control and it is up to you as to whether or not to take the animal . Don't give up on hunting .If you don't want to harvest an animal at this time try taking a camera and keep enjoying the great outdoors!
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 9, 2013 21:43:58 GMT -5
Maybe not quite the same but X number of years ago I was in KY and had a doe at 300yds broadside with the crosshairs on her with a rock solid position with about 5 min left of legal shooting time. I whispered "bang" and packed it in. Had a couple already and I just didn't feel like dealing with it; sometimes just knowing you had it dead to rights is rewarding enough ^^^^ THIS AND THIS |
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Post by butlerjp87 on Dec 10, 2013 1:04:27 GMT -5
I wouldn't shoot a doe if youngens are around, a rule i made after my grandpa told me an area i would find a mama doe and two youngens... (I know grandpa wouldent shoot them either). Idk if that was a test from him. With all due respect, What is your opinion on the topic woody?
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Post by ms660 on Dec 10, 2013 2:47:51 GMT -5
Some of the best hunts I ever had I never fire a shot.
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Post by featherduster on Dec 10, 2013 4:52:05 GMT -5
You have come full cycle in your hunting life.
Leave the older does alone, take the yearlings. The older doe is a proven reproducer which may have been bred and carrying next years fawn(s) where as the fawns you saw may not make it through a tough winter.
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Post by DEERTRACKS on Dec 10, 2013 7:10:14 GMT -5
Sounds like you are burned-out for this year! I have passed-up shots on a truck-load of nice younger bucks this season waiting on the big 10 pt. that I saw in October. I would venture to say that all dedicated & experienced deer hunters go thru this. I know I have & passed easy shots just because my mind was not in-tune with the kill. You made decisions early-on & you went with your gut. You cannot beat yourself up for second-guessing the moment of truth. I always take a minute of silence before field-dressing my deer to show respect for the life that I just took in the circle of life of this incredible animal. Keep the faith!
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Post by Ahawkeye on Dec 10, 2013 7:11:38 GMT -5
I will shoot any doe or fawn I can right now (if I ever get the chance to go back out) but that's because I only have one buck in the freezer and I need the meat. It is your day in the woods enjoy it as you please but you are right, if you shoot that doe you will not get the buck in the thicket watching to see if everything is OK.
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Post by hornzilla on Dec 10, 2013 8:39:17 GMT -5
Wow. Here I go at one of those times I should maybe keep my mouth shut but can't. I see nothing wrong with your decision in the woods. Hunters usely start out wanting to KILL a deer. Then every deer they see. Then sometimes take a deer. I must ask did you enjoy your time in the woods? There is nothing wrong with letting a animal "walk". There is more to hunting than just the kill. Enjoy you time out in Gods creation. You will find more than a trophy deer, turkey, fish, etc. You might find a sunrise, silences, wildlife going about there lives, and you might walk out with a tag in your pocket and a smile on your face. Just knowing that you can experience it all again tomorrow. Who knows that might be the day to break the silence and fill your tag. keep hunting. You will find a lot out there.
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Post by bowhunterjohn on Dec 10, 2013 8:54:14 GMT -5
I guess to me I get a feeling, call it divine inspiration or whatever.. but its a voice that says " ok, this is yours".
I remember passing on over a dozen shots one evening in 2011 at the Miami county farm, only to shoot the next deer.
Its ok to pass up deer... I"ve learned if I'm after a buck and and doe come out I will let her go.. there will be a buck sooner or later.
Don't get to down on yourself
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 10, 2013 9:30:51 GMT -5
A call that each of us make every time we are presented with an opportunity to shoot an animal. The only person "calling that shot" is us. The feeling has to be right to take the awesome step of ending a life. This gun opener I went and sat in a tree with my Ruger .44. I had killed a buck with my crossbow so it was does only for me. I'm pretty sure I had no intention of shooting a doe before I even left the hiouse as I don't "need" the meat and our area didn't "need" doe culling. I went because it was an opportunity to hunt with my son...and it was the opener. Long story shortened - I saw 9 or 10 deer, including a couple small bucks. I never lifted the gun off my lap. I enjoyed the experience immensely. If Wiley Coyote had come along I would kill him in a heart beat. Guess I was coyote hunting after all.  The Illinois lease that Woodmaster belongs to has way too may does and I will probably go help cull a few of them. Different place and different story. Piercings, Don't sweat it young lady. Most of us have been there and done that. As far as what deer to shoot out of a doe and 2 fawns. I would shoot the doe. The fawns will do quite well by this time. The doe fawns will be producing soon and will have a longer producing life than their mother had. Besides there is a lot more meat on mom. |
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Post by jajwrigh on Dec 10, 2013 9:56:27 GMT -5
I would take the larger doe, every time in that scenario.
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Post by onebentarrow on Dec 10, 2013 12:13:32 GMT -5
I just came back from an ohio hunt witj my nephew. I never fired a shot passed couple bucks and does. had a great trip. it would not have been any better if i had klled a deer. could not have been any better. good companey good food beautiful woods snow great views seeing wildlife that is what hunting is all about the kill if appropiate is iceing on the cake
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Post by onebentarrow on Dec 10, 2013 12:14:32 GMT -5
I just came back from an ohio hunt witj my nephew. I never fired a shot passed couple bucks and does. had a great trip. it would not have been any better if i had klled a deer. could not have been any better. good companey good food beautiful woods snow great views seeing wildlife that is what hunting is all about the kill if appropiate is iceing on the cake
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Post by Russ Koon on Dec 10, 2013 12:47:06 GMT -5
Very familiar with the feeling.
I was watching a doe and her button fawn approach a few years ago on a trail that would lead right past me. It was nearly the last day of the late season and my last reasonable chance for a kill in what had been a season with very few opportunities due to local conditions. I raised the CVA and took a steady rest against the trunk of tree, and as they came closer, even pushed the safety forward with my thumb.
But as I watched the inquisitive fawn trotting around investigating stuff and the doe watching him and waiting for him to catch up, I decided I just didn't want to kill either in front of the other that day. I slid the safety back on, and when the doe finally got suspicious at about fifteen yards and bolted a few yards off the trail, and stomped lightly to bring the youngster to her side, I intentionally verified her suspicions by lowering the gun and taking a step, sending both deer to cover before I walked out to the truck and ended the season without putting anything in the freezer.
No regrets. And there would have been none if either deer had come by alone and I had killed it. Sometimes it's about bringing one home, and sometimes it's about enjoying the interaction and the satisfaction of knowing you could have taken one is plenty. On that day, under those particular circumstances, I just felt better about watching them get away.
Loving to hunt, and also loving the animals we hunt, can seem contradictory to non-hunters, and maybe even to hunters at first, but it tends to become more natural after a while. I think most of us who have hunted a long time are familiar with the situation described.
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Post by mstr2175 on Dec 10, 2013 13:23:46 GMT -5
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Post by piercings4u on Dec 10, 2013 21:10:34 GMT -5
Excellent read...thank you so much .. |
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Post by surveyor on Dec 11, 2013 7:07:52 GMT -5
You have come full cycle in your hunting life. Leave the older does alone, take the yearlings. The older doe is a proven reproducer which may have been bred and carrying next years fawn(s) where as the fawns you saw may not make it through a tough winter. Glad to see there are some that think like I do. With the declining deer heard in many areas, mine included, I don't understand people wanting to kill those proven reproducers when they can take a tasty youngen that might or might not ever become a reproducer anyway. |
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