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Post by ms660 on Dec 26, 2019 22:15:08 GMT -5
I get about as much enjoyment checking my game cams anymore as I do pulling the trigger or releasing an arrow. I watched a lot of deer this year walk by me.
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Post by esshup on Dec 27, 2019 5:49:46 GMT -5
It seems to me that a few years ago another gentleman on this forum had suddenly given up hunting and was parting ways with his gear. If that does happen to me, I'll sell my gear and buy a dang nice camera and video camera. I may stop killing but I won't stop going to the woods. May have been me. I sold everything but one tree stand. Bought beagles and make every excuse I can not to shoot them Yeah, not shooting the dogs is something I tell anyone that is hunting over mine.
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Post by span870 on Dec 27, 2019 6:00:45 GMT -5
May have been me. I sold everything but one tree stand. Bought beagles and make every excuse I can not to shoot them Yeah, not shooting the dogs is something I tell anyone that is hunting over mine. 😄😄😄. Yeah that didn't exactly come out the way I meant but it can go that way too sometimes
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Post by welder on Dec 27, 2019 7:34:42 GMT -5
Am I the only one who has let deer (does) walk just due to the fact that I was too lazy to mess with them? I bet not.
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Post by Pinoc on Dec 27, 2019 8:40:30 GMT -5
Am I the only one who has let deer (does) walk just due to the fact that I was too lazy to mess with them? I bet not. A lot of times it depends on how far from the truck I am.
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Post by omegahunter on Dec 27, 2019 8:50:23 GMT -5
Over the last three years I have let more deer walk because I want my 70+ year old Dad and, this year, my 13 year old daughter to be the ones to enjoy taking a deer. The way Dad gets around, I don't think he will be able to do it many more years.
I was all set to not shoot a deer at all this year and it would have been the first time since about 1994 best I can tell from my tag collection. I ended up shooting a doe on the 21st just so that Dad and Mom would have some burger for the freezer.
I just don't seem to have that need to be the one doing the shooting anymore.
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Post by dbd870 on Dec 27, 2019 10:10:30 GMT -5
I don’t have any problem with pulling the trigger and I still like being out; but the feeling of I have to be out every chance I have is no longer there. I’m going to retire in 4-4.5 years and move to Alabama. I may well not take deer hunting back up down there. I think I’d like to get back to going after things with feathers; at least that’s my thinking at the moment
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Post by duff on Dec 27, 2019 22:56:14 GMT -5
Am I the only one who has let deer (does) walk just due to the fact that I was too lazy to mess with them? I bet not. Every last one for the past 2 yrs...when I figure the hunt, the field dressing, drag and butchering and how well it meshes with life in general I can shoot a deer about every other saturday.
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Post by span870 on Dec 28, 2019 5:54:29 GMT -5
Am I the only one who has let deer (does) walk just due to the fact that I was too lazy to mess with them? I bet not. Last year about a week into gun I had 11 doe walk by in single file. Had the scope on number 1 through 11. To small, too big. Well that's the baby. Well not that one, that's the momma. All actuality didn't not want to drag a single one out of the hole that I was hunting in. Almost more fun seeing what excuse I can come up with. I did finally shoot a decent buck last year. Not 5 minutes later probably the largest buck I have ever seen in my 30 years of deer hunting walked in to 20 yards and just stood there looking at me posing. Walked 20 yards, stopped and looked at me. 30 more yards, looked over his shoulder and looked at me. Now got another built in excuse.
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Post by steiny on Dec 28, 2019 10:45:51 GMT -5
I enjoy deer hunting at 60 as much as ever but I am much more fussy about what I shoot, going home empty handed isn't a big deal. Still get a kick out of big bucks with big antlers and work very hard to kill one or more every year, hunting multiple states, but haven't killed a buck in Indiana for probably five years and passed up a whole bunch of nice 130-140" stuff hoping for something 150"+.
For meat I shoot does and I'm getting either picky or lazy about that. Prefer to shoot them in the morning when I have the day to mess with them, close to the road, somewhere easy to retrieve, etc. Can't imagine not at least killing a couple does for the freezer, venison is a key part of our diet.
I enjoy the food plotting, habitat work, stand set up, trail cams, shed hunting, etc. almost as much as the hunting.
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Post by esshup on Dec 28, 2019 11:27:08 GMT -5
For meat I shoot does and I'm getting either picky or lazy about that. Prefer to shoot them in the morning when I have the day to mess with them, close to the road, somewhere easy to retrieve, etc. Can't imagine not at least killing a couple does for the freezer, venison is a key part of our diet. I prefer to shoot them in the morning too, but most times it doesn't happen that way. I am fortunate in that 3 of the places I hunt there is equipment available to get the deer out of the woods, just gotta drag them to a field edge or a trail. Tractors with FEL's or ATV.
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Post by deadeer on Dec 28, 2019 12:10:25 GMT -5
For meat I shoot does and I'm getting either picky or lazy about that. Prefer to shoot them in the morning when I have the day to mess with them, close to the road, somewhere easy to retrieve, etc. Can't imagine not at least killing a couple does for the freezer, venison is a key part of our diet. I prefer to shoot them in the morning too, but most times it doesn't happen that way. I am fortunate in that 3 of the places I hunt there is equipment available to get the deer out of the woods, just gotta drag them to a field edge or a trail. Yractors with FEL's or ATV. AMEN!!!
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Post by esshup on Dec 28, 2019 12:38:29 GMT -5
I prefer to shoot them in the morning too, but most times it doesn't happen that way. I am fortunate in that 3 of the places I hunt there is equipment available to get the deer out of the woods, just gotta drag them to a field edge or a trail. Yractors with FEL's or ATV. AMEN!!! What?? You starting to come over to the dark side and getting spoiled too? LOL Last one at the farm the guy brought out his 2 up ATV. We threw it on the back, legs forward I sat behind him and held the legs. Drove it to the truck, from the back of the ATV to the truck was a piece of cake.
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Post by michaelc on Dec 29, 2019 16:25:17 GMT -5
At 1 time I was like gregr, my life would be really close to ending. I've been in the outdoors since I was a little thing and now I'm 39. I've done a lot of growing over the years thanks to Ole Timers ( no disrespect intended) who had the patience/time/love to teach who wanted to listen and learn. Now I'm finding myself at a crossroad where that's what I want to do with anyone who wants to listen and learn. I've done that with my kidos with hunting, but now that they're 16 and 17 they have other interests and I'm fine with that. That's what makes everyone unique and different. I've got a few other kidos who are wanting to learn how to hunt and I don't mind helping them, but I keep trying to explain that not everything hunting related can be taught by watching videos. You really need to get out in the woods and experience it with someone who has the time/patience/love, because in my opinion 90% of hunting is Trial and Error and the other 10% is Luck. It's easier to learn from one's mistakes so you have a better success chance than to make your own, but that's why it's called Life.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2019 16:32:30 GMT -5
At 1 time I was like gregr, my life would be really close to ending. I've been in the outdoors since I was a little thing and now I'm 39. I've done a lot of growing over the years thanks to Ole Timers ( no disrespect intended) who had the patience/time/love to teach who wanted to listen and learn. Now I'm finding myself at a crossroad where that's what I want to do with anyone who wants to listen and learn. I've done that with my kidos with hunting, but now that they're 16 and 17 they have other interests and I'm fine with that. That's what makes everyone unique and different. I've got a few other kidos who are wanting to learn how to hunt and I don't mind helping them, but I keep trying to explain that not everything hunting related can be taught by watching videos. You really need to get out in the woods and experience it with someone who has the time/patience/love, because in my opinion 90% of hunting is Trial and Error and the other 10% is Luck. It's easier to learn from one's mistakes so you have a better success chance than to make your own, but that's why it's called Life. Very well said, and you show wisdom that some much older than you don`t seem to have. No doubt, my post sounded pretty extreme, but it`s an honest evaluation of how I think I`d feel if I lost that burning, driving passion for deer hunting. I never have, and I hope, never will turn down a legal, ethical shot at any legal deer. If I feel that I don`t want to bother with tracking, gutting and dragging, then I would hope I`d just stay home and do something else. I get that for some, they may get to a place in their life where they move on, past hunting, and no problems there. You have to follow your heart. I will too. I just hope my heart always burns to hunt deer.
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Post by tynimiller on Dec 30, 2019 7:33:03 GMT -5
If I ever get to that point, I just really have to feel that my life would need to be done. Take me now Jesus. If that`s extreme, so be it. I`ve been so into deer hunting for so long, it`s all I know, all I do. I don`t golf, don`t take vacations, and every gift I get, whether it`s Christmas, birthday, or Father`s day, they`re all something to do with deer hunting. I wouldn't know how to act, what to do, how to move forward. And yes, I`m saved, born again, and I full well get that we are called to fulfill the Great Commission, and that ought to be the reason to keep going, but deer hunting has been my obsession for so long, I just wouldn`t know what to do. I know this is getting away from hunting, however brother your post really struck my heart strings. Now what I'm about to say realize is more so directed at this mindset than you directly, sadly I don't know you beyond following your keystrokes for years on a forum (have always respected much of what you do and say). However, I struggle with this addictive mindset some have for hunting, especially when they believe in the Creator and our savior Jesus Christ. I have this issue, because it is something I see every morning I stare into the eyes of the man in the mirror. I struggle to pay attention at work due to deer....I struggle to pay attention to the road because of deer...I struggle to pay attention and honor my wife and family because of deer...so know this is also as much directed at me as it is anyone. The very fact that the thought "my life would need to be done" if I lost the drive to hunt or couldn't hunt is a testament to the severe void in our relationship with God. It is that mindset which proves we are not in a relationship with God, we do not trust and know and hold his word as the truth and compass of our lives; no we merely know of God. Knowing of God, even knowing the words of the Bible fall incredibly short of knowing him and having a relationship with him. It takes work to turn back our desires and Earthly obsessions which are used to distract us from God...it is an incredibly challenging thing to do for those whom call Jesus their savior. This fall I caught myself NEVER remembering to start each hunt with a prayer at the base of the tree or once settled in....it was an after thought...and I stopped forcing myself to do it like I had for years. This fall I noticed I never took my small bible for all day sits...rarely would I use it in the past but knew what better place to read it than in His creation. This fall I also had to be honest with myself and realized it wasn't just prayer of the hunts which was lacking but my prayer life in general was lacking...no....non-existent. I didn't go to him daily. I didn't start my day or end my day like I always had with Him. I fell into the rut so many "christians" do and that was talk to him when something happened or pray when others ask you to but that's about it. Now I welcomed a son into the world September 3rd (first child) and I felt this incredible surge of Godliness saturate itself into me. The sheer humility one feels to be chosen to be called father by one of God's sons is tremendous...yet here I am distracted and deserting all which I held to making the above words true. If for any reason one holds deer hunting in such high esteem that it is your source for desiring to live, it is the source for which you draw the most energy from in life...you have fallen aside from your relationship with God...or are falling aside from it. This year hunting felt almost like a chore somedays...like I was watching myself go through the actions of it all at times...and I truly believe it is because I wasn't taking God along with me at times. My priorities were all out of whack...and it wasn't the priorities illustrated through my actions which were messed up, it was the priorities I held in my heart which were. Sorry for the rambling...my morning prayer & devotion (forcing myself to get back to it) and then reading your comment triggered a lot of thoughts. Bear in mind many of you are much more seasoned at this thing called life...so take what this 33 year old has to say with as much weight as you desire. God bless.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2019 7:42:31 GMT -5
If I ever get to that point, I just really have to feel that my life would need to be done. Take me now Jesus. If that`s extreme, so be it. I`ve been so into deer hunting for so long, it`s all I know, all I do. I don`t golf, don`t take vacations, and every gift I get, whether it`s Christmas, birthday, or Father`s day, they`re all something to do with deer hunting. I wouldn't know how to act, what to do, how to move forward. And yes, I`m saved, born again, and I full well get that we are called to fulfill the Great Commission, and that ought to be the reason to keep going, but deer hunting has been my obsession for so long, I just wouldn`t know what to do. I know this is getting away from hunting, however brother your post really struck my heart strings. Now what I'm about to say realize is more so directed at this mindset than you directly, sadly I don't know you beyond following your keystrokes for years on a forum (have always respected much of what you do and say). However, I struggle with this addictive mindset some have for hunting, especially when they believe in the Creator and our savior Jesus Christ. I have this issue, because it is something I see every morning I stare into the eyes of the man in the mirror. I struggle to pay attention at work due to deer....I struggle to pay attention to the road because of deer...I struggle to pay attention and honor my wife and family because of deer...so know this is also as much directed at me as it is anyone. The very fact that the thought "my life would need to be done" if I lost the drive to hunt or couldn't hunt is a testament to the severe void in our relationship with God. It is that mindset which proves we are not in a relationship with God, we do not trust and know and hold his word as the truth and compass of our lives; no we merely know of God. Knowing God, even knowing the words of the Bible fall incredibly short of knowing him and having a relationship with him. It takes work to turn back our desires and Earthly obsessions which are used to distract us from God...it is an incredibly challenging thing to do for those whom call Jesus their savior. This fall I caught myself NEVER remembering to start each hunt with a prayer at the base of the tree or once settled in....it was an after thought...and I stopped forcing myself to do it like I had for years. This fall I noticed I never took my small bible for all day sits...rarely would I use it in the past but knew what better place to read it than in His creation. This fall I also had to be honest with myself and realized it wasn't just prayer of the hunts which was lacking but my prayer life in general was lacking...no....non-existent. I didn't go to him daily. I didn't start my day or end my day like I always had with Him. I fell into the rut so many "christians" do and that was talk to him when something happened or pray when others ask you to but that's about it. Now I welcomed a son into the world September 3rd (first child) and I felt this incredible surge of Godliness saturate itself into me. The sheer humility one feels to be chosen to be called father by one of God's sons is tremendous...yet here I am distracted and deserting all which I held to making the above words true. If for any reason one holds deer hunting in such high esteem that it is your source for desiring to live, it is the source for which you draw the most energy from in life...you have fallen aside from your relationship with God...or are falling aside from it. This year hunting felt almost like a chore somedays...like I was watching myself go through the actions of it all at times...and I truly believe it is because I wasn't taking God along with me at times. My priorities were all out of whack...and it wasn't the priorities illustrated through my actions which were messed up, it was the priorities I held in my heart which were. Sorry for the rambling...my morning prayer & devotion (forcing myself to get back to it) and then reading your comment triggered a lot of thoughts. Bear in mind many of you are much more seasoned at this thing called life...so take what this 33 year old has to say with as much weight as you desire. God bless. I`ll be brief and hope to not get in trouble for getting off topic. I`m very obsessed with deer hunting, and I get that it`s a distraction from what are really much more important, (eternal), issues and goals. I strive every day to love the Lord more, to move closer to the Lord, and to be more in His service. Like all of us, I fail to do all that I could, or should, but that makes me committed to coming back each new day to work again, at moving closer to Him. It sounds like you have the same heart and mind, and I trust that the same God, who works all things towards good for those that are called according to His purpose, will work these things out in our hearts and minds too.
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Post by chewbacca on Jan 7, 2020 9:23:22 GMT -5
Am I the only one who has let deer (does) walk just due to the fact that I was too lazy to mess with them? I bet not. I do this a lot. Many times it depends on whether or not there is something going on immediately after I'm done hunting. Many times my son will have an athletic event going on right after I get done hunting so they only way I'm harvesting anything is if it comes through early or if it is a giant. Otherwise, I'm not missing his event if I don't have to. Sometimes I go to the stand knowing full well the only thing I'm shooting is a mature buck and I'll let doe after doe stroll right on past. Sometimes I just like being in the stand watching God's great creation. It is so serene. It gives me peace. It is an escape. It's a great place to get away from the daily stresses of life. In the off season I still spend quite a bit of time in the woods just going on walks. We all need time to ourselves to navigate this thing called life. The woods gives me this time to recharge.
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Post by MuzzleLoader on Jan 8, 2020 6:21:33 GMT -5
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Post by jbird on Jan 8, 2020 10:56:13 GMT -5
My household's red meat is deer....right now it's 6 of us and eventually it will only be 2 of us....but I suspect I will still be putting deer in the freezer. Taking the life of an animal that you learn to respect can have a lot of different emotions. I remember the first deer I took. I was excited and a little sad. I still sit at times and watch the deer walk by when it's not the one I want. I mostly hunt now with my kids with the focus being on their success. Yes I get me a deer or two a year as well....but sometimes it's just cool to sit back and watch. I don't need a deer harvest to prove my worth or abilities as a man....though early on it seemed that was far more the case. Not sure what causes that change in mindset..... I catch fish all the time and put them back, so letting some deer walk is sort of the same thing.... Hopefully some day (a few years out yet please, if your listening lord) I'll have some grandkids and they will take to the outdoors and I can help/focus on them connecting as well.
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