As most of you are aware spending seemingly countless hours in a blind or stand gives you plenty of time to think. With the 2006 season coming to a close I thought I’d share some of the thoughts and revelations I experienced this year. Some people may agree with me on some things, some may disagree. Some may even be offended and I certainly welcome any and all input (see #4).
1. Excaliburs are great crossbows. I have absolutely no desire to own any other brand.
2. One of the biggest challenges facing deer hunters is find a good place to hunt. My wife and I are lucky enough to have permission to hunt on private land but many hunters have to rely on public land for their deer hunting. For this reason when it comes to deer hunting we stay off public lands and leave them for those who need them. For this same reason we don’t go getting permission from every farmer in the county who has a bush at the back of his property. Many landowners limit the number of people they give permission to and I don’t want to be a “land hog”. It’s good stewardship and common courtesy to the hunting community as a whole.
3. Decoys work.
4. When it comes to deer hunting nobody knows it all, some just know a bit more than others and you never stop learning.
5. I’ve become a lot less invasive about the way I hunt and treat hunting areas these days. Certain hunting areas are the deer’s sanctuary and should be treated as such. “Quiet in, quiet out” is the general rule.
6. My wife is the best hunting partner I ever had. Our common interests allow hunting and other outdoors pursuits to become a way of life all year round not just something I do evenings and week-ends in the fall.
Thoughts on deer hunting.....
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Highlander
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Nicely put. As I get older, I find I am more selective about who I hunt with and where I hunt. I'm not looking nearly as hard for success these days, but it is coming more than it used to. I think sometimes, especially when you are new at the sport, you can take it too seriously.
I know guys who sit on their deck and shoot deer that regularly visit their backyard. They then go around bragging about filling their tag. I think they're just missing the point...
I'd rather take one fairly in a wild place.
I know guys who sit on their deck and shoot deer that regularly visit their backyard. They then go around bragging about filling their tag. I think they're just missing the point...
I'd rather take one fairly in a wild place.
Re: Thoughts on deer hunting.....
Do you have a story to share? I'd love to hear it.TPM wrote: 3. Decoys work.
Population Control Specialist
00 Buck - Licensed to kill
00 Buck - Licensed to kill
My wife is not a hunter, don't knows I'd want her behind me with a sharp fast object.6. My wife is the best hunting partner I ever had. Our common interests allow hunting and other outdoors pursuits to become a way of life all year round not just something I do evenings and week-ends in the fall.
Digger
2008 Y25 Relayer #593 Boo string, lumizone
2-1984 Relayer,
2-1992 Wolverine
Excal Phoenix, acudraw, VARizone
T.P. Titan TL4, acudraw 50, Varizone
Vixen, Steddy Eddy, Varizone
Martin Rage
Martin Jaguar
PSE Infinity
2008 Y25 Relayer #593 Boo string, lumizone
2-1984 Relayer,
2-1992 Wolverine
Excal Phoenix, acudraw, VARizone
T.P. Titan TL4, acudraw 50, Varizone
Vixen, Steddy Eddy, Varizone
Martin Rage
Martin Jaguar
PSE Infinity
COULDN'T AGREE WITH U MORE DIGGER!!!! My wife is much better at home!!Digger wrote:My wife is not a hunter, don't knows I'd want her behind me with a sharp fast object.6. My wife is the best hunting partner I ever had. Our common interests allow hunting and other outdoors pursuits to become a way of life all year round not just something I do evenings and week-ends in the fall.
I got lucky for sure...my wife NEVER complains, is easy going, is interested in everything and anything, is a fit hardbody-no flab, no fat, likes to hunt, butcher and eat all good things. I'm writing this ten minutes after arriving home from our evening deer hunt (saw 5 does at 50 yards). Gonna BBQ some moose steaks, enjoy elegant wine and dress her up in some fine silky camohuntman wrote:COULDN'T AGREE WITH U MORE DIGGER!!!! My wife is much better at home!!Digger wrote:My wife is not a hunter, don't knows I'd want her behind me with a sharp fast object.6. My wife is the best hunting partner I ever had. Our common interests allow hunting and other outdoors pursuits to become a way of life all year round not just something I do evenings and week-ends in the fall.
eNORMous
Last edited by Normous on Thu Dec 28, 2006 6:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Huskemaw and Leupold crossbow optics.
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Teach Your Family How To Hunt So You Don't Have To Hunt For Your Family
Matrix 355
Huskemaw and Leupold crossbow optics.
Boo Strings
SWAT BH's and TOTA heads.
Teach Your Family How To Hunt So You Don't Have To Hunt For Your Family
enormous wrote:I got lucky for sure...my wife NEVER complains, is easy going, is interested in everthing and anything, is a fit hardbody-no flab, no fat, likes to hunt, butcher and eat all good things. I'm writing this ten minutes after arriving home from our evening deer hunt (saw 5 does at 50 yards). Gonna BBQ some moose steaks, enjoy elegant wine and dress her up in some fine silky camohuntman wrote:COULDN'T AGREE WITH U MORE DIGGER!!!! My wife is much better at home!!Digger wrote: My wife is not a hunter, don't knows I'd want her behind me with a sharp fast object.
eNORMous
My condolenses
enormous wrote:I got lucky for sure...my wife NEVER complains, is easy going, is interested in everything and anything, is a fit hardbody-no flab, no fat, likes to hunt, butcher and eat all good things. I'm writing this ten minutes after arriving home from our evening deer hunt (saw 5 does at 50 yards). Gonna BBQ some moose steaks, enjoy elegant wine and dress her up in some fine silky camohuntman wrote:COULDN'T AGREE WITH U MORE DIGGER!!!! My wife is much better at home!!Digger wrote: My wife is not a hunter, don't knows I'd want her behind me with a sharp fast object.
eNORMous
Enormous, you've just described my wife. Your wife and mine must be from the same mould. After 16 years of marriage, I love her more now than ever before, I'm a very lucky man.
TPM I agree with you on all points. I'm a little luckier than most of you, here in Sask. there's plenty of land to hunt on. Its also very affordable to buy your own hunting santuary. The first day of rifle season, I came acroos 6 nice bucks, 3 of them being whoppers, ended up shooting a 11 pointer, right in its bed on our property. I guess I should post the picture, but I just don't make it any kind of a big deal.
The best part of the hunting season was when my 14 year old son accompanied me for two days of hunting. I rattled one in, and stalked up on two, poor kid missed all three. The last afternoon he pegged a doe and calf in our alfalfa field.
Grey Owl
I guess my husband figures that it's safer to have me out in the woods with a bow than in the spam cooking! LOL 
In all seriousness, it's great to be able to share hunting with my husband, we read hunting magazines and talk about articles, we discuss different tactics, we share gear and we're best friends.
The more years that I hunt the less people I trust to hunt with. There are few hunters that I trust to be sensible in the woods and consistent in handling a gun or bow. My husband is a great hunting partner - he's a wonderful easy-going guy, but also a safety freak when it comes to hunting, and he's a natural in the woods. I just wish we could get out together more often - at this point in our lives we usually takes turns staying home with our toddler.
As for thoughts while hunting? I would have to say my # 1 thought this year is "where did all the deer go?!??!"
The other thought I often have is that I hope the property I hunt is still around for my son to learn to hunt on. I hope he's as lucky as I am and that he's able to enjoy many sunrises and sunsets from a stand in the deer woods someday!
In all seriousness, it's great to be able to share hunting with my husband, we read hunting magazines and talk about articles, we discuss different tactics, we share gear and we're best friends.
The more years that I hunt the less people I trust to hunt with. There are few hunters that I trust to be sensible in the woods and consistent in handling a gun or bow. My husband is a great hunting partner - he's a wonderful easy-going guy, but also a safety freak when it comes to hunting, and he's a natural in the woods. I just wish we could get out together more often - at this point in our lives we usually takes turns staying home with our toddler.
As for thoughts while hunting? I would have to say my # 1 thought this year is "where did all the deer go?!??!"
The other thought I often have is that I hope the property I hunt is still around for my son to learn to hunt on. I hope he's as lucky as I am and that he's able to enjoy many sunrises and sunsets from a stand in the deer woods someday!
I like #2 the best allthough they are all good. I think hunting would be more enjoyable and their would be more hunters out there if good land were easier to find.
Vixchix, Thats great that you guys help each other out with the kid to get your hunting time in. I guess thats probably the best part of having a wife that hunts. You know and understand the importance of getting to go out so you try to make it possible for you both. I hope to be as lucky as your man someday. My father used to take me out when I was a todler. I don't think we always had the best luck because of my fidgeting and noise but we both loved it and as long as he was out there, he had a chance. When it would get cold he would have me sit in his lap and he would zip me up in his down coat so my face poked out and we would sit nice and warm. You may want to try it with yours someday. I am sure I loved it verry much and it probably has something to do with my love for the outdoors now.
Vixchix, Thats great that you guys help each other out with the kid to get your hunting time in. I guess thats probably the best part of having a wife that hunts. You know and understand the importance of getting to go out so you try to make it possible for you both. I hope to be as lucky as your man someday. My father used to take me out when I was a todler. I don't think we always had the best luck because of my fidgeting and noise but we both loved it and as long as he was out there, he had a chance. When it would get cold he would have me sit in his lap and he would zip me up in his down coat so my face poked out and we would sit nice and warm. You may want to try it with yours someday. I am sure I loved it verry much and it probably has something to do with my love for the outdoors now.
A bad day in the woods is better than a good day anywhere else.
Some of my revelations:
I need to be more mobile and not get hung up on one spot.
Why do glove manufacturers only use 100 gram thinsulate when boots don't keep your feet warm until they use 1000 grams or more?
Filling your boot with ice water on the way to your stand is not reason enough to turn around and go home.
Sitting in a tree during a windstorm. Not sure what is worse watching the tree in front of you go from 80 degrees to 45 degrees, or closing your eyes and feeling your own tree sway several feet side to side.
I'm glad I'm not a deer. That's got to be some harsh living!! Cold(at least in the past) winter months where food is scarce. 3 months of guys chasing you with bows, rifles, shotguns. Walking through water to your spam and then to your bed everyday. The bijillion mosquitoes that torment you during the summer months, not to mention the blackflies and deer flies. You only get lucky a couple times a year.
I might be crazy sitting in a tree for 3 hours before legal light but I know it is bound to pay off sooner or later.
I need to be more mobile and not get hung up on one spot.
Why do glove manufacturers only use 100 gram thinsulate when boots don't keep your feet warm until they use 1000 grams or more?
Filling your boot with ice water on the way to your stand is not reason enough to turn around and go home.
Sitting in a tree during a windstorm. Not sure what is worse watching the tree in front of you go from 80 degrees to 45 degrees, or closing your eyes and feeling your own tree sway several feet side to side.
I'm glad I'm not a deer. That's got to be some harsh living!! Cold(at least in the past) winter months where food is scarce. 3 months of guys chasing you with bows, rifles, shotguns. Walking through water to your spam and then to your bed everyday. The bijillion mosquitoes that torment you during the summer months, not to mention the blackflies and deer flies. You only get lucky a couple times a year.
I might be crazy sitting in a tree for 3 hours before legal light but I know it is bound to pay off sooner or later.
You can take the man out of the woods but you can't take the woods out of the man.
"Celebrate your harvest with a Bloodtrail Ale(tm)!!"
"It CAN Be Done!"
"Celebrate your harvest with a Bloodtrail Ale(tm)!!"
"It CAN Be Done!"
Re: Thoughts on deer hunting.....
chris4570 wrote: I need to be more mobile and not get hung up on one spot.
This should be rule number one in whitetail hunting 101. I stress this point over and over again and if there is one key to the successful pursuit of whitetails, mobility is that key. I stopped taking hammers, nails and 2 x 4’s into the woods a long time ago.
If you sit through many whitetail seminars, one constant you will come away with is this statement. “The best chance you have to kill a mature whitetail buck is the very first time you hunt a stand you have just hung.”
I live by this credo. I used to hammer certain locations because it was convenient, had great deer sign, or actual large buck sightings. I would kill my share of does and would have young eights and tens under my stand, but never mature five and six year old bucks.
I now hunt a location only twice in any 24 hour period. And I will not return to that location after hunting it for at least two weeks.
I sure agree with this statement. I am not a better shot then most hunters. I am not young anymore (59) and cant cover the ground I used to cover. And I can’t sit in my climbing stands anymore for ten hours at a time.TPM wrote:
4. When it comes to deer hunting nobody knows it all, some just know a bit more than others and you never stop learning.
What I do better then a lot of hunters is very simple, I do my homework. I scout, and then I scout more. I study topographical maps. I identify pinch points, funnels and saddles. I know where the food sources are. And I use a climber (mostly a timbertall) and constantly move. Most hunters scout 20% of the time and hunt 80% of the time. If you switch these numbers, you will not only see more deer, but I bet dimes to dollars that you will see more and better bucks.
I wish I had this knowledge 30 years ago. Back then I was too busy hauling two by fours into the woods.
