I've been reading through a lot of the threads here and I'm seeing 2 distinct outlooks on harvesting deer. I guess I'll start this thread by admitting what and who I am! I am the kind of guy that puts in a ton of work watching for deer in my wood lot untill I find the one that I decide to hunt. When season begins I hunt only that one nice deer and I let all the others go. Also I refuse to take any shot farther than 25 yards NO MATTER WHAT! I have the belief that if I can't get within 25 yards of the nicest deer in my lot then I don't deserve to have him in my stomach or on my wall! I've also known some guys who go rabbit hunting and come home with a grouse. For me I already know the answer, but I'm just wondering if you consider that hunting or killing?
If the bird is in season its hunting.If its not in season its...POACHING! It must be nice to pick and choose u'r buck.If a legal buck comes within my effective kill range I'll take him,If the shot presents itself. Here in Northeast Pennsylvania a buck must have at least 3 points on either side(usually a 5 point)to be legal.In Western counties of state a buck must have 4 points or better to be legal. I hope u get the buck u'r after,must be a gratifying to do all u'r homework to get what u want.That's being a first class hunter in my book.....God bless good hunting...have a blast...I will...
I would say hunting and killing. I can go hunting for a specific animal and, when I find it, take pictures or I can pass on it or I can kill it. I can go hunting for food and shoot a squirrel, a rabbit, a dove, a deer, or just one or any combination. I can sit on the trail to my feeder and shoot a deer and that would be shooting and killing, no hunting involved. IMO, hunting is the finding of the prey animal, it doesn't necessarily include killing.
Do you have to be one or the other and realistically don't you need both? I let plenty of deer walk, I also shoot plenty of deer. It really all depends on how I feel that day. In your woodlot example, who is managing the herd? If you only shoot the best deer in your woodlot, who's killing the does? On a large scale that approach to deer hunting won't control the population. That being said, I don't really know the kinds of woods you hunt or the population density there I'm just mentioning that in a lot of deer woods that won't work. For example, in VA where I hunt many of the leased lands are leased from farmers and you better be putting a dent in the herd or you won't be hunting there long. You'd never say to the farmer "Well I just didn't want to shoot the momma cuz she had two little ones with her". All I'm saying is regionally and culturally deer are viewed differently. Farmers often view them similiar to a raccoon in your trash can or garden...no love. I am not some baby chicken stomping animal murderer but I also am not a fuzzy wuzzy bunny lover. I love hunting whitetails and have a lot of respect for them as one of the toughest most wary big game animals in the woods but I keep it in perspective.
I would say any legal, deliberate search with time, effort, and study of the chosen animal is hunting, and as mentioned, doesnt have to mean killing. But if im out tending to my stands, or plinking with the kids and I happen to see and shoot a bobcat, armadillo, or whatever, thats killing.
Technically we don't NEED both. What we need is for people to make up their mind and live up to a personal goal that they set and teach the youth of our nation to do the same, weather that goal is taking a monster buck for the wall or taking a yearling doe strictly to put food on the table. Either one is a beautiful thing if it's done in a beautiful way! My wood lot is managed nicely because I associate myself with people who are decisive, honest and ethical and I open up the gates to them after archery season. And since I don't care much for gun hunting I take my doe with an 870!
I understand what you're getting at, Bonesaw.... but I have a feeling that if you're waiting for that "best buck in my woodlot" to come through, and his grand-daddy strays over from a neighboring woodlot, you're gonna turn from a "hunter" into a "killer" in short time. Am I right? We are hunters... plain and simple. We put ourselves in the best postions to make a solid, clean kill. It's pretty awesome when it's our "target" deer.... but you're not going to take that buck of a lifetime that you've never laid eyes on, standing broad-side at 15 yards, with no clue you're there??? I don't think so
I am a disciplined man and a man of my word. I have been in that position every archery season and have never strayed from my agenda! What kind of an example would that be for my 11 year old son? What kind of message would that send to a woman that has insecurities? Aren't there beautiful wemen everywhere? Does that mean I'd leave the one I love for a stranger? Not this man!!! Let's take drugs as an example; Someone might use cocaine on a regular basis and I would call them a drug addict, but if they use cocaine, meth and heroin I call them a junkie!
Okay Bonesaw, let's forget that I'm a cop for a minute... are you currently on ANY of these substances... like right now? If not, you're way out there, brother Just an observation
And we wonder why our country is falling apart?! If you are truely an officer of the law it's a shame that you aren't the same example to society that I am to my son.
I don't understand this thread, i guess hunting public land just finding a good place to set up and see any deer makes me pretty lucky. So when I see them I shoot them and I consider it hunting. Although I do put in a ton of scouting work. So whatevs.
...WOW! You're futher out there than I originally thought. My daughters know that I hunt because I have a passion for it! Also, it puts meat on the table; clean, pure, untampered with nutrition. And God willing, some monster bucks will hang on their walls someday. Not sure what kinda BS your trying to sell, bone... but we're all stocked up here Good luck and happy hunting.
oops sorry this thread is born of luxery. Now I get it and I get what you're saying although you must take into consideration that there are many more of us "less fortunate" hunters who have to take what we can when we can in order to fill the freezer and it doesn't make us any less of a hunter than someone who has the time resourses land and herd to pick and plot on a target deer. We would still be considered hunters or killers or whatever you want to call us.
This statement alone made me lose respect for you. Seems to me like you are teaching your child that there is only one way to do something. I'm not sure what point you are trying to make?
when you go after a specific animal during a legal season you are hunting. when you respect the animal and the conservation that goes with it you are hunting. when you are ethical in what you are doing and make sure each shot is a kill shot, you are still hunting. not everyone is a hunter nor is hunting for everyone. hunting is not a sport, it is a way of life. scores mean nothing to a hunter, a good meal does.
