I couldn't think of a better way to word that, so bear with me. Whether it's because you live in a target rich area or have been at this game for a really long time (or both), do any of you guys who shot a lot of deer or shot a lot of big bucks, ever wish you could go back to the days when just any deer or any buck, made your heart skip? Sometimes I almost feel "guilty" for not getting as excited as I should over just having a small buck in range. Granted I still love popping does, but I feel as though it's expected of myself at this stage of the game, more than it is something I should be thankful for just having that opportunity. Not sure if this came out right, does anyone else feel this way?
Sometimes. Yeah, I definitely know what you mean... like when there's a bit of disapointment that "just a 115-ish" deer comes up the trail. Early on, I would have done backflips to have a 115"er come by me; in fact, I've got one on the wall behind me because I was so proud that he was my first "nice" buck... So I understand exactly what you're getting at... I guess as in everything, you reset goals and push on. Sorta reminds me of a story about Andy Roddick having to play his Round of 16 match at the US Open yesterday on Court 13 because of all the rain delays. Court 13 holds only a little over 500 spectators, and is a very "intimate" setting -- a far cry from the colossal stadium he's used to being featured on at the Open. One writer described the event as sort of returning to his roots, back when a time when money, endorsements, fame.. all of that stuff didn't matter; there was simply sheer pleasure in smacking a tennis ball as hard as you could.
I have killed 29 deer in 15 years of hunting not counting what I will kill this year. I have gone three years with getting ZERO deer! I get excited on EVER deer. I really get excited on the big boys but all of them get me going. I love the feeling too! I hope that it never changes. I guess there is a different in level of excitement but I enjoy all of it.
Sounds like a question of Trophy hunting or Freezer filling. In no way am I accomplished. lol but I know where I stand in regards to my purpose for hunting. I hunt for meat, trophies will come along and I'll take em but it's for their meat. If your heart doesn't pound for a 4 pointer I'd say your a trophy kinda guy. Maybe it's time to go elk hunting.
I can understand what you are saying, but I do not feel the same way. I love the scouting and especially the strategy. My mind is in it's happy place while I am analyzing all of the things pertinent to the days hunt. Some say I over analyze things, but it works for me. I would not be able to do very much of these things that I enjoy so much if I was to shoot just what ever. By severely limiting your target animals that in turn greatly increases the amount of analyzing and strategy I get to do. *edit to add* I get satisfaction from each and every deer I see from stand, my heart may not skip a beat on the majority but most still do excite me when I see them.
Here's my feeling. This will be my 7th or 8th year hunting. I grew up in a non hunting family in the suburbs about 30 minutes from Chicago. I now live in a rural area and started hunting due to my father in law.I didnt know, nor did my wife or in laws, what would happen when the opportunity would arise to harvest an animal. I was told to just enjoy the outdoors, the sounds and the view. I didnt shoot the 1st deer I ever saw. Maybe saw a lot before I ever did. Point being we get so accustomed to the antisipation of wanting to kill a giant deer, when we hear a deer coming and the pressure from ourselves on harvesting 1 for ourselves and bragging rights to others. My heart never pounded and I never got really crazy when I was watching deer, now a tree limb cracks and I have to be careful not to have a grabber.We plan and prep and wait till that moment and... why are we feeling let down, we saw deer, maybe not a beast but at least we had the opportunity, and thats better then being skunked!
I've been bow hunting for 25 years and still love every aspect. Little ones, big ones, medium ones. Love it all. Like the anticipation, the camera action when scouting. Planting food plots. Heart still skips when they come in. Maybe just me, but it gets better as time goes on. I do think my attitude has changed over those years. Now it's about the hunt, not the kill. I'm more selective in what I harvest. No does with fawns, no spikes or fork bucks unless injured, selectively taking mature bucks to keep the population where we want it. It all plays into my hunt. I've been blessed to be able to extend my hunt to 9 months vs. 4.
I do not long for the old days just yet. I guess I am addicted to killing deer to the extent that everytime I meet a milestone, (first deer, first buck, first kill with a bow from the ground, first P&Y.....etc) I am re-energized to the next "new" thing. My most recent "new" thing was helping my brother in law kill his first deer. I gave him one of my old bows, taught him to shoot it and helped him hang his stands. Both of them. LOL. The night he called me with tears in his voice because he needed help dragging out his first deer,( a small scrubby 8) I was fulfilled and it didn't cost me a tag. There are so many ways to get fulfillment from hunting than killing a deer that scores well. Not sure if this is going to make sense to anyone but me, but there you go.....
This is what it is all about. I still get very excited for any deer I see. Im only 21 but have bow hunted for 9 yrs now. Now I am getting my wife hunting with a bow and my focus is to get her her first deer ever. I would be so happy! You guys will probably think that I shot the deer by how crazy I'd be acting lol.
I get excited with every deer I see! I may not shoot everyone, but that does not mean my heart rate dont go crazy everytime I see one. If that ever goes away, its time for me to find something else to do.
As to you guys! Im so glad she has decided to hunt and shes actually enjoying it. I now have my best friend as a life long hunting partner!!!
I feel for you. I get that way durning the year after harvesting a doe. I dont seem to get that pump unless its one bigger than I already have. I have a 150 inch hanging on the wall downstairs. So, it does take a little bit of bone for my heart to skip
If I am not going to shoot them with my bow I get out the camera and take some pictures. That's almost as exciting :D
While I see where you are coming from... there is never a doubt which class of buck I want to hunt. Like Scott... I like the scouting and plotting. Without that... the hunt wouldn't be as much fun. I like and enjoy seeing any deer while hunting. It is just fun watching them plus I sometimes can pick something up to help me on future hunts. I enjoy seeing fawns being fawns. I enjoy seeing young bucks being stupid. I like the challenge of not getting busted by a doe or a few of them when I am stricly buck hunting. Does don't miss anything when you are hunting on the ground. While I don't get heart pounding excited with just any deer... just seeing any deer makes a much more enjoyable hunt. I don't feel bad for not wanting to kill them in any shape or form. Tim
I have been archery hunting since '85. Deer hunting since '81. Archery exclusively since '97. Killed around a 90 whitetail. My heart still races, and I still have to sit or step my leg around a trree to get a shot. Of.
What I wish is that I could go back to day 1 of my hunting career and retain the knowledge that I have now.
