Some thoughts on hunting and what it means. For those having a tough season.

Good read Brett.

As you know I'm hunting a specific buck and a week ago last Thursday his day almost ended. I honestly damn near cried after having him at 11 and 15 yards for 5 minutes and not being able to get a shot off. I made a post about It on http://www.huntingbeast.com/ (Dan Infalts hunting forum) and Dan said this...

I really hope you get him... I can tell how much passion you have for this buck. The times your successful on a mature buck that you know well, really feel great and stay with you forever. The mistakes? Well they build character, we all make a few, and that's the reason there are still some big ones out there running around. In most of the areas we hunt in the Midwest a mature buck has probably had many encounters with bowhunters before yours, being the one person to pull it off correctly takes both great skill and luck. Most of the big bucks I have taken were found to have old wounds, broadheads or bullets lodged inside them etc... You have already chosen to limit yourself with instinctive equipment. If and/or when you kill that Beast you will look back at the failures and laugh... There whats building your character.
I killed a giant 10 pointer in the 1980's that I hunted hard for 3 years. You bet there were plenty of times I wished I could go back and change a set up, do something differently, or in one case take a bad shot back...
But in the end standing over that buck, that was all part of the experience
and really made that kill my most memorable...

What Dan said above really made me think and I took allot from It. I needed to hear what he said. I can say this that I feel much better about the many encounters I've had with this buck. If I get this buck, you can bet your ass you'll hear me In your woods, at work or where ever you are. If I don't, so be It. No more being dejected and disappointed. At least that's the plan anyway.

 

I had two chances at a 140 plus buck. One shot nick him low at 30 yards.That was three days ago I haven't seen anything since.I just have to keep thinking of what a great thrill it was to even see a deer that big .Your post is a great help thanks.

 

Nice post, smaller pics would make it easier to read though. Its wider than the screen.

 

When I really think about it, I'm kind of a strange hunter. The time associated with having a young family have changed my hunting. There is a little more pressure to have venison. Here is where I think I'm odd...

My number one goal is to have venison in the freezer, yet I elect not to take shot opportunities on yearling bucks frequently. I have more shot opportunities every year at yearling bucks than does, by far. You would think I would just whack the first deer that came in regardless of sex. I know by the end of the season I will have a couple does down, but it will take more time by not shooting young bucks. Most years, assuming I don't miss, I could kill two yearling bucks within the first week of the season. If that doesn't happen, its rare for me not to have a yearling buck within range on any given hunt the first two weeks of November. All of this means more time away from my family. So it comes at a cost.

Like 99% of deer hunters, I would very much enjoy killing a buck that meets my "goals". That hasn't happened in 6 seasons, and honestly, I don't assume I will kill one going into each year. My goal is to kill 2+ does. I normally receive 1-2 deer a year from friends that don't need the meat. 3-4 deer is roughly what my family eats over the course of the year. Thats my #1 goal. A buck that is 2.5 or older would just be a huge bonus.

This year was a little different because I missed two does. I don't like blowing opportunities. I will say I was not all that thrilled with myself. The result of those misses amplified with each "unsuccessful" hunt.

And with all that said, I thoroughly enjoy my time in the woods. My favorite part of hunting is figuring out where to sit. I won't sit in a tree if I think I will just see deer, it has to be a tree I think I can kill a deer from. Everything leading up to the actual release of the arrow is my favorite part. I like the game.

So all of that rambling means, my goals are pretty low. Low goals mean less chance of failure I guess.

 

great post brett!

 

What a good post to read for me, thank you VS.

I never thought I would miss one person so much in my life, but I truly miss my Grandfather this year. I have a giant void in my heart everytime I step in the woods this year.

 

I needed to read this thread. After my illegal deer debacle a couple of weeks ago I was ready to give up on this season. I was just so disheartened I wasn't sure I wanted to keep going. My love of the outdoors overcame my self pity. Whether or not I make another kill this year I am too passionate about bowhunting to just give up because of some poor decision making.

 

Thanks guys, it makes me feel good that this post helped some of you. Some of you that know me know that I just don't post stuff unless I truly believe in what I am saying. I truly believe my above post. I do not know if I could have said that years ago, but these days it is NOT about the kill.

 

Amen to that. I couldn't agree more.