Kind of going off of Cougars thread here. Reading some of the responses from that thread It seems like It was for some of you. Why? Back then when I still hunted with a compound 15+ years ago I didn't think they were that bad at all. If you ask me the good times were years ago compared to now. During the archery deer season years ago as a kid dad would tell everyone In the house to stay off of the phone In case one of our hunting buddy's or their kids calls and says they hit a deer and we need to go track It. The phone doesn't ring nearly as much anymore. People's kids have grown up and moved far away. More people are passing deer now compared to years ago. It also seems people are busier now and don't take as much time for hunting as they used too.
If you Love Bowhunting I don't think it matters what era you have hunted in. It's all Fun!! Woods are more crowded now, much more!! Many more deer in my area than back when I started. Now on average I see as many deer out of my stands in one week than I used to in an entire season. If the deer were to be wiped out by something back to the numbers there were in the 60's in IL. I guarantee you hunter numbers would dwindle fast. As far as equipment? It is much better, so is the knowledge out there that is available on hunting tactics, etc. If someone prefers not to use the modern equipment no big deal. Everybody gets a challenge a different way. We just need to remember we are all Bowhunters Dan
There were fewer deer back then. And a 100” buck was very rare and considered a huge buck. The equipment, personal skill level and mindset were far different. There were fewer bow hunters back then, but “my” world was smaller so, that really didn’t matter. You had one tag, buck or doe and you were done. Fewer deer, less skilled at killing them, far more time to hunt and a mindset that getting any deer was a great feat…it was still all fun. Now that I am used to lots of deer, lots of tags and realistic chances at “big” bucks, I’m not so sure stepping back in time would be as much fun. But I am very glad I got to live those times back in the day, I appreciate the present MUCH more.
I have been bowhunting for 40 years and that first ten years there very few deer sightings,and now deer are in are yards so as a hunter i think these are the good ole days, as far as the next generation hunting i am being told that hunter safety class enrollment is falling every year in my state of mo. My two boys took the class and one of them will hunt a few days a year and the other does not go at all. I have asked them and they tell me there friends dont hunt at all. no wonder deer tags are being handed out like Halloween candy anymore,deer numbers keep going up there is too much for kids to do these days, texting,i -phones,x-box ect.ect.
Undoubetdly, this aspect HAS changed Steve... for the detriment of society overall and not just bowhunting. I think bowhunting has become more refined, people are more educated, better equipment is available to those that want to go that route (and probably even to stickbowyers), etc... But life has gotten in the way of our fun in many cases.
I don't think of it as being worse back then. I actually miss the days when more of my friends were fired up about hunting camp. The guys would pile into deer camp on Friday night for the Monday opener and stay until Wednesday minimum. Now most of the guys roll in late Sunday afternoon and some are packed up before dinner on Monday citing work, family, etc as the reason to head off the mountain. Things about the now that I enjoy are: more time for me to hunt, better off financially, and the things I've learned along the way are a benefit.
I don't view the good ole days as bad. The gear we had was what it was, but at that time that is what you used. The hunting was different, but again that is how we did it and we had fun doing it. Every deer was a reason to celebrate and every guy in our group that had success was a success for all of us. I loved hunting back then and I love it now. The evolution has been a fun ride and I can't wait to see what's around the next turn.
Steve, I don't regard the "way back when days" badly at all. Some of my fondest memories while hunting were during those times. But the level of most equipment is much greater now......treestands, safety harnesses, broadheads, etc. That part is what I was mostly referring to. While I wouldn't trade those times for anything it sure is nice to have access to better equipment.
To me as far as hunting goes - these are the good 'ol days...more deer than ever, better equipment, etc. But yesterday always seems so good to so many - mainly because people (at least me) seem to forget the bad times and hold on to the good times. It's one reason I try to enjoy today as much as possible. One other aspect for me was that my early hunting days were during highschool and college...single/no kids = no stress...I worked for gas money...my stress level was ZERO!...but what the heck - love where I'm at in life and before you know it the kids will be launching arrows at deer...and I'll have a whole other set of "good 'ol days."
For me the good ole days were back then and not now.. Times were just slower and the bucks were bigger here in michigan. It just seemed as with everything now a days it just goes and goes..
I'm a nostalgic person to begin with, and while I don't have the years of hunting history behind me that some of you do, back in the mid 90s when I was just starting as a 12 yr old, hunting season (i.e. gun season) was better than Christmas. Like Ben said, the comradery was much more present than it is today. I've always taken on archery as a solo affair, so I enjoy my experiences more with each season, but I do like to share it with friends occasionally, and bear season/rifle season was the time to do that. Nowadays, most guys don't hunt too much past the first day, and very rarely do their sons continue the tradition past their 13th or 14th birthday. Deer wise, there were definitely MORE deer in the area when I started hunting, but that, to me, isn't necessarily a determining factor. I'm enjoying my time now while also reliving memories of the past.
No doubt. Greg, I wasn't by no means calling you out. The archery equipment I used 15 years ago didn't seem that bad. I guess I don't get that part but then again I'm not shooting the compounds of today. If I did maybe I'd look at It different. Does this mean 15 years from now people will look at the bows of today and say the same thing? That could be scary. I'm on the same page Matt.
My Grandfather told me that when he was a kid here in Grayson Co. Ky there were hardly any deer or turkey at all. He said he didn't even see a deer or turkey until he was about 15 years old. He was just talking the other night about how much hunting had progressed in his 67 years. He said he never thought he would live to see a bear season in ky but sure enough there is one now. You can learn alot from the ol' Masters if you listen. They come from an era where hunting wasn't a sport, it was hunt or go hungry.
I loved the old days, hunting with dad and my brother for all those years, but for me the best times are now and are still to come, I feel like I haven't even scratched the surface of what is really out there to learn and apply.
