If you could pick just one achievement in your hunting experience that stands out above the rest, what would you pick? Your answer can be broad, specific, vague, complex, mental, tangible, about big bucks, about never killing a deer, or anything else under the sun. I would say my greatest hunting achievement would be just getting into hunting. My dad and I were fishermen but for some reason my senior year in highschool I began to think about hunting. Noone in my family hunted or even talked about it. I just began to read hunting magazines and dream at age 17. I went down after my last highschool football game and signed up to take the Virginia hunting certification course and the rest is history. So how about you guys? I am not here to judge anyone if they say their greatest hunting achievement came in the form of a 175 inch buck or if they have never even killed a deer and want to chime in to this thread. I have never killed a buck that size and probably never will and it took me years to kill my first deer, so I am open to all opinions as they are valuable.
Awesome thread idea, I've killed some nice deer but I think my best achievment was a two years ago when i was 16 I got to take my grandpa to Missouri on a bow hunt and had an amazing time seeing hundreds of deer and just having a great experience
Taking my DIY trip to Alaska last fall. Totally changed my perspective on hunting, and I will never look back. Proved many things to myself on that trip.
Mine is taking my biggest buck this fall, a 150" 9 point. I have learned many things between last season and this season, and they all contributed towards me getting that buck.
Tembry,care to explain just a bit? As I get older and have more responsibilities, my outlook on hunting has been changing at a pretty rapid pace as of late. I would like to hear some of your thoughts.
With not even a season under my belt its hard to say, but ill give it a try. Started off late in October went 6 or so hunts didnt even see a deer but I kept at it and started reading/scouting more. Picked up reading topos (thanks VAshadow/Grizz) along with reading anything hunting and pulling out any useful information I could. I slowly started to see more deer. In short just being able to tag a nice 8 pt, a doe, and filling the freezer was awsome
My best achievement to date is; Killing my first deer and turkey in the same year, the first year I started hunting. Deer was killed at 30 yards with a bow, and turkey I called in myself. This was all when I was 15 and was the first seasons I had hunted. I look back on those times anytime I am having a difficult time (like now) to remind myself I CAN do it!
Like alot of us I didnt hit the woods 1st thing looking for deer.My daddy wasnt a big game hunter he hunted squirrels and that was my first hunt as a small youngun.I was more proud of that squirrel than any animal i've ever had the privelage to claim as my own.My daddy was proud as he could be and as a youngun that was as good as it got!
Honestly, my answer's probably different now than it would have been even a couple years ago. I've brought several hunters into my woods, now. With one exception, I've provided each person with a shot opportunity. I've had (and I hope I don't miss anyone) one person take 2 deer and 3 others take one, each.
Before that trip I was a "Man if Only...." type of guy. If only I could go to a place like alaska, if only i knew how to pull it off, if only i could come up with the money for it, if only I had that girl, if only i could have that truck i always wanted....I finally totally flipped the switch and now take a why not approach. I finally quit dreaming about it with all the reasons it isn't feasable for me, and just did it. I just booked all the flights, bought the gear needed over a year period, and went. No looking back, no fears of failure, just going and no longer sitting on the couch talking about it. I was in no where near the shape needed for a trip like that but proved to myself i wouldn't be left behind and could do it anyway. First out of state trip big game hunt planned on my own. First public land deer hunt First Alaskan Adventure First 100% Do It Yourself down to every little detail of planning the trip First 12 day hunting trip with no help from anyone over 100 miles from the nearest city First time to make a new great friend in Rob (a guy who for all I knew was a poser weirdo on some forum, but took a leap of faith and met one hell of a guy. Got to stay at his house some, go fishing on his boat, Rob took me in as family during my stay in the town and saved me HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of dollars without even blinking an eye) First hunting trip without my Pops tagging along I had so much to prove to myself and i did just that. I changed my outlook on hunting (and life really) from Man if Only I could.....to Why would I not.... Helped with locally hunting whitetails as well as traveling to hunt. I just find a way to make it happen if it is something that interests me. I want to look back one day and say man i did a lot of **** back in the day, not look back and say I wish I would have _________....
Without a doubt this season stands above and beyond the rest. My two sons 14/16 both got their first deers this season. Both really nice bucks. I don't think anything will ever compare to this season........ ever. Aside from that just the time in the woods, the laughs, stories and memories. Non comparable to anything I've ever done. Except maybe that one time I crapped all over myself and my grunt tube (unknowingly) which I later used.
Tembry, thanks for the explanation. You should be proud of yourself man. That trip should have also given you a lot of confidence that you can use to propel yourself forward. Greg, YES I can really understand that you chose buying your own land would be your greatest accomplishment. I really want to do the same thing one day. Jeff, you are a great host man. Last, you pick things up QUICK! You are going to be a hunting machine here shortly. NY--with kids of my own now I completely understand your post.
The word achievement is a hard word to describe something that requires 50% luck like deer hunting, for me anyways... Memory is a better description for my biggest buck to date on the 15th anniversary of Father death (best friend). A SHINNING moment that brings a tear to my eye when I think about it...
With this being only my second year I know I will have several more "biggest accomplishments", but for now I think I would have to say that my biggest to date is shooting my Mule deer this year. My brother and dad have hunted pretty much my whole life and for some reason, up until last year I never had any interest in actually killing anything. I liked the idea of hunting, and pursuing animals, but I never wanted to be the one behind the bow and for this my dad always seemed to give me a hard time, and I seemed to miss out on many bonding opportunities with them. Last year, I decide to go out and help my bro chase some mule deer around, and for some reason, that trip changed my mind and made me want to be the one shooting. I think I realized how much of a challenge it really is to get within bow range of a deer, and once you are there, I didn't want to be the dumby without a bow. Well last year we all got skunked on mule deer. I was able to take my first deer with a bow last year, but it was through several tough lessons an a big learning curve. This year I set my goal on getting a mulie. I watched several movies and have asked many members on here for ideas/tactics for it. And this year I was finally able to do it. For me, it just means more to get the Mulie as it was the type of hunting that started my addiction, it was a goal I set out before hand for myself, and I was able to fulfill that goal.
Gotta go with Greg here. Owning my own hunting property is pretty hard to top. Even tho it is a lot of hard work and hasn't paid off with any huge bucks yet. It is a great feeling walking and hunting on land I own.
