I am an avid deer hunter, and pursue them with just about any weapon the State says is legal to do so. However, as my 50th year slips behind me, things are changing somewhat. Man, that tree stand seat seems a lot harder than it used to be - and a couple of hours in it seems like the six or eight I used to spend in it (and who added the extra steps to all my ladders?). I love bowhunting, and have gathered some nice racks over the last 30+ years, working long and hard to get 'em. Last year, missed a 160-class buck in the swirling snow and frigid temps after weeks of luring him in to just the right place. Only some success during rifle season kept me in venison for the year (normally go thru about 4 or 5). This year, shot the first 6 pointer that came by, and two days later a small doe. Both are now in the freezer and I feel just as good about it as I have bigger ones in the past. Both presented perfect shot opportunities, and both fell within sight of my stand - I backed off my "macho" bow poundage to regain shooting consistency, and guess what - both were still clean pass-throughs, one arrow buried in a stump hard enough that I had to whittle it out. These deer dressed, dragged, and processed so much easier than some of the monsters of the past! So, please don't rail at me for not doing my part for quality deer management....I've paid my dues and intend to follow a somewhat easier path from now on...and the eating, I might add, is superb!
A New Era Begins...
- Thread starter SWMAGMAN
- Start date
SWMAGMAN, I hear you. While the Elk hunting out here seems to be everyones main attraction, hunting mule deer has been my favorite from the start. Granted I still chase them all but it's the deer hunts that I think and plan about. After watching some of those milestones go by (I'm about a year behind you), I now get to see both my boys and both my daughters hunting. I also thank God that I'm still froggy enough to go with them.
I bought a good smoker last year and now this year I have been "instructed" to bring home at least two more deer just for smokin meat. So I picked up two surplus tags for up north where the one girl lives, and we are all going up this friday. It'll be two days of mule deer and pheasants up there and then Monday with my friend Bill over on the head of the Shields river for a day of Elk and deer mixed.
Ken
I bought a good smoker last year and now this year I have been "instructed" to bring home at least two more deer just for smokin meat. So I picked up two surplus tags for up north where the one girl lives, and we are all going up this friday. It'll be two days of mule deer and pheasants up there and then Monday with my friend Bill over on the head of the Shields river for a day of Elk and deer mixed.
Ken