A lot of guys don't care about management, I think we can all agree on that. The guys that don't care will ALWAYS be able to blast away. The guys that DO CARE about management & trying to get deer to maturity will always be hurt by the others though, nothing they can do about it except keep their land more desirable & pressure free or as somewhat of a sanctuary. So, who really is impacting who? The "Management Guys" are doing no harm, actual good to the deer driving groups that don't care while the deer driving groups are going against what the managers are doing. Just a fact, not trying to change it but that's just how it works. *If we really want to split hairs, I guess one could say the "Management guys" are taking away from Drivers/pushers by buying up land or leasing it to accomplish management. Thus taking away access from Drivers. I understand why and the Driving group obviously doesn't like this SO I see that point of view too. I see both sides even though I'm extremely opinionated and skewed toward management & biology. I get the other side and understand your perspective or the perspective of the everyday guy that wants to just out and "blast". I get it, don't agree but I respectfully understand. If we really wanted to drag it out- which we won't, I'd continue the conversation about WHY we all should care about management, biology, our herd, our neighbors, the herd we share across fences that's a public resource, managing for age classes & health, etc BUT I won't drag that out and to most on the "blast" side of things, it's deaf ears 99% anyways. I respect the other point of view and respect having fun hunting and totally agree there's danger in anything we enjoy in life.
In regards to a coyote or pheasant or duck & shooting at them moving.... I get that too. BUT - for those 3 categories brought up - that's pretty much the ONLY WAY to shoot them. I mean, sure, I guess folks could try and shoot ducks on a pond or find a way to shoot at a still coyote but that rarely, if ever, happens. On the other hand, it's extremely easy to shoot at a still deer. That's a deer's natural state when you see them 99% of the time - still, walking, feeding, etc. Ok - well at least when you're in the stand. And in the stand, no way to do I shoot at a running deer, shotgun, bow - anything, won't do it. If you choose to, I just disagree and think it's bad judgement & I've seen the consequences overwhelmingly. For guys who wound a deer with a bow.... Great point, yep, it happens. Thankfully it's somewhat of a rarity in that far less deer get arrows flung at them that shotgun slugs. One arrow, carefully placed at 15 yards by someone who is experienced and waits for the right shot, seldom does a wound happen but yes, it will happen and has happened to me. But, I'm batting maybe 90% in kill shots vs misses or wounds. A lot less bowhunters out there & they often only have 1 shot. Many wounds are due to poor decisions with a bow - the same category as what I consider shooting at a running deer with a gun, a poor decision. I see them both in the same category to be honest... For example, shooting a deer quartering to in shoulder area with bow- poor decision. Shooting a buck running at 15 mph - poor decision. that's just my OPINION from experience in BOTH cases with bow or gun. I do gun hunt & I don't think I've ever wounded a deer with a gun BUT I stopped shooting at running deer at 15 years old after thankfully missing a bunch. To each their own and I respect the other point of view, good debate and obviously one more joe schmo's opinion is expressed with some experience & reasoning behind it. Good luck coming up soon, stay safe
