alaskanwhtail
New Member
At what point do become more concerned with the overall enjoyment and experience of the hunt itself verses if you make a kill or not?
Hunting maturity/Philosophy
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jason
Guest
I was that point this year. I hunted soooo hard to get that big buck, so hard at one point I lost enjoyment of the hunt itself! I've been thinking about this, I would probably just has happy of taking a decent buck or a doe than burning myself out chasing that big one all season.
jason
jason
J
jasonswihart
Guest
I think that hunting for me in the beginning was all about the personal enjoyment of just being out with friends and family. But as I got older, started hunting different states for bigger deer it turned into a mission and took the fun out of it. I think you need to relize that hunting is a hobby and it needs to remain a hobby. You have to have fun with it. I have "burned a few bridges"
over hunting and when it gets to that point you need to realize that being outside with family and friends is more important than any deer or turkey.
Ghost
Life Member
This should be a great topic of discussion.
Many years I have returned from the timber with my tag in my gear pack. It sure is nice to set a goal and go after a big buck and actually tag him after all the scouting, dreaming and preparation.
In 25 years of bowhunting my most memorable hunt was this year with my son. He is eight years old and cut his teeth on a shed antler. We took a 130 inch 9 pointer together that I had passed several times during bow season. That hunt and that deer, regardless of antler size, meant more to me than any hanging on the wall.
I really hate to see any hunter get so caught up in the big buck thing that the enjoyment of the hunt itself is lost.
Young hunters need to learn good woodsmanship, respect and appreciation for the outdoors, and that any deer taken while hunting is a trophy.
I have a successful hunt each and every time I enter the timber and I hope you do too!
Many years I have returned from the timber with my tag in my gear pack. It sure is nice to set a goal and go after a big buck and actually tag him after all the scouting, dreaming and preparation.
In 25 years of bowhunting my most memorable hunt was this year with my son. He is eight years old and cut his teeth on a shed antler. We took a 130 inch 9 pointer together that I had passed several times during bow season. That hunt and that deer, regardless of antler size, meant more to me than any hanging on the wall.
I really hate to see any hunter get so caught up in the big buck thing that the enjoyment of the hunt itself is lost.
Young hunters need to learn good woodsmanship, respect and appreciation for the outdoors, and that any deer taken while hunting is a trophy.
I have a successful hunt each and every time I enter the timber and I hope you do too!
Well said Ghost! I too have experienced the joys of hunting with my father and children. Now that my father is gone it only makes the times I spend with my children even more precious. I hope they look back someday and cherish the times spent afield with their father like I do with mine.
Chris
Chris
SaskGuy
Active Member
I think I crossed that boundary this past season. Last year I wore myself out trying to get a monster and wasn't even happy with the 150" old warrior I took. This year I still hunted very hard but came home each night with a positive feeling, regardless what happened. I am just grateful to have the opportunity to do what I love. The 160" 4x4 I took was about the 5th or 6th biggest buck I saw but I was still happy when i took him, he was a huge bodied, black antlered old buck, likely past his prime. It didn't matter that he wasn't a record book buck or as big as some others for that matter. I was just happy to have had the opprtunity to harvest him.
I think my outlook has changed alot sice I was lucky enough to get a place in the country, a place where deer are literally in my backyard. I have gained such a fascination and admiration for them that evan surprises me. Whitetails are a fascinating animal and to be able to observe them, each day, up close and personal has turned out to be more rewarding than shooting one. I think the day is soon coming where i won't even be able to kill a whitetail buck. My wife and I had our first child in Dec., a baby boy. I can't wait to be able to take him out with me and share the experiences that I have and to be able to pass on my love of nature. I hope he sees what I sees in our mother earth and that his desire to be outdoors is as strong as mine. If and when the day comes that he wants to start hunting whitetails, I believe my gun will be hung up for guiding shoes, I know it'll mean as much to me to see him take a deer he's happy with, as any buck I could kill for myself.........Does anybody else wish you could shoot them with a stun gun and take their antlers???????It's those damn antlers I like so much, one of natures true works of art. It's not the killing I enjoy so much, it's those darn chunks of bone!!
I think my outlook has changed alot sice I was lucky enough to get a place in the country, a place where deer are literally in my backyard. I have gained such a fascination and admiration for them that evan surprises me. Whitetails are a fascinating animal and to be able to observe them, each day, up close and personal has turned out to be more rewarding than shooting one. I think the day is soon coming where i won't even be able to kill a whitetail buck. My wife and I had our first child in Dec., a baby boy. I can't wait to be able to take him out with me and share the experiences that I have and to be able to pass on my love of nature. I hope he sees what I sees in our mother earth and that his desire to be outdoors is as strong as mine. If and when the day comes that he wants to start hunting whitetails, I believe my gun will be hung up for guiding shoes, I know it'll mean as much to me to see him take a deer he's happy with, as any buck I could kill for myself.........Does anybody else wish you could shoot them with a stun gun and take their antlers???????It's those damn antlers I like so much, one of natures true works of art. It's not the killing I enjoy so much, it's those darn chunks of bone!!
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firedog
Guest
I think too much emphasis is put on the actual harvest of the animal. I try to go out and just enjoy the surroundings. Some of my best hunts have been when I didn't even see a deer. One afternoon, I had my best outing ever. A great sunset, geese flying over, coyotes howling in the distance. My buddy a couple hundred yards away hunting. Things like this are what makes it memorable and enjoyable for me. Making a harvest is just icing on the cake!
alaskanwhtail
New Member
SASKGUY, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU, I'D RATHER FIND A B/C SHED THAN TO HARVEST ONE. STUNGUN NEEDED?
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moose270
Guest
agree with you all about killing be over rated, but i do enjoy waxing a doe every now and than
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hershy
Guest
...I have been very fortunate that my Dad always stressed the fun of hunting much more than the harvest...as Ghost mentioned I think he had a lot more fun being out there with my brother and me than actually hunting...if he hadn't taught me this early on I would not be hunting today - I was a miserable shot when I first started...those pheasants flew too fast and the deer made the gun swirl around too much!...I have become somewhat of a better shot now but I have just as much (if not more) fun taking kids out on a hunt...especially those that never would have the chance otherwise...
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WI Shedhead
Guest
The only critter I have ever truly enjoyed killing was a feral cat. Mna the 22-250 cuts through em like butter!!!
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Bobcat
Guest
WIshedhead, I shot a big ole tomcat with my 7mm mag once, 70 grains of 4831 pushin a 139 hornady boattail, cut him in half. Man I hate cats.
oldgene
PMA Member
I know my philosophy changed when I started taking my son. Whether fishing or hunting it was more important to enjoy the experience than the actual kill or catch. Somedays we go fishing knowing we are going to release everything and somedays we go with the idea of having a fish fry later. If you aren't having fun it becomes just another job.
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moose270
Guest
used to shoot em with the 22 mag, i agree i hate cats the sight of them make me itch. crafty little buggars, i hate sneaky animals. nothing like peeling them back though.
mike
mike
alaskanwhtail
New Member
My philosophy of maturity is of ones goals met. Its not the biggest buck or any numbers in my book. It's knowledge and repect of every hunt. Maturity is knowing your weapon the area and patterns deer travel in. Over coming the fever is in my book the most hardest. I 've been cooking the the hole in the heart for dinner the past 3-4 years. When I was younger I have taken desperation shots, having 1-2 ethical shots and unloaded the rest, shooting a buck at 48 yds double lunging it. My bow was only sited in for 30 yds but I was a good guess,right. I think you have overcome imaturity when you really respect what you have been givin.
ALASKAN
ALASKAN
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moose270
Guest
i also eat the the heart it release's the spirit of the beast. makes you enjoy the animal.
mike
mike
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Sexcrazedbuck
Guest
I feel blessed to have been brought up in the country in a hunting atmosphere. Had I not been introduced to the sport I would probably be a photographer. My love for animals and the outdoors was instilled in me at a very young age by my father. As I have gotten older of course I have become a better hunter, therefore setting higher goals. Like most others that is how I became a trophy hunter. Like previously mentioned once the kill does take place there has to be a sense of fullfillment in that you harvested a magnificent animal no matter how big. One that you have decided "ok this is the one". If you have lost that feeling of fullfillment then I guess you should hang it up or set your goals higher. My love for the sport has grown to an obsession.