A shift in philosophies

[eyedr]

This year especially I have noticed a rather noticeable shift in my philosophy on hunting. It is and has been something I'm incredibly passionate about my whole life. It seems however that as it pertains to deer hunting, the busier life gets the more its about getting out in a low stress setting and enjoying Gods creation. Its a couple hours where the only thing i have to think about it which way the deer are going to come from.  You just cant explain the rush of hearing footsteps in the leaves, or hearing the grunt of a buck. the small things seem to mean more and more the older i get. For instance last night I had 15 does and fawns descend on me and a number of them were within 5 yards. 10 years ago I would have been so ticked there wasn't a buck with them it would have ruined the experience. Last night I just enjoyd watching them play around and interact with each other, react to cars going by, react to scents and attractants I placed out and other random noises (you learn more about hunting deer from 15 minutes of watching them in their natural environment than any magazine can teach you). My heart was pounding for the 20 minutes or so I got to watch them all. Don't get me wrong I was still ticked a buck never showed up and  if I only wanted to nature watch I'd just take a camera. There's still something about harvesting a mature deer or waiting in anticipation for a buck to come by chasing a hot doe, or getting to process the meat after a harvest that I really enjoy. However, a really successful hunt doesn't always end with me harvesting a deer any more. I have the entire day in my stand Friday with probably my best chance to harvest a mature deer and get my first deer with a bow, but if I don't I will still consider the 2015 rut a successful one. 

[Scoot]

GREAT POST!  I spend a lot of time using my camera while in the woods now. That makes interactions like the one you described even more fun for me. Tag filled or not, sounds to me like you get it!

Edited November 3, 2015 by Scoot

[triggertrav]

100% agreed! Enjoy the show that was created for us.  A good portion of my best hunts ended with my arrow still nocked and clean. 

 

[wannafish2]

I had a very similar experience last night myself.  I did however get to see a buck chasing the does around, but it was too dark to see how big he was.  I actually had to whisper to a doe to "run, run away" so she would snort and run off (only about 20 yards) so I could stand up and sneak off.  I also look forward to taking my first deer with a bow - maybe this will be the season.  I hope to take a buck, but a nice doe will do.  Just have to get one in range before it's too dark to shoot. 

I spend many hours every year setting up blinds and stands, only to have had my best encounters when I am standing or kneeling on the ground next to a bush or a tree.  I think this evening I will simply take a stool out and pick a spot about 20 yards off the field edge where I have been seeing the deer frequently travel and wait there to see if they follow the same route tonight.  The wind is supposed to be favorable (if the weatherman is correct) so maybe, just maybe, the stars will align today.  I will be sneaking in with fingers and toes crossed.

[pumper317]

eyedr,

 

I just wrote in a new topic on a very similar note.  I read this while I was on a hunt that i thought was going to be deer sightings, and possibly a shot.  Neither of which happened.  I hunt in Northern MN for guns, and occasionally down in the metro with a bow.  I have hunted up North with a bow, but gave it up recently because of the terrain and complete vastness of the area and total unreliable challenge of deer patterns.  I had a lot of time to think over the last few days of what my philosophies are currently.

I am 31 years old, have been hunting as long as I possibly could.  I have seen my philosophies change from shoot everything possible and as much as allowed to trying to shoot bigger deer, and drakes only in the duck blind.  My priorities have switched, and I can see that.  The trouble in the deer woods, is where I hunt, I am lucky to see a deer or two in a weekend of all day sits.  I feel like my life, where I sit now, is I want a place of my own that I can design myself and start managing for what I want.  That being said, and completely out of the question, I have decided to do a outfitter type hunt every year for a while.  I sit in that stereotypical group of weekend warriors, unable to do what I want to do to scout and prepare.  

Right now in my life, I want to go somewhere that i can go out and see a couple deer, and have the chance at a mature animal.  If I sit and don't see anything, then so be it, it is hunting.  I am just so tired of going out, with super low expectations, and really know that my only odds are if I get lucky.  It makes it hard to sit for 12 hours.  Last year I sat in the stand for 40 plus hours in scouted spots, and saw 2 deer(both does, at one time, in a buck only zone.)

I guess my philosophy now is I am unhappy with my current options, and need a change.  I am happy going out into the woods, and love it, but change is needed.  Thanks for reading, and sorry to rant!

[sportfish]

I have always said you will learn more about deer hunting by not shooting a deer than by shooting one . Let afew walk and watch . You will see more deer 

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

 

 Last year I sat in the stand for 40 plus hours in scouted spots, and saw 2 deer(both does, at one time, in a buck only zone.)

In all honesty, I think your expectations may be a bit out of line for MN deer hunting.  I've been gun hunting all over MN for roughly 20 years (maybe 4-5 days per year), but only bowhunting for 3 (60 days+).  Seeing 2 deer in 40 hours of sitting would be better than I've ever done, in terms of an average.  I've gone multiple firearms seasons in a row without seeing anything other than squirrels and woodpeckers!  

Last season I bow hunted an absolutely tremendous piece of metro private land for 15-20 days without seeing a single deer.  Things never quite worked out for me, but there were 4 deer taken out of the stand by a friend of mine, and he had multiple sits of 10+ deer seen.

I'm far from the most experienced or educated bowhunter, but I have definitely learned that it takes a fair amount of seat time in order to be successful.  Keep at it, I know it can be extremely discouraging to go day after day without seeing anything, but eventually things will work out!   

[pumper317]

Lip ripper.  I get what you are saying, and I agree, that 2 deer is not bad for 40 hours in the stand in Minnesota.  I was just saying that I am sick of that and need a change.  I do not want a hunting show fairy tale, just something to peak my interest a couple times during the day.  I am not expecting to get that in Mn so I am going to try and venture out of state.

Sorry for the confusion, and whiny rant.  It was not my intention.

[SmellEsox]

I'm in your shoes too eyedr.  Except the part about cutting up the deer.  I absolutely hate that job.  LOL.

[bigbucks]

I think there's no question you learn a lot more with a bow in your hand then a gun in your hand deer hunting, especially if you see deer.  You see so many other things in wildlife you'd never see otherwise, but just with deer alone, they have to get close, so you see how they act when you don't shoot at them as soon as you see them.

If I only saw 2 deer in 40 hours of hunting I'd definitely have hunted a lot of stands by then & looking for another.