Guys Tagging Deer For Their Wives

[BobT]

One hunter taking a walk with the hopes that a deer he might encounter happens to take a path past a partner’s stand is not driving deer. A drive is an organized group of hunters working together primarily for the purpose of herding the deer into a particular direction and in some cases to a particular point. Not too unlike the way we hunt grass and cattail sloughs for pheasants. There could be a valid reason for making drives. Those that engage in this method might be more interested in putting meat on the table than hunting. Don’t they have that right anymore?

One disturbing underlying theme I’m hearing from this thread reflects a lot of what has been happening to our hunting and fishing way of life in recent decades. That is that society, including some of us hunters and fisherpeople, have been moving these activities away from what they really are or at least once were and that is another means to put food on the table for ourselves and our families.

Both sides have merit. In fact if it wasn’t for the sportsmen we wouldn’t have hunting seasons, regulations, and efforts to preserve the wildlife populations for the future and likely no game to harvest. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the hunt anymore than there is nothing wrong with enjoying the meal. What’s wrong is when we try to impose one philosophy on everyone else.

There are so many including hunters and fisherpeople that as of late have been pushing to convert our thinking so that these activities are becoming “sport” first and “sustenance” second. We manage our fisheries for the purpose of creating trophy lakes and look down on those that wish to take home a limit. We praise those that take the big buck of the year and frown on someone that takes a doe or fawn, which by the way taste a whole lot better.

I for one enjoy the hunt equally with the meal it provides. Forgive me that I have a bottom line goal of bringing meat home and personally I prefer younger meat. I may not get as much but it sure tastes better than some old beat down buck full of adrenaline and testosterone or an old slab of fish that tastes like it's spent its life in some warm water slew. That doesn't mean I'm out there to just blow away anything and everything I encounter for I don't and I am not a slob hunter nor do I engage in drives. I am a hunter/gatherer and I grow many of my own vegetables. It's in my nature and we have been given nature for our sustenance by a much higher power than anyone here.

Society, including a great many of us sports people, is engaged in an effort to turn it around into sport first and sustenance second. I’d like to propose a warning. If and when you succeed in inverting this philosophy, the anti-hunters and anti-fishing groups will surely get the upper hand. It is much easier to eliminate an activity that society views only as entertainment than something it views as necessary.

Bob

[Scott K]

Well said bobt, I am all for having bigger bucks outhere, but for me I want a nice 2-2 1/2 yr old for the table, I will take a doe, or a yunger buck. I dont like when someone takes a yearling, but that is their choice. If a big 12 pt buck walks to me, I wont let it pass by, but, I am out their to get some meat on the table, so I wont let a 6 pointer pass by either. Sport hunting isnt what its about, atleast for me. If people want to sport hunt they should just use a tranqualizer gun, then they can release them after their trophy picture!

[Hammer Handle]

BobT, you explained it great.

(Applause)

For some, me included, it is about the family getting together and putting food on the table.

And, the deer are overpopulated now. I run into a DNR Official last year that was HAPPY I shot two deer, one being quite small.

"Sporstman" want to impose theirs rules on everyone. They have to understand that their is plenty of room for all of us. Taking home fish is getting hard, I hate the same to happen for hunting. Duck hunting is getting even worse as there are no "trophies" and people shoot ducks just for fun, not for the "food factor".

Yes, there are crazy hunters out there. Don't lump everyone that shoots a small deer in this group.

[lcornice]

Quote:

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One hunter taking a walk with the hopes that a deer he might encounter happens to take a path past a partner’s stand is not driving deer. A drive is an organized group of hunters working together primarily for the purpose of herding the deer into a particular direction and in some cases to a particular point. Not too unlike the way we hunt grass and cattail sloughs for pheasants. There could be a valid reason for making drives. Those that engage in this method might be more interested in putting meat on the table than hunting. Don’t they have that right anymore?

One disturbing underlying theme I’m hearing from this thread reflects a lot of what has been happening to our hunting and fishing way of life in recent decades. That is that society, including some of us hunters and fisherpeople, have been moving these activities away from what they really are or at least once were and that is another means to put food on the table for ourselves and our families.

Both sides have merit. In fact if it wasn’t for the sportsmen we wouldn’t have hunting seasons, regulations, and efforts to preserve the wildlife populations for the future and likely no game to harvest. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the hunt anymore than there is nothing wrong with enjoying the meal. What’s wrong is when we try to impose one philosophy on everyone else.

There are so many including hunters and fisherpeople that as of late have been pushing to convert our thinking so that these activities are becoming “sport” first and “sustenance” second. We manage our fisheries for the purpose of creating trophy lakes and look down on those that wish to take home a limit. We praise those that take the big buck of the year and frown on someone that takes a doe or fawn, which by the way taste a whole lot better.

I for one enjoy the hunt equally with the meal it provides. Forgive me that I have a bottom line goal of bringing meat home and personally I prefer younger meat. I may not get as much but it sure tastes better than some old beat down buck full of adrenaline and testosterone or an old slab of fish that tastes like it's spent its life in some warm water slew. That doesn't mean I'm out there to just blow away anything and everything I encounter for I don't and I am not a slob hunter nor do I engage in drives. I am a hunter/gatherer and I grow many of my own vegetables. It's in my nature and we have been given nature for our sustenance by a much higher power than anyone here.

Society, including a great many of us sports people, is engaged in an effort to turn it around into sport first and sustenance second. I’d like to propose a warning. If and when you succeed in inverting this philosophy, the anti-hunters and anti-fishing groups will surely get the upper hand. It is much easier to eliminate an activity that society views only as entertainment than something it views as necessary.

Bob

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Very well said Bob. How come guys like you never call my office?

[bigbucks]

This thread is really off course, but I won't buck the flow. I agree it's gotten ridiculous where some hunters are looking down on other hunters because they party hunt & do drives.

The ultimate goal of deer hunting it to shoot deer. If it isn't, why wait for season? go sit in the woods & look at them anytime you want, that's perfectly legal.

We've seen people in our area & not many, very few, but it sticks with you, who were driving down the road shooting at deer on land they didn't have permission to hunt, that's slob hunting, very dangerous & highly illegal. A well planned drive is simply effective & a lot of fun. Some of my family's best deer hunting memories are from drives. What other time is there when multiple guys get to be there & see the shot & the deer drop live? not on video, not a story, which are all great, but they get to share it with you or you with them. Those are great memories. The shot so & so made on the running deer is the one more than any other that will stick with you.

[WaitForIt]

Quote:

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I'm a bowhunter and I don't want to be lumped into the same snob category as you. You sound like a snob. "no drive hunting" because it hurts your hunting. "lets institute antler restrictions and earn a buck because I, the great snob, want to hunt only big bucks". Don't lump all bowhunters in your category. I've shot a lot of does and small bucks with my bow and will continue to do so as long as it gives me an adrenelin rush.

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Its not really about big bucks, though.. its about better management practices = better hunting. I know a lot of guys that say "I dont care about trophies - I hunt for the table". These same guys don't want to shoot does.. they'll shoot a forkhorn just to say they got a buck. Let em walk!

For the record, I shoot a lot of does too They taste better anyway.

I realize after reading mine and other posts that the discussion got a little off-track. I think I was just miffed about drive hunting based on what happened last year - in all fairness it IS a legal technique even if I don't appreciate it.

I don't know.. I think the bottom line is that many gun hunters only have one weekend, so it comes down to getting that kill any way they can- brown its down. I just dont think its the best thing for the deer herd, thats all. Its really not about driving the woods vs. not, party hunting vs. not. How do you make things better without harming the experience of another group of hunters? Maybe its fine the way it is?