Guys I have been very blessed this season to take a nice doe and 5 days later with my (brand unable to mention on this forum) 47# recurve with Zwickey Eskilite 2 blade, a nice heavy 9-pt. buck. When our gun season rolled around last Sat., I felt no real desire to try to shoot another deer, especially with a gun. I had 2 deer in the freezer already. Did I really need to shoot another? I had plenty for my wife and I . I did go out opening day, but with my bow. Saw a nice 8 pt. too far away, but I was happy. I had 4 more days to hunt(gun season mind you) but felt no desire to shoot more deer than I really needed. So am I just getting old, OR am I reaching a point in "hunting maturity" and our ancestors of not shooting more than I need? I know this may sound corny to some of the younger guys, but maybe some of the older guys (I'm 60) might understand my thoughts? GREG
I'm sorry, but as one of the older guys (I'm 71), I have a problem understanding what you younger guys are saying. :)
Seriously, I couldn't agree more.
I'm right there with you, Greg. I was fortunate enough to bring home a nice 9pt the end of Oct and my son knocked down a doe with his bow on the 6th of Nov , only to get a nice 8 pt during the opening weekend of gun season. .... with his bow!
I have not been hunting since I shot mine! No real desire to share the woods with the orange army. I will just wait until I can get the woods to myself again. Having several in the freezer kinda changes your perspective, that's for sure!
God bless,
Rodd
It's not an old guy thing. I'm 31 and I rarely kill more than one in a season and have never killed more than two. And that includes trad, compound, and gun over the years. On another note, why can't you say the brand of your bow?
It's not an old guy thing. I'm 31 and I rarely kill more than one in a season and have never killed more than two. And that includes trad, compound, and gun over the years. On another note, why can't you say the brand of your bow?
Toms, I read on other forums that you even mention my brand on here , and your post is deleted. I don't want to cause problems here, i just want to converse with other trad shooters. It is not important to me to fight with others about what I think is wrong. I joined here knowing this ahead of time so i will abide by the rules here.
I'm 74 and I would say you are not growing old - you're growing up. I see that as a sign of maturity :)
Thank you Blade! I did not know if I was just feeling old or what!
Nothing wrong with more than you need, as long as there is someone you know who does need it and will take it.
That being said, you are just fine. There is nothing wrong with your line of thought here.
Bisch
Lot of us are hitting that wall. I guess we are just mellowing out.
ChuckC
Thanks guys. Glad to know I'm not the only one that is starting to think this way!
Shot 2 last year and ran out of meat. Have gotten 3 this year so that is all I need but will still go to the woods anyway. I am 63 and it is getting harder for me to shoot them. Getting soft hearted. I have anywhere from 7 to 12 that come to my feeder in the backyard and they feed while I am practiceing with my bow and they are used to me being out there. They are off limits to me but unfortunately not the neighbors that hunt around me.
I've always hunted that way, never felt the need to just kill to fill tags. I've always hunted to get what we needed to get us thru from one season to the next.
I really enjoy processing and using the animals that I harvest, always have its very rewarding when done right.
Tracy
I took a fat Doe this year. First big game animal in several years. The immediate previous years without a kill were just as good as any.
Nothing strange or odd about your mindset. It's all good time in the woods.
I never heard of a certain brand bow not allowed to be mentioned here if it is trad. :dunno:
Nothing wrong with just taking what you need.
The success of the traditional hunt, for me, is not measured in in the harvest.
The strategizing, planning, scouting, prep work and absorption of the full hunting experience provide the fulfillment of endeavor.
Typically, don't release an arrow on a buck but approximately once every three years. Have been to the field over 35 times this deer season with the anticipation of many more outings. As a ground hunter, the odds, as perceived , versus a stand hunter may be a 3:1 disadvantage. Yet, I have been most fortunate to have had 13 separate shot opportunities(5 to 18 yards) on thirteen different bucks. In no way do I wish to imply that I could have harvested even one of these beautiful animals. I have released one arrow this season and that was on a turkey which ended up providing fine table fare. Note: Does will get the green light in December...driven by personal obligation to do my part for game management ...I will be in the field anyway.
Can merely recommend to hunt and harvest per your own personal desire and not beyond.
I'm 69, it's 24 degrees out, I take blood thinners and hands go numb at about 40 degrees, I killed a couple of does first part of season with recurve, it's gun season only now and I'm going crazy sitting here not hunting.
Everyone experiences their own thoughts about how many deer to take and with what weapon. Our gun season comes in Monday and here in West Virginia we are allowed to hunt with a bow during gun season and use our gun tag. Needless to say I will be in stand with my bow as I don't need to shoot one with a gun.
I'll be 80 in March and this is my 60th year as a bow hunter.
There was a time when killing a deer was the top priority. I don't know when the transition took place but even though my goal is still to take a deer, it's no longer the most important thing for me. Preparing for the hunt and just being in the woods at that time of year is the most satisfying thing.
The camaraderie of deer camp for me enhances the bow hunting experience. If I take a deer that's frosting on the cake but even if I don't that's OK too because just being there has become the most important thing for me.
(http://***********.bowsite.com/TF/pics/00small11151090.JPG)
If you feel you've taken enough, then it's enough. I have a doe in the freezer and I'm single so there is plenty for me. But I still want to kill another. Hopefully a buck. My butcher has people who don't hunt but want venison so anything from here on out won't go to waste. I also have members of my club who will take a deer if they haven't already connected. If this was not the case, then I wouldn't take another animal. And as far as mentioning a particular bow brand, I don't see why you can't. There are all kinds of posts here with a wide array of brands mentioned. Don't know if they're sponsors but I think it would be pretty small potatoes if you posted your bow brand and it was deleted. IHMO
I never take more than I can use.
It has been a while since I killed a deer, even though I have had many chances to do so. It used to be all important but for a number of years, I have just enjoyed being in the stand. I still take my bow, because I just might change my mind at any second. If you still enjoy taking deer after you have killed enough for your needs, you may want to consider donating some to the feed the hungry programs if you have some in your area that will accept the venison.
As long as your bow is traditional, the only reason I can imagine for it being banned is if the bowyer has done something that has had him banned from Trad Gang.
The older I get the harder it is for me to kill anything, even a squirrel. I killed one buck with my bow this season and one the other day with my flintlock. Could have killed a half dozen, just don't want to. Spending time in the woods is the best part of hunting.
I have spent a good bit of time chasing deer this year, and I capture a lot more deer on my camera than with the bow. Being in the woods is the priority, but if a big buck shows up and presents a shot, I will take it. Otherwise, I am content to enjoy the show. Here are a few that I have had the pleasure of watching this season..
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac67/peastes/IMG_0692_zpsh4ltesfx.jpg) (http://s886.photobucket.com/user/peastes/media/IMG_0692_zpsh4ltesfx.jpg.html)
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac67/peastes/IMG_0693_zpsus31ntia.jpg) (http://s886.photobucket.com/user/peastes/media/IMG_0693_zpsus31ntia.jpg.html)
I have rattled this buck to within 40 yards or so twice this season. He won't get any closer. Smart deer.
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac67/peastes/IMG_0695_zpsa1nl9usg.jpg) (http://s886.photobucket.com/user/peastes/media/IMG_0695_zpsa1nl9usg.jpg.html)
This one almost got an arrow last week. Had him at 25 yards, but wouldn't get closer. I would have been happy to take him.
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac67/peastes/IMG_0699_zpsklne5aqx.jpg) (http://s886.photobucket.com/user/peastes/media/IMG_0699_zpsklne5aqx.jpg.html)
So, venison or not this year, I have had a good season. You don't have to kill something to enjoy tradtional archery.
I am 67, shot my first trad deer in 1970, and the excitement of the hunt still burns inside me, but it is now the excitement to be in the woods, the excitement to be with good friends, the excitement to see critters in the wild ... but I really won't mind if I never shoot another animal with my bow.
I'm 63 and I've shot a buck and an elk this year and I still have a deer tag left and I'm hunting every chance I get and I will fill my tag . I used to shoot 7 or 8 deer a year and an antelope and maybe a bear . I wished I would have shot more back then when we could have almost unlimited antlerless tags ( around 2010 ) most of them starved in the winter and now our numbers are way down, no more xtra tags...Tim
I know you can't advertise for a brand that isn't a sponsor, but I've never heard that you can't even talk about certain brands. I have one from a small time bowyer that I've mentioned many times without any issues. I've even tried to get him to sign up as a sponsor due to the interest people showed in mine. But I respect your not wanting to ruffle feathers. I had a post deleted once because I overlooked one of the rules. It was something I never dreamed would be against the rules, but after a mod explained, it made perfect sense. I make a point to know the rules and stick strictly to them now just to be safe.
As I won't be 70 for another 2 weeks yet, it's hard for me to put myself in you older guy's place. Seriously though, to me hunting is much more recreation than sport and you ought to do what pleases you. I have discovered as I've gotten older that the desire to hunt has diminished considerably. I am however planning to hunt a WMA that is Mississippi River Breaks an hour north of me in Dec./Jan. when it is cooler and more comfortable and the rut occurs then as well. We'll see.
I hunt for the freezer be it longbow or gun. When I get what I need I move on to other pursuits that I enjoy such as habitat improvement and such. I look at all the deer heads on the wall that I was so proud of in my youth and wonder why I wasted money having those dust catchers mounted anyway.
Thanks guys, I know now I'm not alone in feeling no need to tag another deer this year. Our gun season ended today so I still have time to sit in a stand if I want. (Archery season opens again tomorrow) Have to get ready for our Ozarks Squirrel hunt (United bowhunters of MO) a week from Sat.!
For me it's the process. Taking a deer is just icing on the cake. Camping, cooking and just being there is the blessing. Besides I'm not near as mad at the deer as when I was young.
I went a few years where I simply could not shoot deer, luckily my sweet wife did not have that mind set, nor did I have a problem with smaller game. I had plans this year to try to hold off for a big one that I was watching, but as competition for space increased, my desire to be a free bird increased and the high tactics of zoning in on a single deer that moved to a different locality did not seem as important. I found putting some adventure and stealth back into my methods rewarding with a sense of freedom, so I shot a deer on the sneak, because it felt right and I feel like a hunter once again doing it the hard way.
QuoteOriginally posted by Jerry Jeffer:
I never heard of a certain brand bow not allowed to be mentioned here if it is trad. :dunno:
Nothing wrong with just taking what you need.
I haven't either,,,, personally I wouldn't mention Brandon Stahl but that's just me though :dunno:
When I get the number of deer I need for a year, my desire drops off altogether. Then I start sleeping in and going to the woods to "stumpshoot" or squirrel hunt, love being out there.
I seldom get the 2 deer I need for a year so usually the season ends with me wishing I had more time.
I got up this morning in anticipation of going out, but with below zero windchill, I am giving the deer the morning off. The older I get, the less I enjoy being out in frigid temperatures. Years ago, I went out in cold weather as a type of a challenge to my toughness, I guess. At 68, I no longer need to prove how tough (or stupid) I am. And as Gray Buffalo said, I'm not nearly as mad at deer now as i was back in the day.
I feel the same way Greg. With bow hunting, I have more opportunity and freedom to go when I want to, than I do with gun season.