I've been hunting a little over 60 years, and I always say the same two words on every one brought into camp.."nice deer."

That's 'cause your folks raised a gentleman.

Well, I stand corrected. I wouldn't have realized it if you hadn't had provided such a clear and precise argument with ample evidence to back it up. Even though it is the same thing you blame almost everything in the hunting world that you don't like, seems to be a fit all for you

You made one point (bowhunting) to address all the issues listed in the OP, or you just picked out that point because it is the one that gets under your skin more than the others. I am sure there is some illuminating story as to what you have against the different seasons.

Funny you mention the bowhunters having an issue with crossbows, but you don't mention the rifle hunters having an issue with bow season. I have seen more complaints about the bowhunters getting first shot at the deer than I have seen bow hunters complain about crossbows. As far as division in hunting, I believe this is one of the least prevelant issues according to threads on this forum. That would be HF/LF, .223, and whether you got to the lease in a ford or Chevy.

But hey, your right, I'm the drunk in denial. If they changed it to a single season, any weapon, I am sure all the other issues would just go away. No one would care of it was a bow or rifle, no one would care the score, no one would care if it was HF, no would care if you had it on camera...heck, I bet no one would even use a camera anymore.

Single season would take us back to the good ol days and make our ancestors proud!!!

Guess I wasn't, after I tell them nice deer...I love to hear the story!!

First, what txshntr said.

Second, you are just plain wrong about your assertion that equipment manufacturers had anything to do with a separate bow season. That happened long ago as a result of ordinary rank and file bowhunters who worked hard and made the case for responsible bowhunting as an ethical endeavor with added challenge. The equipment used back then was overwhelmingly primitive in nature (recurves and longbows) and the manufacturers weren't the lobbying machines they are today. The early archery season did not take one day away from the rifle hunting season, and still doesn't. There was no division among hunters concerning its creation and there was none for decades after its creation.

(Your assertion of manufacturer influence is largely correct with regard to the allowance of crossbows during archery season, which is a relatively recent occurence. But that had nothing to do with creating the archery season that had been in place a long, long time at that point.)

The separate seasons for archery and gun use have not been topics of division amongst hunters in any way, shape, or form - until guys like you came along who don't choose to accept the added challenge of bowhunting began whining and wanting something others have who do accept those challenges (the separate season). That's where the division came in.

For a guy who is obsessed in touting your "old school" methodology (no feeders, no blinds, public land, etc., etc., etc.), your utter disdain for those who challenge themselves to get up close and personal by bowhunting is as perplexing as it is misguided.

Agreed. I have never learned how to 'score' a deer, and have no desire to now. It is not relevant to my objectives and is demeaning to the spiritual aspects of hunting.

I do the same.

I was a guest of an old friend on a hill country lease several years ago. His brother was also a guest hunter that weekend and the guest brother had never taken a deer before. This was a typical small over hunted hill country lease with small bodied deer. No guest rules and not managed for deer size. On the last day of the trip the brother had still not taken a deer. I offered a plan of me using a grunt call and rattling horns placing one of the two brothers ahead of me out to my right and the other ahead of me out to my left. I had them move across the lease with me this way stopping every several hundred yards while I rattled. The brother that had never hunted before. A small 8 point buck about run him over trying to get to me and he shot it. When I got to him he was one of the happiest men I have ever seen. Everything worked as planned and for him it had been an exciting hunt. I congratulated and gave a couple high fives,. When the other brother came over he went right into judging it as a basket rack and how he would not have shot it and why his brother should not have shot it. Worst buzz kill I have ever witnessed.

Dang SJ, that's tough to hear. Very sad.

From 1923:

I think social media, hunting shows and technology like trail cams has spoiled us with a constant flow of numerous nice bucks. And then you have management practices that were non existent 20 years ago on a broad scale like today.

I really don't like bucks being judged on a B&C score that a club came up with. If you like him, you should kill him.

But not if the rules where you hunt say otherwise. There are leases that allow you to shoot any buck you like if that's what makes you happy.

I don't like hunters that disparage another hunters kill. Bad form IMO. Especially a first time hunter excited from their success.

Good one. My favorite from Gene Hill's A Hunters Fireside Book

"There is no score worth keeping. All we should ever count is hours, never birds, nor length of horn or hits or misses. If we want to do something where we can't lose, then we must first accept the proposition that we cannot win. We are not involved in a contest, but a very simple and pure journey that promises each day out will be different, unrepeatable, unrecapturable....."

That looks like a very interesting book. I just ordered a copy on Amazon. Can't wait to read it! Thanks for sharing!

Journey? What journey is there in stting in the same old office chair in the same box stand waiting for something to show up and eat?

Hunt and Fish, you are correct sir. My freezer almost always gets filled with "doe meat" before buck meat. I bow hunt and gun hunt(also have a crossbow) and I am an opportunist at heart. If a big doe comes in, I may watch her for a while hoping ol' big will show up but chances are, she won't get to leave. Of course I want a big buck! Been that way since I started hunting as a child and the prospect of that is thrilling to me even at 51 years of age. But, a buck isn't the deciding factor on rather or not I have had a successful season. A freezer full of sausage and deer steaks is. Hunting is as much a part of me as my hands or feet. And I am proud of that fact. I think that for those hunters who "have" to get the big one to be successful, its truly sad. Not saying that to start an argument! Its just the way I feel.

I hunt for my peace and reflection. I've yet to take a tape on a buck as it has nothing to do with sausage. Making sausage and firing up my smokehouse is second on my list. I do love how many "Age & Score" topics and picks are posted. However, I realize many are new to hunting and all they know is what the read on the internet, and that doesn't make them wrong. When I see a deer when hunting, I see the poster you see at the butcher shop showing the different cuts of meat, and from there I try to total up how many links of sausage I will get. But that's my hot button, while others are about mass and tines.

And now...the thought for the day:




“All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”
Blaise Pascal, Pensées

You missed the point.

I have hunted deer for over 20 years. Nothing I do in hunting is because of what others want or think. Even our biggest deer are of little size to most people. For me and mine it is something we do and enjoy together. We no longer get our kicks shooting 2-3 year old 8 pts. Sure I still get a rush just shooting does and spikes, but I'm willing to let the nicer young ones walk because of what they can be. Anyone who disagrees but will shoot a bigger buck over a smaller one is lying to themselves. We have fun watching the deer grow seeing what they become from one year to the next and if you pay close attention there is a lot more out there to learn than you may have thought.

That's bbbaaaaaaaaddddddd aaaazzzzzzzzzz......

Happens a lot.

I've learned more about living life and God in a deer blind in an old office chair than by getting preached at. And like it or not, life is a journey. So, X2 to what chalet said.

There's more to hunting than antlers, scores, Jawbones, maturity, and even freezers full of venison. Those are all icing on the cake that is the ultimate outdoor experience, whether from a Texas safari rig, elk drop camp, or deer blind.

What may I ask did you learn about God in a deer stand?

I always classify the people who say they don't go to church because they feel closer to God in the outdoors hunting/fishing on sunday mornings hipocrites or lazy.

Well, I think your generalization is, unfortunately, largely correct. I heard a man say that to a pastor I admired once. His reply: "I know you can worship Him in the deer stand and on the lake but the real question is: do you?"

That said, sometimes I hunt on Sundays. I try to worship and talk to Him then, and other days. But I ain't perfect at it by any means. The outdoors does seem to often draw me closer to Him though. And that is scriptural (Romans).

I don't always choose the deer blind over Sunday morning church. It's Sunday morning NFL those other times