doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Making/taking time for deer hunting

Really one of the best of autumn's rituals, is chasing the deer.
Over the last bunch of years, I've stood poacher duty only...but not this year - I've taken some time for it.
Never had buck fever in the past, and won't again this year.
What I do have fever for is being almost knee-deep in newly fallen leaves, cold mornings and warm sunny afternoons.
...and for the season itself - it has all of the build-up, one could want - testing the rifle, scouting the trails and building the stands. Altho' I've hated this time of the year in the past, the woods does come alive - it is the king of the shooting sports around here.
So - do you uplanders and duckers partake?
Orvis, or WalMart?

Deer hunting had been "my life" for most of my life but now somehow is an obligation that must be met. And so, my obsession with grouse and woodcock is interrupted for a couple of weeks each November while I get back into a different mode of hunting. Deer hunting for me is so visceral - it is an act that transforms me to a completely different level of humanity - one which comparatively few people on this continent can understand. I am driven - or, I should say, I drive myself relentlessly to be in the deer woods while the stars are still twinkling brightly and to come out of the woods when they begin to twinkle again as nightfall approaches. It exhausts me yet it fulfills me. The perfect deer hunt for me is to kill my buck early enough that I can again become a foot-loose bird hunter walking almost aimlessly through the same deer woods hoping to scare up a grouse or two and feel the freedom - feel the draining away of the self-imposed stress of the deer hunt. I am two different hunters, or should I say three. . . "the tiny, almost elfin hoofprints of a new fawn pressed into the semi-soft black mud rimming a puddle in the old tote road - he wanders curiously to each weed and wildflower." Each day in these woods are filled with such memories and for these, as well, I go there.

No longer, Lowell. Not much skill involved, compared to duck, geese and grouse. At the last, I was killing only when my aging mother said, "I'd just love to have a piece of venison." Mom has been gone 10 years.

After seening 2003 movie entitled "Season of the Hunted" I kinda lost interest. Now when I feel like having some red stuff I simply buy pre-packaged bison meat.

PJ, its the participation I miss.
If a handsome buck stumbles my way, I may tho!
One of the rites I want to take advantage of - "Welcome Hunters," the blaze orange signs say.
They're starting to pop-up all over the place(well maybe not in California) but for sure here in Missouri.(ranks #5 in hunting)
A good time to be in the woods, with your back against a large oak tree!

It is truly an awesome time to be in the woods... our leaves are still green but dropping fast due to drought. Weatherman says not to expect too much color this year, but we'll see... Bumper mast crop this year and no more ribs showing. Velvet is long gone and scrapes are starting to surround the rubbed up pines and laurels. Deer hunting is what my father and grandfather started me out on and still keeps me close to my father who is a great steward of his land. I get in as much as I can between duck season splits... Hoping for a little pre-rut luck with bow before I have to break out the smoke pole.

You have to take what the land has to offer - so around here its deer, turkey and ducks. The lazy squirrel woods is good for in between times, and maybe the best of them all.
...but they all have great traditions and history.
Seems a shame not to do 'em.

I used to really enjoy bow hunting for deer. That being said I have not hunted a deer in over 8 years. I got tired of people putting up salt blocks and feeders then setting tree stands 50 yards away, and shoot the "trained" deer with 300 win. magnums. For me thats not hunting, its ambushing.

I enjoy rattling up whitetail bucks more than any other hunting.

I like to get my deer the first day and then go back to the lakes for diving ducks and to try and fill my swan tag if need be. Then after the deer rifle season is over, I try to bag another with muzzleloader (sxs percussion .58). After the ice is safe I begin hunting pheasants in the cattails.