Calling Whitetail hunters

[GBRulz]

Now you see, this is the part about hunting I don't get... (I grew up in a deer/moose/elk/antelope/partridge/duck/goose....hunting family)....you probably have been feeding the deer... apples, turnips, corn, whatever...so the deer come to this spot. Then you sit in a tree and shoot them. Where is the sport in this? I'm not condeming hunting, or anyone who participates in it, but I just don't get it.

i'm with you, I don't understand the excitement of sitting in a tree stand for hours on end, freezing, either. I don't at all condone hunters...several members of my family hunt, too and I know they enjoy it. Just personally, you couldn't pay me to sit out in the woods and do that. I'll take a stick of venision anytime though

[GBRulz]

Leaving in 10 minutes. Season starts at noon on Friday. We go out there a day early to hunt birds and get camped set up.

You shoot birds? Do you eat them?

[Partial]

I really want to go bow hunting. I want to walk around and do it though. This sitting in the tree garbage seems lame. I would carry a sidearm in case of a cougar or bear shows up, though.

[Deputy Nutz]

I really want to go bow hunting. I want to walk around and do it though. This sitting in the tree garbage seems lame. I would carry a sidearm in case of a cougar or bear shows up, though.

Good luck trying to still hunt with a bow. It can be done but you better start now and in ten years you might be good enough to sneak with in 20 yards of a deer. I would laugh at the bear or cougar comment, but I do believe there are cougar in Wisconsin. Black bear usually won't bother you unless you come between a mother and her cub.

Every year during gun season I spend about half my time still hunting and I have yet to shoot a deer, yes I have spooked about two dozen, and probably another 50 that I never even got to see. It is hard as shit.

[GoPackGo]

I want to walk around and do it though. This sitting in the tree garbage seems lame.

Deer Hunting is all about putting yourself in a good position. If you are going to be walking around, it better be on the top of a ridge or hill, so you can get a shot off at something below you. Sitting in a tree stand that offers a great view of a heavily traveled deer trail is your best bet though.

[LaFours]

I want to walk around and do it though. This sitting in the tree garbage seems lame.

Deer Hunting is all about putting yourself in a good position. If you are going to be walking around, it better be on the top of a ridge or hill, so you can get a shot off at something below you. Sitting in a tree stand that offers a great view of a heavily traveled deer trail is your best bet though.

...and a great opportunity to decompress from the everyday grind, catch up on some good reading, watch the blue jay's bully the red birds, get within 3 feet of an unsuspecting squirrel, and if you're lucky enough, succeed in your primary objective.

But honestly, there is so much more than sitting in a tree in the cold. You wear clothes to keep warm and the cold usually isn't an issue. having a vantage point is a great way to ehance your perspective on so much more than what's going on in the woods.

I don't expect non-hunters to understand, nor do I want to convince them that this sport is enjoyable. Hell, its hard enough to get access to hunting land the way it is, why would I want to make that endeavor even harder?

[GBRulz]

Hell, its hard enough to get access to hunting land the way it is, why would I want to make that endeavor even harder?

I've wondered that...about the abundance of hunting land available. At least in WI. In the Eagle River area, my Dad and brother own about 500 acres of land. It's posted "no hunting" everywhere, but every year they see hunters in there. One even walked through my brothers backyard. I mean 25 feet away from someone's backdoor carrying a firearm. When my sister in law confronted them about it, they said they have every right to track their deer. It was obvious they were drunk and she said the last thing she is going to do is argue with a drunk with a gun in his hand. Shit like that pisses me off.

[Harlan Huckleby]

As far as this season goes, we're still in Archery until the 17th. I've already nailed down one doe (120 lbs of backstraps), but unfortunately I've nicked two as well.

I have a problem with bow hunting. It's too difficult to get a deadly shot, too much suffering for the animals. Even with a good shot, very often it is necessary to track-down the wounded animal. I imagine bow hunting is very challenging and satisfying, but is it worth it?

I know nature is just one damn thing after another. From Blue Jays attacking the nests of smaller birds, to killer bunnies shredding apart unsuspecting moose. But humans can consider the suffering of other creatures.

Does the issue of animal suffering take away some of the appeal of bow hunting?

[GoPackGo]

Does the issue of animal suffering take away some of the appeal of bow hunting?

When hunting, tracking a wounded animal is always a possibility reguardless off the weapon used. The weapon used isn't as important as where you hit them with your bullet or arrow.

The problem you have should be with hunters that are poor shots and don't track deer they wound. (I don't know anyone like this but I'm sure they exist)

[GoPackGo]

I have a problem with bow hunting. It's too difficult to get a deadly shot, too much suffering for the animals. Even with a good shot, very often it is necessary to track-down the wounded animal.

spoken like a person who has never shot or seen a bow and arrow with a three sided razorblade for an arrowhead.

[Harlan Huckleby]

spoken like a person who has never shot or seen a bow and arrow with a three sided razorblade for an arrowhead.

Come on. Nutz just talked about how tough it is to bow hunt. And Lafours said he nicked several deer before he killed one. I've talked with enough bow hunters to know that its often a pretty grim end for the animals.

[Freak Out]

I am not a bow hunter but have hunted with many including as backup. 30 years ago when I was guiding part time I had to shoot 60-70 percent of the moose that a client shot with a bow, today that number is much lower...a friend has a bow that will put an arrow through a big bull moose. It's the idiots that cant shoot strait that are the problem now. I've had someone take a big brown bear with a bow, he was a damn good shot and we still had to track the pissed off bear for a mile. Thankfully it had bled out when we got to it.

[GoPackGo]

spoken like a person who has never shot or seen a bow and arrow with a three sided razorblade for an arrowhead.

Come on. Nutz just talked about how tough it is to bow hunt. And Lafours said he nicked several deer before he killed one. I've talked with enough bow hunters to know that its often a pretty grim end for the animals.

Nutz said it was hard to "Still" bow hunt. He was describing to Partial how hard it is to walk around on foot and sneak up on them or have them walk by you while you are standing still.
As far as why Lafour is nicking them.......He needs to practice more or wait for a better shot.

"I've talked with enough bow hunters to know that its often a pretty grim end for the animals."

Talk to some butchers about how they kill cows and chickens and get back to me.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Talk to some butchers about how they kill cows and chickens and get back to me.

The food industry is under a lot of pressure to treat animals humanely. It's a work in progress. For instance, they kill pigs with lethal injections. (My brother worked in a slaughter house back in the 70's and things were rough back then.)

Butchers don't kill animals by wounding them first. Lets have an honest discussion.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I've had someone take a big brown bear with a bow, he was a damn good shot and we still had to track the pissed off bear for a mile. Thankfully it had bled out when we got to it.

See, now this is sort-off a best case scenario. An excellent bow-hunter makes a good shot. But still the animal suffers a long time.

The honest answer from the hunter has to be, "I don't give a shit if the animal suffers." OK. Or maybe it does bother the hunter somewhat. I am just curious.