Are the glory days of deer hunting coming to a close?

[omicron1792]

They get fed a ton of corn here in suburbs. Very few hunt them but lots feed them.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I've not known the bird feeders/deer feeders to be a big thing in the twin cities suburbs but that doesn't mean it isn't so.

 

[omicron1792]

I've not known the bird feeders/deer feeders to be a big thing in the twin cities suburbs but that doesn't mean it isn't so.

Everyone here fashions themselves a hunter. Most have farms and feed a ton anyways. So adding a feeder at home no big deal.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

Crossbows=the devil. When guys tell me they hunt with one, that ruins it for me. Think about how many more deer get killed during bow season because of them! I'm sorry to any of you old timers or youngsters that do it but that killed the majesty of bowhunting. We used to get a 3 month long season to test our skills. Now you basically get to do that with a low power single shot gun that has a string attached. In the old days, only got to use them if you had a handicap. Now every lazy bowhunter who didn't like to practice is a still a "bowhunter", just with a crossbow.

And if anyone wants to argue about age and difficulty with conventional archery tackle, look at what Fred Bear did with a recurve into his 70's!!!!

Also, box blinds ruined a lot as well. My kids are still young and I'm sure when their hunting days come, box blinds will be very handy but I'm very reluctant. My dad used to hoist me up on the platform of his wooden stands or drag out a wooden ladder to prop me up on the base of his tree. He taught me how to HUNT! Not just sit and wait on a deer...

We've got to think about teaching the next generation. Not enabling them.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Crossbows=the devil. When guys tell me they hunt with one, that ruins it for me. Think about how many more deer get killed during bow season because of them! I'm sorry to any of you old timers or youngsters that do it but that killed the majesty of bowhunting. We used to get a 3 month long season to test our skills. Now you basically get to do that with a low power single shot gun that has a string attached. In the old days, only got to use them if you had a handicap. Now every lazy bowhunter who didn't like to practice is a still a "bowhunter", just with a crossbow.

And if anyone wants to argue about age and difficulty with conventional archery tackle, look at what Fred Bear did with a recurve into his 70's!!!!

Also, box blinds ruined a lot as well. My kids are still young and I'm sure when their hunting days come, box blinds will be very handy but I'm very reluctant. My dad used to hoist me up on the platform of his wooden stands or drag out a wooden ladder to prop me up on the base of his tree. He taught me how to HUNT! Not just sit and wait on a deer...

We've got to think about teaching the next generation. Not enabling them.

Are we brothers?

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

Are we brothers?

"YUP"!!!

 

[Brian662]

You box blind haters should come up to MN and hunt on a "normal" fall/winter.

I kid, but in all seriousness I use them to hunt locations without trees that I have on my properties. Same principles apply with hiding them like you would any other stand.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

You box blind haters should come up to MN and hunt on a "normal" fall/winter.

I kid, but in all seriousness I use them to hunt locations without trees that I have on my properties. Same principles apply with hiding them like you would any other stand.

I despise box blinds. I’ve inherited 4 really nice ones. 2 are sitting in my shop unused. Never sat in one all year…with that said I almost went hunting the last week and the windchill was in the negatives. Zero chance I was sitting in a hang on so I get it.
But as I’ve said earlier, they are huge technological advancement that has allowed waaayyyy more deer to get killed than when we had to brave the elements

 

[Brian662]

I despise box blinds. I’ve inherited 4 really nice ones. 2 are sitting in my shop unused. Never sat in one all year…with that said I almost went hunting the last week and the windchill was in the negatives. Zero chance I was sitting in a hang on so I get it.
But as I’ve said earlier, they are huge technological advancement that has allowed waaayyyy more deer to get killed than when we had to brave the elements

People have been hunting from blinds for way longer than there have been technological advancements to clothing, archery equipment, etc. It's just that now they're commercially made it's become a problem?

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

You box blind haters should come up to MN and hunt on a "normal" fall/winter.

I kid, but in all seriousness I use them to hunt locations without trees that I have on my properties. Same principles apply with hiding them like you would any other stand.

I'm with ya but we get cold temps here too! -20 just last week. I get the lack of trees, I'm gonna have to get creative on our new land endeavors. After discovering the "Hunting Public" guys I was re-inspired. Killing deer in ghillie suits in the middle of corn fields! That's huntin'!!!

 

[matinc]

Brian gotta agree with you. I remember hunting when it was zero out in a blind built out of stumps with no heat. Yup froze mybrear off. Dog since I believe your a southern boy I can't imagine sitting a sweat box so I understand your point of view. What I don't understand about using stands hung a tree is how dangerous they are and why you would want to do that. The only way I'm going up a tree now is with a steel step ladder like those in box stores. A pop up blind is a far better choice on the ground. Just my two cents

 

[Bill]

This does get old kinda. We should all be using long bows with our finger as an arrow rest, no sights, from the ground while wearing moccasins. Don't forget no shower ever, just a stream bath. And a leather ball cover.

Or use what is legal today and have fun.

 

[Brian662]

I'm with ya but we get cold temps here too! -20 just last week. I get the lack of trees, I'm gonna have to get creative on our new land endeavors. After discovering the "Hunting Public" guys I was re-inspired. Killing deer in ghillie suits in the middle of corn fields! That's huntin'!!!

There's multiple ways to skin a cat, just make sure under that ghillie suit you are wearing 1980's vintage clothing. Hate for anyone to be too comfortable.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

People have been hunting from blinds for way longer than there have been technological advancements to clothing, archery equipment, etc. It's just that now they're commercially made it's become a problem?

I’m not necessarily saying they will be the downfall of hunting. I’m just observing that they have eliminated the elements from the chase. That’s HUGE. Otherwise you sit in rain and cold and wind and deal with the adverse effects. Can’t sit for long, can’t sit still, can’t shoot a bow, etc.
Youth season has become, here son stare at my phone till the deer walks out, I’ll let you know when the one comes, your gun will be in the rock solid sled, just pull the trigger. I don’t believe that happened years ago. You sat next to pops in a double ladder stand and paid attention and learned movements
with that said I hate them cause I can’t see anything or feel comfortable shooting out of them. Not looking to ban them!
Speaking out of both sides of my mouth, you better believe when my girls get old enough we will march right up the ladder into one!

 

[bigboreblr]

I think blinds make hunting better. Its about experience and memories. The guys at my club don't talk a bunch about the deer, they talk about the good times they had spending time with their family and friends in a spot where they're warm and can talk quietly while they hunt.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

Alright, we're all on the same team! kinda... That's what makes this place great. But yes, valid points all around.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Alright, we're all on the same team! kinda... That's what makes this place great. But yes, valid points all around.

Absolutely. I definitely see Brian’s point about treeless areas.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

This does get old kinda. We should all be using long bows with our finger as an arrow rest, no sights, from the ground while wearing moccasins. Don't forget no shower ever, just a stream bath. And a leather ball cover.

Or use what is legal today and have fun.

There's some freedom in that! My cousin got rid of his compound and started hunting public that he could only access by kayak with a longbow that someone made for him. Killed his first longbow doe at 5 yards sitting in a bush. His experience has been like the first time all over again!

I get it, that kinda commitment takes a lot of time that most of us don't have. But...I believe that's the core of hunting. Will we all be on here defending ourselves in a decade, killing deer with drones from the couch in another state?

Hard tellin...

 

[matinc]

Everyone knows my opinion about banning trail cams during the season and how this is negatively affecting fair chase in hunting I see this as way worse than hunting in a box blind. I see post that guys have 30 cams on 50 acres with up to the second intell and boast that it's fair chase. Wtf

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

I’m not necessarily saying they will be the downfall of hunting. I’m just observing that they have eliminated the elements from the chase. That’s HUGE. Otherwise you sit in rain and cold and wind and deal with the adverse effects. Can’t sit for long, can’t sit still, can’t shoot a bow, etc.
Youth season has become, here son stare at my phone till the deer walks out, I’ll let you know when the one comes, your gun will be in the rock solid sled, just pull the trigger. I don’t believe that happened years ago. You sat next to pops in a double ladder stand and paid attention and learned movements
with that said I hate them cause I can’t see anything or feel comfortable shooting out of them. Not looking to ban them!
Speaking out of both sides of my mouth, you better believe when my girls get old enough we will march right up the ladder into one!

You're right on all this too HBTD, It's necessary fundamentals.

What about all the guys that hunt/shoot deer but "don't really like venison?" Ok then you just like shooting animals for no reason other then the thrill?

I think we all miss the point in more ways then one, food plots, weaponry, diversity. But truth is, there has to be a limit at some point on hunting tech or we aren't going to have many critters to hunt.

It really is taking the fun out of it.