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

[Bill Loser]

I like to eat venison so antlers are just a bonus if a decent bucks happens to show up. Always have a variety of bucks passing through during season it's just if I am in the right spot at the right time or not. I gave up on cameras close to 10 years ago. I guess I like to be surprised by what runs out in front of me instead of seeing a bunch of bucks on camera but never seeing them during season. The glory days for me was when everyone was still around and the family hunting was something special. Now I just go out hunting by myself.

110% of this. Too much emphasis on horns, not enough for the experience, family, and most of all the animals.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

But how do you know 100% - that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. A monster was killed off the land Dawgs bought. We are talking about spending seven figures in most places to buy enough land to actually manage. I have a 62 acre tract away from the rest of my property that was a little honey hole. Last year, the leasees in the adjoining 800 acres changed hands and believe me - it isnt the same and there is not one thing I could do about it. Cwd can hit near you and they increase the season and bag limit. I bought my place mainly because of the duck hunting and fishing - deer were down the list. We kill one tenth the ducks we used to and we catch one tenth the fish we used to. In my opinion, jumping ship and moving around in hopes of finding greener pastures is most likely a fools errand - unless - of course - you just have funny money

I was listening to Lee lakosky talking about his strategy for buying land and he kept harping on neighbors. Which i totally get. But that’s a ballsy strategy to base almost everything on. Every piece of property is for sale for the right price, so even the best neighbors could sell. Now if you talking bordering a military base or state park or giant river/lake, I get that but individual landowners are unpredictable.

@Hoytvectrix this guy is must be getting “help” from neighbors. I would love to think even the perfect 400 would hold mature bucks but those deer are definitely wandering around the neighborhood. Obviously his track record speaks but while 400 is big for an individual, it’s a hop skip and jump for a buck

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Couldn’t help it

 

[Mtyhunter]

110% of this. Too much emphasis on horns, not enough for the experience, family, and most of all the animals.

Agreed. awhile back i was posting about my hunting coming full circle. Started deerhunting at 12 with grandpa and uncle. Brown jersey gloves on, sometimes tubesocks for gloves. Mtn Dew in my back pocket and a gun/longbow in my hand. Meeting up at the truck for bologna sandwiches at lunch. Then me at 12-13 driving them old farts back home on dirt roads. Next day shooting the first deer I saw, and having them show me how to gut/skin/process it up.
We cowboy camped alot too. They did that for me because I was always up long before they were, raring to go, and they would mosey around too much in the morning, and cause us to be late. So they just bit the bullet and and took me camping, sleeping on the ground, or in the bed of the truck, so I could get out there before daylight while they sat around drinking cowboy coffee
As I got more experienced, the antlers started to matter. I was getting more aggressive every year. The old farts got older, I got more and better equipment, spent more days in the field when those guys couldn't be there, etc. More emphasis on the big buck than the family aspect.
Now that I'm older, and own most every trinket you could have for deer hunting, I'm back to sticking a Mtn Dew bottle in my back pocket, and just sitting down at the base of a tree with my grandson. I look forward to our conversations before we get there, and when we all meet back up at the end of the day. He soaks up everything I tell him, and it makes me proud of him. I can see my younger self in him already. He's not going to be a snowflake when he grows up, for sure.
yes, i want muy grande like everyone else. but if i had to choose between a 180" buck or giving up hunting with my son and grandson, there is no decision to even make. The simple family dynamic and beautiful nature is the ultimate prize.

 

[SwampCat]

110% of this. Too much emphasis on horns, not enough for the experience, family, and most of all the animals.

You can have both, you know - but maybe not your area

 

[Brian662]

But how do you know 100% - that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. A monster was killed off the land Dawgs bought. We are talking about spending seven figures in most places to buy enough land to actually manage. I have a 62 acre tract away from the rest of my property that was a little honey hole. Last year, the leasees in the adjoining 800 acres changed hands and believe me - it isnt the same and there is not one thing I could do about it. Cwd can hit near you and they increase the season and bag limit. I bought my place mainly because of the duck hunting and fishing - deer were down the list. We kill one tenth the ducks we used to and we catch one tenth the fish we used to. In my opinion, jumping ship and moving around in hopes of finding greener pastures is most likely a fools errand - unless - of course - you just have funny money

I guess just keep pounding your head into a brick wall because the grass may not be greener? Idk what to say other than "scared money don't make no money"....or however the saying goes.

 

[SwampCat]

I guess just keep pounding your head into a brick wall because the grass may not be greener? Idk what to say other than "scared money don't make no money"....or however the saying goes.

Or pounding your head in the grass because you just spent millions and wasnt what you thought. 640 acres means at the very center of the property where it is furthest from a neighbor means it is 1/2 mile - about a 15 min leisurely walk - in any direction - to be on someone elses property. What is the likelihood of neighbors on all four sides all exhibit the greatest of restraint. This isnt about buying a great piece of property - that is easy. It is about buying a great piece of property with fantastic neighbors all the way around. I wonder what the chance of that is. Personally; I have never seen that on any of the dozens of properties I have hunted - with the exception of one time —- and then the lea-sees on the adjacent property changed overnight as did the deer hunting.

I dont see a high likelihood of success - from my experience and the experiences of most on this forum. But I wish the best of success to anyone who wants to try it. Maybe someone like that will buy that 800 acres next to my little 62 acres