Official 2013 "In the Woods" Thread

[IrishSteelhead]

With Tuesday approaching fast, I figured it would be a good idea to condense all our plans, experiences, and pictures into one thread this hunting season for easy reference.

I'll start:

I'm not going to be able to make it out as early as I'd like this year. I have my wedding on the 12th, and won't be in a stand until the week afterwards. The private land we had access to last year was sold by the owner, so I'll be roughing it in Hoosier National with my climber. Hope I can find a decent spot, the freezer is just about empty from last year.

 

[BobD]

 

[arrowryan]

I won't be out till it's consistently in the high 50's, low 60's as the high. I can't stand hunting when it's still warm out

 

[Rhode Irish]

I'll start:

I'm not going to be able to make it out as early as I'd like this year. I have my wedding on the 12th, and won't be in a stand until the week afterwards. The private land we had access to last year was sold by the owner, so I'll be roughing it in Hoosier National with my climber. Hope I can find a decent spot, the freezer is just about empty from last year.

Can't say I relate to the hunting thing, but I'm getting married on the twelfth, as well. Congrats man.

Side note: what is up with sitting in the stand? It seems like since you have the weapon you should at least have to track the animal down, not be lazy sitting in a tree house eating pringles or whatever waiting for an unsuspecting animal to walk by.

 

[BobD]

Can't say I relate to the hunting thing, but I'm getting married on the twelfth, as well. Congrats man.

Side note: what is up with sitting in the stand? It seems like since you have the weapon you should at least have to track the animal down, not be lazy sitting in a tree house eating pringles or whatever waiting for an unsuspecting animal to walk by.

I agree. It's only a sport if the other side knows the rules.

Doh, I do like elk, antelope and deer jerky though.

 

[Fbolt]

early bow season in VA-in the field tomorrow. Nebraska BH trip in late OCT. Hit list is forming.

 

[peoriairish]

Did some scouting on Tuesday on some public land here in St Louis. I need to finish broadhead tuning my bow before I get in some sits. When I was scouting I stalked up to a couple doe within about 10-15 yards. I'm with arrowryan though... probably not hit it hard until it cools off a bit.

My tuning will involve me getting some stiffer arrows. I'm looking into the Deer Crossing Archery Hunters. Probably order a dozen. Question. How long are you arrows (carbon to carbon) in comparison to draw length?

 

[AKRowdy]

I went out yesterday and today in Ohio. It was way too hot the deer are still nocturnal here and the mosquitos were annoying. I cannot wait till this Saturday when the weather drops 10 degrees from 70 to 60, then they should be a little more active.

 

[goldandblue]

Can't say I relate to the hunting thing, but I'm getting married on the twelfth, as well. Congrats man.

Side note: what is up with sitting in the stand? It seems like since you have the weapon you should at least have to track the animal down, not be lazy sitting in a tree house eating pringles or whatever waiting for an unsuspecting animal to walk by.

It's called hunting.... You do track the animal. You learn about their eating habits, movement habits, etc.. Once you have learned about the animal or animals you are hunting, you place yourself in the best possible location to get an opportunity to kill your game. This usually is a tree stand close to a feeding ground, water source, or known crossing for the North American White Tail Deer.

Guess we are supposed to announce to the deer that we are there and give them ample opportunity to run.... Oh wait, I do warn them.... Usually with the sound of an arrow release...

 

[Rhode Irish]

It's called hunting.... You do track the animal. You learn about their eating habits, movement habits, etc.. Once you have learned about the animal or animals you are hunting, you place yourself in the best possible location to get an opportunity to kill your game. This usually is a tree stand close to a feeding ground, water source, or known crossing for the North American White Tail Deer.

Guess we are supposed to announce to the deer that we are there and give them ample opportunity to run.... Oh wait, I do warn them.... Usually with the sound of an arrow release...

Seems like cheating and incredibly lazy to me. You already have the advantages of being the only one playing the game that knows he's play and of having a weapon. Why do you need to hide in a tree like a coward? If you can't chase/track the animal then you don't deserve to kill it.

 

[Jebediah Springfield]

A stand in the trees does kind of look like cheating but if you are eating what you kill who am I to say what you should be doing.

 

[Irishnuke]

Seems like cheating and incredibly lazy to me. You already have the advantages of being the only one playing the game that knows he's play and of having a weapon. Why do you need to hide in a tree like a coward? If you can't chase/track the animal then you don't deserve to kill it.

Seems like you should just stay out of this thread. Maybe you can start a thread on feminine hygiene products. You know, something you have more experience with.

 

[CanadianIrishFan306]

I have gone out a few times here for duck but have been busy so hopefully will be going out more before deer season opens in November. I have 2 mule deer tags this year and it will be my first time going for deer since I have mostly just done ducks and geese. Can't wait though the hunting in saskatchewan is amazing.

 

[ShakeDown]

Seems like cheating and incredibly lazy to me. You already have the advantages of being the only one playing the game that knows he's play and of having a weapon. Why do you need to hide in a tree like a coward? If you can't chase/track the animal then you don't deserve to kill it.

:banghead2

 

[GEORGIA DOMER]

I have never bow hunted in my life. I hear it is really hard and at times frustrating. I like my much lazier way of taking them. 30.06 I do plan on bow hunting but probably wait till the youngest makes it into middle school. Around the time i plan on joining a club.

 

[goldandblue]

Seems like cheating and incredibly lazy to me. You already have the advantages of being the only one playing the game that knows he's play and of having a weapon. Why do you need to hide in a tree like a coward? If you can't chase/track the animal then you don't deserve to kill it.

take your liberal left wing PETA bullshit elsewhere.

Native American Indians were some of the best trappers ever. I guess that makes them cowards because they set traps for poor defenseless deer.

You first need to understand the concept of hunting before you open your mouth.

 

[FLDomer]

I'm hitting the woods next weekend to do a lil hog hunting. Stand by for piggy pics!

 

[IrishinTN]

I wish I still had my lease to get out. I haven't been out in years.

Now, as for sitting in a tree to get your prey, lots of animals do it- birds, wildcats, etc. That is where man learned the trick. And animals know the rules. It is simply that the strong survive. Animals are stronger than us, but our brains make us stronger in the long run.

I will tell you another thing, I have depended on hunting for extra meat (and still have some in my freezer form a few years ago) and I cannot get 70 lbs of meat for $70 anywhere else.

 

[Rhode Irish]

take your liberal left wing PETA bullshit elsewhere.

Native American Indians were some of the best trappers ever. I guess that makes them cowards because they set traps for poor defenseless deer.

You first need to understand the concept of hunting before you open your mouth.

I think you're misunderstanding me. I am basically a meatatarian, so I am not really all that concerned about killing the animals. It's just HOW you are killing the animals seems lame.

There are only three reasons a person would kill an animal: for sustenance, for sport or because they are a sociopath. Assuming that you fit into category 2, it just strikes me that sitting in a tree fort and waiting for an animal to walk by is not really sport. I'm not arguing that you can't shoot a deer. I understand that in many cases shooting deer is good for the ecosystem because they are overpopulated. That's fine. But it seems like sport would be creeping around the woods trying to find the deer and sneaking up on them before they run away, not playing in a tree fort until a deer walks by.

 

[SoDakDomer]

I think you're misunderstanding me. I am basically a meatatarian, so I am not really all that concerned about killing the animals. It's just HOW you are killing the animals seems lame.

There are only three reasons a person would kill an animal: for sustenance, for sport or because they are a sociopath. Assuming that you fit into category 2, it just strikes me that sitting in a tree fort and waiting for an animal to walk by is not really sport. I'm not arguing that you can't shoot a deer. I understand that in many cases shooting deer is good for the ecosystem because they are overpopulated. That's fine. But it seems like sport would be creeping around the woods trying to find the deer and sneaking up on them before they run away, not playing in a tree fort until a deer walks by.

It's not even remotely as easy as you are trying to make it sound. If you have ever bow hunted you would know this. Whitetail deer are very smart and have great senses. Getting them close to you while in a tree stand can be a very difficult task. They can smell, hear, or see you from miles away. Spot and stalk hunting of whitetail deer is nearly impossible, and doing what you are suggesting is only going to leave hunters taking farther distance shots (poor shots) and wounding a greater number of deer. If you are worrying about how humane the sport is that is the first thing you should consider.

 

[pumpdog20]

Seems like you should just stay out of this thread. Maybe you can start a thread on feminine hygiene products. You know, something you have more experience with.

Rep this man.

 

[arrowryan]

In response to RhodeIrish,

If sitting in a tree stand or blind is lazy, that means using a fishing pole to catch fish is lazy too, right? Or should all fisherman stand in shin deep water and just spear everything that swims by? You're obviously not a hunter because as other have said, there is SO much more that goes into hunting than just sitting in a tree. It would take me hours to get into all the details of it.

And it's the psychological side of it that makes it a sport. It's not like fishing where you go out whenever you want, sit down, drink a beer, and soak up the warm sun. Getting up at 4 AM, trying to figure out where the darn wind is coming from so you can position yourself properly, staying out in frigid temperatures (sometimes in the single digits), making food plots in the spring, and the fact that there is a great chance that you won't see a thing is always on your mind. And to get real technical about it, I don't even eat meat that much during the season because the deer can smell it on you.

Killing a deer is much more challenging than catching a bass, and it is much more rewarding. That is why doing all the crazy things makes sitting in a tree stand worth it.

 

[goldandblue]

I think you're misunderstanding me. I am basically a meatatarian, so I am not really all that concerned about killing the animals. It's just HOW you are killing the animals seems lame.

There are only three reasons a person would kill an animal: for sustenance, for sport or because they are a sociopath. Assuming that you fit into category 2, it just strikes me that sitting in a tree fort and waiting for an animal to walk by is not really sport. I'm not arguing that you can't shoot a deer. I understand that in many cases shooting deer is good for the ecosystem because they are overpopulated. That's fine. But it seems like sport would be creeping around the woods trying to find the deer and sneaking up on them before they run away, not playing in a tree fort until a deer walks by.

I would fit 50% in category one and 50% in category two. I usually kill about 5 deer per year. 1 for the freezer, 1 for jerky, and 3 for sport. After I get my freezer full and my bags of jerky I take the remaining deer to a local meat processor and he processes the deer and delivers the meat to the needy in our area.

Let me help you understand how this works.

1. Find Deer - whether you see them while you are driving the roads or while you find tracks and other signs of deer.

2 Research - investigate the location you saw the deer, look for tracks, follow tracks, examine trees for ruts, examine droppings for what the deer has been feeding on (this helps you to track the deer's movements.) Monitor times the deer is present in the same location if he is ever in the same location, monitor the directions the deer moves in (do they always come in from the same spot? Do they come through in the morning or evening? Do they bed close to here? Look for beds. Watch for female deer in the area. etc etc etc.

Plan - how are you going to "take" your game? Where are you going to wait? Where is the best place to get within 20 yards of this deer so you can get a clean shot with a bow? Where will I position myself so I have a chance at getting a broadside shot on the deer? Shoot bow multiple times to make sure sights are lined up and your shooting accurately because the last thing you want to do is injure the deer and take a chance of it dying with out getting consumed by someone.

ACT - Get up early in the morning (assuming you are expecting the deer to come through early) get all your clothing and equipment on. Sit in a stand and freeze your nuts off all the while hoping to even get a glimpse of the deer you have spent all this time tracking and learning about. Then, get lucky enough to actually have him give you a good shot in a safe distance as to not injure the deer.

And by the way, I have walked up on deer while traveling to my stand and killed them. Does that make me less of a coward?

 

[Rhode Irish]

It is totally fair to point out that I do not know anything about hunting. (I also don't know anything about feminine hygiene. Sorry to disappoint, Nuke.) I would gladly go hunting if I knew anyone that hunts, but I think if I did I would want to be roaming the woods stalking some stuff to shoot, rather than sitting idly in a tree fort doing god-only-knows-what. That just seems boring to me. It also seemed lazy to me, not knowing much about it, but if you guys insist that it is actually much more complicated than that I'll have to take your word for it.

 

[NDinFL]

It is totally fair to point out that I do not know anything about hunting. (I also don't know anything about feminine hygiene. Sorry to disappoint, Nuke.) I would gladly go hunting if I knew anyone that hunts, but I think if I did I would want to be roaming the woods stalking some stuff to shoot, rather than sitting idly in a tree fort doing god-only-knows-what. That just seems boring to me. It also seemed lazy to me, not knowing much about it, but if you guys insist that it is actually much more complicated than that I'll have to take your word for it.

Keep throwing around the word "lazy" and these guys (that actually do go hunting, do the process, etc...) will tear you to shreds, and deservingly so.

 

[RDU Irish]

Hog hunting sounds like fun. Those things are incredibly destructive and their populations are out of control. Sounds like good ole boy hunting, load up a Jeep and run around shooting sh!t. Deer hunting I greatly appreciate. Those things are a nuisance and also out of control populations. Dumb things can't avoid a car but damn if they aren't hard to shoot.

Have fun guys. Enjoy the hunt and good luck!

 

[Veer option]

If you go roaming through the woods you wont be shooting much of anything. Deer are ridiculously skiddish creatures. They have fantastic hearing, one snap of a tree branch and they are bounding away. Quiet and slow are two keys to bagging one of those delicious ruminants.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Keep throwing around the word "lazy" and these guys (that actually do go hunting, do the process, etc...) will tear you to shreds, and deservingly so.

I asked about the stand because it seemed lazy to me (not really understanding it), and then someone explained it to me, and then I explained why it "seemed" lazy to me before someone explained it. I still think it sounds boring. I'm not being confrontational at all, or at least I'm not trying to be. Maybe my reputation precedes me. I'm not anti-hunting. I just didn't get the whole tree house thing so I asked about it.

 

[NDinFL]

I asked about the stand because it seemed lazy to me (not really understanding it), and then someone explained it to me, and then I explained why it "seemed" lazy to me before someone explained it. I still think it sounds boring. I'm not being confrontational at all, or at least I'm not trying to be. Maybe my reputation precedes me. I'm not anti-hunting. I just didn't get the whole tree house thing so I asked about it.

Gotcha.

I have a couple uncles that hunt, and it's a BIG deal for them. They love it.

So, I could imagine their reaction if I told them I thought they were being "lazy".

No worries

 

[woolybug25]

I would gladly go hunting if I knew anyone that hunts, but I think if I did I would want to be roaming the woods stalking some stuff to shoot, rather than sitting idly in a tree fort doing god-only-knows-what.

Then you would be walking around not shooting anything. You are showing your niavete with these statements. As was mentioned, deer are incredibly skittish. They also have very good scent and can spot danger by scent alone from long distances.

"Lazy" is not only insulting, but incredibly incorrect. Guys hunting out of trees aren't doing so just to be hidden. It keeps their scent away and helps them see further away. Which allows long distance shots that you probably wouldn't be able to make as they have practiced endlessly to be able to shoot at great lengths.

These same "lazy" guys are putting hundreds of hours of prepping, scouting, training and planning into each animal harvested. They wake up in the middle of the night and hump through the woods to climb a tree and wait silently (not crunching chips as you suggested) in the freezing cold in hopes of one short moment of opportunity. A moment when the placement of their stand, hiding of their scent and their preparedness meet up with opportunity. They hope that they tuned their arrows correctly, that their sight is adjusted correctly, they hope they don't shake too much and miss their target. All of this for just a few moments.

To call that lazy is simply not knowing what you are talking about...