It's been a great deer season so far and I only shot a doe with a rifle. I was only able to get out and bowhunt about 6 times and I saw deer each time out except one. Had a spike walk within 10 feet of me while I was hunting on the ground. He spooked when he looked into my eyes and then bounded away. Had a couple six pointers on either side of me right before that but I was pinned down between them as they had a stare down and I couldn't draw my bow. Both just walked away. Saw several does on a couple occasions and on one my grandson shot over the back of a big doe. After the shot he was shaking so bad I couldn't help but laugh. I took off work on the last Friday before gun season opened so I could bowhunt all day. I sat in my stand from before light till after dark. In the morning I had turkeys all around me but no deer. Then at 2:00 a doe came flying by with a nice 8 pointer hot on her heels snorting as he went by. My grunts didn't even phase him.

Then I heard something behind me and two more deer were headed my way. First one was a spike and he was wheezing like he was out of breath all the while trailing the same doe. The last one stepped out and it was the biggest buck I've ever seen on this property in 30 years. He calmly walked out past me at about 30 yards , stopped and looked around then made a 90 degree turn directly away from me and over the ridge out of sight. Never even had a chance for a shot as he was just out range for me.

I did shoot a doe with my .35 Marlin about a week later and saw a couple smaller bucks again but no shots on them. So all in all it's been a great season so far. But I may have to take the bow out again. This pic is where I was sitting when I saw the big buck. They all came from left to right with him going over the ridge to the front left.

Photo above was on Friday 11-11. This is next morning opening day of gun.

perty view

it is always a perspective thing, seeing the beauty and enjoyment of being out there and having critters so close. Too many are totally only about the kill but there is so much more to it. Glad that you have enjoyed your season so far.

I never made it out for bow season, no good excuse, next season for sure.

Hunted approx. 12 days, afternoons only, for our rifle season which ended yesterday. All in all I saw 8 does but wasn't able to get an antlerless permit before they all went for our zone. Also walked up on several turkeys.

As tradslinger said, "seeing the beauty and enjoyment of being out there and having critters so close" was my reward and appreciation of the woods and nature.

"Too many are totally only about the kill but there is so much more to it. Glad that you have enjoyed your season so far."

Yep, that right there, and many will never understand hunting without killing, but nowadays I much prefer it...you see and learn so much more.

Nope killing isn't all it's about but killing is part of it and the final goal. If it wasn't it would be called sightseeing or nature walking, not hunting. And if someone can care less if they kill something why even take a bow (or gun), just take a camera. You learn about the woods and the animals and enjoy the outdoors by spending a whole lot of time in the woods, not by if you're carrying a bow or not. Just because you're carrying a bow doesn't mean you enjoy the outdoors any less. I bow hunted from September 17th to November 7th and only missed four days of bowhunting before I shot my buck. And I did it with a bad hip that I'm getting replaced in a couple months. I earned that small 8 point with dedication, hard work, endurance even when my hip hurt, and knowledge of the woods and animals I bow hunt. Sorry but you're not hunting a game animal if you're not trying to kill something unless your hunting for mushrooms.

I can sit or walk in the woods anytime...and I don't have to buy a license or carry all that gear. In fact I do that sometimes.

When I hunt I'm trying to kill something. That said it's been a long time since I've killed a deer. I just don't have access to any decent local hunting and I haven't been able to go anyplace. Sure would like to kill something.

I have a couple acres of woods here at home but we just don't get any daylight deer traffic here anymore. I've seen one doe and her yearling this year. I've seen them several times but that's all I've seen. Last night I saw a couple of squirrels. That sounds fun to you guys?

I couldn't get to anyplace worth hunting this year but I upgraded some equipment and I'm going to try real hard to do something about the access problem for next year. At which time it will absolutely be about killing something.

I've had my fill of hunting without killing anything.

Absolutely the hunt is all about the kill

I agree with Nemo. Hunting to me is about killing animals. To quote Gene Wensel “if I wanted to see pics of scenery I’ll look at National Geographic.” I like the scenery and all else that goes with hunting but I am not dragging a bow to my treestand if I am not going to kill anything. But hey, we all are different .

I agree with Nemo. Hunting to me is about killing animals. To quote Gene Wensel “if I wanted to see pics of scenery I’ll look at National Geographic.” I like the scenery and all else that goes with hunting but I am not dragging a bow to my treestand if I am not going to kill anything. But hey, we all are different .

I think most agree that we enjoy hunting even when we haven’t killed anything. But the kill is the final act of the hunt.

Yep . Altitude has it. Beats working

"Yep . Altitude has it. Beats working" as does Nemo. Now it's time to go dry some stuff out.

Nemo is right. It’s not hunting unless you’re trying to kill the animal you are pursuing.

Nemo XXX. I love my time in the woods but the hunt is about the meat.

Killing things is kinda why our arrows have those pointy thingys on the end, isn't it?

Just ground 50 lbs of meat.

Believe me, I'm out there to kill a deer be it with a bow , gun or muzzleloader. It's been about 5 years since I shot anything with a bow and 3 since a gun. Back in 2020 my hunting partner passed away and I didn't feel like hunting that fall. He was my 33 yo son, Nick. On one of our last bowhunts he lost his quiver off his bow. My grandson and me were tracking a deer he shot in gun season last week and he found Nick's quiver. My grandson is 11 and is now my new hunting partner.

Glad your having an enjoyable hunting season.

Sorry to hear that Randy. Hang in there

Nemo nailed it!

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