Personally, after my first time elk hunting this year I definitely prefer western hunting to whitetails here in Wisconsin. Part of that is due to the more open terrain found out west which is more conducive to my preferred hunting style(spot and stalk). The thick brush and forests of Northeast Wisconsin are very difficult to still hunt effectively. Spot and stalk is almost out of the question. It has happened that I spot a deer and make a plan to intercept, but this is very rare. At least in open mountainous terrain the animals can be viewed from a distance. It gives a guy hope seeing the animals whereas in Wisconsin on the public land I hunt you may only be 50 or 60 yards from deer, but never see them...although you see plenty of other hunters:(. I don't like how most of the prime hunting land is becoming commercialized and closed off due to "trophy" hunting and public land is getting crowded. I don't like how deer become extremely skiddish(especially after gun season) and I don't care for their lack of vocalizations. At least elk and turkeys give you some hope when they sound off...you know they are there from a long ways off. Deer give you no such pleasure except maybe a low grunt or bleat that can only be heard from a short distance. Also, bedding areas are almost always in thick areas inaccessible in a stealthful manner and the deer rarely show themselves except at dawn and dusk(except during the rut).
Now, with that said I very much do enjoy hunting deer during the late season in the cedar swamps up here. Baiting is an effective and fun tactic and requires much more effort and planning than one might guess including bait placement and blind construction. It is one of the only ways to have a decent chance at them in the snow covered swamps in my area and in my opinion is much more fun than sitting over a trail.
Deer are fun to hunt, but I prefer other critters over them. Regardless, I take the opportunity to hunt that the good Lord gives me. I'd certainly rather hunt deer than nothing at all! Happy hunting Lads, Matt
Topic: What do you NOT like about whitetails? (Read 1783 times)
