Enjoying the hunt more than filling a tag

[4 point]

I finally got out last Sunday night to hunt for the first time this year. Didn't have real high hopes of seeing much but it turned into a great evening. Had a doe and fawn come right under my stand just as the sun set. About 5 minutes later I heard a buck making a scrape behind my stand. He walked straight to my tree after he finished and I could see he was a dandy buck. He then walked around the base of my tree and made another scrape directly below me. As he was doing this I heard another buck at first scrape. As he came in on the same trail as the other deer I could see he was in the same class as the first buck. They both milled around in front of me for a few minutes with in 10 or 15 yards presenting many great shots.

 I couldn't bring myself to take a shot at any of the deer because I didn't want my hunt to be over. I started to think of all the things I would  miss seeing, especially during the rut. In a way I didn't feel like I had earned it. That makes no sense at all because I hunted all season last year and never released a arrow.    

 Just curious if anyone else out there has been in my position or if I'm the only insane person out there. When I'm still hunting in December and freezing my butt off I will really be questioning my sanity.

[Bud B.]

I've always thought the hunt is what WE as individuals seek from our time in the woods. Mine is similar to yours.

You are not insane. Quite the opposite.

[abbatoys]

I am finding myself more and more content just to enjoy the outdoors and soak it all in than releasing an arrow.

[ishoot4thrills]

Sorry bro, but I would've shot a "dandy" buck, no matter what part of the season it was, even if it's only 10 minutes after legal daylight on the first day. But, I work nearly seven days a week and don't get to hunt a whole lot either. It also makes a difference in how many deer there are on the land you're hunting on too. Not much cover on the land I hunt on so not a lot of deer are being seen during daylight hours.

Sounds like you're having a lot of fun seeing deer so no reason to change what you're doing if that's what floats your boat!

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

I enjoy the hunt a lot. But out west, we sometimes gain 2k in elevation before first light. It's a lot harder to pass on the shot when your legs are screaming "Never do this to me again!"

[4 point]

Malachi, I hunt out west every year also. I agree with you there. Plus I only have a week or maybe two to hunt there.

[TJK68]

Do what makes you happy my friend, no one else.
Tom

[MCNSC]

The first few times I go reach season I will often pass up shots on does or smaller bucks. I think you hit on a good point about not feeling like I earned the opportunity. As the season goes on I often look back at those passed opportunities with a little regret.    

[vermonster13]

Depends on how far I have to drag it afterwards.    :D

[Jerry Russell]

I have been there many times. You made a decision that it sounds like you want to live with and that is all that really matters. Sounds like you are right where you want to be in your hunting career and that is a nice place to be.

[ChuckC]

As stated above,  it's your hunt, your expectations and dreams, your wants and needs.  All of us would have done things our own different way, as would you on a different day.  

Enjoy what you experienced, because that is where it is at.  What you experience is what you will remember and enjoy, or rue.  

Maybe tomorrow, he's a shooter, but today.... today he made you smile.

enjoy

ChuckC

[centaur]

I love the hunt and being out, and I have not taken shots early in the season so that I can prolong the experience. That goes for whitetails, but if and when an elk gives me an opportunity in the first 5 seconds of the first day of the season, wood is gonna be in the air. After so many years of eating my elk tag and wearing out boot leather, I have definitely earned that opportunity.
I will take a doe early on in the season, but I much prefer to watch bucks until the rut. Even then, I have and will continue to pass up shots, and it doesn't bother me at all.

[wazu02]

Here in Pa you get one buck tag. Its amazing how many more deer I see now that I've gotten a little older and try and hunt for a mature buck instead of shooting the first decent buck that comes along. My ideal season would be to take the shot the last 15 minutes of the last day. Have passed on deer early in the season without getting the opertunity later in the season but during the hard core chase phase and the rut just enjoy being the woods. I completely agree with not wanting the hunt to be over. My buddy shot a dandy on the first day of our season and the first thing I asked him is "now what are you going to do"? Lol

[Mint]

If he was a dandy buck for the area I would have shot him and then enjoyed the rest of the season shooting does.

[durp]

we get one deer a year either sex SO when im ready i put meat in my freezer...with four grand kids hunting this year i have plenty of oppertunity to be out helping them...

[Izzy]

I aint gonna lie and be PC, I do take great reward from a hard earned kill, but I have also known satisfaction in letting beast live another day.

[laxbowman]

totally understand,  the last 4 years i was blessed to be able to hunt 35-45 days each season.  Never shot a buck early and i definitely was rewarded with seasons of memories.

[Bowwild]

I am allowed as many deer as I care to shoot and can use. I'll shoot any Doe, I try to avoid BBs, but if a buck comes along that is what I'm looking for, I don't care what the date is. Those are my objectives and only matter to me.

Another's reasons and purpose are theirs and that's one of the beauties of hunting...to each his own.  I get a huge kick out of squirrel hunting and sometimes I am glad to end my deer season a bit early to get after squirrels -- the animal I grew up hunting.

[Rob W.]

Sounds like a great hunt! For me an early doe calms me down and makes me feel better about my freezer status. I love all aspects of the hunt but I also like to cook and eat. My 2 boys are already craving jerky.


Rob

[David Mitchell]

How and why we hunt is a very personal matter.  As I have gotten older (just turned 70) I find that I have less desire to kill.  Maybe because I am realizing how very precious life is as I have a lot less of it than I once did.  The only thing that matters is that whatever you go into the woods to seek is what you hopefully will find.  If it's a big buck, great.  If it's watching him enjoy his moments under your stand with no arrow drawn and no blood spilled--that is great as well.