Why won't they listen?

[IndaTimber]

So, as mentioned previously I briefly gave the beast style of hunting a serious effort this year. I was unable to connect but I did get closer to two mature bucks, on purpose, than ever before. I've killed a few nice deer but never truly patterned one and only had them come in chasing or trailing does.

I admittedly made several rookie mistakes; moving to fast, setting up too close, not close enough, rushing things, noise movement, etc... I'm sure everyone has been there, but I'm a believer that this style of hunting will give me the opportunity to be more successful rather than hoping a hot doe drags a mature deer past me.

Now to the question, why is it that not one of the people I talk to about hunting will even give me the time of day when I mention this style of hunting. I've heard that it is a waste of time to try and get that close to a mature buck's bed without getting busted an then he'll move to another area, blah, blah, blah. I've referred people to this site, I observed and read for several months prior to joining, but none will give it an honest try, or even discuss it.

I have a buddy of mine that just got into hunting this past year. We were talking just this morng and I was telling him how I was getting ready for next year and the beast style of hunting. Now, he's asked me to take him out but he wants nothing to do with this style of hunting or the work associated with it, mentioning he would still like to go if I found any "nice deer." Not to start a political issue, but I asked him when he became a Socialist, wanting to benefit from my work and effort. That didn't go over very well and he stormed out of the office and is probably pouting somewhere.

So, do I just give up one this topic with these guys, work my but off scouting and learning deer movement this offseason, hammer a "slob" next year, and quietly enjoy the fruits of my labor, or try to convince some people, especially the new hunter, of the validity of the beast style of hunting?

[Zap]

Well its alot of work for one thing.

Just the carry in/out aspect puts alot of people off, let alone all the boots on the ground scouting.

Then there is a learning curve and alot of folks do not want to deal with that.

Its alot easier to put up some stands then hunt em and hope something walks past.

You also have to factor in the TV/video factor, no one has seen this type of hunting before and most think what they see on TV is normal.
Deer hunting on managed low pressure ground is far from normal but alot of folks think it is what they should expect in the woods.

I was shooting at the public range a few evenings ago at dusk.
There is a twenty/forty and sixty yard target buttt.
I was shooting at the twenty from fifty five, and seven doe walked across just behind the sixty one at a time as I was shooting .

That is a no hunting area and goes to show how different deer can behave in a managed enviroment.

[Mountain Man]

So, do I just give up one this topic with these guys, work my but off scouting and learning deer movement this offseason, hammer a "slob" next year, and quietly enjoy the fruits of my labor.

That's what I think you should try to do.

[jlh42581]

Some see the light, some dont. I wouldnt waste my breath.

I have buddies like you do, who think I am going to do all the work then they reap the rewards too. News flash... I cant hunt today, sorry.

[IndaTimber]

Some see the light, some dont. I wouldnt waste my breath.

I have buddies like you do, who think I am going to do all the work then they reap the rewards too. News flash... I cant hunt today, sorry.

LOL.... I understand that! I guess I'm more interested in helping out the new hunter. The guys that have been hunting for awhile, I have no problem being quiet around them. I just know I would have liked to have learned about this style of hunting years ago, but not looking back all I can do is learn and move forward and hopefully help someone else along the way; however, if someone doesn't want help I guess there is nothing you can do.

I'll just concentrate my efforts on my education and having my 6 year old boy with me this spring, teaching him all I can.

[Zap]

Around here the hunters fall into three categories:

Hunt bait/plots where they have a trail cam.

Hunt rut.

Other.

The "other" group is a very small majority.

[JV NC]

Now to the question, why is it that not one of the people I talk to about hunting will even give me the time of day when I mention this style of hunting. I've heard that it is a waste of time to try and get that close to a mature buck's bed without getting busted an then he'll move to another area, blah, blah, blah. I've referred people to this site, I observed and read for several months prior to joining, but none will give it an honest try, or even discuss it.

Here's my take on this.....

I think the style of hunting you're talking about can be highly successful......for the right person @ the right time on the right grounds. I think it can be highly frustrating to the wrong hunter @ the wrong time on the wrong grounds. Right hunter - wrong time = frustration. Right hunter - wrong grounds = frustration.

I kind of see this the way I view hunting with my recurve. Am I going to be as successful (as often) as I might be with my compound (in taking a respectable buck from my area)? Probably not. But, you know this going in....and you accept it. It's the journey, right? Until someone's got years and years of this type hunting under their belt, I think this style of hunting is likely NOT the most affective method of THEM taking good bucks from their grounds.

I'm no "beast" hunter. I'm not sure I ever want to be (based on where I hunt.....which I'm not wanting to or willing to change). I incorporate a lot of methods/ideologies that don't fit, neatly, into what "they say". Given the right grounds (in the right area of the country), I might think differently (re: 'beast' style hunting). But, so many things influence where I choose to set up on a particular set. Not that I think of it a lot....but, how does a "beast" hunt the rut, if he's been unsuccessful to that point? Has he hurt his chances during said (rut) by his previous intrusions? How would he know? Does he care (I'm gonna get him on my terms...or not at all mentality)? I respect that mentality. I just choose not to take it for my own.

[jlh42581]

From a rut standpoint I look at it as, more likely than not the deer I hunted during the prerut are probably on another property. You gotta take whats available to you and adjust based on your goal.

If your goal is to get the biggest buck in high pressure, you better get him before the rut/gun season. If you just wanna shoot any deer or wanna kill a doe in late archery season, you would be foolish to not hunt the food.

[Stanley]

So, as mentioned previously I briefly gave the beast style of hunting a serious effort this year. I was unable to connect but I did get closer to two mature bucks, on purpose, than ever before. I've killed a few nice deer but never truly patterned one and only had them come in chasing or trailing does.

I admittedly made several rookie mistakes; moving to fast, setting up too close, not close enough, rushing things, noise movement, etc... I'm sure everyone has been there, but I'm a believer that this style of hunting will give me the opportunity to be more successful rather than hoping a hot doe drags a mature deer past me.

Now to the question, why is it that not one of the people I talk to about hunting will even give me the time of day when I mention this style of hunting. I've heard that it is a waste of time to try and get that close to a mature buck's bed without getting busted an then he'll move to another area, blah, blah, blah. I've referred people to this site, I observed and read for several months prior to joining, but none will give it an honest try, or even discuss it.

I have a buddy of mine that just got into hunting this past year. We were talking just this morng and I was telling him how I was getting ready for next year and the beast style of hunting. Now, he's asked me to take him out but he wants nothing to do with this style of hunting or the work associated with it, mentioning he would still like to go if I found any "nice deer." Not to start a political issue, but I asked him when he became a Socialist, wanting to benefit from my work and effort. That didn't go over very well and he stormed out of the office and is probably pouting somewhere.

So, do I just give up one this topic with these guys, work my but off scouting and learning deer movement this offseason, hammer a "slob" next year, and quietly enjoy the fruits of my labor, or try to convince some people, especially the new hunter, of the validity of the beast style of hunting?

Respect is earned not granted. You are suggesting to these guys how they should hunt but have not been successful in doing so yourself. No knock on you, but think about it. Example; If you want to know what it takes to get a P&Y buck would you trust Myles Keller or Joe Willes down the road that has none? If the guys you are recruiting are after a big buck, you must be able to show them how you did it, not tell them how you will do it. Keep promoting the Beast style, don't get too upset when most don't understand, and go out and knock down a big one next year.

[Schultzy]

Hunting beds like Dan teaches Isn't for everyone. Everyone has their knack In the whitetail woods with what works for them. In my opinion Dan's style of hunting Is a tough one to grasp, takes work. Most these days don't care for the work part so they won't even attempt It but once you figure out his way of hunting I believe It will be very rewarding. I'm not there yet myself (bed hunter) but I'm working the steps you could say.

[Mountain Man]

LOL....if someone doesn't want help I guess there is nothing you can do.

I'll just concentrate my efforts on my education and having my 6 year old boy with me this spring, teaching him all I can.

Bingo! You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink.

You tried with your friend. I wouldn't push it any further with him. Maybe he will come around in the future.

Even though you would like to help your friend, in the end I think the time spent with your son will be more rewarding for you.

I also agree with what Stanley said.

[dan]

Good point as usual Stan... But even myself, with a lot of deer under my belt useing these methods gets looked at odd whem I disscuss how I killed them. I think a lot of that is because it goes against the grain of what most people have been taught.

[JV NC]

Hunting beds like Dan teaches Isn't for everyone. Everyone has their knack In the whitetail woods with what works for them. In my opinion Dan's style of hunting Is a tough one to grasp, takes work. Most these days don't care for the work part so they won't even attempt It but once you figure out his way of hunting I believe It will be very rewarding. I'm not there yet myself (bed hunter) but I'm working the steps you could say.

It's not just this, Steve (hunter's choice). Some just realize this style of hunting isn't going to produce what they're seeking.....on the grounds they're hunting. You could be the hardest working whitetail hunter in the state of FL....and you're never going to kill a booner. Ever......

Didn't you say you hunt about 125ac.'s? Do you think you can be successful - hunting this style....on those grounds.....year after year? Or, do you just accept you're NOT going to be successful year after year - and take pride in HOW you took your buck, every few years? Nothing wrong with that, if that's how you feel.

Just curious.

[dan]

how does a "beast" hunt the rut, if he's been unsuccessful to that point? Has he hurt his chances during said (rut) by his previous intrusions?

The way I do it is to spread myself thin... I hunt a lot of ground. Some people, like Andrae, just hunt less and wait for the right time to go in. I hunt more, but move around a lot.
I also, feel that I get cracks at older bucks even during the rut, by hunting closer to there beds... The buck I shot this year was shot 70 yards from his bed on Halloween night ( rut ) and it was already closeing time... Any farther away and no shot opertunity.

I would not push "Beast style hunting" on anyone... To each there own. Its a lot of work.
I would however, suggest every hunter wanting to do better, scout the buck bedding areas on there property. The intel gained is tremendous. When you start finding where bucks are bedding specifically to watch or smell you enter your hunting area, or that your walking up wind of a buck bedding area to get to your spot, or that the nearest buck bedding is a 1/4 mile away, well, you will start to see the benifits...

[Schultzy]

Didn't you say you hunt about 125ac.'s? Do you think you can be successful - hunting this style....on those grounds.....year after year?

Just curious.

On the 117 acres I hunt, you bet I could use this method year after year. I have the bedding but my neighbors have much better bedding. Still It can be done though. I've used this style of hunting the last 3 years. I should've scored 2 of the last 3 years on my 1st hunt, things didn't go In my favor. Problem for me Is locating the other bedding area's on the property then the ones I already know about and why they use them at said time.