Why hunt deer?

[dan]

Why do you hunt deer?

[PLB]

I hunt deer for many reasons. I love seeing my family members up at deer camp that I only see once a year!!! I absolutely love being outdoors in peace and quiet, away from the daily grind! There is so much more than killing a deer! That would be last on my list of why I hunt deer!

[DropTyne]

I chose solitude with nature which is extremely important to me. After I cast my vote I started thinking though, the food portion of it is important to me too. When I shoot a deer the meat from an entire deer will last me about 3 months. I don't know if this is a generally high consumption rate but I really, really, really enjoy the taste of venison. I actually enjoy it so much that I have literally been sitting in my tree stand watching a doe at a distance and have had my mouth water, no lie. Anyone else out there have this happen?

I would also like to add that for me a big portion of my enjoyment comes out of the challenge of harvesting a mature buck. When you capitalize on your opportunity to take one there are very few things that can top that feeling, especially if you truly know the habits and patterns of a specific buck. I am competitive in general, not so much that I disrespect other hunters bucks or am critical of another hunter, but competitive within myself. When I screw up I curse myself, when I am triumphant I cheer for myself, If I don't get a good buck I know I didn't work hard enough, If I am fortunate enough to get a nice buck I need to make it happen faster. Things like that..............

[Dewey]

To me gun hunting is more of a social hunt and bowhunting is more about enjoying the solitude.

Nothing calms me more than quiet time in the fall woods while bowhunting and I enjoy every day the same whether I see any deer or not.

[Hodag Hunter]

Because I hate golf.

[Hodag Hunter]

Seriously.....don't really know why. It's just always been a part of my life to hunt and fish. It's just what I do and what our kids are doing now too.

In our family the kids do have a choice to not hunt or fish, I guess, but they go along a lot and have fun. Tough to pin point why we do it.....it's just what our family does and can't say I've ever given it a second thought.

The questions of what to do on the weekend or a day off rarely comes up, it's just a given I'm either in the woods or on the water with most days the wife and kids tagging along in some shape or form.

I dunno, tough topic for me to answer. Don't know if that sounds cheesy or not?

[JRM6868]

I think for me besides what's listed above is the challenge of matching wits with and animal whose one of their main purposes is to survive. There's something pure when your in stand and that magnificent mature animal comes walking in to your stand and knowing you got them.
It's the challenge of figuring a mature deer out.

[dan]

I think for me besides what's listed above is the challenge of matching wits with and animal whose one of their main purposes is to survive. There's something pure when your in stand and that magnificent mature animal comes walking in to your stand and knowing you got them.
It's the challenge of figuring a mature deer out.

Great answer! Its kind of a chess match to me too. I am just as happy (well almost) when the old buck beats me again.
In September I came face to face with an old buck I had been hunting for three seasons and pulled back the bow on him for the 1st time but hesitated a little to long and let him slip away. Rather than being pissed or depressed, I just smiled and whispered "you beat me again"

[hunt n nut]

Just love being out there Yes, I wanna kill many big bucks over the coarse of my life, not too many yet The adrenalin rush seeing deer, especially a nice buck, can't be replaced by anything else. Its great getting together with family and friends, especially b.s. ing about deer hunting 365 days a year!!!

[cornfedkiller]

I think for me besides what's listed above is the challenge of matching wits with and animal whose one of their main purposes is to survive. There's something pure when your in stand and that magnificent mature animal comes walking in to your stand and knowing you got them.
It's the challenge of figuring a mature deer out.

Exactly my feelings!

Nothing against guys that shoot little bucks (except when they complain about no big bucks around, but thats a different story), but to me, there is no challenge there..thats not what makes me happy..I do not feel like I have "conquered" (for lack of a better word) anything... An old mature deer, that is an accomplishment, that is what I strive for (although I havent got to put one on the ground yet), and that sense of accomplishment is one of the main reasons I hunt..

[Gardner Swamp]

I hunt deer for many reasons. I love seeing my family members up at deer camp that I only see once a year!!! I absolutely love being outdoors in peace and quiet, away from the daily grind! There is so much more than killing a deer! That would be last on my list of why I hunt deer!

X2
If only my wife could undestand that when I come home with nothing

[Gardner Swamp]

Because I hate golf.

I 'll take you out Hodag!!
Golf can be peaceful as well! I used to love golf in the evening up in Door County. I would see lots of wildlife. A buddy and I would take our cart and a 12er of our favorite beverage and take it all in.The golf game wasn't real good but it was pretty relaxing! It was more fun than sitting in the bar

[Indianahunter]

For me it's all about the game anymore, I love everything about deer hunting that I always have but the last few years it has been all about figuring (or attempting) to figure them out.

[G3s]

The reasons are countless really, I would say the driving force above all others is the fact that it is the one thing that my kids and I , my brother and I get to share together and really work hard at together....there is a sense of belonging that I can not explain.

[Bucky]

Part 1 The challenge of beating the ultimate survivor. Especially a buck that has lived to his 4th birthday... I have not killed many of those but I'm always trying to get better (woodsmanship, access, archery/muzzleloader/rifle accuracy, organization, stand prep and placement, patience, and determination). The last one is a key ingriedient. I like that I'm challenging myself and ultimately in control of my own destiny.

Part 2 Is simply the solitude of bowhunting... there is nothing better than watching/listening to the woods come alive on crisp, cool, WI morning!