Any hunters here? (Warning-pics of game taken inside)
 

Well, I know that there are two for sure. Anyone else hunt or fish? I truly love to do both. It's my main passion. I love deer hunting. Being out on a crisp morning before the sun comes up, seeing everything change from black to grey to color. Seeing things that I would never see unless I was afield.

Bow season is open and I love to be out before the rifle crew. It's the challenge that I crave. Getting within 10 or 20 yards of a deer without them knowing you are there, predicting their movements. It is wuite a rush. Rifle season starts in two weeks. I look forward to getting together with 10 of my friends to swap old stories, play poker, drink too much beer at the cabin Friday night, only to fall into bed well past midnight, knowing that 4:30 will come way too soon.

I can only imagine some reading this thread wonder how I can do such a thing. It can't be explained to someone that already has a preconceived notion that hunting is "bad". I am an ethical hunter and only take shots that I am confdent that it will be a clean kill. I do whatever I can to respect the game that I pursue.

Here is a picture of my deer from last year. Also a picture of my mount from 2004. 07 was taken on a friend's property about 8 miles from my house. 04 was taken on my property about 250 yards from my back door.

Fuck your big ass Nebrska deer,

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Those were both taken Saturday and are monsters for the area.

I feel ya man. I like to hunt as well. I like the natural meat. It is so much healthier for you than store bought. All the added chemicals completely change the taste of the meat. We had raised some pigs as a family project once. The meat was raised just like store bought. Actually even better food. We fed them with the local bread store closeouts, plus grain, etc etc.

When eating it, the meat tasted totally different. It had more of a wild taste. These hogs could of been sold to market and taste just like the rest of the pork you find at the store.
At that point, I realized all the chemicals and preservatives we put in our system........

As far as eating wild meat...

People are taught differently. They don't realize that every time you buy a chicken nugget you killed a chicken.

My girlfriend and me went round and round about wild game. After that comment, she finally said: If you can bring it to me, Packaged like it came from Walmart or Krogers, I'll cook and eat it.

That was the stupidest thing I ever heard. But hey, I have common ground now. LOL

I personally can't even eat store bought turkey, I think it's horrible compared to wild turkey. Beef you kinda have to deal with but there's no way in hell I'd ever take beef over venison, especially not tenderloin right off a deer's back....shit I gotta go thaw some meat out now :giggle:.

Mother?!? Mother?!?

Your Mother isn't here anymore.....


Never was into big game. Too soft hearted. Before I became a small business slave and actually had time off I used to have a couple of German Shorthair Pointers. Loved upland game bird hunting. Was a terrible shot, too slow, so it was mostly to work the dogs and enjoy the outdoors. If I got something the tasty dinner was a bonus. Love watching, and working with, a good bird dog.

Agreed. I have two yellow labs. One hunts. We still have a good pheasant population and I get out a couple of times a year. My wife has gotten into bird hunting last year, but doesn't want anything to do with big game hunting. That's cool and I understand. I enjoy watching the dog work and I am getting pretty "slow" on drawing a bead to ensure she gets the first shot.;)

I had a beautiful Chocolate Lab. She was so smart. She could hunt or do anything, including turning on water hoses and opening some doors.

My girlfriends stupid family lost it...... I had that dog for 4 years. I hate them........

Anyway, Labs are great dogs.

I rescued a lab mix from the pound this year. We'll see how she turns out.

I've hunted (deer only) with both gun and bow. Noting as impressive, rack wise, but I hunted for the meat, not the antlers. I won't be hunting this year - I just can't seem to get excited about freezing my ass off while sleep deprived/hungover - but I'll probably stop in at camp for a beer or three.

It's definitely not for everybody, but it's very rewarding to the people that do it.

I got my first deer last year. I am going this weekend. I wouldn't exactly say it's something I'm passionate about. I like it and it is something my Dad and I both enjoy. I survived off of the deer meat I got last fall in order to minimize my food bill while I was saving for my Miata.

nice rack. i wish my dad would have taken me hunting but he stopped going around the time i was born. contrary to what most would think is liberal, I think it's pretty awesome.

i take it you hunters all have huge freezers?

Can't resist.

Yep. Gotta have room for all the meat and fish fillets. :)

I love to fish. Only been hunting twice. Shot a doe and 6 pointer.
Stephanie

Hunting twice and got two? I can see why you stopped. It's too easy for you!

I generally catch and release, but some crappie, northern or smallmouth bass have been known to be introduced to some cornmeal and hot grease.

Muskie are catch and release only.

Come on you guys (and gal), post up some of your hunting or fishing pics!

I did not shoot them, but here are some photos of what the ex shot.
Stephanie

I was asleep and this guy woke me up from my slumber, so I shot him.

that looks like that exact same lever action 30-30 i have

this will be my first year, rifle season is dec1st for me. not real keen on the gutting process but if i get one i gotta do it.

This will be my first year as well. I was around it when I was a kid, but I never got the chance to participate.

Our rifle season started last weekend, I can't wait.

Chris

Great to see a couple of new hunters joining the ranks this year. Good luck to you both!

That's why I don't hunt. I would love the actual "hunt", but I couldn't gut the animal. :td:

They are fun. It is kinda dangerous how it leaves the trigger without a guard when you work the lever action. My Dad modified the sights a bit with a few drops of florescent paint. It certainly helps in low light conditions.

No problem. Go hunt with a camera. I know several people that do that and can get some amazing close up shots. Give it a try sometime. There's something about being within 10 yards of a deer when it doesn't know you are there.

+1. It is fun watching them come towards you through the dense underbrush. After a whole morning of silence they come come walking through breaking branches and crushing leaves. Your heart starts to beat faster and faster as you wait for a clear view.

I still don't understand the challenge here. If you are hunting because you need it to eat... fine. But anything else is just lame. There is nothing more creepy than walls full of stuff animal heads.

If you want a challenge... pick up a rock and jump the damn thing and club it to death.

Otherwise... using a gun to kill something isn't hard... the respect level goes up for bow hunters... but even then the technology of todays bows diminishes the difficulty also.

Just do this... go and enjoy the woods and enjoy nature... unless you need to eat to survive, there is no reason to go kill things.

I own guns... I shoot... but from all the years I've spent camping across the US and hiking through the moutains/parks etc..... hunting is to easy and sad for me to support. (don't bring up population control... that has its place... and it will hardly ever be the reason a hunter go out)

There is a lot of prep that can be done before you even go out on opening day. You scout for signs and animal activity in the area. You find trails and possible vantage points. You build multiple stands. You prep in the morning to cover your scent. I don't mean to start a fight or argument but unless you have actually done it don't say that it doesn't require skill/hard work.

Go ahead and say that you disagree with the principal but if you do then I would expect you to never go into McDonald's or ever enjoy a steak.

As for population control, you've never been to Northern Minnesota. I hit 2 deer in one year. That is only counting the ones I've hit. Screw autocross. Just go to Northern Minnesota and dodge deer.

Splitime,

I respect your position and won't try to rationalize or justify mine. I appreciate your post and am happy that you chose to voice your opinion. Frankly, I was a bit suprised to see it take 23 posts to see a dissenting view, although generating one wasn't my intent when starting this thread.

I understand all that having tracked them through the hills and watched them up close for fun. It doesn't justify the kill... unless its to feed the family.

Heads on the wall /= feeding the family. Making a trophy out of a living creature is just well... disgusting. If I needed to hunt to eat, I would in a heartbeat. Would I waste part of the dear to make a trophy... no... it fed me... why take it beyond that?

When I fish... I eat them and thats it. Why bother with anything more?

I know we'll just have to agree to disagree... but yah... as Stein was thanking me.. I do need to voice my opinion.

Not sure if he helps or not, but to give some support to my outdoor activities/knowledge/whatever... I'm an Eagle Scout who grew up in the woods. I consider it a home away from home.

In all actuality I partially agree with you. Shooting something just for sport doesn't really sound that appealing. I enjoy venison and have survived off of it before. :)

Not necessarily. My ex was an avid hunter, and also had many trophies, including exotics. However, we ate everything he killed. I disagree with trophy hunting, but if you are going to eat it, who cares? As to a trophy on the wall, that is some one's personal preference. I think the trophy's are beautiful. I could do without the boar's head though.
Stephanie

Deer are very beautiful animals.

As for the boar, you should put it outside with it's head sticking out of a dog house and see what the neighbors say. :)

Wow, me too. What caliber is yours? Mine is a .44 Rem Mag, and the thing is a tack driver inside of 75 yards. When I last sighted it in, I put 3 rounds nearly on top of each other at 50 yards. I cheat, and use a 3-9X scope on mine. I use a 12 ga, to deer hunt, though.

i also disagree with "trophy" hunting. if you are going to kill something, eat it. deer meat is freaking awesome!