I have been deer hunting for 23 years now and I look forward every year for a chance to shoot a nice deer. In these last several years I have watched a significant change in how hunters view deer hunting and I do not believe it is for the good of hunting. The number one problem is the deer hunting television shows. I do not have enough time to write everything I would like to say so I will try to hit the high points. While some of these shows can be fun to watch, it has warped hunters into thinking that it is now just about killing huge whitetail deer.
Illinois. Yes, I live in this state. Did you know it is now the big buck capital of the world? How on earth would people know that? The answer is TV. I do not have a problem with hunters from out of state come and hunt. That is their god given right and that is fine with me. The problem is that there is so much hype from these TV personalities about big bucks in Illinois that it is hurting the average hunter. How- because farmers and landowners can make a killing either leasing or selling their land, which is my next topic.
Land. Has anyone looked at the price of land lately? Yes I know prices go up, but are you serious? Reason- because there are people that are buying up these properties, putting food plots in them, then selling them to people that have more money than they know what to do with. They are selling them as big buck properties. So guess what. Farmer Brown can’t let you have permission to his land because he just made a fortune selling it. Sorry. This one is even better. People come from everywhere and go to Mr. Farmer and tell him they are going to give him a ridiculous amount of money to him so that they can hunt. You, average Joe hunter, just lost your spot. Sorry. Fair, no. Can we stop it? Win the lotto!
Score. That is what it is all about now. Not, “ Hey Bob, that is a nice deer you killed.” Now it is, “Hey Bob, what did he score?” Who Cares! I don’t care if you kill a four point buck as long as you are happy with him. The worst part is that the TV shows make it look easy. So that has got to be how it really is, right? Remember when your dad told you when you were little not to believe everything you see on TV? Well, listen to him. This going out to a stand and killing a 180 inch buck is not real life folks. You want to kill one like they do? Then call X and X Outfitters and they will put you up in a stand that they set, and maybe he will walk by. When you kill him you can hang him up at your house or office and tell everyone that you are a trophy deer hunter. Just remember that it only cost you $3000.00 to $5000.00 to do it. When you pay someone to do all the work, you are not “pro” which is my next topic.
Pro. Yes, you think you are. You watch too many hunting shows. How many guys do you know that pass up good deer, have 1000 trail cam pictures, but never kill one. I love that. Because they think that it is only cool to kill giants. Deer hunting to me is a tradition. I would live to kill a giant every year but it doesn’t always work out but I am not going to pass up a mature buck just because he won’t make it in the Boone and Crockett book. I here young hunters talking like they have killed hundreds of deer when they haven’t shot their first. “ Yea, I saw a 150 and a 130 but there are bigger ones out there.” Or my personal favorite, “ he would have been a good one next year.”
Conclusion. We all want to kill a big buck, or should I say most of us. Some hunt for the meat and those are probably the true deer hunters. Don’t believe everything you see on TV. Just because they do it, doesn’t mean you have to. Don’t spend your whole life trying to kill a 200 inch deer because it probably won’t happen unless you pay a lot of money for it. Be happy with what you kill. So what if it is a 2 year old eight point buck. Be thankful that you got to go hunting. You are lucky because most people never get that opportunity. Buy land if you find a good deal. I know it is hard times now but at least you won’t have to worry about losing your spot. If not, there is always good public hunting ground left. Don’t try to impress everyone with all your pictures and all your stories about how you pass up all these big bucks. Be true to the sport. You have to crawl before you can walk. Harvest several deer before you consider yourself a good hunter. Last but not least, it is not “the cool” thing to do. It is a tradition and a past time that needs to be preserved. Not marketed out of the average hunters hands.
I am stepping off my soapbox now.
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