killing a deer every year
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SE North Dakota
Posts: 456
RE: killing a deer every year
I' ve been deer hunting for 9 years, since I was 12. I' ve shot at least one deer every year, and two one year. I' ve been strictly bowhunting for 5 years, and have shot four deer in that span. However, I haven' t got one yet this year.
#3
RE: killing a deer every year
My success rate after many years of hunting is slightly less than 50%. Yep, I' m not even batting .500 The one thing I have learned over that time is that the number of deer shot has absolutely nothing to do with how good a hunter someone may be. Everything is relative. Shootng a deer a year in some states with high deer numbers may be a piece of cake while shooting a deer every 2-3 yrs in other states/provinces may be considered very successful. Consistency is the game here.
#4
RE: killing a deer every year
while i totally agree with Jimmy S, i enjoy keeping my freezer full of venison and have shot deer in the last 6 years, since i was 11. the first year was uneventful, but every year since that, i have been helpin my mom make venison stew.
#5
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Richardson TX USA
Posts: 738
RE: killing a deer every year
I' m at about 75%.
I have let a few walk in years past that when the end of the season rolled around I wish I' d shot.
also.... my success rate went down considerably since I started bowhunting!
I have let a few walk in years past that when the end of the season rolled around I wish I' d shot.
also.... my success rate went down considerably since I started bowhunting!
#6
Fork Horn
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Cary, IL
Posts: 356
RE: killing a deer every year
I' m up and down, depending on what my schedule allows. For 4-5 years in a row I shot at least one, if not 2-3 deer. However, I haven' t shot a deer the past two seasons. That' s not to say I didn' t have shots, because I did. I just elected to pass up small does and small bucks. I had a chance at 2 P&Y bucks in one weekend and missed them both last year. Can anyone say " CHOKE!" ?
I' m hoping to harvest a doe before the rut kicks in hard here in IL, but we' ll see how things go. I don' t have as much time to hunt as I used to now that I' m all grow' d up and I have a job and bills to pay. Ahhh....what I wouldn' t give to be 18 again and be able to take off whenever I wanted to go hunting.
I have to say I agree w/the statement that the number of deer you shoot doesn' t reflect on how good of a hunter you are. People put way too much emphasis on how many deer they shoot and how often they shoot them in terms of how good of a hunter they are. In 7 times on stand this year, I' ve had shots at 5 different deer. If I wanted my freezer packed full of button bucks, small does, and 1 1/2 year old bucks it wouldn' t be a problem.
I' m hoping to harvest a doe before the rut kicks in hard here in IL, but we' ll see how things go. I don' t have as much time to hunt as I used to now that I' m all grow' d up and I have a job and bills to pay. Ahhh....what I wouldn' t give to be 18 again and be able to take off whenever I wanted to go hunting.
I have to say I agree w/the statement that the number of deer you shoot doesn' t reflect on how good of a hunter you are. People put way too much emphasis on how many deer they shoot and how often they shoot them in terms of how good of a hunter they are. In 7 times on stand this year, I' ve had shots at 5 different deer. If I wanted my freezer packed full of button bucks, small does, and 1 1/2 year old bucks it wouldn' t be a problem.
#7
Fork Horn
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location:
Posts: 128
RE: killing a deer every year
I agree with Jimmy S. Another variable is how selective you are. I usually let several legal deer walk each year. I have a friend who usually kills between 15 and 20 per yr by hunting in 3 states. It all depends..........
#10
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: New Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 586
RE: killing a deer every year
Im about 50% but some of that is my fault cause some years that i didnt get one I let some pass by. Including last year I had small 6 point 10 yards away first day of rifle in PA and passed on him. Didnt see another buck the rest of the year. I didnt mind though got to watch him bed down for a few hours.