Steve you have done well. Title ? I am inclined to say both 50/50 split. Some days I just love to be in my stand & enjoy the Hunt/watching. Usually after I have one in the freezer.

 

Congrats on the bear.

That's a good question. I have often thought about that myself. This season I have bush hog a big area cleaned probably and acre and half. Put my cameras out, feeders, trim shooting lanes, blinds and stands out etc... I enjoy reading deer sign and putting it all together in areas I don't have cameras or feeders. I do that mainly on public land. I really do enjoy working hard in the deer woods. Then when I do get a buck it all comes together. Sometimes I look back at what I did to get it to come together. I think when that shot does come there is some satisfaction in all of it. The kill is the end result but I think I enjoy putting the puzzle together more.

 

For me, it’s not the hunt or the kill that’s most exciting. It’s the few seconds when you realize you are going to get a shot. The anticipation of waiting for just the right angle, aiming, and starting to apply pressure to the trigger. Maybe that counts as the kill though?

 

The hunt is enjoyable past time...the kill is the icing on the cake...

Congrats on a great season with more to come.

 

I enjoy it all, when I was younger with a family to feed not making much money itwas definitely more about putting meat in the freezer. Now days I simply love the challenge huge reason I love going to different states scouting finding fresh sign and trying to connect the dots. I will say some of my fondest memory have been on hunting excursions with friends and family and never killed a thing. Life is short enjoy it while you can with those you love and care about be it hunting or even golf of all things 😜. Never understood that one lol.

 

I truly like it all and sharing it with family and friends - both the venison and the hunt if they put in their time to become proficient. That being said - I’d still qualify my daughter as a shooter not a hunter - but she’s my daughter. 🤷‍♂️ Luckily I have a lot of tags which allows me to stay in the woods even after a few are filled…

 

Oh - congratulations on your season so far Steve! 👍

 

there are few things as nice as watching your breath on the wind as the sun climbs over the hills out in nature where we were meant to be, when that comes with a freezer full of the healthiest meat you and your family could possibly eat and maybe a warm rug to put your toes on in winter that's all just icing on the cake.

Congrats on the bear, I hope it fills your freezer and then some.

 

Good work Brother Steve! One heck of a season and its only Mid September. Plenty of time to fill that other Buck Tag

oh yeah for me The Hunt …shot plenty of Deer and Bear for a lifetime. Now i really enjoy watching the woods come to life and if a Big Buck walks by that just makes it even better!

 

Both for me.......anticipation and excitement during the hunt, and satisfaction and appreciation after the kill and subsequent "good eats"! Congrats on the bear!

 

Well done Sew! Heck of an early season harvest.

I’ve been both and loved the “in moment” of the harvest. Today I’m more into the Experience so I’ve moved from the kill to the hunt.

Blessed to be among folks that like it all!

 

This season is rapidly approaching a close. On September the 7th, I had 2 buck and 1 bear tag. By Sept 7 evening, I had 1 less buck tag. After hunting 14 hrs a day for 2 days in 94-96 degrees F , then 3 hours in approaching 85 degrees on the 3rd day (Sept 17 - 19) , I was down to 1 buck tag. It’ll take quite a buck for me to use that tag.
Fishing is good in the fall months There’ll be more of that this year.

Awesome...congrats on the bear.

 

A downed animal is certainly the object of a hunt,
but becomes anticlimactic when compared to the other pleasures of the hunt. (Fred Bear)

Can't eat pleasures(HST)

 

Anything that gets me out in the field. It's all adventure.

 

My best hunts are with Doris and my 35yr old son Dalton. Most of the time I’m not even hunting when I’m with them. Doris started hunting back in 24. She had never been in the woods before daylight or after dark. She watches everything in wonder. I have to say she loves to shoot stuff then skin and cook it.lol. Dalton passes bucks that I would definitely shoot.lol. He has been hunting since he was eight. My biggest enjoyment at my age now is hunting with my loved ones and friends. My younger days all I focused on was mature bucks now it don’t even matter I just want see my loved ones enjoy what I have in the woods over the years.

 

The hunt ! If I was just a killer I would quit killing as that isn’t what hunting is all about. The killing part does not give me a thrill or rush. It’s taking the life of something and that aspect isn’t enjoyable eating them is. The heritage and history of hunting is much more than just killing something.

 

When I first started hunting deer and big game. A little over 50 years ago, it was definitely more about the kill. That changed rather quickly. Then the kill became anticlimactic. Ever since, the hunt and anticipation, became far more important than killing anything. The comeraderie at deer camp, stand preparations, scouting , etc. has become my favorite part. Not to say, I don't enjoy the feeling of a well placed shot , and quick kill. Also the fact, the vast majority of my diet has been, wild game I killed, and fish I've caught, for my whole life. The only exception would be during my military service. Though I tried at any opportunity to continue the tradition.

 

Brother Steve,
Congrats all the way around. Nice work.

Now my take on the question posed...

As we age, I think our perspectives change also. As a young man, it was all about the 'taking" of game. As I grew older, it became about the adventure. And even now, it has changed again.
It's about introducing the next generation, and the next to the joys of hunting, and its comraderies. It's about seeing young faces beaming over the antlers of a buck, or of the slick head of a Doe, for that matter.
It's about sharing a cup of coffee in a freezing blind, waiting on that first morning gobble and watching the sun as it sneaks up over the ridge, and painted streaks of sunlight on the forest floor.
It's about cold crisp morning air.
It's about a million things all rolled into what we call "The Hunt", the adventure of it all.
Go find your place in this adventure! Make memories. Share them with loved ones and friends.
And Thank God for the ability to enjoy it all.

 

Brother Steve,
Congrats all the way around. Nice work.

Now my take on the question posed...

As we age, I think our perspectives change also. As a young man, it was all about the 'taking" of game. As I grew older, it became about the adventure. And even now, it has changed again.
It's about introducing the next generation, and the next to the joys of hunting, and its comraderies. It's about seeing young faces beaming over the antlers of a buck, or of the slick head of a Doe, for that matter.
It's about sharing a cup of coffee in a freezing blind, waiting on that first morning gobble and watching the sun as it sneaks up over the ridge, and painted streaks of sunlight on the forest floor.
It's about cold crisp morning air.
It's about a million things all rolled into what we call "The Hunt", the adventure of it all.
Go find your place in this adventure! Make memories. Share them with loved ones and friends.
And Thank God for the ability to enjoy it all.

I agree completely I have changed the way you described also

 

The hunt, the kill if you are lucky enough to get a shot and the good eating that follows. All are part of it for me.

Consider buying a bonus tag, if available and use your next deer to supply the local food shelf or donate to the local veterans organizations. There is plenty of need out there. Congratulations on your great season so far.

 

I used to hunt with family and some friends that are gone. I did focus on killing game. But today I think about times hunting with them when I didnt have a tag. I was just the bird dog. I would give anything to be with them in the field once more as the bird dog. So I guess for me it's the hunt and memories made.

 

Congrats on a great start to the year.

The hunt or the kill WOW now thats a tough one for me.

I enjoy every second of the chase. But man when it all comes together and you see that nock hit behind the shoulder and watch the mule kick then you walk up on those horns. That feeling i just can't put into words. I choose all of the above .

 

 

All the above.

 

Off to a blazing start, CONGRATS X2.

 

Great question & awesome pics Steve. You know I’ve got the EdgeTacs ready to go on 22” Zombies. Really want to see the damage they do first hand. At 321 ft/s they should hit with authority.
With my health in the crapper & getting worse as I age, it’s all about being in the woods & enjoying the beauty of God’s creation. Tagging out is a bonus. I have passed on several nice bucks over the years. Just because I wasn’t up to the task afterwards.
Heck, I can’t even track a deer anymore. I have a friend that drops everything to do all the work & that’s a real friend!

Greg