Honest Question About Deer Hunting?

[Ol Thumper]

Every year we hear the same stories on here and from our friends outside the GS and its got me to wondering. When did deer hunting become so emotional? Meaning when did hunting become so powerful that it made grown men act like idiots and the sight of a big buck make men do stupid things? Im curious what the reasoning is and why deer does this to a lof of guys and gals every year. Im betting we would all be shocked to know how many friendships were lost over a deer every year around the country and how many folks were butt hurt.
My point being Im curious to know what you guys think the reasoning is, the sight of a coyote doesnt do this, nor does the sight of a bobcat,fox,cow,etc etc but drop a big buck out in the feild and most hunters will go nuts and do anything including selling their soul to get him on the ground. Why is this?

[DrenalinJunkie]

I believe it is because hunting is such a high priced activity.

Me, I hunt on small land with small prices.......... I don't have grand plans of shooting a huge buck (in Texas). If I want horns I go to my place in Nebraska!

Money money money is the reason I see.

[Sparkles]

I think people, men especially are competetive by nature. Add to that multiple hunting forums where you have sort of an online "brag board" it has become the nature of the beast. There are alot of people out there that still hunt for the thrill of the hunt, but just as many after antler inches. So my thought is when the internet machine really kicked off so did the numbers of people who wanted to one up their buddies. Now they have the option to say look at me on a world wide level.
You should just ask George.
which kind of reminds of the guy who joined our lease and shot a young 8 ot of my stand before he set p his own or even asked me if he cold hunt my stand. He thought it was a monster buck turned out to be 3.5 at best and 120 at best.

[HSULongbow]

I think it's due to the time and energy put into hunting deer, and the anticipation of hunting deer as you prepare all year for the season to start. You didn't do all that to hunt coyotes or rabbits, for instance, so therefore you don't have an investment psychologically with other animals.
Does that help?

[kyle1974]

hang on.... this thread is going to make me cry. I need to get a box of tissues before I reply.

[TallTexan]

The commercialization of deer hunting, and the human urge to be better than the next person.

I consider myself a meat hunter, but I've found myself this past season falling into that same situation. It even made me take a step back to look at myself.

I had my good hunting buddy, opening of gun season, go to the tree that i hunted all bow season with no kill, and he ended up shooting the 8pt. buck I saw during bow season.

First thought was to be mad, but then I became glad. At least someone I know was able to harvest a great buck, and his story of six shots to kill it made it even better.

[RiverRat1]

Several things IMO. Bragging rights for a lot of people. For me it's the fact that I spend a lot of time hunting (or sitting and waiting) and pretty much know that I may only get one chance per year. So when that one chance comes, my brain freaks out because if I screw it up I have to wait another YEAR for the next chance.

Others may think that the little buck someone shot would become a 200" deer due to reading too much. People price deer way too high IMO. You put in a lot of money and time and you get POed when someone shoots something they were not supposed to.
Most put zero time and effort into hunting bobcat or fox so when they see one they do not get excited.

[Geezy Rider]

When we started keeping score.

[RiverRat1]

I think people, men especially are competetive by nature. Add to that multiple hunting forums where you have sort of an online "brag board" it has become the nature of the beast. There are alot of people out there that still hunt for the thrill of the hunt, but just as many after antler inches. So my thought is when the internet machine really kicked off so did the numbers of people who wanted to one up their buddies. Now they have the option to say look at me on a world wide level.
You should just ask George.
which kind of reminds of the guy who joined our lease and shot a young 8 ot of my stand before he set p his own or even asked me if he cold hunt my stand. He thought it was a monster buck turned out to be 3.5 at best and 120 at best.

The commercialization of deer hunting, and the human urge to be better than the next person.

I consider myself a meat hunter, but I've found myself this past season falling into that same situation. It even made me take a step back to look at myself.

I had my good hunting buddy, opening of gun season, go to the tree that i hunted all bow season with no kill, and he ended up shooting the 8pt. buck I saw during bow season.

First thought was to be mad, but then I became glad. At least someone I know was able to harvest a great buck, and his story of six shots to kill it made it even better.

Which is why HF owners get really mad when asked if a buck was shot behind a HF. They think/feel the buck is being downgraded due to location. And the bolded is also why LF hunters ask the questions because their "trophies" and being downgraded every time a huge HF buck is posted.

[Ol Thumper]

When we started keeping score.

Never thought about that aspect, I see this being tied to most of it I bet one one way or another.

[TXhunter77]

I think it's due to the time and energy put into hunting deer, and the anticipation of hunting deer as you prepare all year for the season to start. You didn't do all that to hunt coyotes or rabbits, for instance, so therefore you don't have an investment psychologically with other animals.
Does that help?

this^^^^^

[Ol Thumper]

[QUOTE=3pairs12;4734045]
You should just ask George.


LOL very true however I think he is just blood thirsty

[Chad C]

Every year we hear the same stories on here and from our friends outside the GS and its got me to wondering. When did deer hunting become so emotional? Meaning when did hunting become so powerful that it made grown men act like idiots and the sight of a big buck make men do stupid things? Im curious what the reasoning is and why deer does this to a lof of guys and gals every year. Im betting we would all be shocked to know how many friendships were lost over a deer every year around the country and how many folks were butt hurt.
My point being Im curious to know what you guys think the reasoning is, the sight of a coyote doesnt do this, nor does the sight of a bobcat,fox,cow,etc etc but drop a big buck out in the feild and most hunters will go nuts and do anything including selling their soul to get him on the ground. Why is this?

I've noticed the change over the last 20 years increase with publications, etc... There were only a handful of publications 20 years ago and TV shows were limited to VHS. As the buisness of hunting picked up from camoflouge development, to VHS/DVD and television shows, etc... The outlook on the sport and the increase in intrest has changed quite significantly! We have had a high fenced property for nearly 30 years with native Whitetails. 20 years ago, I never dreamed we would be growing 200" deer on our place after 25 years of 150" deer being a great deer on limited management. But, we too have changed with the times!

The influences of modern "Media" is the biggest reason for change, TV, Internet, books, magazines, etc...

[Chad C]

When we started keeping score.

How old are the scoring systems versus the change we've seen over the last 20 years, or for that matter. The last 10 years?

The scoring systems set a benchmark... They didn't promote thd current state of hunting.

[bowhuntntxn]

The fascination for hunting started when folks no longer had to kill any deer for survival. Then it became a sport for bragging rights between friends. And with more bragging that requires bigger trophies. And folks started providing more large trophies, and that came with a price tag. Inflation, greed and egos have taken care of the rest.

Even meat hunters will shoot a 100 inch buck before they shoot a doe if they are standing side by side. So that really doesnt mean a lot any more IMO. Shooting big deer can be extremely rewarding in a financial sense, so the drive to get the biggest sometimes over rides people's sense of right and wrong. Also people get no reward for shooting animals that are not good table fare, and there is no world record coyote that people are in awe of or trying to break.