… I loved their videos as a kid … based my life after them lol

I killed a decent buck under those same conditions. There was only twilight remaining in the swamp bottom. Couldn't see my pins. Once I drew and string touched my nose I knew my anchor was correct. Buck was close...10 yards. Clean pass-thru....ran 50 yds and piled up. I think back on that and realize how lucky I was, but I shot a lot back in those days......yard practice and weekly 3D competitions....was in 1990, I think.

I own land. Saved my whole life and made it a priority to buy a farm once my 3 boys had college funds that would get them through an instate school of their choice. Went without the new trucks, bass boats, 4 wheelers and side by sides that ALL of my friends were buying to save and make it a reality.

After purchasing the farm, had a couple of those same ‘buddies’ ask me about deer hunting. 2 weeks before the season. Never once offered to come and put up posted signs when it was 95 degrees out or hang stands or chip in on diesel for the tractor. They got a fat “Naw” and haven’t asked again.

Couple of different ‘buddies’ asked if I would put in a dove field for a yearly hunt. I said certainly… farmer pays me $85 / acre to lease it. Offered to take 3 acres out of the rotation. Figured $100 for lime, fertilizer and seed per acre and I’d donate my time, tractor and fuel. Did the rough math in my head and told them we’d be looking at $550 for a 3 acre field annually. How’d they want to split it?? Both said they couldn’t justify spending $275 / year to dove hunt. I just smiled and shook my head.

I’m with you Mr. Swamp… can’t stand the whining either. Y’all fellers excuse me. I got game camera pics to check and seed for my food plots to order.

Doesn't count unless he has a cool name, u have everyone of his sheds, have had Keith verify he's related to it and have a pic of him every year on his birthday oh and a list of sponsorship

Lol

Thanks for posting this Gunnleg!

I so regret not doing what you did and saving to buy me a hunting tract. But, I was one of those that bought the truck, ATV, etc.

The difference in them and me though is I would've paid my share of the dove field and would've been there to help plant it too. That's just how we've always done it down here.

Not sure about Keith's lineage and the sponsors, but I bet you and your son had a name for that super-fine, large buck he killed a couple season's back. I already know that you had pic of him...so we will count that one!

I know that your son was right proud of that beast! And that you were proud of your son!

[/quote]Yessir
How easy can one make it before it loses its fun? Sincere question [/quote]



This is to easy. Sitting at the table in the cabin eating lunch. Alfalfa bales and the feeder. Never shot a deer out my cabin window yet. A little safe place for deer to eat and relax during hunting season


That being said it’s a lot different where I hunt. Have access to 100000 acres plus. Most neighbors say go ahead but I’ve been around here all my life. Never heard of paid hunting except with outfitters way up in the bush around here.

And farmers have a right to give access for hunting or tell you to pound sand. You have no idea of how many people they already gave access to or how many family members hunt. To think your entitled to hunt on their land is like me saying open your door so I can use the bathroom in your house!

My best Georgia bowkill....2022, I think.

0745 hrs....came grunting and stiff-legged walk with ears laid back up to a spike buck that was about 20 yds in front of me. I was about 10 yds inside the woods just off a powerline edge. No food plot. Spike was at a scrape. 8 pt came out down the powerline and saw spike at scrape. I couldn't see down the powerline. Didn’t see the 8pt until he was 25 yds. I was 20 feet up in a Millenium hang-on...but the buck saw me. I was able to reach full draw and the rest is history.

$$$ has severely changed the activity of hunting in my part of the world and not for the better is my only point. And I seriously doubt anyone that truly loves hunting and has lived through the changes I've seen would disagree with me. If that's whining than so be it but that's just my opinion based off my experience. Is it easier to harvest a big deer today in my area than it was 30 years ago? Yes if u can get on ground to hunt but so much of all the other experiences of hunting are lost because of the Dollar and what it brings to hunting.

Same here, to a certain extent. But, there are many, many more deer here than in the 80s and 90s. Back when there wasn't as many deer, landowners would let you hunt just by asking.

Money has changed it. Short of a catastrophic deer die-off, we aint never going back to the way it was.

But, what hasn't changed (for me) is my love for deer hunting. No matter what it costs, Im gonna hunt a mature buck. As costs increase, it may only be one buck a year somewhere I can afford, but Im not going to complain about it. I cant change it.

Over the years, by leasing, I have found a way to keep it going the way I like it. Ive told my sons to NEVER voluntarily give up the hunting lease...NEVER! EVER! Once you do...its gone!

BTW....my lease is treated just like its my land. Other than the timber and timber management, I make all the land management decisions based on what the New Holland and I can do.

One of my better midwest bowkills (Ive been blessed (thanks to my great friend CC) with several bowkills from there, but this one is one of the better ones.) Also...in year 2022...I think.

… biggin …. What was his name?

… he looks like a Dennis to me

I know that your son was right proud of that beast! And that you were proud of your son![/quote]

His name was Jinx because I told the boys if we named him it would Jinx us. Lol
Only had one Pic of him during hunting season and that was about a week before he shot him. He was killed on the ranch I work on which was part of the deal of my employment. We were setting on a neighbor's ground that gave us permission to because as a neighbor I help him and it would keep us from spooking deer getting in and out.

The Ga buck I called Big8...had pics of him.

The midwest buck...I was hunting there for only a few days...no pics.

Yes if I agree with you on the money changing hunting. Some land around here has changed ownership and it’s no longer open to hunting. Paid hunting will make its way here eventually and in some places probably has. I know duck and goose land is getting harder to get permission close to the American border in Saskatchewan. Maybe even paying for access I have no idea. Had a buddy and his two kids,his dad and two of the kids friends hunting ducks and geese from Iowa here last fall. Had permission from anyone I asked and they killed a bunch on my land. Future is good here but like everything it will change!

Deer like this are possible if you put in enough time! But I like to be in the bush when it’s cold and rattle them in



Nothing like seeing nice deer walk in-front of your cabin when they know it’s a safe

So what about the guy that's other hobby is 80 to 100hr work weeks and paid cash for his land, Mows plants food plots, sunflower, mows in checkers bords so quail and wild life always has cover. won't mow April to late July so not to cut up fawns. Still drived thousands of miles and hunts lots of public ground becuse well 100 acres is not much and get boring. Doesn't feel like hunting compared to hitting the 25k acre tracks of public land And being successful. Lots more Elbow room early and late season. Don't hunt public on weekends or first week of gun season. I'm not suicidal or willing to fight and argue about who killed a deer.

I have what many want but still manage to clearly see the poor are geting priced out of hunting. No effect on me like I said I don't have a need to kill anything and don't care if I kill another deer in my life. They don't excight me it's just groceries. Antlers are just a taxidermy bill. Let one walk last year or the year before bigger than anything i have ever killed on my farm. 35 yards for 5 min had the x bow on him but watched him tell he walked off. I liked geting to see and watch him

I enjoy taking the kids. Mine and others. I also Wont pay what they want for A turkey tag on principle. Its ridiculous And prices of deer tags keep climbing as well.. Places to hunt are becumming fewer and public is geting crowded.

People are quitting hunting. More animal right people and less outdoors men being made. The same people that don't like it when we say licens and cost are two high are the same ths cry about low hunter numbers and take a kid hunting. Amazing they can't see the direct connection to price and access to reduced hunter numbers.

I can farm for them and watch them with a camera and grow cows. Or I can shoot them without license on my place. I have money to rent or drive to hunting ground. And I still clearly see it's to expensive and pricing out the poor and middle class.

I guess all of you they see it as a hobby have never been in the situation where that deer was shot becuse you wanted to eat it and the fridge and bill fold was empty! I hope I never get so I forget the times like that and digging in the couch and floor mats looking to get enough change to get gas to make it to work tell Friday.

And Swamp I don't golf I work, work on the farm, and do things with the widfe and kids . Today it was taking them to mow some of their yards tomorrow the youngest has a football game. Almost all my vacation and days off are during hunting season to take the boys. by the time gun season is in they are usually burn out from a month and half of hitting it hard.

Enjoy it while it last because once it's gone it's gone. And it happens faster than one thinks and it's worse than one would imagine. We r to darn close to them Counterfeit Texans here

My 2023 Georgia bucks...both 7mm-08 kills. No food plots, no feeders, no corn on the ground. Both killed from Summit climbers 0730 to 0830 hrs. I did have pics of both of these bucks...along with many more in same area. Never named them. No fence.

Stands placed based on big buck sign in area on suspected daytime travel ways. See Badger...I have a little buck hunting knowledge...

View a few minutes b4 I shot the 8pt...on Nov 3rd..




View a few minutes b4 I shot the 7pt...on Nov 5th..

First let me say this is my first post. I joined the Trapperman Forums to delve into the archives , not ever planning to comment on any subject brought up by the base members. I, however, agree with Swamp Wolf wholeheartedly. Thing change and hunting methods and hunter's access to hunting properties change as time goes by. As a kid i drove 45 miles to see a deer track. Back home I hunted wherever I wanted as it was all small game and neighbors owned the land. Now the land has been sold by the heirs and deer and turkey are abundant. Hunting permission is hard to obtain. Just the way it goes.
For the record I too am a retired Conservation Enforcement Officer. I served proudly for 28 years. Yep I got rich. My starting pay was a little over $300.00 every two weeks. The people of North Baldwin County welcomed me with open arms as poaching and night hunting were totally out of control. All of you folks that think it is an overpaid job need to stop five drunks that have just shot a deer in a scared widow woman's yard. They literally backed into her yard to load the deer. It was 2:30 am and the nearest help from another officer was at least 30 minutes away. When stopped they all wanted to fight. Finally got it sorted out without violence. It was touch and go for awhile. The officer in the next county wasn't quite as lucky. Christmas Eve 1978, Frank Stewart was killed by an individual over a 25 to 50 dollar ticket for hunting without permission. A 12 gauge shotgun behind the ear leaves a real mess.
I was fortunate never was hurt or had to hurt anyone. I did my job using my 3 F's. Fair, Friendly and Firm. I was hired to do a job and I did it. I still have people calling to see how i am doing. Some are people I arrested.
The last 11 years of my career I served as Chief of Enforcement for the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries.
One other item most of you complainers are missing is the liability of allowing someone to hunt or do most anything on private property. Most hunting clubs have liability insurance. Anyway I just want to say "nothing ever stays the same". You either adapt or quit.
For the record I have been a trapper since I was a kid. I help with our annual trapping workshop near Troy Al and really enjoy the excitement of new trappers when they see something in a trap they set.
This will probably be my only post.