The Daily Mail Online

Reports from successful deer hunters continue to pour in, but at the same time, complaints about fewer deer are more prevalent than ever. And that’s coming from hunters from both within and outside this region.

On the other hand, the bucks seem to be bigger than in previous years, and while you can’t eat the horns, shooting a buck with a rocking chair rack does wonders for one’s ego — not to mention the financial benefits if you happen to be entered in one of the many big buck pools.

The only problem I can find with this deer hunting season is time. I haven’t been able to spend as much time in the woods as I would have liked, but now that things are back to normal I hope to get out more often — even if it is the tail end of the season.

Someone once asked me why I hunt, and while the reasons are many, there are some fringe benefits that come from spending a day or weekend deer hunting — something a non-hunter will never understand.

Some people may wonder what those benefits are. Aside from providing an opportunity to spend time outdoors, here is a short selection of key things that come to mind, and anyone who thinks about the topic for a few minutes can probably come up with a few more.

For me it begins with sighting in my rifle and knowing how I can do it with a minimum number of shots; it is taking the time to be certain your firearm is shooting accurately, and knowing that more deer are killed with a single, deliberate shot than by squeezing off several shots at a moving target that is more likely to wound than kill the animal.

Another benefit is the pleasure of introducing a newcomer to the sport. Giving freely of your time and knowledge — simple things such as pointing out a deer track, a rub on a tree or a ground scrape that helps others learn. And, if helping them means giving up a day or two of your hunt, do it so hunting will continue to grow.

It is the healthy exercise of walking, sitting, and still-hunting some more. It is seeing your breath on a frosty morning, seeing nothing clearly while hunting on a foggy day, picking up the sight of large and splayed tracks in the snow that could be a buck.

It’s watching a squirrel scurry among the leaves, or a chickadee landing on the trunk of a tree.

It is that first breathtaking sight of a good buck, his antlers bone white, moving slowly and cautiously upwind of you. You track his progress, pick a hole through the cover that offers a small but open shot, and wait patiently for the buck to walk into the opening and offer a clear shot at the heart and lung.

It is the fragrance of cedar and pine needles, fresh backstrap tenderloins or venison liver and onions sizzling in the fry pan, old pine knots spitting and popping in the fire and the pleasant warmth of a pot-bellied or Franklin stove.

It is the sight and smell of wood smoke curling from the chimney of deer camp and the distant glint of lantern light through the trees as we make our way back to camp after a long hunt.

It means helping others and sharing in their joy and success. This may mean helping to blood trail a deer with someone else, helping another person drag out an animal. It means doing your share to help around the hunting camp including chores such as washing dishes, cutting and splitting firewood, bringing in fresh water and helping others to field dress or hang their deer from the buck pole.

It is the endless participation of hunters bragging up their favorite rifle cartridge, and the retort of another hunter claiming his round is more accurate and deadly — and never once laying this issue to rest. It’s not so important who is right or wrong, but that there is a lively discussion on the topic.

It’s knowing that if you down a deer, others will help. It’s also the knowledge that you’ll do the same for your camp mates or even a perfect stranger.

Deer hunting is the knowledge that alcohol is never consumed until all firearms are unloaded and put away, and then used in moderation. Deer hunters must learn that alcohol, taken in moderation, doesn’t give sportsmen the right to act loud and loutish during trips to town. Hunters should project an image of being caring and responsible individuals.

And finally, it is sharing some of your venison with others less fortunate.

Dropping anchor ’til next year.

Reader Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of TheDailyMail.net .

Catskill_Cat wrote on Dec 2, 2008 1:36 AM:

" I really don't understand this killing for pleasure...killing that is usually accompanied by extreme pain and suffering. Most religions - Judaism, Islam, Buddhist, Hindu - all forbid pleasure killing (which is *exactly* what sport hunting is). In fact, according to Judaic and Islamic law, even when being killed for food, the animal must be killed in a humane manner or else it is not Kosher or Hilal and may not be eaten.

The author says, "shooting a buck with a rocking chair rack does wonders for ones ego." How sick is that? What a valuable and respected skill that is in today's world. Oh yeah, worthy of infinite adulation using weapon technology developed over centuries against an animal. And of course, "knowing that if you down a deer, others will help."

He continues, "Deer hunting is the knowledge that alcohol is never consumed until all firearms are unloaded and put away, and then used in moderation." Sounds like a Boy Scout manual. Think all these hunters up here follow this line of thought? Huh? Maybe it's the deer leaving all those empty beer cans in the woods.

Anyhow, this depressing article had some benefit. I just sent another $100 off to a political group striving to eliminate sport hunting in this country. "

horatio1226 wrote on Dec 2, 2008 6:06 AM:

" What a great article! Thanks for printing it.Thank God there are hunters out there to help eliminate the suffering of the deer who just won't make it through the winter. Most hunters don't get pleasure from killing, they get pleasure from the hunt. If a person eats meat, they are hypocritical if they oppose hunting. The deer live much better lives than the chicken, pork or beef that they are buying at their local market. Catskill_cat is just plain ignorant about huntng and doesn't have a clue about American heritage. My native american ancestors hunted for their food and so will I.I suggest that you donate your $100(if you really donated it)to a local food pantry to help feed the hungry instead of donating your money to help people who are intent on stopping me from feeding mine! There are dozens of deer donated to food pantries in Greene County every year.
By the way, the article wasn't describing sport hunting, it was describing hunting for food. Grow up.
Just so you know, it is ILLEGAL to harass a hunter or his or her vehicle while hunting. "

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