 |
| Missouri Department of Conservation statistics on harvest rates from 2004-2013. The graph on left is archery and right is firearms. Keep in mind that many of the hunters who did harvest deer, harvested more than one. |
Are you above average? If not, you can dice up the reasons any way you want to, but not harvesting a deer usually comes down to some pretty easy math. Deal with it, and you will be on the right side of the 50%.
1. You didn't take it seriously enough to spend the time in the field necessary
You can stroll out to the field on opening day of whatever season(s) you hunt and maybe get lucky. If you own a great piece of property, or you're one of those wealthy folk who buy their deer by paying somebody to come kill their deer on their land, this article is not really for you.
This article is for hard working folks for whom the ethic of fair chase and learning the ways of wild deer are a big part of the deal. So, if I have not run you off back to your McMansion in the 'burbs, pay attention to what comes next.
Once the deer season kicks in, plan to hunt every chance you get, and try to make there be as many chances as you possibly can. You know, those guys you respect as being great deer hunters got that way by spending tons of time in the woods before and during the season.
2. You were not an Expert with your Firearm or Bow
Missed shots. Bad shots. Wounded animals. Excuses and regrets. Again,you owe it to the magnificent animals you hunt, to make as clean a kill as you possibly can.
Picking up your bow a week before the season is not good enough. Not even close.
Running out to the range the Thursday before opening day of rifle season should leave you feeling like you should not be going. It just means "hunting" is an afterthought for you.
Right now you should be getting your gear checked over, or doing it yourself if competent. You should be spending time right now getting yourself ready to take a shot from every position possible out to a range a little further than you would consider taking that shot.
3. You were physically unable to perform
Not talking about physical limitation beyond your control here. There are plenty of ways around about any limitation you might have. I even read a story a while back about a guy who had gone blind and with the help of a buddy, still was hunting.
I am talking about the fact that if you want to consistently harvest deer on public land, you are not going to do so from a fixed tree stand 100 yards off the road. You better be able to pack your climber back a mile, climb a tree, sit in it through cold weather all day, climb down and out of the woods - and be able to do it all again the next morning when you get up at 4 am.
If you are fortunate enough to harvest a deer then, you will be dragging it back that mile plus. It might be dark. You might have had to sit tight right at the end of legal shooting hours for a half hour to let it go down... and then had to track the blood trail... and then field dress it...and THEN drag it out.
So get in shape. See a doctor first so you don't give yourself a heart attack. Stop eating crappy food. It is by no means rocket science!
Deer hunting is not rocket science, but people over-complicate it I think because they just don't want to do the work they should do to be successful. If you do it right and harvest a deer, just like anything else you work hard for, the hunting experience will be ever so much more meaningful to you.
No comments:
Post a Comment