Best days for deer in your experience

[MikePal]

Mikepal makes everything personal and just like a politician cut and pastes the context of the post according to what he wants to argue -

First off..the only person who has made derogatory personal attacks about anyone has been you...you've done it twice..that's a tactic called 'deflecting' to avoid answering the question.

Its really not that difficult, running dogs is like shooting fish in a barrel compared to actually hunting and stalking the deer yourself.

2nd..the controversial statement you made was not taken out of context...it was a bold stand alone comment that is clearly stating your opinion. One that others have asked you to elaborate on.

I never belittled anyone running dogs because like I said just because something is easier ie my crossbow example, doesn't discredit it.

You still haven't clarified your comment and have actually doubled down on it. Why is it you think hunting with dogs is easier than sitting on a cornfield shooting at a standing deer. ?

I think a few of us, like Smitty, would still like you to elaborate on why you think hunting with dogs is as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.

[gbk]

First of all-i do respect each of the members here(OK-almost all).The way You hunt-the way and what you enjoy-the way you are posting-all of that.No difference for me -You enjoy it-have it your way.
Secondly-i really kind of hate these kind of communications(even though they are Not My Business).but because i am on the forum(to much -if You ask my wife)somehow i am also impacted......
Definitely DW could have use different words,so to keep the communication at a lower level.I would guess if his first post would be "less"to the point,the whole thing would be forgotten a long time ago.But he used his way of saying what is on his mind.
I do understand Mike or Smitty for standing up for their ways-somehow they felt challenged.Very human.
And then-the "keyboard fight" started.

So-before i try to say something-PLEASE remember,i do respect every one's way of hunting,enjoyment and fun. Regardless of which side of the fence You are on-so to say.

My take:
-hunting deer with dogs is a great tradition,embedded in many hunting clubs in Ontario.Never took part in it,so do not know how it feels though.Likely it is something to remember when the running deer passes by-offering a shot.One must be really good shot to lethally hit a running deer,while being excited and all. However,NO OFFENCE,hunter in a deer drive needs to be a good shot,period.He can be also a good woodsman,but that is NOT required.He will/should still enjoy the hunt,and go home happy.
At the other hand-hunting while stalking(sounds like real challenge to me)-tree stand hunting(sound like a lot of work and effort ,and some skill to pick the right spot)-stump sitting(patience and knowledge where and why to sit)-calling deer(when why and how)makes these hunts a lot more demanding.Never mind throwing in the use of archery equipment.As far i can see-skill sets ,knowledge and woodsman ship is in high demand.Plus-one needs to shoot straight.Yep-it is easier to hit a deer while the deer barely moves ,but that does not take away the need for shooting skills.A bit less needed then offhand shooting at a running deer-for sure.
All in all,baiting seems to be easiest ways of harvesting deer(while resembles many ways the tree stand-ground blind hunting)at the end,one baits to have deer come to him!Pick a good spot,do some hard work hauling feed in,and shoot straight.Enjoyed by many,while less skill is needed then few other methods mentioned.

BUT HEY-do not kill me here,i am not bashing anyone's way of hunting,skills or else.
Just trying to mention few obvious,and significant differences in hunting deer.

My 2 cents ,for what is worth.

[Fox]

The best time to hunt? In the middle of the crappiest weather possible, all the other hunters are sitting at home because they will get cold and wet if they are out hunting. The number of times our camp went out and shot deer on days the other camps sat in and the number of days I had huge piles of snow drop down the back of my neck pocking around the thick crap, pushing deer out to the guys makes me understand that any and all days are good in the bush but crappy days should not be spent inside.

This does not work very well bow hunting, but with a gun when your chances of dropping that deer within sight are higher I love being out there. Oh, one December hunt I had thigh high water in the bush, had deer splashing everywhere, was miserable, until you tasted the tenderloin.

A big shout out to deer on hounds too, obviously the people who claim it is like shooting fish in a barrel have never been involved in a hound driven hunt, ignorance of the sport does not make it bad people.

[bellerivercrossbowhunter]

Our dogs have got on a chase at any time of the day. We only run 2 at a time. The camp I've been with for the last 14 years has been using dogs since 1971. This year will possibly be the first year ever we dont run dogs. Unfortunately there isn't guys willing to raise and have beagles all year, and the couple of ones we do have, have become too house bound and unfortunately lost alot of they're hunting drive. Not sure really how to go about adjusting. We hunt Ottawa Valley bush, and 8-10 watches with plenty of escape routes. Think we'll put a bunch of bait down, and hope for the best. I know I'll adjust, as I move constantly, but I'm wondering if the older fella's will just stoke they're fired and doze off a few more times during the day.

My first years in an organized deer hunting camp in 55A was with hounds chasing the deer.

Learned many lessons in that camp.

I can't effectively kill a deer running full speed by me with a hound on its track. Lol

I killed my first deer there after the hounds were long gone and it was just walking by me.

There was 13 guys in the cabin. 10 of them smoked. I absolutely hate second hand smoke now!!

I suck at poker. They cleaned me out in one day.. lol

Learned to be patient. 3 years of hunting for one button buck... lol

I appreciate where I hunt now. I can pass on deer and kill the one I want with my bow and love it!!

[Fox]

My first years in an organized deer hunting camp in 55A was with hounds chasing the deer.

Learned many lessons in that camp.

I can't effectively kill a deer running full speed by me with a hound on its track. Lol

I killed my first deer there after the hounds were long gone and it was just walking by me.

There was 13 guys in the cabin. 10 of them smoked. I absolutely hate second hand smoke now!!

I suck at poker. They cleaned me out in one day.. lol

Learned to be patient. 3 years of hunting for one button buck... lol

I appreciate where I hunt now. I can pass on deer and kill the one I want with my bow and love it!!

The hound camp hunt is more about the week with the guys than the deer. That being said, you can setup practice for running deer, I know a few old school ranges that had targets on tracks moving at deer speed for that purpose, they also used to suggest putting a target in a tire and push it down a hill to practice. I think that the numbers for people who can reliably hit deer on the run is 1 in 10, which is about right, we had an average of 10 guys and only my dad could hit deer on the run. We moved away from walkers and plott hounds and started putting beagles on the deer, they stop and look back a lot more, run a bit and stop or run a heck of a lot slower than with a big hound on their .

I enjoyed the sound of the dogs on deer, if the camp master was a different person I would still be going up there. The problem with just going out and sitting is that if all you can get away is a few days in camp or a week of holidays then it is nice to get things moving and not just sitting mornings and evenings.

[marky.mark]

Hunting comes in many different forms. Whatever the form people are taught or introduced to gets them hooked and we all end up having a love and passion for the same sport.

Some people for example love hockey for goals, hits, saves, etc but the end result is a love for the game. Hunting is no different. Let’s not crap on each other. Let’s get excited that we’re almost a month away from oct 1!!

[canadaman30]

Hunting comes in many different forms. Whatever the form people are taught or introduced to gets them hooked and we all end up having a love and passion for the same sport.

Some people for example love hockey for goals, hits, saves, etc

Some love hockey for the open ice hits and fights. Clarke, Domi, Probert, Brasheer and many others come to mind.

[marky.mark]

Guilty!

[35wailin]

I get out every chance I get, but 4 of the 5 deer I have shot have been on the second last day of the rifle season in WMU 42

[outdoorlife]

Halloween is the witching hour in Southern Ontario. The non negotiable week is the 4th week of October for peak chasing and overall movement. The rifle/shotgun week the first week of November is generally a high movement week too if your deer are undisturbed