I deer hunted some when I was in my 20s back in Georgia. No cameras, no feeders, no salt licks...just tree stands. If you got a deer it was because it happened by heading for water or cover. As for fishing, I’ve done way more fishing than catching

The question is if you are going to shoot it on Nov 7th when he walks out

He would be dead opening morning at legal shooting light. Then I would hunt bobcats and anything else that moves for the rest of the season.

When I lived in Texas, I was more excited to see what was on the game cam, than sitting in the blind.

The path deer hunting has taken over the last few years has kind of turned me off of the sport. I deer hunted from the time i was about 8 until i was in my 20's and killed plenty of nice free-range deer with my biggest being a 12 point. In my opinion, that is a pretty solid feat, but when every Tom, Dick, and Harry has a 97 point 300" deer that they paid $15k for on their wall, it starts to diminish the value of those real, wild deer that are truly a once in a lifetime trophy.

Nah, as long as there are olds, there will be a weak link in the fishing-electronics-to-catching-fish chain.

I have a very nice Lowrance unit on the front deck and another at the helm. They’re outstanding tools for measuring water temp, water depth and current time of day, but I don’t have a clue about how to use them to catch fish.

I am 71 years old so you can guess that I am old school in most things. I have not hunted deer in a number of years but, when I did, I never took a stand or hunted from a blind. I would recon the area a week or two before deer season, identify the feeding and bedding areas, mark out the trails that the deer took back and forth, and then position myself before first light in an ambush spot at ground level with good camo and scent control. I passed up anything that was not to my liking and often walked out without taking a shot. When I came across an animal that I liked, I took it and enjoyed the fact that it was a hunt where the animal had some chance of eluding me or outsmarting me.

Fishing has always been the same for me; I preferred migratory species rather than those that would hang around the same rock or brush piles or that could be baited. I have always been a river and ocean fisherman because the challenges are higher and I believe the quality of fish are better. Hunting down largemouth or smallmouth on a large meandering river is a bigger challenge than roaring out to the GPS marker at 70 mph.

But, that's me and the two sports are there for people to enjoy in a manner that best meets their needs. My old man just taught me that if you had to work hard for every animal or fish, you would be the better for it.

About the only time I will go hunting these days is to take my daughter. She hates to sit in a stand and look at a feeder. Instead we grab the rattling horns and hit the brush.

I understand and respect the concern. Different strokes for different folks I guess. I’ll admit I’m after the biggest buck I can find. That involves game cameras. I just back back from a 2k mile round trip to out cameras, check stands and sitting a few times. But it’s not all about the desire to only shoot the biggest deer. I can only hunt with a bow where I go. No feeders allowed, no high fences. Gun licenses are not available to non-residents and it’s mostly open country. The odds aren’t in my favor to get the biggest deer around. But, I like the challenge. Seeing family is half the reason I go and I love every minute of it. I wouldn’t see them as much if I didn’t go. It’s expensive in the first place and I want to get the most reward out of the experience. The thrill of the chase after a big mature deer and all of the thought, work and time that goes into it is just part of the experience. With all that said, I still know just being lucky to be there when he finally walks by is a big part of it. I don’t get mad when my plan doesn’t work out. That’s part of it. If I ever just expect to go sit once and kill that deer I wouldn’t enjoy it as much. In the end if I get one with big antlers that means he probably has the most meat as well so there’s that argument.. lol.

I never push that mindset on anyone and discourage my new hunting friends and old from being conditioned into thinking anything less than a Boone and Crockett deer is just settling. Every deer is a trophy. Just go after what makes you happy. Different folks different strokes...

LOL
sounds like the Cajun's we let come out once

Throughout the history of man each generation has used the latest and greatest technology to kill animals. Man used to chase animals on foot off of cliffs. Then he did it by horseback. Then he shot them with arrows, then bullets. Some trapped by string woven together by hand, next came steal traps. The list goes on and on but man has an instinct to harvest animals, and will continue to do so with the current resources.

Deep thoughts from HTP.

My hunting resume is pretty pathetic. I was on a lease in Strawn for 10yrs and this is what I capped.

1 - 9 Point
1 doe
2 bobcats
2 pigs

In Texas you can hunt just about anyway you want. Nobody is forcing you to hunt with game cameras, blinds, feeders and what not. Hunt how ever you enjoy. I don’t know why so many people think if your not stalking through the mountains and miserable your not hunting. It’s supposed to be fun.

I would like bass fishing to turn into shooting also.