Does shooting deer make you a better hunter?

[pt0217]

I know the title of this post sounds like a stupid question. But it is a question I ask myself every hunting season.

I have been very selective when bow hunting. Am I hurting myself by not shooting more deer?

Your thoughts.

[The_Real_TCIII]

Are you just starting out? I think it's important to get a few "under your belt" so to speak but that's just my opinion.


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[Merlot]

Nothing wrong with being selective, Don't worry...continue to be happy in the way you approach deer hunting.

[pt0217]

Are you just starting out? I think it's important to get a few "under your belt" so to speak but that's just my opinion.


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No. I've been bow hunting for twenty years but steady for 10. I just don't have the confidence I should have for someone that has been hunting as long as I have.

[virgil]

Not at all.  Learning how to put yourself in position to have a shot opportunity is how you make yourself a better hunter.

[turkeyfeathers]

Lots of contributing factors. Are you passing bucks in hopes they become bigger and neighbors shooting them ? Not seeing big bucks? Try a food plot to keep them around. Hunting for horns or freezer ? Do you think there are too many deer on your property ? You've been hunting 20 years. You should be confident in whatever you decide to do. 

[Culvercreek hunt club]

in my experience taking deer is an important part of the whole process. Without it you can not develop the skills you need to be a successful hunter. I know guys that have great property, practice like crazy and pay attention to all the details you are supposed to but fall apart when a deer shows up (not to mention a buck of a lifetime). Making that covert draw of the bow, talking yourself through the shot and then the follow up of tracking are just as important skills to develop in my opinion.

[grampy]

At some point, learning to "seal the deal" is as important a skill as any hunting skill that is learned. As in any activity. Practice makes perfect. 

[Five Seasons]

passing small bucks and possibly eating tag soup doesn't make you a bad hunter. In recent years I've started shooting more doe then ever before because of this. In my opinion I learn something from every deer and confidence builds. I had a rough patch with some silly mistakes and the best cure was a nice doe.

If you go all year or several years without deciding to take a shot at a deer you might end up making that rookie mistake on a nice shooter buck, especially with archery.

Edited December 21, 2016 by Belo

[Moho81]

14 minutes ago, Culvercreek hunt club said:

in my experience taking deer is an important part of the whole process. Without it you can not develop the skills you need to be a successful hunter. I know guys that have great property, practice like crazy and pay attention to all the details you are supposed to but fall apart when a deer shows up (not to mention a buck of a lifetime). Making that covert draw of the bow, talking yourself through the shot and then the follow up of tracking are just as important skills to develop in my opinion.

I wasn't to sure how to answer this question because I don't think taking deer is everything but Culvercreek sums it up pretty good. I don't consider myself a great hunter. I don't play the wind, I don't go crazy over sent control, I don't use calls unless its to get a deer to stop for a shot. What I do successfully is I have a good stand location and I am good shot with deer in front of me. 

[pt0217]

Lots of contributing factors. Are you passing bucks in hopes they become bigger and neighbors shooting them ? Not seeing big bucks? Try a food plot to keep them around. Hunting for horns or freezer ? Do you think there are too many deer on your property ? You've been hunting 20 years. You should be confident in whatever you decide to do. 

For me hunting in Westchester is different from hunting rural areas. Hunting spots are hard to come by. Some are exactly that "spots". So it's really hard to manage the land I hunt. It's more of a crap shoot. Plus god forbid someone sees a buck near the spot your in. Protecting your spot is a sport in of itself.

I have been very conservative in my approach. I've passed on shooting opportunities for a variety of reasons. Don't shoot does in front of the rut, don't shoot small bucks, don't shoot a doe with a fawn. Trust me, I wouldn't be passing on any buck 31/2 years or older but truth is I haven't seen that many in my time and have had some misfortune with the few I've had the opportunity to shoot. That's why I ask the question. I'm thinking of taking a year or so and just shooting at everything that gives me a chance. To get over the hump so to speak.

[fasteddie]

When I was younger , I was somewhat selective in taking shots . Now that I am 75 , I take what I can get . Getting that 1st deer of the season takes the pressure off . Taking that 1st bow kill is a confidence builder . 

[pt0217]

I wasn't to sure how to answer this question because I don't think taking deer is everything but Culvercreek sums it up pretty good. I don't consider myself a great hunter. I don't play the wind, I don't go crazy over sent control, I don't use calls unless its to get a deer to stop for a shot. What I do successfully is I have a good stand location and I am good shot with deer in front of me. 

Mojo,
What your saying is so true for many people. I have friends and mentors that have had some awesome opportunities. And because of who they are they have made the most of them. I understand my short comings and am determined to overcome them.

[pt0217]

My first deer with the bow was a spine shot. I was so happy to successfully harvest that deer. A few years later and a better understanding I spined another deer. I was so disappointed in myself for making a bad shot.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

For me hunting in Westchester is different from hunting rural areas. Hunting spots are hard to come by. Some are exactly that "spots". So it's really hard to manage the land I hunt. It's more of a crap shoot. Plus god forbid someone sees a buck near the spot your in. Protecting your spot is a sport in of itself.

I have been very conservative in my approach. I've passed on shooting opportunities for a variety of reasons. Don't shoot does in front of the rut, don't shoot small bucks, don't shoot a doe with a fawn. Trust me, I wouldn't be passing on any buck 31/2 years or older but truth is I haven't seen that many in my time and have had some misfortune with the few I've had the opportunity to shoot. That's why I ask the question. I'm thinking of taking a year or so and just shooting at everything that gives me a chance. To get over the hump so to speak.

If you have the tags, take the does. Build some confidence. Forget the doe with fawns hang up. They can survive just fine and there is a school of thought to take the one that have button bucks with them so the button bucks hang around that area rather than being pushed out. Don't sweat it. Keep it light, shoot some deer and enjoy

[Jeremy K]

Getting that perfect kill shot off during an adrenaline rush is very hard I think .

[NFA-ADK]

 I do the same thing you do.  I pass many deer.  I was told I should start shooting them for experience, so I shot a doe last year.  (Could have doubled up!)  This was my second shot on any deer with a bow and I can see where shooting more deer will help with making the shot seem second nature.

Like stated above the actual shooting, tracking and recovering deer can be a big part of your experience and if you want to get better at that part shooting more will help.  I had "Doe fever" when I went to shoot a doe and had to pass, I said what the hell is that tapping sound in the stand?  Well it was me shaking in anticipation of the shot! 

1) Shooting more will give you valuable experience in shooting at them, tracking, shot placement and controlling your nerves.

2) That valuable experience will help when shooting at a larger buck or a longer distance shot or smaller target like a fawn.  (Less nerves will keep your shot steady.)

3) It will make shooting them seem second nature if you shoot more, causing less stress on you when you take a shot.  This will make you a better hunter if you get bad nerves like many of us do. 

I have to agree with the posts above, shooting more will make you a better shot on live deer and can help you become a better hunter in that aspect.  That said I still pass many deer and do what I want to do vs what others think I should do.  For me personally seeing over 100 deer in the year alone is a success, I do not need to shoot them to prove to myself that I can and really enjoy doing what I do! 

Nothing wrong with shooting more for experience, it will only help you and I should be doing the same but I am having too much fun looking for that one special buck!  Enjoy what you do and hunt how you want, good luck!

[pt0217]

I have friends that have had success hunting. They have mounts all over their houses. These guys hunted a great deal as youngsters, shot many smaller bucks, and built themselves up to the hunters they are today. Getting to the game later I have found myself trying to be the hunter that they are today but am no where near that place. That has a lot to do with where I am as a hunter. Trying to play catch up.

[dbHunterNY]

my standards are higher than others where i hunt.  i don't fill buck tags every year.  i practice coming to full draw with my finger safely behind the trigger on almost anything i can legally take.  it gives me some experience without shooting it.  also i do as others suggested, which is filling doe tags.  i only fill them where needed but actually releasing an arrow on a deer successfully is important.  deer do crazy things when shot at with an arrow that you only figure out with experience.  also real world experience tracking deer helps you actually recover it based on what you experienced happening when it was shot.  then you have the fulfillment and confidence from actually getting something and having something to show for your efforts.

[dbHunterNY]

21 minutes ago, pt0217 said:

I have friends that have had success hunting. They have mounts all over their houses. These guys hunted a great deal as youngsters, shot many smaller bucks, and built themselves up to the hunters they are today. Getting to the game later I have found myself trying to be the hunter that they are today but am no where near that place. That has a lot to do with where I am as a hunter. Trying to play catch up.

just don't let someone else's time and effort put in effect your own standards based on your own schedule.  i know of half a dozen people that took awesome deer, but they have been laid off and hunting every day.  i was lucky to get 1 evening or morning sit per weekend this year and no vacation time to spare for hunting.  matter of fact the buck i wanted the most this year came into the set i'd planned on hunting and had a pattern for.  i had other stuff going on where my schedule changed though and i couldn't hunt that evening.  i got cam photos of him coming in, prancing around in front of, and leaving my stand upwind.  he was well within bow range and way before last light.  also it was gun season.  can't beat yourself up.  everyone's situation is different so just do what you can to improve your situation.  don't worry what others are taking.

[moog5050]

Yep - learning to close the deal is as important as learning to be in position to close the deal.  When I started hunting with the recurve in 2015, I shot 2 doe early for the very reason of getting comfortable and confident of closing the deal with that bow just like a compound.  Since my second year of hunting, I have held out to shoot a 3.5 year old buck during archery, but have never held back on shooting does, even early in the season.  All of those experiences make you better at closing the deal on any deer.  I also agree with DB, I tend to get in position to shoot every deer that comes by even though most get a pass.  I like practicing the skill of being prepared to shoot without a deer knowing, even if I decide to pass.  Moving undetected with deer around is a learned skill and you are missing learning opportunities if you simply watch deer walk by.  Just my opinion.

[NYBowhunter]

The best words of wisdom i can bestow on you is to observe, observe, observe natural deer behaviors  and practice at the range with your weapons of choice. By observing deer behavior it gives you the ability and confidence as to when and how you should move to shoot. Im at a point where most of my excitement (buck fever) even with larger bucks have been curtailed severly leading up to the shot, im just so focused on making a great shot, after the shot is when elation and gratitude set in. Just this weekend alone i observed 13 doe and used that time to hone my skills. At one point i had 6 doe within mere feet of me and i used my phone to video them to practice my movement and see how they react. When observing, videoing or getting ready for that shot, its not always your target deer you need to watch, need to watch all deer around you.  Again observation of deer behavior first hand has made me a more successful hunter when the time to take  a shot comes along and confidence in your weapon and abilty  to shoot that weapon is just as important.

[Fletch]

I would say yes it will make you a better hunter. The others have given great input on that. Your next sentence after the title seems to ask more if you are successful or if your hurting yourself or your experience?? To that I would answer if you are hunting for food then no you are not succesful. If you are hunting for the experience and are happy then absolutuely you are successful. We each must define what we expect out of this. To some it is a leisure hobby, others a chore like livestock, to some adventure, many for excercise and the great outdoors and then the super obsessed. You can probably answer that better than us!

Edited December 21, 2016 by Fletch

[CharlieNY]

Shooting deer makes you a successful hunter, not a better hunter. I passed up many young year and a half old bucks during the season as I believe in "let em go and watch em grow." Several of my friends shot young bucks who do not agree with my outlook. If shooting a deer is the sole measure of a better hunter, then these friends were better hunters than me. I do not consider them to be better hunters than me by any means. The measure of a good hunter is much more than merely shooting a deer.

valoroutdoors.com

[Culvercreek hunt club]

10 minutes ago, CharlieNY said:

Shooting deer makes you a successful hunter, not a better hunter. I passed up many young year and a half old bucks during the season as I believe in "let em go and watch em grow." Several of my friends shot young bucks who do not agree with my outlook. If shooting a deer is the sole measure of a better hunter, then these friends were better hunters than me. I do not consider them to be better hunters than me by any means. The measure of a good hunter is much more than merely shooting a deer.

valoroutdoors.com

but sitting all season and not shooting deer make you......well,,,,,,a bird watcher...lol. just kidding