Hunting/overwhelmed.

bearcreek · Dec 11, 2019

mustanger98 said:
Post #68 reminds me of an account I read somewhere of how a Cherokee hunter would skin and quarter a deer, using the hide as a mat to keep the meat out of the dirt, and using that same hide to pack the meat home. On arrival home, the meat, hide, and other parts were given to the women who didn't hunt to finish processing, but nowadays, it'd be refrigerated to cut up later, and the hide fleshed/salted to finish later or taken to a tanner.

Wouldn't want to use the hide as a pack these days, unfortunately. Too many idiots in the woods who don't wait for positive ID before shooting. Other than that that's exactly what I do, except it's not just my wife that does the processing. I hang the deer up on the back porch and skin and quarter them there. As each piece comes off, I bring it in and cut it up into whatever my wife feels we need. The tenderloins get eaten immediately, usually while we're cutting up the rest of the deer. The backstraps get sliced about 3/4" thick and frozen in 1-2 lb bags. Hindquarters get cut into roasts if it's a doe, stew meat if it's a mature buck. Neck gets cut into one or two bone in roasts, depending on size. Front legs and trimmings from all the other parts gets ground and frozen in two lb. bags. All the rest of the bones, ribs etc get cooked down in a turkey fryer and the meat pulled off and then canned in quart jars. The broth from cooking it down also gets canned. We don't buy any beef. :thumbup:

35 Whelen · Dec 15, 2019

ohihunter2014 said:
Anyone get overwhelmed with hunting? I am 31yo and held a license since age 13yo. It wasn’t until I was 17/18yo that I really got into it and within the last 5yrs after having a very accomplished hunter take me under his wing I ended up with more guns, more stands, more gear, more time in the woods and kind of feel like I have to kill something. Usually through bow season I pass a lot of stuff cause my confidence is crap after losing a few deer or I am waiting for bigger that never shows. I also feel like because my buddies shoot 130-180” deer I can’t walk away with a 100” buck. I hate that mindset but it’s starting to grow on me. I hunt a lot with a buddy on his lease and every 2-3yrs someone kills a giant cause everyone is selective. I try to be because I have a 120” and 145” buck on the wall and try and help them manage the herd with no small bucks being shot but he tells me if I would be happy with it shoot it. I hate to say it but it’s gotta be 120”+ for me to be happy now. It’s almost like I have to compete with them and myself cause of what I’ve previously killed. I never used to be this way. I have always been a one and done guy, but my buddies will tag out (3 deer) on the lease or other properties and it makes me feel like I need to also. 5yrs ago I would have shot one and been done but now it’s keep going. It’s like all I do now is hunt.

I outgrew all that. All it takes to kill a trophy (fill in the blank) is money. I hunt first for meat, second for experience.

35W

woodshunter · Dec 15, 2019

gspn said:
You are confused. You are letting others define "success" and "happiness" for you. Your idea of those definitions may vary wildly from others. In a sense you are "keeping up with the Jones'". You see what others have, and because you want their approval, you strive to get the same or better.

Figure out WHY you hunt, and then hunt in a way that brings you closest to that. Period.

OK that says it all, I got caught up in that "antler" hunting myself for awhile and because I hunt public land without any food plots, posted, or leased land you loose out on the joy of getting a deer most of the time. It don't have to be a big deer to bring happiness its all in your own outlook. I was overjoyed to see the spike my son shot this year and share in his excitement, I didn't hesitate to take a nice doe this year either cause I LIKE tenderloin, burger, bkfst saugage, backstrap, and those thin hindquarter steaks. Years I see a nice buck I'm thankful and enjoy looking at them antlers and I take the shot......but I don't make it an obsession. Been blessed in all my years of hunting, by deer of all sizes.

EIB0879 · Dec 15, 2019

Olon mentioned running. Six years ago I was a fifty mile a week runner. I kept on upping my mileage because I felt pressured on an online running forum. I injured myself to the point that I couldn't run hardly at all. I still have problems just walking.

That was a wake up call for me. I used to be competitive in hunting with my BIL who is also my hunting buddy. I quit trying to compete with him realizing he is retired and spends a lot more time in the woods than me. Funny thing is that I enjoy hunting more now that I'm not trying to compete or live up to other's expectations.

EIB0879 · Dec 15, 2019

Sometimes you just have to set new goals for yourself that have nothing to do with the size of deer. I bought a Rem 870 a few years back for general use but decided earlier this year to make it into a dedicated slug gun for hogs. I decided to use it during Arkansas's Antlerless hunt in October hunting family land. My goal was to take at least one deer with it. I ended up with two slickheads. It was a successful hunting season for me and it isn't over yet.

My BIL and I drew a TPWD draw hunt last year where we got to hunt Axis deer for the first time. That three day hunt made our season. It was all about the experience, going somewhere new and doing something different. We got drawn for another hunt next month where we get to hunt Sambar, WT, and Axis deer. It will be a great hunt regardless because it will be different.

Hunting/overwhelmed.

bearcreek

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35 Whelen

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woodshunter

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EIB0879

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EIB0879

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