Cool deer camp topics

[Kazekurt]

Ok, now that pretty much all the photos have been posted and discussed for last year, I figure its time to break out the campfire hypotheticals that are often fun to kick around.  Here is one a hunter in camp with me once posed to the group:
If you could make a deal with the devil and he'd guarantee you a gimme poke at a world record buck the next day, but in exchange you had to give up hunting deer for life, or ten years, etc. would you do it?  My immediate reaction was that none of the 8 guys in camp would take the deal.  Man was I wrong!  Two said they would accept a lifetime deer ban, and a third said he would sacrifice 10 years.  I didn't chastise them but I was a bit shocked and disappointed.  Their argument was that most people hunt there whole life hoping to get a crack at a once in a lifetime buck and this would provide that.  They also argued the financial windfall would benefit their family and that they could still hunt other stuff, though when pressed, all 3 said they would give up hunting period if it was required.  Personally,  I'd love  to hang a WR on the wall but there is no way in he.. I'm taking that deal!  The momentary thrill would be tremendous but I'd hate myself every season after that knowing that my choice blocked me from a lifetime of experiences and memories!

[huntnnw]

id take 10years...I can hunt elk, moose, bears and muleys

[kglacken]

The one thing that keeps me hunting is that you never know what is going to happen. I dont think it would be much fun to know that you are going to kill a WR the next day. Im not taking that deal. I wouldnt even sacrifice missing a week of hunting for that. 

[fair-chase]

Not a chance.

First, I would have to reject any and all deals with the devil on the grounds of committing moral turpitude. 

Second, I wouldn't give up hunting for even a single year in order to take a record animal. Hunting (the persuit) is just far too important to me. Now there are times where work, family, and other life events do come before hunting, but a mount on the wall and bragging rights are not even close to being a legitimate excuse to give it up. For me anyways.

Lastly, even if I was fortunate enough to take a record class animal it would never be entered into "the books". So the financial windfall argument is a bit mute with me. No offense to those who wish to enter their animals. Just not my style.

[Kazekurt]

Fair chase and kglacken, I'm with you 100%!  The hunt is where it is at!  The surprise for me was that others were willing to take the deal.  This board may be the wrong place to hear the other perspective argued  as only diehards and purists are cruising hunting boards well after season and I'm betting very few hunters in these groups would even consider it!

[Lcl 66 Tinner]

NO DEAL, HOWIE. Making deals with the devil never turns out good!!!

[Bullkllr]

No way I'm taking that deal.

[raydog]

I've heard of these situations but it was more along the lines of a super model

[Rainier10]

No dice, it is all about the hunt and time in the woods with good friends and family.  A couple of different times I have shot my deer on opening day of late archery and got up each day after that to hike around with my buds and help glass or pack.  Every morning they would say "why don't you sleep in?", my response was always "after the season, I wait all year for this hunt and I am not going to let it stop because I am tagged out."  Not to mention hiking around with only a pack and no bow to lug around is way easier.

The second reason I would say no is the first deer I ever shot I was told would be the biggest deer of my life, since then I have shot two more that are bigger and two that are close.  If I had quit at one I would have missed out on the others not to mention the great memories of the hunts in between.

[Dhoey07]

I'd do ten years as long as i couild hunt everything but deer. 

[bankwalker]

I've heard of these situations but it was more along the lines of a super model

So then the question would read.

Would you give up women for a life time or 10 years, to have a poke at a super model the very next day 

You married guys don't get to play this game. We all know your answer is YES 

[WaltAlpine]

I wouldn't even do it, even if it was an offer from the Almighty Himself.
It's not all about the trophy.
The value of the trophy is diminished if it has any "gimmie" in the experience. The story and experience is ruined.
As far as the devil goes...there are eternal consequences...

[724wd]

So then the question would read.

Would you give up women for a life time or 10 years, to have a poke at a super model the very next day 

You married guys don't get to play this game. We all know your answer is YES 

married guy, but we gotta have specifics.  i have certain standards and desires many supermodels don't fit.     remember, this is a deal with the devil!  FEMALE supermodel, yes?  not 60 years old, yes? ooooo.... SO many questions!

[jackmaster]

if i couldnt hunt blacktail every year i would go insane and that aint no B.S. if it was elk or bear or somethn like that then i could make the deal, but to not hunt deer, i couldnt do it mama 

[coachcw]

I'd light the fire and take the ten year deal.

[jaymark6655]

Deal with the devil, just for a chance at a gimmie poke...no way.

Here is a gimmie poke story as to why I say that.

I can see it now, deer walks out, you aim, and "click".  Happened to a co-worker, last day of deer season here.  Doe at 30 yards, only deer he has seen all season.  The bolt on his 458 SOCOM was out of battery and the forward assist wouldn't work.  He was stuck trying to extract the round while the doe just walked away.

Now think about that happening with the biggest buck you can imagine knowing that you could never hunt again or for ten.  Just to rub salt in that wound, I bet some noob would be in the paper next day with your buck.

[Fishstiq]

Lemme get this straight.....

No sighting in a bow/rifle ever again, no need to.  No target practice, no walk throughs, why bother, right?  No shopping for new bows, or spending days down at the range just BS'ing.  No scouting, looking at new areas, monitoring reprod growth, trying to track and pattern animals.  No more game cameras, bait piles, or feeding stations.

No more hunting camps, sitting around telling stories, watching a campfire crackle and commenting on how good/gawdawfull the cooking is.  No more pre-dawn hikes over ground so frozen it crunches, climbing into a stand/blind, watching your breath freeze in the air, and watching the sun slowly creep over the horizon, turning the sky purple and red and orange.  No more rush of excitement hearing an animal, and no more kicking yourself in the butt when you realize it was a bird... again.  No more anticipation, wondering if it's just a doe or if there's a buck pushing her.  No more weighing whether or not to shoot the animal you have an easy shot on or wait for something better.  Never again walking back into camp and telling everyone you didn't shoot the only #!!%$** animal you had a shot on all week.

No teaching this amazing experience with new hunters.  No more learning new techniques and tricks from hunters more experienced than yourself.  No passing on this passion with children or grandchildren, friends or family.  No more working to advance the perception and benefits of hunting in the community.





If you give up all that, you are rewarded with......  drumroll please......  a big deer.   



Uh, no thanks.

[Kazekurt]

I've heard of these situations but it was more along the lines of a super model

So what would you be more willing to give up; sex or hunting?  I'm happily married so I'm staying out of this one:-)