Would you rather

[raydog]

Would you rather shoot a smaller buck but have to work for it or shoot a masher from a treestand. I had been thinking of hunting blackies from a stand but decided that my first buck would be more hard earned. I decided that it would be more rewarding to kill one way back in the woods if i can, even if that means my chances for a masher are decreased.

[JimmyHoffa]

treestands can make you earn an animal just as much as ground stalking.  Some might say they require more mental toughness and patience making it harder to get an animal.  Being up in one on a cold, windy, rainy day is tougher to some than being able to move around in the underbrush.

[270Shooter]

I wouldn't say killing one out of a tree stand is any easier or less fulfilling, I have never shot a deer from a tree but I know a lot of hard work and scouting goes into placing a stand. If I had the time to scout I would buy a stand and use it for archery season, but with limited time to scout I feel like I have better odds just trying to spot and stalk deer.

[LBES]

Both options are great!.. Personally, I'd get more satisfaction shooting it on the ground. But, no one can argue with ya if you tag out on a wall hanger. So long as your not hanging a stand in grandma's yard above her apple trees, I think you'll be proud of the accomplishment.

[raydog]

treestands can make you earn an animal just as much as ground stalking.  Some might say they require more mental toughness and patience making it harder to get an animal.  Being up in one on a cold, windy, rainy day is tougher to some than being able to move around in the underbrush.

definitely more mental toughness and you have to place you stand in just the right spot. treestands aren't just a cake walk, But for some reason i think getting one from the ground seems more rewarding. i will use both methods in my hunting career

[Bigshooter]

Ive hunted both ways for bt's and hunting from a tree stand has been a lot harder for me.

[jackelope]

Ive hunted both ways for bt's and hunting from a tree stand has been a lot harder for me.

People think you just crawl out of your truck, hang a stand in a tree and kill a buck.

[muleracks2]

For me the most rewarding hunt is glass and stalk or still hunting the high Cascades roadless backcountry (wilderness).  Love to be above timberline in beautiful country.

[DoubleJ]

I felt plenty good and rewarded shooting my doe from right behind Buckmark's truck last year as well as shooting my other doe 15 yards from my truck after walking a mile or so and hanging out on a game trail all day.  Oh, and the year before, shooting my spike in the fire department parking lot.  Felt just fine to me.  They were all trophies to me.

[RadSav]

Would you rather shoot a smaller buck but have to work for it or shoot a masher from a treestand. I had been thinking of hunting blackies from a stand but decided that my first buck would be more hard earned. I decided that it would be more rewarding to kill one way back in the woods if i can, even if that means my chances for a masher are decreased.

Sounds like you haven't killed a buck yet?  If true I think getting that first buck under your belt is much more valuable than which hunting method you use.  You're going to learn a lot of things about hunting, deer and buck behavior either way.  And for 90+% of the people getting that first one is the challenge.  After that they get easier and easier giving reason to perhaps try other methods of greater challenge.

For me tree stand hunting is the bigger challenge.  I hate sitting still, I hate bugs and I hate looking at the same bunch of weeds day after day.  Because of these things I know the behavior of deer better where I spot and stalk rather than where I would tree stand hunt.  My friends from the East Coast can't seem to figure out how to spot and stalk a deer in open country to save their lives.  So each technique posses different challenges to each of us.  Just about like anything else...you have to find the method you enjoy best.  Hunting is about enjoyment as much as challenge.  As long as you are enjoying yourself who cares what others might think and which one others might find the most challenging.

[DoubleJ]

Would you rather shoot a smaller buck but have to work for it or shoot a masher from a treestand. I had been thinking of hunting blackies from a stand but decided that my first buck would be more hard earned. I decided that it would be more rewarding to kill one way back in the woods if i can, even if that means my chances for a masher are decreased.

Sounds like you haven't killed a buck yet?  If true I think getting that first buck under your belt is much more valuable than which hunting method you use.  You're going to learn a lot of things about hunting, deer and buck behavior either way.  And for 90+% of the people getting that first one is the challenge.  After that they get easier and easier giving reason to perhaps try other methods of greater challenge.

For me tree stand hunting is the bigger challenge.  I hate sitting still, I hate bugs and I hate looking at the same bunch of weeds day after day.  Because of these things I know the behavior of deer better where I spot and stalk rather than where I would tree stand hunt.  My friends from the East Coast can't seem to figure out how to spot and stalk a deer in open country to save their lives.  So each technique posses different challenges to each of us.  Just about like anything else...you have to find the method you enjoy best.  Hunting is about enjoyment as much as challenge.  As long as you are enjoying yourself who cares what others might think and which one others might find the most challenging.

Except I'd rather find a well traveled path and sit on it all day.  Just more fun for me.  That and I hate hiking.

[Button Nubbs]

hunt smarter not harder. if terrain/underbrush dictates a tree stand then thats what you need to do, if its wide open then a tree stand aint gonna work. hunting out of a treestand is alot of work but its mostly done before the season starts. i always say my hunting is done when i hang my stands, after that its just a waiting game. i have killed animals both ways but my best quality animals have died from above.

in short i dont care if i kill it on the ground or in a tree, i just want to hunt the way i feel is going to be the most productive.

[fish vacuum]

I had been thinking of hunting blackies from a stand but decided that my first buck would be more hard earned. I decided that it would be more rewarding to kill one way back in the woods if i can

Go kill a few before you decide what tactic is harder or more rewarding. If you get bored killing blacktails year after year, then you can adjust to make it harder.

[bwhntr350]

Ive hunted both ways for bt's and hunting from a tree stand has been a lot harder for me.

 When I read the original question I thought "Are you kidding me", lol.

 I am with you, Bigshooter. I would guess that I have 120 to 150 hours in a tree stand and have seen 3 deer, total. I scout, put up camera's, study the area, place my stand, no deer...

 If you can kill a masher Blacktail, take the opportunity and be happy. The two that I have taken that I would consider big bucks were both from the ground, I am not sure if I will ever get into a tree again. It is cold and uncomfortable, boring, shoot, I sleep half the day (wait a minute, is that why I see no deer?)

[Bigshooter]

Like I said before hunting bt's from a tree stand is extremely difficult.  If you are hunting over bait it becomes a little more easy.  But it seems like the big bucks will wait until after dark to come in and hit the bait.