Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 08, 2012, 10:54:48 PM
I don't expect there to be many others if any that are to this level of certified craziness about whitetail in this part of the country (to date I have personally only met a few)...I am sure many will identify with one or two of the types of things I mentioned above....but just curious if there are any other whitetail freaks that can identify with all counts of what I am talking about above.
Post by: KFhunter on December 08, 2012, 11:01:40 PM
I still hold Elk above Whitetail, but I won't hardly look at a Muley.
Then there is Predator hunting, which doesn't count 'cause I get into that after deer season.
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 08, 2012, 11:04:11 PM
I'm getting there, but not there yet :chuckle:
I still hold Elk above Whitetail, but I won't hardly look at a Muley.
Then there is Predator hunting, which doesn't count 'cause I get into that after deer season.
:tup: Keep working on it.
Post by: jnevs23 on December 08, 2012, 11:12:36 PM
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 08, 2012, 11:18:28 PM
maybe borderline....spent about 9 hours in the blind today mostly figuring out where to put post season salt blocks, where im scouting late dec/early jan for next year, new stand locations etc. I have gotten to the point I really dont even consider hunting mulies because all I care about are whitetails anymore. Cant explain the love for hunting whitetails but the chess match of wits i had with a big mature 4 point today probably is the best explanations I can come up with. By the way big 4 point 2, me 0.
Yes...matching wits in a game of chess with a mature whitetail year after year is one of the things I find most rewarding. I have to admit... I lose more often than not. :chuckle:
Post by: Wacenturion on December 08, 2012, 11:19:37 PM
Post by: jnevs23 on December 08, 2012, 11:23:40 PM
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 08, 2012, 11:44:58 PM
Whitetails at the top of my list.....have been for years. Nothing better. :tup:
Saw your post in Top 5.. yeah.. you are a definitely a whitetail freak... haha
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 08, 2012, 11:47:28 PM
He got me twice today. I dont like my blind set up but this spot was a shot in the dark set up a week before the season so I'm kind of stuck. He would probably be hanging in my garage right now if I had a tree stand up. Had him as close as 20 yards on a couple occasions but he got the best of me both times. He never fully spooked, just knew something wasnt right and walked off so Im hopeful he will be back.
Very nice! That's one thing about hunting these big guys over bait...they are on full alert...if anything is wrong you may never even see them...it explains how we can get so many good daylight photos of them munching on the bait when we are not there but when we are there they don't make it quite so easy...whether it be them catching our scent or a "sixth" sense or whatever.
Post by: Tom Reichner on December 09, 2012, 12:29:39 AM
What I am really wondering is how many others on here see whitetail as your primary pastime...period... to the point where you love hunting all big game but when it really comes down to it hunting whitetail is going to win out every time. To the point where you would much rather shoot a 200 inch whitetail than a 400 inch bull elk or 230 inch Mule Deer..... where most people would say it's bordering on an obsession....where you have given up (or perhaps never had) a lot other "hobbies".... where you digest all information related to Whitetail you can get your hands on. etc.When I read all that I knew you were describing me! During the November rut, I pass up just about all other opportunities in order to give all I have to the pursuit of Whitetail bucks. But I now do it with a camera instead of a gun.
I don't expect there to be many others if any that are to this level of certified craziness about whitetail in this part of the country (to date I have personally only met a few)...
I have found Whitetail photography to be even more obsessive than hunting them was, because there are no regulations or seasons, and I can pursue them the way I want to year round.
I've traveled across the country just for the opportunity to photograph them in different habitat. In fact, I am already trying to decide where to spend next November . . . Montana, Minnesota, Virginia, New York, or Texas. If I'm lucky, I may even get to make a 2nd trip next year and catch the late rut (Jan/Feb) down on the gulf coast of Florida - wouldn't that be a treat?!
Post by: 400out on December 09, 2012, 06:50:32 AM
Post by: boneaddict on December 09, 2012, 07:01:45 AM
Post by: oldleclercrd on December 09, 2012, 07:39:16 AM
Post by: Ridgeratt on December 09, 2012, 07:51:50 AM
I like to hunt Big Deer. Have gotten lucky now and then. :chuckle:
That's either species!
Post by: NWBREW on December 09, 2012, 08:48:32 AM
I don't know what happened......I don't hunt early because I'm afraid I'll kill something and miss out on hunting the rut. :chuckle:
I am a poor lost soul. :chuckle: but when November rolls around....I have found myself. I am hopelessly addicted to the rut and I need help....but I don't want help. See...it's December and I am lost again. :chuckle:
Post by: HornHoarder on December 09, 2012, 09:25:55 AM
I just finished my late muzzy season, spent a minimum of 80 hours on stands, and did not fill my tag. :bash: Theres always next year though.
Maybe I'll start a thread in the trail cam section, and show some bucks I was hunting for this year.
Post by: Wacenturion on December 09, 2012, 10:13:12 AM
Whitetails at the top of my list.....have been for years. Nothing better. :tup:
Saw your post in Top 5.. yeah.. you are a definitely a whitetail freak... haha
Freak....in my mind....not my son's. One thing about it ...not many people have gone where I have. :chuckle:
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 09, 2012, 10:46:49 AM
What I am really wondering is how many others on here see whitetail as your primary pastime...period... to the point where you love hunting all big game but when it really comes down to it hunting whitetail is going to win out every time. To the point where you would much rather shoot a 200 inch whitetail than a 400 inch bull elk or 230 inch Mule Deer..... where most people would say it's bordering on an obsession....where you have given up (or perhaps never had) a lot other "hobbies".... where you digest all information related to Whitetail you can get your hands on. etc.When I read all that I knew you were describing me! During the November rut, I pass up just about all other opportunities in order to give all I have to the pursuit of Whitetail bucks. But I now do it with a camera instead of a gun.
I don't expect there to be many others if any that are to this level of certified craziness about whitetail in this part of the country (to date I have personally only met a few)...
I have found Whitetail photography to be even more obsessive than hunting them was, because there are no regulations or seasons, and I can pursue them the way I want to year round.
I've traveled across the country just for the opportunity to photograph them in different habitat. In fact, I am already trying to decide where to spend next November . . . Montana, Minnesota, Virginia, New York, or Texas. If I'm lucky, I may even get to make a 2nd trip next year and catch the late rut (Jan/Feb) down on the gulf coast of Florida - wouldn't that be a treat?!
Tom..Do you have a website with your whitetail photos or any posted on here?
I can understand the bonus of hunting them with the camera. There are times when I have G-I-A-N-T deer moving during daylight outside of the season. Of course by the time the season rolls round they are not coming in during daylight. I am sure it would be awesome to slip in there and get pictures of those big guys pre-season.
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 09, 2012, 10:47:34 AM
200 inch whitetail than a 400 inch bull elk or 230 inch Mule Deer :yike: :yike: Boy I wish I could think that way! Considering where I see the most harvesting is primarly white :bash: The wife seems to enjoy it tho ;)
Awesome! :tup:
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 09, 2012, 10:48:53 AM
I went through a phase when I was. Mostly it helped to Live in Chewelah, but then they got beat out by moose, then I reverted back to mule deer. Now I am just along for the ride. Every once in awhile I run into one or find a shed that twinges the old nerve.
The moose population has definitely exploded and the whitetail population certainly seems lower in many areas than it was 15+years ago.
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 09, 2012, 10:49:30 AM
Guilty!!
I like to hunt Big Deer. Have gotten lucky now and then. :chuckle:
I will take luck any day of the week. I just wish luck was on my side a little more often. :chuckle:
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 09, 2012, 10:50:47 AM
I am close to that. I only hunt whitetails. I am addicted to the rut.....have been for about 20 years. The last time I killed a mulie or even hunted them was more then 20 years ago.
I don't know what happened......I don't hunt early because I'm afraid I'll kill something and miss out on hunting the rut. :chuckle:
I am a poor lost soul. :chuckle: but when November rolls around....I have found myself. I am hopelessly addicted to the rut and I need help....but I don't want help. See...it's December and I am lost again. :chuckle:
:chuckle: You could just go out early and just pass up on all those bucks you would see so you don't miss the rut.
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 09, 2012, 10:51:37 AM
You mean like working a harvest day in August from 6:30am-9:30pm and then after work driving 7 hours round trip to check your cameras just to get back to work at 6:30am? Or maybe having a few of my cameras take several thousand pics each and going over each pic numerous times in case I missed something in the background? I may not be to your level, but I feel like im on my way. :chuckle:
Yeah...you are definitely well on your way. :chuckle:
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 09, 2012, 10:52:49 AM
I'd have to say I'm a whitetail freak. I have stacks of magazines all over the house. I focus on finding the biggest bucks all year. Hunt every day of the season. Run multiple trail cameras. Pass up lots of legal bucks, hoping for a shot at the one. Spend countless time running bait, checking cams, hanging stands, looking for sheds, and love every second of it.
I just finished my late muzzy season, spent a minimum of 80 hours on stands, and did not fill my tag. :bash: Theres always next year though.
Maybe I'll start a thread in the trail cam section, and show some bucks I was hunting for this year.
I hope you start that thread. I love looking at pics of those whitetail.
It's practically a year round affair around my household so I know exactly what you are talking about.
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 09, 2012, 10:54:05 AM
Whitetails at the top of my list.....have been for years. Nothing better. :tup:
Saw your post in Top 5.. yeah.. you are a definitely a whitetail freak... haha
Freak....in my mind....not my son's. One thing about it ...not many people have gone where I have. :chuckle:
You mean that you have low hunting pressure and not many people are after them in the place that you go?
Post by: Wacenturion on December 09, 2012, 11:08:52 AM
Whitetails at the top of my list.....have been for years. Nothing better. :tup:
Saw your post in Top 5.. yeah.. you are a definitely a whitetail freak... haha
Freak....in my mind....not my son's. One thing about it ...not many people have gone where I have. :chuckle:
You mean that you have low hunting pressure and not many people are after them in the place that you go?
Gut hurts here....no....I meant not many people, if any, would have had that opportunity, let alone pass on it. It was definitely an unique experience. :chuckle:
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 09, 2012, 11:17:31 AM
Whitetails at the top of my list.....have been for years. Nothing better. :tup:
Saw your post in Top 5.. yeah.. you are a definitely a whitetail freak... haha
Freak....in my mind....not my son's. One thing about it ...not many people have gone where I have. :chuckle:
You mean that you have low hunting pressure and not many people are after them in the place that you go?
Gut hurts here....no....I meant not many people, if any, would have had that opportunity, let alone pass on it. It was definitely an unique experience. :chuckle:
:chuckle: Yeah... I would never pass a 190 whitetail... unless there was a 200+ standing right next to him and I had a good clean shot on both of them at that moment....but if I had a good shot at the 190 and the 200 wasn't presenting a good shot in that particular moment then the 190 is going down.
Post by: Doublelunger on December 09, 2012, 11:49:23 AM
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 09, 2012, 11:54:14 AM
I picked up a bow 5 years ago, and whitetail have quickly become my passion. It seems that every year that passion grows exponentially. Not sure if I'm a certified freak yet(my girlfriend would say i was though) but the late archery is what a look forward to all year long. Today was my 20th day hunting the late season, and ill be out every day till the 15th or until I lay down one of my lunkers. Last year during the late season I was in my stand over 30 days. Ive passed up 150"-160" deer waiting for the big guys. ill eat my tag this year too if it comes down to it.
I have passed up one 150 inch buck when I was pursuing the 200...but certainly wouldn't do that today. I usually shoot a doe on the last evening of my hunt (unless I feel like the odds are good for seeing the big one)
Post by: Doublelunger on December 09, 2012, 11:59:16 AM
Post by: Doublelunger on December 09, 2012, 12:11:01 PM
Post by: Wacenturion on December 09, 2012, 12:32:18 PM
Are you close to becoming a whitetail freak when....you see a thread that says something like "masher buck" or "big buck down" etc.. and you're disappointed when you read the thread and its a mule deer? That happens a lot to me.
All the time......... :chuckle:
Post by: Kowsrule30 on December 09, 2012, 12:34:20 PM
Post by: Wacenturion on December 09, 2012, 01:34:29 PM
Not hear.... Not even close... WT is boring to me and I'll probably never try to hunt them again... All the hype about them in every magazine or tv show has lead to the demise of them for me... I won't even read a mag if I see something about WT on it...
Good....more for us. :chuckle:
Post by: Kowsrule30 on December 09, 2012, 01:41:09 PM
Not hear.... Not even close... WT is boring to me and I'll probably never try to hunt them again... All the hype about them in every magazine or tv show has lead to the demise of them for me... I won't even read a mag if I see something about WT on it...
Good....more for us. :chuckle:
Glad I could help.. :tup:
Post by: huntnphool on December 09, 2012, 01:47:39 PM
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 09, 2012, 02:34:02 PM
Not hear.... Not even close... WT is boring to me and I'll probably never try to hunt them again... All the hype about them in every magazine or tv show has lead to the demise of them for me... I won't even read a mag if I see something about WT on it...
Good....more for us. :chuckle:
Glad I could help.. :tup:
Yes...Please bring many others over to your way of thinking.. :tup: :chuckle:
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 09, 2012, 02:35:58 PM
Certified mule deer freak :tup:
:tup: Mule Deer are the second most awesome member of the deer family. :twocents: :chuckle: I would rather kill a giant Mule Deer over a giant Elk any day....not that Elk aren't amazing animals too.
Post by: fishngamereaper on December 09, 2012, 02:39:02 PM
Post by: hambone on December 09, 2012, 08:26:36 PM
Post by: Axle on December 09, 2012, 08:35:06 PM
Post by: buck man on December 09, 2012, 09:14:21 PM
Post by: mdbuck5x5 on December 09, 2012, 09:38:42 PM
Post by: huntnnw on December 09, 2012, 10:31:26 PM
Post by: Elkslayer on December 10, 2012, 08:50:20 AM
Post by: Seabass on December 10, 2012, 10:44:09 AM
I have not been in my office for 2 days in a row since The gun season started in October. I put the same amount of effort into my wife and kid's seasons as I do my own. I get a kick out of every time my wife tells me how much she appreciates all my effort for her and the kids.The truth of the matter is I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I didn't have them as an excuse to be psycho.
I was excited to shoot my buck on Friday but almost as equally dissapointed my season is over. I have shot my deer in the last 5 minutes of daylight on the last day of the season for 10 straight years until last week. I almost always shoot a doe and never regret it. I don't care if I kill a buck unless it is "the" buck. I only know a few other friends who understand it but I don't give a crap. I have always responded positively when a person says I'm OCD. My response is yes but I don't consider it a disorder.
The one thing I have to hold onto is I still get to film a buddy or two before the season is over and I will keep my cameras running into February which means I still get to feed and re-do Christmas every 7 days. I always feel like pulling an SD card is similar to opening christmas presents, only way more AWESOME.
I love every single aspect of the game. The shot is probably the thing I spend the least amount of time on. I need to remedy that because it has cost me a couple big bucks and I'm ashamed to say I have lost bucks that I hit because I have gone through periods of time where I don't shoot enough. My partner missed a GIANT last week and was borderline suicidal. He got a little irritated at me because I acted like it wasn't that big of a deal. My response was I'm sorry but if you had killed him you would be done with 10 days to go. I love fooling and seeing big bucks and there is no bag limit on that part.
I could spend the next hour typing about why white tail hunting is the most awesome thing ever but you guys would be bored and you already know all this stuff anyway.
Post by: pianoman9701 on December 10, 2012, 11:08:18 AM
Post by: bobcat on December 10, 2012, 11:12:30 AM
Maybe even worse than DB Hawthorne. :yike:
Post by: C-Money on December 10, 2012, 01:15:41 PM
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 10, 2012, 01:19:35 PM
Seabass, Wow sounds like you've got it bad!
Maybe even worse than DB Hawthorne. :yike:
:chuckle: Actually...reading that I was looking into a mirror.. Identified with every last piece of it...even the not shooting as much as I should.
Post by: Seabass on December 10, 2012, 01:47:15 PM
I truly do regret not spending more time shooting and learning more about my equipment. I can't hold a conversation with a guy who really knows about bows. I'm embarrassed to say that after 11 years I am still learning some pretty remedial stuff about bows. I am still shooting my original bow. I always viewed guns and bows as tools no different than a hammer. The fascinating part to me has always been the hunt.
However, I am commited to becoming a better archer this year and possibly upgrading my bow as long as no one comes out with a piece of clothing or device that would allow me to hunt longer in colder weather. If that happens I will be spending my money on that and keep my old tools.
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 10, 2012, 01:51:50 PM
So DB you would agree that no one could have the addiction bad but rather good?
I truly do regret not spending more time shooting and learning more about my equipment. I can't hold a conversation with a guy who really knows about bows. I'm embarrassed to say that after 11 years I am still learning some pretty remedial stuff about bows. I am still shooting my original bow. I always viewed guns and bows as tools no different than a hammer. The fascinating part to me has always been the hunt.
However, I am commited to becoming a better archer this year and possibly upgrading my bow as long as no one comes out with a piece of clothing or device that would allow me to hunt longer in colder weather. If that happens I will be spending my money on that and keep my old tools.
I definitely agree.
My next purchase is new stands. The stands I currently have are not friendly on all day sits. I never used to remember them bothering me but now my back kills me and it's hard to sit still after 5 or 6 hours.
Post by: bobcat on December 10, 2012, 02:00:52 PM
I realize your scent would then be down at ground level. Is that the main reason people don't use ground blinds as much as they do tree stands?
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 10, 2012, 02:15:11 PM
DB, what are your thoughts on using a ground blind versus a tree stand? I know the blind would be much more comfortable, and would allow you a little more freedom to move around. Not to mention would likely be a lot warmer.
I realize your scent would then be down at ground level. Is that the main reason people don't use ground blinds as much as they do tree stands?
If I was rifle hunting I would be using a ground blind any time it was possible for the area I am hunting. I am actually surprised I don't see more guys sitting in them when rifle hunting for whitetail. If people did this in the right areas I think the modern firearms success rate on whitetail would go up considerably. When helping friends out during modern firearm I usually have them sit in a blind in promising areas with 70-100 yards of visibility. For archery I have found it quite the challenge. If I had private land and could build a ground blind to leave up year round it might not be a bad deal....but it's certainly difficult on public land while archery hunting. The deer are constantly looking at the blind no matter how natural I make it look ...even if it's not over a bait..... It's definitely still possible to get one from the blind but I just find treestands to be more effective. If I was rifle hunting I would probably still use a treestand if I was hunting over 2-5 year old clear cuts.
Post by: Seabass on December 10, 2012, 02:51:53 PM
Post by: Seabass on December 10, 2012, 02:59:03 PM
DB, what are your thoughts on using a ground blind versus a tree stand? I know the blind would be much more comfortable, and would allow you a little more freedom to move around. Not to mention would likely be a lot warmer.
I realize your scent would then be down at ground level. Is that the main reason people don't use ground blinds as much as they do tree stands?
My kids shot their bucks out of ground blinds this year. I shot one out of a blind with my bow as well a few years ago. Asside from all the stuff that DB mentioned, I start feeling like I'm spending my enitre day staring through the peephole of my front door. You are literally only seeing what it directly in front of you.
Post by: bornforhorns on December 10, 2012, 04:21:04 PM
Post by: Seabass on December 10, 2012, 05:53:20 PM
I had the Western area director from the Quality Deer Management Association out here for a few days a couple of years ago and he was blown away with the NE part of our state. My buddy that hunts Saskatchewan says that our hunting in the NE is the closest thing to Saskatchewan he has seen.
Post by: bornforhorns on December 10, 2012, 07:00:11 PM
That is good to hear and congratulations on your harvest, you have to feel extremely good about getting the animal you targeted...makes for a rewarding off season. Funny, I've always looked at Iowa as the one place I would love to hunt whitetail...like everybody else.
Post by: Seabass on December 10, 2012, 07:22:15 PM
Don't get me wrong, given the chance I might sell one of my children for the chance to go to Iowa but this little corner of the state is pretty special.
Post by: 400out on December 10, 2012, 07:42:41 PM
Catching a Deer with just my hands (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUiPmHA7Xqg#ws)
Post by: daydreamn on December 10, 2012, 08:06:09 PM
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 10, 2012, 08:40:52 PM
Post by: Co on December 10, 2012, 11:52:47 PM
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 11, 2012, 12:15:16 AM
Post by: Seabass on December 11, 2012, 09:21:04 AM
Post by: JLS on December 11, 2012, 09:22:25 AM
That sounds like a great idea. I may have found my first use for Facebook. I am one of the 10 people left in the world without an account.
Guess I'm part of an elite group then :chuckle:
Post by: Seabass on December 11, 2012, 10:50:20 AM
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on December 29, 2012, 12:02:46 PM
Are you close to becoming a whitetail freak when....you see a thread that says something like "masher buck" or "big buck down" etc.. and you're disappointed when you read the thread and its a mule deer? That happens a lot to me.
:chuckle: Didn't see this post before. I have the same reaction... but not because I don't like to see big mule deer... I just hope it's a big whitetail so I am a little let down when I open the thread and it's not.
Post by: Bean Counter on December 29, 2012, 12:09:57 PM
That sounds like a great idea. I may have found my first use for Facebook. I am one of the 10 people left in the world without an account.
Guess I'm part of an elite group then :chuckle:
:yeah:
So who are the other seven?
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on December 29, 2012, 12:11:55 PM
Post by: crazysccrmd on December 29, 2012, 12:13:26 PM
That sounds like a great idea. I may have found my first use for Facebook. I am one of the 10 people left in the world without an account.
It wasn't always like this. I remember in college when Facebook was new and only people with .edu email addresses could join. Now my Grandma has one :o