Time Machine Deer Hunting Preference

[Bearblade]

If you could dial in the time you would want to try hunting deer in this country, even before it was a country, where and when would it be? I think I'd like to have roamed the northeastern (New England area) area between the time the Vikings landed and before the Spanish and English po'd the natives:) Maybe in the 1300s? I'd have loved to have seen this land in a much earlier time and wonder if I could have survived it?

[swampbuck]

I dont know what the deer hunting was like that long ago, so I will go with just before whites made it to the straights. Along one of those really long deer fences the indians used on there drives in the u.p.

[Airoh]

I'd like to go on a southern Mi. mastodon hunt.
The taxidermy bills would get a little expensive. But it would be worth it!:)
Gotta remember my Gore-Tex.

[Whit1]

Right now here in the early 21st Century

[Death_From_Above]

I'd go back 40 years. I could go on a hunt with my Grandpa, and My Dad. Never got to hunt with my Grandpa, yet his stories and my fathers love for hunting made me into the man I am.

It's a shame to see what hunting has become today. It's the pursuit for the biggest buck, how to grow them, shame on anyone else who doesn't want the same thing. It's arguement upon arguement.

It's as though everyone has forgotten the roots of hunting. It never has been about the record books. Until TODAY!

I get lectured all the time from kids (18-22) telling me how hunting should be the pursuit for these monster bucks. Somewhere they missed out on the true meaning of the outdoors.

I'd go back to what hunting truly was intended for. Spending time with your family/friends, sharing a passion for the great outdoors. Loving something so much that you just wish to pass on your love to anyone who will listen. I'd go back to hunting with a man who provided meat for his family of 14.

I'd go back to when if times were tough, which they were back in the day, you'd do what you had to do to make ends meet. My grandfather shot a non-typical 24 point buck, brought it to the buckpole, was offered $500 (Back then this was a lot of money) and sold it so he could provide for his family.

Today he would be arrested for violating/selling wild game. He never killed a deer that his family didn't need to eat. It wasn't about the horns!

Do I hunt the way he did today? Nope...but I do respect him for doing what he had to do back in the day. I respect hunting and it's heritage too much to do it just for the horns.

To each their own though...That's what it means to me!

[wally-eye]

I would love to hunt "again" back in the late 1950s and early 60s in Michigan.

No treestands, no compound bows, no bait etc etc. You shot a deer back then you flat out earned it.

Simple times and great memories.

[Mitchell Ulrich]

Anywhere in the Grass lake area BEFORE they developers destroyed it!

Mitch

[Nick Adams]

1900-1930. The Northern Michigan of Hemingway short stories.

Naturally. ;)

-na

[MarkSend]

The year before the DNR came up with the two buck per year idea. One was happy to get a buck and the number of points wasn`t an issue.

[King of the Road]

Southern Michigan, around 2020.

[Bearblade]

quote=Death_From_Above;2159555]I'd go back 40 years. I could go on a hunt with my Grandpa, and My Dad. Never got to hunt with my Grandpa, yet his stories and my fathers love for hunting made me into the man I am.

It's a shame to see what hunting has become today. It's the pursuit for the biggest buck, how to grow them, shame on anyone else who doesn't want the same thing. It's arguement upon arguement.

It's as though everyone has forgotten the roots of hunting. It never has been about the record books. Until TODAY!

I get lectured all the time from kids (18-22) telling me how hunting should be the pursuit for these monster bucks. Somewhere they missed out on the true meaning of the outdoors.

I'd go back to what hunting truly was intended for. Spending time with your family/friends, sharing a passion for the great outdoors. Loving something so much that you just wish to pass on your love to anyone who will listen. I'd go back to hunting with a man who provided meat for his family of 14.

I'd go back to when if times were tough, which they were back in the day, you'd do what you had to do to make ends meet. My grandfather shot a non-typical 24 point buck, brought it to the buckpole, was offered $500 (Back then this was a lot of money) and sold it so he could provide for his family.

Today he would be arrested for violating/selling wild game. He never killed a deer that his family didn't need to eat. It wasn't about the horns!

Do I hunt the way he did today? Nope...but I do respect him for doing what he had to do back in the day. I respect hunting and it's heritage too much to do it just for the horns.

To each their own though...That's what it means to me![/quote]


Man, do I ever agree! Deer hunting "pros" really bug me too:)

[King of the Road]

quote=Death_From_Above;2159555]I'd go back 40 years. I could go on a hunt with my Grandpa, and My Dad.

I'd go back to when if times were tough, which they were back in the day, you'd do what you had to do to make ends meet. My grandfather shot a non-typical 24 point buck, brought it to the buckpole, was offered $500 (Back then this was a lot of money) and sold it so he could provide for his family.

Today he would be arrested for violating/selling wild game. He never killed a deer that his family didn't need to eat. It wasn't about the horns!

I respect hunting and it's heritage too much to do it just for the horns.

Let's see; Michigan, circa 1968, ie., forty years ago - Probably 85% of the statewide harvest was antlered bucks back then.

Michigan, circa 2007, the last season for which we have data - in the southern lower peninsula, 50% of the deer harvested were antlered bucks.

If you ask me, the 1960's Michigan deer hunter was even more about the horns than today's hunter is. The trend away from antler-obsession and toward stewardship and a balanced deer herd is a positive thing, which is why I look forward to a better future for deer hunting in Michigan.

[KEN WES.]

maybe for the nostolgia I would like the go back 100-120 years ago, but the best deer hunting is now. I started deer hunting around '75 or so and as I remember almost all deer hunting was done by about 850,000 hunters all either in the up or the n-lower because thats the only place there were deer and the deer populations were about 450,000-500,000 in oct. on a really good year. everyone I ever heard of always shot the 1st legal buck they saw because it was going to be the only one they would see.
also most hunters went up on the 13th hunted 15-19th and maybe thanksgiving weekend and that was it. you never saw deer camp for the rest of the year. also our deer camp was either an old bus and tent and eventually became an old 50" mobilehome. was real cramped with 10 guys in it.
now there are deer through out the state adding about 33% more land for about the same amount of hunters with over 3x the number of deer. there are a number of hunters self regulating the size of the deer they shoot, but the state regs are the same for the most part.
there is also a much better opertuninty to spend a lot more time in the woods hunting due to the bow and muzzleloading seasons and I know we spend a lot more time hunting and building food plots to improve the quality of our hunts. I let 3 legal buck walk on the 15th alone and never fired a shot through any of the 3 seasons but I was able to be there when my daughter shot a 6pt during muzzle loading,[ something that wouldnt have been pos. in the 70's and before ] and my son took a doe the 2nd weekend.
I still had a very fun time without firing a shot.
yea now are the good old days, its all what you make of it.

p/s my son wanted a buck but he knew it was going to be his last hunt for about 4 yrs. he's heading to usmc boot camp as I write this way to long of a reply.

[srconnell22]

Oct. 1, 2008

[buckman66]

1987, 1988... Don't know why for sure, but our group all shot racked bucks those 2 years in the U.P. Have not seen a year since then that even comes close. I remember grunting in a nice 8 pointer that year and seeing the steam coming out of his nostrils. Never could get a shot as he stayed in the thick stuff!

Buckman

[betrlate-]

I'd go back 40 years. I could go on a hunt with my Grandpa, and My Dad. Never got to hunt with my Grandpa, yet his stories and my fathers love for hunting made me into the man I am.

It's a shame to see what hunting has become today. It's the pursuit for the biggest buck, how to grow them, shame on anyone else who doesn't want the same thing. It's arguement upon arguement.

It's as though everyone has forgotten the roots of hunting. It never has been about the record books. Until TODAY!

I get lectured all the time from kids (18-22) telling me how hunting should be the pursuit for these monster bucks. Somewhere they missed out on the true meaning of the outdoors.


I'd go back to what hunting truly was intended for. Spending time with your family/friends, sharing a passion for the great outdoors. Loving something so much that you just wish to pass on your love to anyone who will listen. I'd go back to hunting with a man who provided meat for his family of 14.

I'd go back to when if times were tough, which they were back in the day, you'd do what you had to do to make ends meet. My grandfather shot a non-typical 24 point buck, brought it to the buckpole, was offered $500 (Back then this was a lot of money) and sold it so he could provide for his family.

Today he would be arrested for violating/selling wild game. He never killed a deer that his family didn't need to eat. It wasn't about the horns!

Do I hunt the way he did today? Nope...but I do respect him for doing what he had to do back in the day. I respect hunting and it's heritage too much to do it just for the horns.

To each their own though...That's what it means to me!

Great answer to an interesting topic.

Not to copy it but I would also go back far enough to hunt with my Grandfather whom I only knew when I was very young.

[old graybeard]

I'd go back to the 60's also. That is when I started hunting with my family and when hunting meant enjoying your time in the woods with your loved one's and carrying on a tradition. There were far fewer deer back then and bucks only was the rule except for certain doe hunting areas where you drew for tags. Of course that meant most of the kill was bucks so it's easy for some to say the herd was mishandled. It just seemed like better times and everyone was in it for the same reasons and ejoyed it to the max wheater they filled a tag or not.

[BowtechGuy]

1957 the first year my Grandpa owned our family farm before the swamp was drained and 20 acres of woods and all the fence rows were cleared for farming. Not complaining would just like to have seen it back then.

[2tundras]

You dont want to go back to far. Before MI was logged flat the deer population was pretty darn low. But, go back far enough and you can take a stab a woodland carbiou or bison. Not a bad trade off.

[QDMAMAN]

It's a shame to see what hunting has become today. It's the pursuit for the biggest buck,

It's as though everyone has forgotten the roots of hunting. It never has been about the record books. Until TODAY!


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/54/144931771_9a9361c6f6.jpg?v=0

;):)

Big T

[Death_From_Above]

If by your picture your sending the message that even back in those days it was about horns. Your wrong plain and simple.

Lets say that picture goes back to when the indians were the only inhabitants of this vast land. Would they shoot a big racked buck. Sure they would, but it wasn't about the horns. They were living off the land, eating and using most every piece of the animal the harvested.

Dancing to give thanks to the animal that laid down it's life so that they may live. Dancing to thank the gods who provided them nourishment.

If you think it was about the horns I truly believe you sir would insult what being a true native american meant to those people.

I can remember back when I was a very young child i'd draw pictures of deer. They weren't pretty, but boy the horns that I drew on them. It was what drawing as a child was, dreaming.

I'm not going to say I don't hunt after trophy whitetails. I do every year..but it took me a long time to be at that point. I now take does for my family's nourishment, and if I can't attain enough meat for my family i'll take a small buck. There's nothing wrong with that. If I ever get to the point where even a small buck doesn't get my blood pumping I'll have to give up hunting.

As far as saying back in the 60's 85 % of the harvest was antelered deer...of course it was they didn't harvest does back then. It was one buck rule and deer were hard to come by. I remember stories of my Grandfather telling me if they saw a track they would call everyone they new just to tell them they saw a track.

[swoosh]

Back when these real hunters hunted, who hunted for all the right reasons:lol:
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q304/swooshjr/Old%20Pictures/h-deer-024.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q304/swooshjr/Old%20Pictures/h-deer-121.jpg

Yes these are Northen MI bucks;)

[QDMAMAN]

If by your picture your sending the message that even back in those days it was about horns. Your wrong plain and simple.


Just saying that even waaaaaay back then man had an infatuation with antlers.
I too harvest alot of does and I encourage folks to pass on yearling bucks, when does are available, so we can get our herd back to a more natural state so we can pass on OUR love for the hunt to generations to come.
BTW, my favorite time to hunt is THE NEXT time.

Big T

[Skibum]

If you are only concerned about the hunting there isn't much sense in turning back the clock. The best whitetail hunting is now.

[Dking(MI)]

take me back, back where I belong!!
Thats in a song I heard, cant remember...

I would say in the early 80's, I have heard stories from my dad about (more)nice bucks roaming the area. Also, dad said he could hunt more land back then because most everyone in the area gave him permission to hunt. It was not like today, where everything is split up.
It would also be neat to hunt with those that hunted in the 30's-60's. The red plaid and winchester lever action rifles on a cold november morning, with campfire smoke in the air. It just sounds like fun!!!! My neighbor that is 97 years old has some great stories of hunting back then, they hunted on beaver island.
And if possible, I would want to slay a couple bison on the great plains back when they were abundant.

[QDMAMAN]

take me back, back where I belong!!
Thats in a song I heard, cant remember...


"Fred Bear" by Tedly Von Nugentburger

[Dking(MI)]

and there you have it,
a dream hunt with fred bear!!:)

[butter21]

up 1870's

[michigandeerslayer]

I would like to go back to the 50's and hunt with red and black plad wool

But in reality Anytime I can get in to woods and hunt is a day I want to go back to. It isnt about always getting a deer, its about being in the woods. If you are lucky enough to get one, take pride in it and enjoy your success.


The harder the hunt the better in my eyes, and ruffing it at deer camp is what it is all about:D

[Skibum]

I would like to go back to the 50's and hunt with red and black plad wool

But in reality Anytime I can get in to woods and hunt is a day I want to go back to. It isnt about always getting a deer, its about being in the woods. If you are lucky enough to get one, take pride in it and enjoy your success.


The harder the hunt the better in my eyes, and ruffing it at deer camp is what it is all about:D


I'm curious as to why you think you can't do exactly that today? The only difference is you'd have to add an orange hat and you can take the bridge as opposed to the ferry.

[michigandeerslayer]

I'm curious as to why you think you can't do exactly that today? The only difference is you'd have to add an orange hat and you can take the bridge as opposed to the ferry.


well I guess you make a good point. I do ruff it now and I do have some red long johns that are quilted , maybe I should get a woolridge coat and pants and live out my dream hunt:)

[old graybeard]

Man I'm still hunting in my red & black wools:confused:

[Whit1]

I would like to go back to the 50's and hunt with red and black plad wool


How about those few years in the mid-60s when it was thought that yellow was THE color for hunting clothing? Yes, I said "yellow", and that included companies offering yellow hunting boots as well as hats, gloves, coats, pants, and insulated 1-piece suits. A guy would look like a lemon out there in the woods. After a couple of years it was discovered that, at a distance, the yellow clothing would appear white at a distance, the fad faded.........thank God! :lol:

[Rustyaxecamp]

Man I'm still hunting in my red & black wools:confused:

same here.:coolgleam

[michigandeerslayer]

Man I'm still hunting in my red & black wools:confused:so would be ok for a guy born in 1974 to wear red and black wool in the woods? I love that look and it make you feel like your hunting back in the day, plus you cant get better then wool

[MarkSend]

My father was colorblind but for some reason the yellow was easy for him to spot. Blaze orange to him was black.

[loweboats]

so would be ok for a guy born in 1974 to wear red and black wool in the woods? I love that look and it make you feel like your hunting back in the day, plus you cant get better then wool

Of course it is, I was born in 1983 and wear my dads old wolrich clothing, for the sole purpose that it gives me a warm cozy "back when" feeling...of course I have my scentlok baselayers on underneath :hide:

[FREEPOP]

Let's see; Michigan, circa 1968, ie., forty years ago - Probably 85% of the statewide harvest was antlered bucks back then.

Michigan, circa 2007, the last season for which we have data - in the southern lower peninsula, 50% of the deer harvested were antlered bucks.

If you ask me, the 1960's Michigan deer hunter was even more about the horns than today's hunter is. The trend away from antler-obsession and toward stewardship and a balanced deer herd is a positive thing, which is why I look forward to a better future for deer hunting in Michigan.


Poor comparison, in the 60's, there was a doe permit lottery and no over the counter licenses.

[FREEPOP]

How about those few years in the mid-60s when it was thought that yellow was THE color for hunting clothing? Yes, I said "yellow", and that included companies offering yellow hunting boots as well as hats, gloves, coats, pants, and insulated 1-piece suits. A guy would look like a lemon out there in the woods. After a couple of years it was discovered that, at a distance, the yellow clothing would appear white at a distance, the fad faded.........thank God! :lol:

A friend of mine has a jacket and pants made of wool and are yellow. I was curios why and now you have quenched it ;)

[November Sunrise]

I don't really find myself reminiscing about previous eras that I would have wanted to deer hunt in. I would like to hunt in different areas during periods where the season isn't open here - archery hunting in September in Missouri or North Dakota, rifle hunting in Alabama in January, etc. If time travel were available the one thing I'd want to do related to hunting would be to go coon hunting with my grandpa who passed away 20+ years ago. He had stopped hunting due to health reasons well before I was old enough to go afield, but he loved coon hunting, and it would be great to experience some hunts with him.

[specificgravity]

Michigan - 1800-40'ish

I'm reading the account of a southern Michigan resident that resided here then and it seems like an interesting era to not only deer hunt but also live in.

[old graybeard]

so would be ok for a guy born in 1974 to wear red and black wool in the woods? I love that look and it make you feel like your hunting back in the day, plus you cant get better then wool

NO! You must wear green & black plaid or Malone plaid. I also have some of those if you need to borrow:)All matching sets too (bibs and coats)

[2tundras]

Man I'm still hunting in my red & black wools:confused:


Me too. So dos Dad, the uncles. In fact I think our whole camp. Love the stuff. But I draw the line at the 30-30.:lol:

[KingSalmon]

Oct. 1, 2008

:yeahthat:I 2nd that one!!!

[michigandeerslayer]

NO! You must wear green & black plaid or Malone plaid. I also have some of those if you need to borrow:)All matching sets too (bibs and coats)

Can you still buy these? I would like to get a set this year but Im not seeing anywhere that sells them

[Joe Archer]

......
I'd go back to what hunting truly was intended for. Spending time with your family/friends, sharing a passion for the great outdoors. Loving something so much that you just wish to pass on your love to anyone who will listen....
:yeahthat: “Never give up, never surrender..”
That philosophy can live today. Teach it, profess it, and defend it. Hopefully my children and yours will enlighten future generations.
That said... I'd love to go back to a November bow hunt in the early 90's. I had what I believe would still be a Northern Michigan record book buck 25 yards away facing me. Send me back there today and I would hold off on that cigarette for just 5 minutes longer....
<----<<<

[old graybeard]

Can you still buy these? I would like to get a set this year but Im not seeing anywhere that sells them

You sure can there are lots of places offering the stuff. Cabela's offers some and find a catalog for Johnson's or Woolrich.