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Random Deer Hunting Thoughts and points of discussion

Dannmann801

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
10,640
191
Springboro
Just some random thoughts:

1) I already mentioned in another thread about how much I'm enjoying hunting with other guys as opposed to just going out by myself. Gotta say I'm looking forward to both now - I'm yearning for some alone time out in the woods. And I'm also looking forward to getting together again with Ben and crew. What's great about being around other hunters is what you learn from their experiences, or the different points of view they might have that vary slightly from yours. Also, it's easier toting and lifting a deer with two guys instead of just one. The possibilities of tracking success increase exponentially if you have more guys involved.

2) If you know ahead of time that you're going to be using and working with a dog to track your deer, avoid walking around the area you shot the deer and "contaminating" it with your own scent. Last week Ben had asked me if I shot a deer to leave it lay so he could get the dog some practice, and I didn't think about making life harder on the dog by stinkin' up the crime scene, so to speak. The dog did fine, I'm just disappointed in myself that I didn't think about that first before I tromped around looking for blood and my arrow. Live 'n' learn I guess. And I realize that this doesn't apply for a lot of real world scenarios, where you bring a dog in after being unable to locate a deer by yourself. A dog's nose is an amazing thing, isn't it?

3) Watching wildlife thru binoculars is a wonderful thing. God bless her, my mom bought me a pair of cheap Tasco binoculars right after I started deer hunting. I've toted those big heavy clunky things around in my pack, and have used them often, though not quite as much as I would if they were lighter/better quality/easier to use. I used them last weekend watching turkeys and deer for almost two hours during my evening sit. But they can be a little frustrating to get and keep focused. So I wrote down yesterday morning "good binos" on my to-do list. Yesterday I drove to Michigan to take some wedding gifts up to my daughter and SIL. While driving, we saw a sign for an estate sale and decided to stop in. I found an old pair of Simmons 8x40 for $20 - tried them first and man, they were so much lighter and easier to focus than the ones I have now! So needless to say I snatched them up. I'll never get rid of the Tasco's because they came with love from my Mom, but they'll stay at the house now to watch squirrels and the neighbors. Someday I'm going to buy a really nice pair, but till then I think these Simmons will do quite nicely. They make something that's 1000 yds appear like it's 304.

4) My next investment will be a better knife sharpener. I currently use a Gerber EZout skeleton knive as my main carry, and dress it up with my Redi Edge sharpeners. Both items do an acceptable job, but I'd really like to step up my knife game. Just not completely happy. I wanna be "that guy"...you know what I mean, the guy with the knife that's always got a great edge, the guy I've always been jealous of? I flipped on the Outdoor Channel last night and was watching Jim Shockey extol the virtues of his Havalon Titan knife. I gotta say, I'm VERY intrigued by that knife. Does anyone have any experience with one of those? Looks kinda big/clunky/heavy though.

5) Telecheck? Yeah, a part of me misses the old metal tags. But I gotta say, being able to go online and buy/print license and deer tags is pretty convenient, and being able to check in your deer without driving anywhere is actually pretty damned slick. I'm a fan.

6) My SIL Kevin kept both the heart and liver from his first deer last weekend. He's a cook/foodie as kind of a hobby (good for him because my daughter has the cooking skills of my ex-wife :smiley_crocodile: ) I tried a little piece when I saw him yesterday and I gotta say, I'll be keeping the livers from now on.

Like I said, just random thoughts
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
"He" has spoken...lol

I have the Havalon fillet knife and my wife loves it for cleaning game. I've used it a few times, I just prefer a "real" knife. Most times I use my pocket knife for field dressing. I have a much higher comfort level with it. Reaching in a chest cavity blind has always made me nervous. As I am "that guy" that can shave with any of my knives.

Fugg telecheck! I hate it and thinks it's stupid. Something about going to a check station during gun season...loved that experience! The collection of metal tags was always something to be proud of also.

Get you a nice set of bino's and some straps to hold them on your chest. Mine never leave my truck unless I'm in the field. The straps make it way more convenient and they are never in the way.
 

finelyshedded

You know what!!!
Supporting Member
31,856
260
SW Ohio
It's always nice having several knives that are razor sharp on hand and being able to sharpen them yourself! As long as you don't lose em........:smiley_coolpeace:


Still TOO early Dave?rotflmao


Lord......I apologize.........

It is very convenient to use Telechek but I have mixed feelings on the subject. Miss the old tag system as well Dave!
 

Bigslam51

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
25,778
127
Stark County
Gotta love a sharp knife. I love my buck 110 folder. My case trappers are razor sharp. I'm carrying the Moro that Rick got me now as my field dressing knife. Trappers will be for skinning. I also miss the check in stations.
 

Dannmann801

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
10,640
191
Springboro
You can still drag your deer and your ass to the check in station: (from the online regs)

Visit any authorized license sales agent. A list of sales agents can be found at wildohio. gov. Hunters do not need to take their deer or turkey to the agent for the game check. Authorized license sales agents will be available for game check during normal business hours. Call for exact hours of operation.
 

Outdoorsfellar

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
Deer liver. My dad was a great cook. He fixed up some liver / gravy from his deer, along with the heart one time many years ago, & that was the best thing I ever ate. I spit the heart out, very strong. He's gone & he was rude enough to take his knowledge with him. The cookings you had & will never have again... sigh.
 

Blan37

Member
1,800
64
SW Ohio
Interesting... The hearts that I've cooked have all been really mild. Only thing odd about it to me was the texture.
 

Jake_C

Junior Member
Fugg telecheck! I hate it and thinks it's stupid. Something about going to a check station during gun season...loved that experience! The collection of metal tags was always something to be proud of also.
I agree. I haven't taken a buck yet but when I do I want to drive it to the check in station, check it in and show it off. fortunately there are some places here that still do it... or they did last year anyway.
 

Quantum673

Black Hat Cajun
Supporting Member
All my normal check in locations do not do it anymore. That sucks. We used to go there every evening just to see what people were checking in. Talk to the hunters and share stories. The store owners I have talked to sure miss it. They lost a lot of revenue from people buying stuff in their stores when the came in to check a deer and from those that just came up to see what was getting checked in. I like the online tags because they are convenient but wish there were more places still doing it.