this may make some people mad because the original thread was closed but i had to put my two sents... Isnt this iowa Land Of The Giants? Giants is plural if u see that. There are plenty of monster deer in this state. They wouldnt call us this or everyone wouldnt want to hunt here if "we didnt have so many of them". I look at this way whitetails are "wild animals". They have a mind of their own and do and go wherever they want. we just do our best to put ourselves in front of them...but they are wild animals that are owned by no one...the land can be owned the animal cant. there are plenty of big deer. yes i put in alot of effort to hunting big deer and sometimes somebody else gets lucky for whatever reason legal or not and get them but thats part of hunting a "wild " animal. hunting if full of ups and downs you either win or you lose but you always learn to respect the wild whitetail deer. People shouldnt fight over antlers...and yes i do love scouting and putting myself in front of big mature bucks....but in the end you cant eat antlers. People please remember why are we out there? its to enjoy nature. to spend time in the tree and see things that nobody else gets the chance to see...were out there to have fun and make memories that will last a life time! and when we work hard and get a little lucky we can put a good one down and rellesh the prize of hard work paid off. So antlers are cool and look good on the wall and can tell a great story but dont let them ruin the sportsman inside all of us.:way:
bloodhoundhandler
New Member
nicely put
iatreehugger
PMA Member
Hoytman,
I would like to take the time to thank you for your civil response to the newest non-civil issue in Iowa, and probablly anywhere else where our selfishness gets in the way. I moved to Iowa over 20 yrs. ago and met some of the nicest people on the earth. They were old-time farmers who would let you chase their pheasants (just like they did anyone else who knocked on the door), and they would let you hunt their deer, and you took them something at Christmas, and was truly sad when they passed away. Am I nostalgic for days past...you bet I am! I have shot many good deer with my bow (over 140), and a couple that made it to the wall (170+), so I'm not someone whining because things have never went my way. My fear is in our next generation...oh there will be some hunters (just look at England and Germany), but if our greed and lack of generosity isn't passed on to someone other than the kids of TV hunting celebrities, we will become a society that loses it's hunting rights because only a few wealthy landowners control those hunting lands. People can laugh if they want to, but if land ownership and owners change as much in the next 20 yrs, as they have the past 20 yrs...hunting will be a rich man's sport only...and if you're rich...you won't care!
I would like to take the time to thank you for your civil response to the newest non-civil issue in Iowa, and probablly anywhere else where our selfishness gets in the way. I moved to Iowa over 20 yrs. ago and met some of the nicest people on the earth. They were old-time farmers who would let you chase their pheasants (just like they did anyone else who knocked on the door), and they would let you hunt their deer, and you took them something at Christmas, and was truly sad when they passed away. Am I nostalgic for days past...you bet I am! I have shot many good deer with my bow (over 140), and a couple that made it to the wall (170+), so I'm not someone whining because things have never went my way. My fear is in our next generation...oh there will be some hunters (just look at England and Germany), but if our greed and lack of generosity isn't passed on to someone other than the kids of TV hunting celebrities, we will become a society that loses it's hunting rights because only a few wealthy landowners control those hunting lands. People can laugh if they want to, but if land ownership and owners change as much in the next 20 yrs, as they have the past 20 yrs...hunting will be a rich man's sport only...and if you're rich...you won't care!
Great post iatreehugger! Nowadays, antlers = money, bottomline! Sure, everyone would like to have a monster buck hanging on the wall. But alot of our hunting traditions have been sacrificed by the commercialization of deer hunting. Compare yourself to any of these "professional hunters" on TV. Are they truly a better hunter than you? Or do they just have access to better hunting land than you? Money talks, and hunting traditions walk.
SaskGuy
Active Member
Very interesting read. I feel as though I am very fortunate to be where I am, special interest groups have not yet appeared to make much headway here..................................yet.
I feel as though things are currently somewhere b/w where you guys are at and as iatreehugger spoke of 20 yrs in the past there. Where I am we're closer to 20 yrs ago in IA than the present but I can see changes looming. There seems to be more and more special interest groups popping up here as well and it is likely only a matter of time before they make a splash as opposed to a ripple. I can only hope that I have made enough very good friends over the yrs that I will always have the opportunities I currently do. I believe I have made it clear over the yrs that I have some pretty dang good access opportunities as I indeed do. I will not lie in the event that each yr I cross my fingers and hope some of the bucks survive the season and evade the other hunters that have the same opportunities on the properties I hunt but I really do believe more is to be gained than lost in being able to share properties with other people on handshake permission than if I were the only one out there. Between gaining deer activity information and developing friendships with people who likely would have been strangers to myself are two things I consider perks of "the good old days". I know how pleased I always am when a plan comes together and I try my best to remember that when my path crosses with someone else. I always just hope that the interactions b/w us is positive enough for them to allow me to have a truck bed check of their bucks when they are lucky enough to get a tag on one. At the end of the day I am just a guy who loves to hunt whitetails but that far from defines the many faucets of my life. I'd rather it be that way than to be defined solely by my passion for whitetailed deer. I think that as long as there are people who see that there is more to life than antlers there will always be a place to hunt, but it is indeed true that it appears there are more and more people today who live in a world that revolves solely around deer and deer hunting. The end result of this is indeed less places to hunt for the people that enjoy the activity. There is a whole forest out there through the trees.
I feel as though things are currently somewhere b/w where you guys are at and as iatreehugger spoke of 20 yrs in the past there. Where I am we're closer to 20 yrs ago in IA than the present but I can see changes looming. There seems to be more and more special interest groups popping up here as well and it is likely only a matter of time before they make a splash as opposed to a ripple. I can only hope that I have made enough very good friends over the yrs that I will always have the opportunities I currently do. I believe I have made it clear over the yrs that I have some pretty dang good access opportunities as I indeed do. I will not lie in the event that each yr I cross my fingers and hope some of the bucks survive the season and evade the other hunters that have the same opportunities on the properties I hunt but I really do believe more is to be gained than lost in being able to share properties with other people on handshake permission than if I were the only one out there. Between gaining deer activity information and developing friendships with people who likely would have been strangers to myself are two things I consider perks of "the good old days". I know how pleased I always am when a plan comes together and I try my best to remember that when my path crosses with someone else. I always just hope that the interactions b/w us is positive enough for them to allow me to have a truck bed check of their bucks when they are lucky enough to get a tag on one. At the end of the day I am just a guy who loves to hunt whitetails but that far from defines the many faucets of my life. I'd rather it be that way than to be defined solely by my passion for whitetailed deer. I think that as long as there are people who see that there is more to life than antlers there will always be a place to hunt, but it is indeed true that it appears there are more and more people today who live in a world that revolves solely around deer and deer hunting. The end result of this is indeed less places to hunt for the people that enjoy the activity. There is a whole forest out there through the trees.
ROADTRIP! I call shotgun!
NotEnoughDaysOff
Member
A landowners perspective
This issue doesn't only come up in Iowa, it's everywhere I think. When I was a boy who couldn't sleep the whole week before opener of deer season in Wisconsin, my dad, a few of his brothers and brothers-in-law had almost 1000 acres available to hunt. Slowly, as farmers retired and farms were parceled off, we found ourselves with next to nothing.
Thanksfully, my dad and uncles decided to collaborate and purchase 200 acres for recreational purposes. They built a cabin, and now it's all but a sure thing that their kids will have a place to hunt, hike, etc. Watching this unfold as a kid growing up caused me to put my primary focus on investments in land. I'm fortunate enough to own 185 acres on which we live, with my brother now owning another 60 that borders us.
I've been petitioned to hunt before, and at times, I have allowed it, but now I reserve the rights for those within my family or close friends. It's very hard to tell folks no, especially when you've been on the other side of the conversation. My only consoling thought is that those asking permission have not done the same as I have. They haven't made providing these opportunities to themselves and their family above many other things. At times, when I'm driving my 10 year old Ford Escort to work, I wonder if I've made the right choices. But every time I have a cousin or nephew reach a new milestone in their hunting career and get to see the expression on their face and hear the story in a loud, excited voice, I'm reassured of my decisions.
We make choices every day. Unless you are one of a select few, there are a limited amount of opportunities we can provide to our children. Based on my experiences growing up, I decided to pass on the new boats, trucks, cars, etc. While I have sympathy for those who don't own land, my sympathy is more for their kids, who may want dearly to go hunting, but sadly can't.
This issue doesn't only come up in Iowa, it's everywhere I think. When I was a boy who couldn't sleep the whole week before opener of deer season in Wisconsin, my dad, a few of his brothers and brothers-in-law had almost 1000 acres available to hunt. Slowly, as farmers retired and farms were parceled off, we found ourselves with next to nothing.
Thanksfully, my dad and uncles decided to collaborate and purchase 200 acres for recreational purposes. They built a cabin, and now it's all but a sure thing that their kids will have a place to hunt, hike, etc. Watching this unfold as a kid growing up caused me to put my primary focus on investments in land. I'm fortunate enough to own 185 acres on which we live, with my brother now owning another 60 that borders us.
I've been petitioned to hunt before, and at times, I have allowed it, but now I reserve the rights for those within my family or close friends. It's very hard to tell folks no, especially when you've been on the other side of the conversation. My only consoling thought is that those asking permission have not done the same as I have. They haven't made providing these opportunities to themselves and their family above many other things. At times, when I'm driving my 10 year old Ford Escort to work, I wonder if I've made the right choices. But every time I have a cousin or nephew reach a new milestone in their hunting career and get to see the expression on their face and hear the story in a loud, excited voice, I'm reassured of my decisions.
We make choices every day. Unless you are one of a select few, there are a limited amount of opportunities we can provide to our children. Based on my experiences growing up, I decided to pass on the new boats, trucks, cars, etc. While I have sympathy for those who don't own land, my sympathy is more for their kids, who may want dearly to go hunting, but sadly can't.
letemgrow
PMA Member
Exactly why those of us that are fortunate enough to own land should share the bounty. Being selfish is not very fulfilling IMO and I would rather someone else shoot a deer on me than myself. Usually ends up that I get a deer and so do they.
Theres more than enough room for all of us out there and still get to enjoy shooting big bucks.
Theres more than enough room for all of us out there and still get to enjoy shooting big bucks.
SouthernIowa
PMA Member
very very well put notenoughdaysoff! I am lucky enough to live in southern Iowa and grow up on a large farm. Im only 18 but i already know how furtunate i am. I know i wouldnt have gottin into bowhunting if i didnt have a 1000 acres of land around my house. And just the thought of not having that priviledge makes me sad. When i sit in my stand and look at the land around me its an awsome feeling to know its yours and before it was yours it was your grandpas. I am just as thankfull for the first squirrel i shot as i am for the bucks i have shot on our farm. I think it would be selfish of me not to let me kids enjoy the same things i have. Im a long way from having kids lol but i know i will raise them on a farm just as i was.