Deer Hunting: Where it All Began
Deer Hunting: Where it All Began
Deer hunting began years ago as a way for men to provide for their families. Over the years, a man’s stature began to be measured by how well he could hunt and provide food. In many Indian tribes, the elders were the best hunters or the group. As America was developed, this became a trait of the white civilization as well. Through the years, trophy deer hunting has moved past racial lines and the need to provide food for one’s family. However, if you spend one day in a hunting club, you will find stature is still measured by the biggest trophy or kill.
There is an understanding between hunters that the bigger the kill the better the hunter. While this is not always the case, it can sometimes be true that bigger is better. Trophy deer are measured by the number of points on their racks. Points are the knobs or ends or an antler rack. As a deer grows, its rack will also grow bigger to include more points and with age comes understanding. The more seasons a trophy deer has survived, the more likely they are to survive another. Just like any other animal, a deer will learn to adapt its routine to avoid hunters. Deer will learn what gun shots sound like and avoid any areas they hear them coming from.
These patterns of learning often lead to the local stories of the one big trophy buck that always gets away. While some towns may very well have one predominate buck that has been around a few years, there are stories of bucks living through generations. Some families will have a story of the one that escaped the dad, the son, and maybe even the grandfather. This is not a possible occurrence though, most deer live to be less than 15 years old and deer in a denser population will survive less than that.
When checking in a trophy dear, you will realize the excitement that goes along with it. Pictures will be taken with the dead animal. Strangers may even request a quick photo op. If your trophy deer is the biggest or first of the season, you are likely to find your picture in the paper in most small towns. In many small town papers, the deer hunting announcements can take up a whole page. Along with these pictures, go the bragging rights for the next year. That is until the next season.
To many hunters, bagging that famous buck is not always the goal. Many still hunt simply for the love of the sport. They simply enjoy the thrill of man verses beast. It is more about the hunt and the excitement than the actual kill. These hunters would rather spend a week in the infamous deer woods awaiting the kill, than get their kill on the first day and go back home. However, if you ask even these dedicated hunters, they would tell you getting the big trophy deer sure wouldn’t be a disappointment.
Albie Berk enjoys hunting and sharing what he has learned and any successful tips he can with others. He enjoys South Carolina hunting and usually stays at Island Plantation