By James Gilmer
Houston, Minn.
I am a 65-year-old deer hunter who has never hunted deer with a gun. To steal a phrase, I am a “dyed in the wool” bow hunter. I have been hunting deer for 44 years. The last 38, I have hunted deer strictly with traditional equipment. For the uninformed, that means I hunt with the old fashioned long bow and recurve.
I moved to Houston County 12 years ago and my very first deer hunt in the bluffs was in 1991.
These last few years, I have come to dread the deer gun season. Let me tell you why.
This year’s opening day was like so many other normal hunting days for me. I was perched in a tree stand upon my farm well before first light. I actually like sitting in the dark, watching the stars, the moon and planets and listening to the night sounds. Shooting light (legal shooting time is 30 minutes before sun rise) was about 20 minutes away when the first shots rang out. The sky was barely pink, I could not see the forest floor clearly and hunters were already shooting at something. As the day wore on there was a shot here, a shot there. Sometimes there were many shots in a row, followed by a short silence and then several shots more. As the day ended and shooting light faded (legal shooting time ends 30 minutes after sunset) the shots continued on. As I walked home through the forest in the dark, down the old logging road, four more shots rang out. What can they possibly even see much less shoot, at I thought.
So here is my plea. Please don’t shoot when the light is not good enough for you to know if you hit or missed your target. Please don’t throw multiple Hail Mary shots at deer that are beyond your shooting ability. Please don’t shoot at running deer or deer that are walking in thick brush. When you do shoot, follow up every shot as if you are sure you hit your target. Walk to where the deer was standing when you fired and actually look for signs of a hit. For you more experienced hunters, if there is someone in your group who hunts irresponsibly, speak to them about it. Let’s all remember that our quarry deserves our respect. It is a living, breathing warm blooded mammal that feels pain. Let’s all make it our goal to make quick, clean and ethical kills our number one concern.
I’m getting off my soap box now and heading back to my tree stand.
Be safe, have fun and please hunt with the respect the deer deserve.
Anonymous says
Its impossible that you heard shots then heard the bullet as it almost hit you. Bullets travel much faster than sound my friend.
Moss says
Not once in this article did he state that he heard bullets near him. You should try read the entire article especially when it only consists of a few paragraphs.. Idiot.
Chris sports says
I completely agree with your plea, unfortunately it’s not just there that it happens it’s all over the US I’m from Arkansas and it happens here all the time, you can tell from some of the other comments that’s the guys that don’t give a damn about hunting or being ethical Hunters, they go out get the biggest caliber rifle that they can find and shoot at anything that moves so they can feel like men again, people like that don’t need to be in the woods period
Tim L. says
Pennsylvania is worse. Especially in the Southeast and Northeast Regions. Sometimes in the Southeast Region too
Mike says
My thoughts are, stay out during rifle and black powder. Hunt early and late. Every idiot with an orange hat and firearm invade the woods like those guard troops in Rambo. And many are from out of state. Half of them marry first cousins. Be careful.
Dan. says
I think 90 percent of people who go out don’t belong in the woods with the real hunter’s yea thats right REAL hunters REAL hunters DON’T do any of the things that the gentleman spoke about i agree 100 percent. Maybe one should think if that animal was myself would i rather be killed out right or left to suffer and then MAYBE die .THINK ABOUT IT .If you don’t even have common sense do everyone a favor and just stay out of the woods.
Snake says
I totally agree with your plea but as you can see in some of these comments a lot of people don’t share our concerns. I don’t care what weapon people choose to use, just be ethical with taking shots.. if you’re not certain you’re taking a shot that will end in an ethical kill don’t just sling lead or arrows hoping for the best.. every hunter has lost an animal to a misplaced shot or deflected by a limb or something, it happens, just make every effort to retrieve the animal and don’t just give it the old “hell there’s plenty of them” there are plenty of them, but that was the only life that particular deer had. It makes me sick to think about a wounded animal being eaten alive by predators..
Just be responsible out there and happy hunting..
Bob says
Sad about the rude and ignorant comments. These are the guys giving all of us a bad name. I refuse to call them hunters or sportsman as they are neither. I am 68 and have hunted with bow and rifle since I was 13 and have never lost an animal. I have shot deer with a 30-06 that have shown no signs of being hit but have run a couple hundred yards and dropped over dead. Know your limitations with both weapons and follow up your shots even if you think it was a miss. Respect your game and your fellow hunters. We are stewards of the land, let’s all try remember that. Safe hunting.
Bob says
I have been hunting both ways since I was 13, am now 68. Have never lost a deer that I shot with my bow or my rifle. I have shot a number of deer that showed no signs of being hit when shot with a rifle and because I follow up on shots taken I hope I have always found ones that were hit. With a bow taking shots within your comfortable range should hopefully eliminate any getting away wounded. I know things don’t always turn out as planned, but being careful and respectful of your game and fellow hunters is always the right way. Sad about the ignorant and rude comments from some so called sportsman. They give us all a bad name.
Anonymous says
I’ve been hunting all my life I’ve heard all kinds of stories and this is what I have to say about all of that if you tend to punch shooting something you should know what you’re shooting know if it is a pig or if it’s a deer or if it’s a cat don’t pull the trigger until you know what you’re shooting at and respect all other hunters
Big Byrd says
I have been a bow hunter for 5o years. But I will not try to put my ethics on someone else. Stop trying to tell others what you think they should do.
Lee says
Deer season can & will turn people in an ass. There should be safety & respect for other hunters. Also respect for the animals that are given to us. Seen & heard it all in my 55 years of hunting in Pa.
Lee says
You have a Damn good point.
Safety for yourself & other hunters. Respect for the animals that has been given to us. Deer season can & will make people into an ass. Seen & heard it all in my 55 years of hunting in Pa.
Anonymous says
Bow hunting wounds more deer than anything else period. I think bow hunting is not effective at taking deer quickly and the animal suffers.
J.D. says
This statement is completely false. Maybe for you personally it is true. But certainly not in my experience. I hunt with bow, muzzle loader and with shotgun or rifle, I would actually say that of all the mentioned weapons, my bow is most ethical. For many reasons. 1 I don’t take bad shots. 2 the deer don’t get as freaked out from the load noise. And 3 I practice a lot.
Anonymous says
I too throw sticks at dear and also lead. No deer deserves to die at the hands of a so-called hunter who is to lazy to put the effort in to find out if he has hit his quarry. Nothing can bring back a bullet or arrow that is let go on what they think is a deer because of poor light while shooting in the dark. Though legal for predator hunting not so for deer. There is reasons for game laws and hunter safety courses. Death of a d pearson or family pet isn’t funny by anybodies standard. This isn’t a game this has real consequences take it seriously.
Davey says
More deer are lost to bow hunters inability to make a good shot and recover their animal. So don’t lecture rifle hunters till you make bow hunting a more ethical way to hunt.
Anonymous says
state your sources please
Anonymous says
Wonder what would happen if and i say IF someone breakes the law no matter how small one of there children are executed in front of them ? … Harsh ?????? Ya thats what happened to me when my son was killed by a hunter shooting after dark…… so the reply. CRY BABY come this way tuff guy…..
Garry says
I agree with your plea,I to hunt with a bow,also gun and muzzleloader,I’m 76 and live in northern michigan,I was taught never point your gun at something unless your sure of your target,and if your not going to eat it,don’t shoot it. We also have the same problem with people shooting to early and to late, and no common sense ,and no respect for others property .
Tim says
Yes I believe I hunt for meat not horns!!!! I’m 63 I hunt to feed my family,yes it would be nice to see a nice mount!! On the wall but can’t eat horns??? And it would be nice to have a good place to hunt?
Richard savage says
Bow hunters wound and mame more deer than anyone combined..not recurve per say..but you cannot deny that bow hunting and all off its money it brings in doesnt sway the votes..here in nys turkey season was open from Oct 17th to the start of shotgun..now its only 15 days long..but the gay bow hunters have a month and a half before anyone else can even persue their prey..they are killing bucks before they even breed thats not management thats retarded..if bow hunters need an extra month and a half than they should be out of the woods by noon..maybe so many deer wouldnt die under moonlight with a trashy shot placed on them…also treestands should all be illegal..
J.D. says
Amen sir!
John says
Cry baby
Anonymous says
Wtf , shoot times are there for a reason no negotiation
Anton Stegen says
Half hour before and half hour after. Before or after, it’s all on you baby. Legality and the responsibility is all yours to own.
Anonymous says
You’re probably one of the irresponsible hunters he’s talking about!
Duke of earl says
You are probably one of these scum who has no morals, no hunting ethics, and no respect for laws. You are a disgrace. People like you should not be allowed to hunt(obviously calling what you do Is far from hunting). Do everyone a favor and leave this worlf
Ron says
Ron of oklahoma, you will cry,if your gilty of shooting before or after if you shoot someones love one in the dark.
Anonymous says
You got nerve calling him a cry baby . You’re probably one that hunts in the dark and shoots at anything that moves the world doesn’t need people like you living in it with no respect
Anonymous says
Ha
Anonymous says
I would argue until the cows come day after day with on the point that archers wound more deer gun hunters. I hunt both ways since I was 13 yrs old am now 65. I have come across deer both wounded and dead and 90% of the have been shot with either rifle slug or shotgun slug.
Many gun hunters I have talked to about this admit if they don’t see sign of a hit or blood within the first 15-20 yrds they consider it a miss and go back to their stands. Never giving thought of the deer changing direction or possible gut shot. There are more ways of determining a wounded deer than just blood.
So don’t go throwing at archers!!!
TeeByrd says
A high powered scope takes in more light than your old ass eyeballs. More than likely you was still walking in daylight but you thought it was dark because you’re an old. The good thing about being the dominant species on this planet is we have the brain power to invent gun powder & design bolt action rifles with high powered scopes.
Randy says
High powered..light gathering scopes are a crutch for the weak. Unconfident substitute technology for basic skills. Their rights supersede the legacy set by the past.
Road Hunters are day poachers.
Snake says
Stupid comment. You’re exactly one of the guys he was talking about..
DDOG says
Wow. How disrespectful… You should listen instead of speak. You might learn something from the older generation. I’m not old either if you ASSumed that.
Joker says
I say shoot them up. Blast everything that moves
WILLIAM Henry ARENZ says
There’s no doubt that Bow hunting during rifle season is risky, but if you use your head for more than a hat rack and follow the laws every hunter will be safe. Good Luck hunting and don’t shoot unless you can see your target clearly. Be Safe.!!!
Patton says
You sir said it very well.There is to so called hunters that just shoot .Have a blessed day and hunt.
William A Rosancrans says
You’ve hit nail on the head 🦌 Be a responsible hunter👍👍👍👍
James Howard says
It is very possible that what you’re hearing isn’t deer hunting. Many hunters, ranchers, farmers and landowners use night vision optics on their rifles, to allow them to shoot feral hogs when they are active at night.. I also hear quite a bit of nighttime gunfire near my property in Fayette county. I am fairly certain that most of the gunfire I hear is either people shooting pigs or coyotes.
Tony Quinn says
Well said Mr Gilmer.. As an avid bowhunter myself it gets pretty frustrating and freighting also here in KENTUCKY whenever our Rifle season opens!! For that reason I hesitate to take my grand niece’s and nephew til later in the season. We are always hunting out of pop up blinds so you know how scary that can be!!! So always RESPECT your fellow Brothers and Sisters,Hunting Heritage and the game we hunt!!! Everyone PLEASE be safe and GOD BLESS!!!
Johnny Angel says
I think they should ban deer hunting for five years to let the population grow and the trophy deer would be better to!
Steve Mabry says
Insurance company will never let that happen, getting rid of wolf and coyotes would help, remember if we go into a true recession people will kill and eat every animal that rome’s this earth within months.
Anonymous says
Iv never ate a trophy yet.
Chuck Lutter says
Thank you for the informed, concise words. Enjoy your time in the woods!
Anonymous says
That is a well stated plea. I too am a favored bow hunter, although compound is my choice. I have had the same experiences.
I would like to reinforce a point made know yoir target, know the the zone that will harvest with the least amount of pain inflicted.
Respect your fellow hunters safety and the prey you seek.
I share this a recently I was walking from the woods and heard multiple shots. The sportsman was firing in my direction, i heard the shots and than the sound of a missile it appeared, as the the bullet hit the tree in front of me.
Please! i ask, know your target and all that is behind it.
God bless, happy hunting.
Anonymous says
Its impossible that you heard shots then heard the bullet as it almost hit you. Bullets travel much faster than sound my friend.
Anonymous says
Nice piece friend . I agree with all of your points , except for not shooting at a running deer . I live in N . California . Blacktail deer . I’m 53 now , and I’ve been hunting since I could walk . At least 75% of the bucks I see , and kill are running . I’ve lost only one cripple in my life . Bow hunters cripple , and lose far more bucks than rifle guys . – Mike –
Anonymous says
I would argue until the cows come day after day with on the point that archers wound more deer gun hunters. I hunt both ways since I was 13 yrs old am now 65. I have come across deer both wounded and dead and 90% of the have been shot with either rifle slug or shotgun slug.
Many gun hunters I have talked to about this admit if they don’t see sign of a hit or blood within the first 15-20 yrds they consider it a miss and go back to their stands. Never giving thought of the deer changing direction or possible gut shot. There are more ways of determining a wounded deer than just blood.
So don’t go throwing at archers!!!
Anonymous says
Got that right! i find them all the time in Florida and Georgia with arrows in them.
ted R Rickabus says
I completely agree. I was once stopped by a hunter on public land that said “you need to wear more orange. I almost shot you” i said I’m 6 foot 1 and wearing an orange hat. Do I look like a deer to you?” He said adamantly “well I heard brush cracking” i asked “you shoot at brush cracking?!?!” He looked uncomfortable and said “well, you just need to wear more orange”. This is the kind of people that are in the woods. Its also the reason I am happy that I now hunt my own land, with the exception of this year. The 40 acres to my south recently sold to someone that is a new hunter and new at owning land. Opening morning of rifle season im sitting in my elevated box blind waiting for sun rise like you do and what do I see? A flashlight scanning my foodplot at the end of my shooting lane. I then watch the flashlight disappear ino a pop up blind not 30 yards from my plot. I send the new owner a text “someone just crawled into a blind right in front of my tower”. No response, so I leave the stand to reduce the danger. I finally ask for a response the next day and I get “i should be able to use every bit of my land that I want to.” Ignorance through arrogance is what I call it. Bottom line, it can happen anywhere and you just have to know that there’s a lot of hunters who either don’t have a clue about ethics and safety, or are just selfish and dangerous. Yes, many good ethical and professional hunting types as well. Our camp saying is “Respect the game. Honor the tradition”. Be safe. See you in the wilderness.
Robert Gearing says
Evendently your good plots is right next to his property line