Deer Hunting: Hunting Humor & Whitetail Deer

Deer Hunting

If hunters held a popularity contest for wild animals, the whitetail deer would win every time. Admired for its speed and jumping ability, a deer can run 40 miles per hour and leap over a fence 8 feet tall. Besides their beauty, Deer are also extremely challenging animals to hunt.

Deer move silently through the woods, constantly aware of the hunter’s presence and can disappear from sight in the blink of an eye. Deer are naturally camouflaged and their acute sense of smell is 1000 times more powerful than humans. Even the best hunter can leave the woods after 3 straight weeks, without firing a shot.

Hunting GearA few things every hunter needs are deer stand, weapon, waterproof boots, knife, tags, orange clothing, rope and a permit. There are two different types of deer stands, ladder stands, and climbers. Ladder stands are ladders with a platform on top of them chained to a tree. Climber stands are platforms with a seat that may be carried on your back and then placed usually about 4-8 feet off the ground on a tree.Waterproof boots are not essential but they come in very handy, especially since deer do not always fall down where you shoot them and may run for a few miles into the woods. Knives are essential for skinning and field dressing deer. Tags and permits are required to hunt deer legally; they may be purchased from local sporting good stores or your state’s DNR website.

Rope is necessary for dragging your deer after the kill. Adult female white-tailed deer can weigh 145 pounds, males 170. The heaviest whitetail ever recorded in the United States was a 500-pound Minnesota buck.

Hunters and environmentalist alike will agree that deer hunting is an extremely valuable wildlife conservation tool that ensures the biological success of our natural resources, while supporting the nation’s economy.

38 Million Strong, the American Hunter pours $70 billion into the economy annually–with a whopping $179 billion in ripple effect. This makes the American Hunter among the most prominent and inflectional of all demographic groups.

The American Deer Hunter, Men and women from all walks of life, doing what they love, growing the economy, helping conservation and contributing to society.

ST. PAUL (AP) - Despite resistance from a powerful hunters’ group, a bill that would tack an extra dollar cost onto deer hunting licenses remained on track Monday in the Minnesota House.

The Environmental and Natural Resources Committee approved the surcharge on a 10-5 vote. The money it would raise each year - almost $500,000 - would repay meat processors who turn donated deer into venison for food shelves.

R. Jane Brown, executive director of the Second Harvest Heartland food bank, said finding enough butchered venison is a continual challenge.

“Deer meat is highly desirable because it is abundant and nutritious and high in protein, which is in short supply among donated food products,” Brown said in an e-mail to lawmakers….

Complete Story Click Here

Source: http://www.kstp.com

Since 1991, Virginia deer hunters have donated in excess of 3 million pounds of venison to a nonprofit organization called Hunters for the Hungry.

More than 12 million servings of venison have reached our state’s poor and hungry. In 2006 alone, Virginia hunters donated 356,054 pounds of meat to this organization; that equals 1,000 pounds of food a day for people who suffer the effects of poverty and disaster. We cannot think of a better way to help the community than to feed those who need it most.

The fees for hunting and fishing licenses are an important source of revenue for game preserves. These preserves enable deer and other animals to live in a natural habitat with no danger of the land’s being developed.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries uses that money to maintain more than 1,000 miles of road and 200,000 acres of land in 36 management areas that are kept open and in good condition for public use.

They also work with the U.S. Forest Service to help manage 1.5 million acres of wildlife habitat in National Forest lands in Virginia. This would be impossible without the fees hunters and fishermen pay for licenses.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported that about 1.5 million deer-automobile accidents occur each year in the U.S. Those accidents account for about 150 deaths and $1.1 billion in damages. Not only would these statistics grow astronomically if people were unable to hunt, but auto insurance bills would skyrocket, as well.

So please, before anyone runs off at the mouth about how hunters “enjoy killing” or “should leave the control of wildlife population to God,” educate yourself on the subject.

Chris and Sarah Hart Stafford

Source: http://www.fredericksburg.com/flshome/

Hunters Against HungerHunters Against Hunger is a program dedicated to providing quality venison to food shelves in the state of Minnesota. It is designed to follow all of the rules and regulations set forth by Minnesota’s Department of Agriculture (meat quality regulation) and Department of Natural Resources (big game hunting regulation).

Hunters Against Hunger is run by volunteers from Minnesota Deer Hunters Association and funded by participating chapters and the state office.

How and where can I donate?
A hunter can donate an entire deer or a portion of a deer. Click here for full details on donating.

MDA Approved Processors
Click here for a list of Minnesota Department of Agriculture approved processors

Participating Food Shelves
Find a local foodshelf. When contacting a local food shelf, be sure to ask if they accept and pick up donated venison from MDA approved processors.

DNR Field to Fork Brochure
Download the PDF: HAH-DNR_Field_to_Fork_Brochure.pdf

Hunters, Hikers and Nature Lovers are helping local officials in the battle against Meth.

In the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the abuse of the drug methamphetamine (meth) in Minnesota. The production of meth in illegal “meth labs” has also been a serious problem for agencies and communities throughout the state.

Minnesota observed its highest numbers of (reported) meth labs and other meth-related events (meth chemical dumps, anhydrous ammonia thefts) in 2003 with more than 500 events reported. That number decreased to 320 events in 2004.

How can you Help?

While out hunting, hiking, nature viewing or doing other outdoor activities, if you see what appears to be a methamphetamine lab, contact your local law enforcement agency or conservation officer immediately.

Items to watch for

Signs of a methamphetamine lab include large quantities of common household products. Used as designed, these household products are generally safe. Mixed together, they can become explosive and/or give off toxic fumes.

• Chemicals
• Acetone
• Cold pill packets containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine
• Drain cleaner
• Engine starter
• Iodine Heet
• Lithium batteries
• Matches (red phosphorous)
• Muriatic acid
• Anhydrous ammonia
• Red Devil lye
• Salt (table or rock)
• Sodium metal
• Trichloroethane (gun cleaning solvent)
• Toluene

Meth Lab Equipment

• Aluminum foil
• Blender Bottles
• Cheesecloth
• Coffee filters
• Funnels
• Gas can
• Hot plate
• Jugs
• Paper towels
• Propane tank/thermos
• Pyrex dishes
• Rubber gloves/tubing
• Strainer
• Tape/clamps
• Thermometer

Meth can be easily be made from these common household chemicals and products. These ingredients are mixed and “cooked” to make this dangerous drug. The cooking process can also create potentially harmful chemical residues that can remain on household surfaces for months or years after “cooking” is over. There may be adverse health effects in people exposed to lab chemicals before, during and after the production process.

Each meth lab, spill or dump is a potential hazardous waste site, requiring assessment and remediation by experienced and qualified personnel.

The Methamphetamine Program at the Minnesota Department of Health, in conjunction with many public and private organizations, has been working to share resources, raise awareness, protect endangered children, provide technical advice for the remediation (cleaning) of meth labs, and to help Minnesota communities work together to create a strong, local response to this problem through education, training, and civil action

CLICK HERE for more information

Global Warming has hypothetically placed humanity on a ticking time bomb. If the vast majority of the world’s scientists are right, we have just ten years to avert a major catastrophe that could send our entire planet into a tail-spin of epic destruction involving extreme weather, floods, droughts, epidemics and killer heat waves beyond anything we have ever experienced.

I understand that Global Warming is a growing problem, but I live in Minnesota and we have had two major snow storms in 7 days. The latest storm dropped as much as 17 inches of snow in parts of the Twin Cities. In northern Minnesota, Finland got a reported 25 inches and Duluth got 18 inches.

Here was my personal wake up call this morning

I found it rather ironic when I finally made it to work this morning and sitting in my inbox was an email from the Minnesotans for Global Warming Solutions. I actually laughed out loud as I read their email discussing rising temperatures as the melting snow soaked through my boot and pants.

Consider This:

The morning News had reported that more than 350 schools and school districts reported class cancellations Friday. At the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, operations were “pretty much back to normal” by about 9:30 a.m. Friday, a day after 400 flights were canceled. The entire area was a complete mess.

Considering all the current weather conditions, I think the Minnesotans for Global Warming Solutions marketing effort might be met with a lot of laughs.

Supplemental feeding of deer is gaining popularity in Wisconsin. Practiced primarily during late autumn, winter, and early spring, deer feeding involves placing grains, apples, hay, and other feeds where deer will find and consume them.

A diverse array of people feed deer. Many are suburbanites who feed a few deer; others provide supplemental food to literally hundreds of deer within deer wintering areas. Deer feeding sites are sometimes maintained by municipalities, which commit a portion of their tax revenues to deer feeding, or by businesses that fund deer feeding operations as a cost of doing business.

People are motivated to feed deer for a variety of reasons. They may believe deer cannot survive winter without supplemental food, or they believe that feeding deer in winter will result in a larger, huntable population the next year. Suburban landowners may believe supplemental foods will divert deer away from expensive shrubbery, hence reducing landscaping costs. Others simply enjoy seeing deer at close range. Some business owners know that attracting deer also attracts customers.

‘Fluke’ injury to exceptional Sportsman will require up to two weeks to heal!
The Beard Times

Fairbanks, Alaska O.G. Beard will miss two to four weeks after injuring his shoulder while hunting last Friday night in the home opener.

The exceptional Sportsman strained his right shoulder, but will not need surgery.

Beard said he was hurt on the first or second rung of the treestand but didn’t tell anybody until late Friday night. He said it was a “fluke thing” that occurred while “climbing. “I think my hand got caught on a branch or something. I kind of felt something weird with it,” Beard said. “I just kind of felt like I jammed it. I kept hunting.”

Beard flubbed a shot at an 8pt buck during the opening drive. By night’s end, he was getting his shoulder iced, his stats sealed at 1 shot and 0 bucks.

While Beard wasn’t sure when he got hurt, he drew his bow twice on his first official outing of 2006, so he considers the trip a success.

On the flubbed shot, Beard said he was trying to pull back an arrow, when the deer spooked and ran away.”I didn’t really have my full strength in my arm, so I think that probably may have contributed with him running away,” Beard said.

The next morning revealed the damage to Beards shoulder was more painful that previously thought. His right arm was stationary and partially dragged all that day.

“I feel like I’m a quick healer,” Beard said. “Once I have some time away from the range to rest, the healing process will start. … I’m going to try to get back as soon as I can.”

After Friday’s injury, two MRIs have come back clear, but with the release of Madden 07, Beard still plans to sit on the couch for several more days because he still doesn’t feel right.

If things go well, perhaps Beard will return during the 2006 Bow Season. If there are any setbacks, it’s possible he doesn’t return until November 3rd, the Rifle Season opener.

The 2006 Whitetail Deer hunting season should provide hunters with a bountiful harvest. Dry summer conditions and warmer winters have dramatically increased the size of the Whitetail deer herds across the upper Midwest. With favorable conditions, a lot of hunters should be shooting a lot of deer this season. Not only should the harvest be excellent, but the amount of Trophy Bucks taken should also increase.

With these thoughts in mind, I headed into the woods of northern Minnesota this weekend to scout, check the stands and make sure my arrows were still flying true. It was a dismal weekend for Bow Hunting. As I made my way through the fields, I was greeted with rain, wind and DEER. I have never seen so many deer out in the fields as I did this weekend. At one point, I stopped and just counted the Bucks. Six Bucks were engaged in different stages of grazing and bedding down right out in the open and I didn’t even bother trying to count the does. All I could think about was how quickly I would have filled my intensive harvest tags had it been rifle season.

Upon reaching my stand, the rain and wind picked up considerably. I sat for about 2 hours before a big 8pt buck crossed in front of my stand. It was moving quickly and as I drew back my bow, the deer stopped then immediately bolted toward the fields. Disappointed and with night approaching, I decided to leave the stand and see if I could get a clear shot at one of the feeding giants. I made my way through the trail and finally reached the clearing with a clear view of the pastures.

I was greeted by the site of 3 deer feeding within 50 yards of my position. I notched an arrow and slowly crept towards them, walking along side the field as to not draw their attention towards me. I was within 35 yards when the 8pt noticed me, I drew back my bow and decided to try my luck. I let the arrow fly and wham…A direct hit…..into the ground.

The deer, being alerted to my intentions, bolted for the safety of the deep woods. Wet, cold and thoroughly dejected I decided to call it a night and try my luck in the morning. Though my hunting didn’t produce any spoils, the scouting information regarding the size of the herd was extremely uplifting. I can’t remember the last time I saw as many deer on the back 80 as I did this weekend. I predict a great harvest and one of the best chances for a trophy in as long as this hunter can remember. Good Hunting!

By: Michael Willand

I would like to propose a toast. A toast to the man with no name. The man who walks through my woods without any care, searching for my treestand, my trail cameras, and my fragile piece of mind.

You’re so clever! Able to creep in the darkness, wandering from tree to tree, in search of my favorite stand. You’re so brave. Able to walk through miles of spider webs strung from tree to tree, without one girlish scream or thought of turning back now. I cannot even fathom the pain you must have endured by the onslaught of mosquitoes that swarmed your cold blood. You must be full of so much pride as you carry away my treestand hung way back in the raspberry thicket. I know I felt great pride when I hung it in 95 degree heat, while ticks crawled up my pants and bees dove around my face.

What of safety!? Did you come alone!? Is it not a general treestand safety rule that one should have another with him/her when he/she are installing or uninstalling a treestand!? After all, I would hate to think that you where careless when in my woods! Did you take the time to put on your safety belt? I really would not wish for harm on you. I mean, I can’t speak for others, but I wouldn’t want to head into my woods one morning only to find you laying helplessly underneath my stand!

However, I will assume that you are safety conscious because I know that upon hanging that particular stand I also took the time to hang on an extra safety harness tree strap. This way I wouldn’t have to do it on opening morning and make so much noise. And since you also took this strap, you must be incredibly safety conscious!

I wonder what sort of man you are, physically? I am guessing you are not of a heavier set. I know this because the tree you took my stand from leaned at a good angle, putting all the weight on your back as you climbed up. A really heavy man would have had much trouble with this. And clearly you were not discouraged by the lack of screw in steps that were in the tree. They were spaced kind of far apart, because I just ran out. I apologize for that! So my guess is, you are at least 6 feet tall and with good upper body strength.

What sort of man are you emotionally? What does it take, inside of you, to be the great thief that you obviously have become!? Are you an only child, raised by the parents who gave you everything you ever wanted, but still you wanted more? Do you just have social or intimacy problems with the opposite sex? Perhaps you’re just angry at life, for dealing you such a tough hand. Whatever it is, I guess with you taking Mike Willand’s treestand it should help you to better succeed in life. Good job!

Whomever you are, you have now earned my respect. You, treestand thief, needed that one more treestand so bad that you came in the night! In the dark! You took on the heat, the thorns, the insects, and the sweat! You walked up the rolling hills, over water soaked creeks, and through a small swamp to achieve your goal! And tomorrow when you set that stand you so rightfully stole from me, it will all be worth it for you!

Just remember to cross off my name that is etched into the stand 3 TIMES! I wouldn’t want the game warden, whom I contacted, to see you with that stand. Then he may feel the need to arrest you, and I just don’t want that to be on MY conscience. Then I’ll have to help file paper work, press charges, and maybe even have to pick you out in a line-up. Although I have never seen your face, I think the physical description I have in my head should be pretty darn near accurate.

With this, I solute you, oh Treestand Thief.