I recently read an article that said the national average is 13 days afield for hunting deer (bow and gun). I spent 19 days after deer, 6 on squirrel. Reviewing some of the hunting logs here I take it that most are not "average" hunters and spend a lot of time in the field. Would be interested in how many days members/readers of this site spend afield.
Hunting Days Afield
- Thread starter HE>I
- Start date
Schu72
Well-Known Member
My season was kind of short this year. I hunted 10 days alone and 4 with my son. I shot a buck on November 13th and really didn't put much effort into taking a doe. The point in the season when someone has a successful harvest will have something to do with the number of days afield.
bigten05
*Supporting Member*
I hunted deer 40 days, waterfowl 18 days and all others species roughly 12 days in 2017. Add in trapping, scouting, food plots and other habitat management and you get another 30+ days easy. When I proposed, I prefaced "the question" with: "I'll give you this ring and pop the question, but only if you agree to one thing... You agree never to give me shit about how much time I spend outdoors." She said yes and I've never laid off the throttle. I pity the fool who marries a woman that doesn't "get it" and then they end up miserable because they can't pursue the things that make them happy and satisfies their soul. Call it luck, call it smart decision making, either way, my wife is a happily married hunting widow! 
No clue. I'd have to look at my hunting log. That would cover time sitting in a tree deer hunting. Probably multiply that by 3 or 4 to get hours scouting, trail camera, etc. Turkey, squirrel, and coyote hunting varies year to year. Probably more time in these 3 than most put into their deer hunting.
NWOHhunter
Junior Member
17 hunts for deer 60hrs, doesn’t count shed,coyote, or groundhog hunting
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That’s bullshit...they are counting every tag sold or something. Anyone that’s a real hunter has much more days then that afield. Hell, most probably have that pre/post season.
That’s mixing the hunters with the shooters. Huge difference.
That’s mixing the hunters with the shooters. Huge difference.
I guess I'm not a real hunter than. I probably have about 13 days or so. I just don't have time to do much more. Hopefully when my son gets old enough I'll go more.
cspot
Member
Most people who are on boards like this and post consistently are not your average hunter from my experience. You have to remember that alot of people simply gun hunt opening day and maybe 1 or 2 days more. Most of them don't even hunt a full day.
Not sure how many days I spend but it is a bunch. I will say that the majority of mine aren't all day hunts though since I bowhunt alot.
Not sure how many days I spend but it is a bunch. I will say that the majority of mine aren't all day hunts though since I bowhunt alot.
Sgt Fury
Sgt. Spellchecker
I save all of my vacation and take the entire month of November off. I’ll hunt Ohio until I get a decent buck or decide to come back during gun season if the deer aren’t cooperating. Then I’ll finish November hunting Jersey. Throw in October archery and December gun in Jersey along with small game, Turkey, and woodchucks, I’d say I’m pushing 60 days in the field. Add shed hunting, scouting for the next season and fishing....and the total increases.
Sgt Fury
Sgt. Spellchecker
Same here....my wife and I dated for three years before we got married so she knew ahead of time what to expect. She was the first girl to make it passed an entire hunting season....most broke up before gun season rolled around! I told my wife that I wasn’t going to give up my passion for the outdoors and that trying to change me after the “I do’s” wasn’t going to fly. She agreed and we are now coming up on our 29th wedding anniversary. It’s give and take and I do go out of my way in the off season to do whatever she wants....shopping, going out to dinner, tackling the honey do list, etc. I’ve seen a few of my friends get married then the wife tries to change them into the person that she wanted to marry...one made her husband remove all of his deer heads from the house and another one kept putting towels over them because she didn’t like them “looking at her”. It’s funny how they never had a problem with it before they were married. LolI hunted deer 40 days, waterfowl 18 days and all others species roughly 12 days in 2017. Add in trapping, scouting, food plots and other habitat management and you get another 30+ days easy. When I proposed, I prefaced "the question" with: "I'll give you this ring and pop the question, but only if you agree to one thing... You agree never to give me shit about how much time I spend outdoors." She said yes and I've never laid off the throttle. I pity the fool who marries a woman that doesn't "get it" and then they end up miserable because they can't pursue the things that make them happy and satisfies their soul. Call it luck, call it smart decision making, either way, my wife is a happily married hunting widow!
Chad...you watched fields and ran cams for months over that deer. Are you saying that isn’t part of the hunt? Because I would strongly disagree
J, I’m not sure how many days I hunted.
I’m simply saying that 13 days ain’t much. Some guys on here spend more days then that just looking for deer parts.
J, I’m not sure how many days I hunted.
I’m simply saying that 13 days ain’t much. Some guys on here spend more days then that just looking for deer parts
.
Never mind, I went back and read the OP again wondering why my post got so much buzz. I didn’t realize it was just bow and gun. Carry on...my bad.
Guess you aren't much of a hunter then. . . .Haven't been 2 years in a row? 2 out of 3? You have had a couple early seasons. BUT, you then spent additional days in the field helping others on their journey. I think you "might" be exempt from those Dave was referring to. haha But you already knew that.