My Buddy

[Bigcountry40]

This is basically a rant/venting, but I have a 70 year buddy who is a great guy and really good friend (possibly my bestfriend), and he got me into a new woods, but his style of hunting is reckless and head scratching to me.We've hunted together for years, but not the same property. We hunted together same property opening day night, I was about 25' up a self climber, he was in a blind (which he has let soak for about 3 weeks) very close to each other his idea not mine, he wanted to try to kill does together at the same time . We get a bachelor group of scrub bucks at 70 yards and he starts hitting a grunt call bring them in to about 20 yards which they become very suspicious of the ground blind. The bucks become nervous eventually leave, he tries to call in 4 more. I just talked to him over lunch and tonight he''s setting up same spot bringing his decoy. Is it just me or is he just educating the deer? We have a 150-160ish running around there, but he's about a month early with the aggressiveness right? This guy always kills deer every year (he's a 6 tags, i kill 6 deer guy), but hunts spots where he should be killing a 160ish deer every 3 years or so, some of his hunting spot (especially tusc county) people would give a testicle for! I mean he's 70 and he's been doing this for 30+ years, but he truly likes the idea of trophy hunting but can't stand not killing deer! I am going to actually start "hunting the hunter" and try to hunt where I think he will push the deer. Anybody have advise, or deal with a close friend family member that does this?

 

["J"]

Probably the “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” might come into play here....

Have you actually made your concerns to him so he knows it’s rubbing you the wrong way with his tactics?

 

[Big_Holla]

He is 70.......let him enjoy the season as he wants to. Obviously he is more into the hunt rather than hunting the big one. If you are there then find a hidey hole away from him and enjoy the season.

 

[Bigslam51]

So your best friend is 70 years old, wtf Gary. That's kinda weird. I'd mention to him that his aggressive tactics this early will only make the rest of the season harder.

 

[Bigcountry40]

So your best friend is 70 years old, wtf Gary. That's kinda weird. I'd mention to him that his aggressive tactics this early will only make the rest of the season harder.

We became friends few years ago through hunting, we now live 3 or 4 miles from each other, I could call him anytime and he'd be there visa versa, my friends my age don't hunt like I do and my best friend has 5 kids. I was just speaking honest. I am going to Colorado with my 70 years olld buddies mutual friend and he's 70 also. I guess I'm weird

 

[Bigcountry40]

Probably the “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” might come into play here....

Have you actually made your concerns to him so he knows it’s rubbing you the wrong way with his tactics?

I did tell him years ago on his own his prime property, that this agressive hunting style wasnt very smart and I had no dog in that fight just tried being a good friend. There is no doubt in my mind he educates a lot of deer every year. He does what he wants, I am very grateful he got me into this woods, I just think he is killing our chances at the this big boy!

 

[Bigslam51]

We became friends few years ago through hunting, we now live 3 or 4 miles from each other, I could call him anytime and he'd be there visa versa, my friends my age don't hunt like I do and my best friend has 5 kids. I was just speaking honest. I am going to Colorado with my 70 years olld buddies mutual friend and he's 70 also. I guess I'm weird

Just messing with u, fugger. Look at j, he's my good friend, he's at least 70.

 

[Boarhead]

Thought J was 78?
Yea that sucks Jon just find a nice spot and enjoy the hunt.

 

[Outdoorsfellar]

A number of my friends that I hang out with are in their 70's as well & sometimes it's really hard to realize that .... until they start repeating the same stories over & over....lol

 

["J"]

Thought J was 78?
Yea that sucks Jon just find a nice spot and enjoy the hunt.

75 youngin.... Fuggin kids....

 

[Hortontoter]

Tough call. I'd say I would have to let him do it his way and hunt elsewhere. My dad was the same way, and never changed. I hunted with him at times, but not close to one another. He hunted meat and I hunted antlers, just what we preferred.

 

[Maxxis31]

Yup you ain't teaching that ol boy new tricks, his tactics are what he thinks is going to get him to kill a deer and that's that, oh and he truly is educating them cagey ol bucks no doubt about that, but like Hortontoter said let him do his thing and hunt elsewhere.

 

[Bigslam51]

 

[Hoytmania]

Does he watch a lot of hunting shows on TV? That might be a huge contributing factor to his hunting style.

 

[giles]

Who gives a fuck about inches? Enjoy your time with a successful hunter. Sounds like he's having a blast.

Smile a little.

 

[Jackalope]

No sense telling him. He's not going to change. Like you said just hunt the hunter.

 

[Hortontoter]

To some of us inches of antler does matter, myself included. BC wants to shoot a quality buck, nothing wrong with that. If and when he does we will see a few smiles.

 

[hickslawns]

I would think Frank, Dick, and several of our more seasoned hunters would admit they have learned some new tricks reading along. Has it changed how they hunt? I don't know. Might make them rethink some tactics. I am not in my 70s, but I have done some rethinking as I have learned. I don't know that age has anything to do with it. I believe it has to do with whether your friend is open minded and willing to learn or try different tactics.

For what it is worth: I believe I get along with people older than myself better than people my age. I often put more weight in the words of my elders than those my own age. Probably speak to my elders more frequently as well. Likely because they are retired and have time to chat. The people my age I speak to are at soccer practice or cross country meets. lol

 

[giles]

To enjoy the hunt with a friend weighs more to me then antlers, that's what I'm saying. Sounds to me like the buddy is having a blast and John is missing out on the fun over one small factor. One guy is living a dream while the other is still chasing. I'm not hating on anyone for chasing a good buck, it's your hunt. Just pointing out another side or the story. Maybe the old man is the one teaching new tricks here...

 

[Dustinb80]

To enjoy the hunt with a friend weighs more to me then antlers, that's what I'm saying. Sounds to me like the buddy is having a blast and John is missing out on the fun over one small factor. One guy is living a dream while the other is still chasing. I'm not hating on anyone for chasing a good buck, it's your hunt. Just pointing out another side or the story. Maybe the old man is the one teaching new tricks here...

Interesting