From my Nov. 15, 2012 News Journal column.
Delaware’s statewide shogun deer hunting season was open Nov. 9-17, and I can bet that most of the orange-clad army of hunters have stiff backs, aching knees and sore posteriors.
While some hunters who experienced success may be hurting from dragging their deer from the woods and hoisting them into their pickup beds, most are sore from sitting motionless for hours at a time on the hard seats of deer stands.
Some time during our relatively recent evolutionary past, hunters in this part of the country transitioned from stealthily stalking deer with spear, bow or gun to passively plopping our rears into elevated stands and sleepily waiting for deer to come to us. Make no mistake: The sit and wait, ambush technique of stand hunting is frequently effective, especially when a hunter scouts an area to learn deer habits and when he or she uses deer attractants.
However, there are many occasions when stand hunting produces nothing more than boredom, missed opportunities and aches and pains.
I pass no judgments on stand hunting or stand hunters. In fact, I frequently hunt from a deer stand. But, unlike some hunters, I am not obsessed with hunting from a deer stand, and I am flexible enough to adapt my hunting style as needed. Whereas some hunters believe that a day’s hunt from a deer stand entails sitting in the stand from sunup to sundown regardless of critical factors like deer movement, weather and human biological waste disposal needs, I take a more practical approach.
Whether hunting from a stand with a bow or gun in small yards or vast woods, I always carry my binoculars so I can watch the areas around me. As many deer hunters will attest, there is not much that’s more frustrating than watching a buck walk within sight but outside of shooting range. When I see a far-off deer, I can try to make calls, spray scents and rattle antlers, but in cases where those tactics don’t work, I would be helpless if I believed I was glued to my stand. As a savvy and flexible hunter, however, I watch intently. If I recognize the need to leave the stand to stalk or intercept a deer, I quickly survey my immediate surroundings, and if the coast is clear, I make my move.
Some hunters take personal pride in boasting about how much cold, wind, rain or snow they can senselessly endure in their deer stands. Not me. With safety first on my mind (and comfort second), I will adapt and leave my stand in adverse or dangerous weather. Rather than risking falling out of a windblown stand, getting soaked by rain or fighting off finger and toe numbness caused by inactivity, I would rather climb down, set up under a tree or under a box stand or employ still hunting or spot- and stalk-hunting methods (where legal). If a deer intends to head in my direction, he will head toward me whether I am in the stand or on the ground. I rely on my camouflage and scent control rather than my elevation or lack thereof.
While this is probably not Thanksgiving dinner conversation, it can’t be denied that – like other animals in the woods – humans have to eliminate bodily wastes. Sparing the details, I have heard some creative ways in which hard-core stand hunters take care of their business while remaining in their stands. I have heard others tell of changing their diets, taking preventive pills and refusing to hydrate, but I see little logic in any of it. Rather than risking life and limb, I think it’s best to leave the stand for such urgent issues. A little stealth, discretion and, perhaps, a shovel can help maintain a productive hunting spot.
Old habits die hard, but hunting more like our forefathers has some appeal. Ground hunting can teach you more about your hunting area, hone your stalking skills, warm you up on cold days and stretch stiff muscles. Instead of sitting in your deer stand watching birds, counting squirrels and fiddling with your smartphone, try leaving it every now and then and searching for some excitement.