Remember when
Contributors to this thread:Wisconsin
From: Swampy
25-Jul-16
What do recall from the old day's ? I remember no hair on my forearm's from sharping broadhead's . The joy of shooting a deer with the bow . Any deer . What memories bring you back to the old day's .
From: razorhead
25-Jul-16
Young forests, good deer number, common sense coming from the DNR, who at one time, hired true conservationist, who actually participated in hunting and trapping,
From: RutnStrut
26-Jul-16
Autumn Orange XX75's and wasp broadheads. RUT buck lure, only the elderly and handicapped used crossbows.
From: Pasquinell
26-Jul-16
Simplicity.
From: bigwied
26-Jul-16
The kwikee quiver with the exposed broadheads. I wonder how many bowhunters cut themselves using that.
From: TrapperJack
26-Jul-16
The old Baker climbing tree stands, the jonee hand warmers and army camo as that was the only camouflage around.
From: retro
26-Jul-16
I remember when people hunted deer instead of farming deer.
From: MF
26-Jul-16
When a archery kill 1 1/2 year old 6 point gathered people around to look at.
From: huntperch
26-Jul-16
Skunk Scent to hide your scent. The old stick on flipper rest.
From: Mike F
26-Jul-16
I still have some of those stick on flipper rests for the recurves.
I remember the bow shoots at Clintonville Archers during the summer. A lot of late nights and a ton of fun.
Arrows by Raulf from Fon Du Lac, fiberglass then aluminum.
Hugs strawberries on my arm that turned black and blue and then green before I wore an arm guard.
Hunting bear under your archery license and no draw.
From: Tweed
26-Jul-16
I still use (and hate) the stick on flipper rest. Things are always popping off.
From: Two Feathers
26-Jul-16
There were no wheel bows.
From: happygolucky
26-Jul-16
When people were proud to put any 'ol buck on the meat pole because deer camp was much more than killing "huge" bucks. Back then, people didn't pull out measuring tape either and speak in terms of inches. It was just points. I don't recall all the "I smoked him" bullshit either.
From: MuskyBuck
26-Jul-16
Cover-Up deer scent; driving the loop at deer camp to see what was hanging on the buck poles; MKM climbing tree stand (dangerous); XX75 gamegetter arrows, 125" was a BIG buck; hay bales for targets; bars and restaurants packed on weekends all November; wool logging pants; deer drives; Rocky mountain, WASP and Satellite broadheads; lanterns for tracking; shining deer; buck boards; Browning Explorer bow; skunk cover scent; no GPS, ATVS and trail cameras; very little baiting...
Things have certainly changed a lot since I started hunting in the late 70's and mostly for the worse.
Hunt fair chase and carry on the tradition everyone.
From: TrapperJack
26-Jul-16
I remember the skunk scent. Came in two bottles and they did not smell but mix the two and you had skunk. While in college we would sometimes put liquid from one bottle on one door handle and put the other bottle on the 2nd door handle to our college dorm. Boy did people smell of skunk!!! :)
From: PB in WI
26-Jul-16
TrapperJack - I can remember one of my feet slipping out of the stirrups of the old Baker tree stand with my arms wrapped around the tree. The stand was hanging from one foot and I had no choice but to slide down the tree like a fire pole.
From: razorhead
26-Jul-16
I shot my first fox, with a bow, using the skunk scent set up, I remember when that was a big thing.......
My jig, that was used to hold my Bear Razorheads, for a perfect sharpening system, still use it today, nothing but Razorheads for my recurve,,,,, ha ha
otherwise Musky pretty well covered it, however I still wear big plaid shirts, best break up camo ever,
From: stagetek
26-Jul-16
I can remember when a bow license was $3. If you were under 18... $1.
From: rick allison
26-Jul-16
ANY deer was a trophy...horn porn wasn't invented yet.
"We"...in the 60's...had unlimited land access. As kids, we hadn't a clue what we were doing, but we were DEER HUNTERS...lol.
Any deer spotted got an arrow sent his was...the odds of our arrow and a deer's vitals occupying the same space and time were incalculable...but "I got a shot!" Was a win.
Then...it happened...one of "us" (not me) actually HIT A DEER!!! Right in the hoof. He had REAL deer blood on his broadhead...HE WAS A GOD!!!
Ya know, I think it was just more fun back then.
From: Redclub
26-Jul-16
I remember when There was not a separate license and aluminum bows. Cedar arrows and You could hunt almost anywhere. Great times for sure
From: Per48R
26-Jul-16
Original trebark camo. Aluminum Arrows. Far fewer bow hunters. Land owner happy to let you hunt there land. Pride when you shot any deer. Not having to apologize to someone who thought you didn't do it the way they want you to. Climbing and sitting in a tree on a branch not stand. Spending a lot less money on hunting.
From: Jeff in MN
26-Jul-16
Watching 10-40 doe/fawn walk by my stand most days during gun season. Bucks were hard to come by but were there for those the put in the time. We would add up the digits on our back tags and after seeing that many doe the next one was supposed to be our buck. Never worked out that way for me but I did usually get a buck. My dad and I were the only ones that scored just about every year. Most of the rest spent too much time in camp playing cribbage. Woods there was just reaching maturity, Marinette county forest land. That was in the late 60's. Another 15 years later there wasn't a mature tree to be found anywhere in that county forest unit.
From: Mike F
26-Jul-16
Bear broadheads with bleeder blades-always ended up cutting yourself when putting them in. Cedar arrows where the nock was carved into the arrow. I still have a few of them.
Spending the evenings shooting our bows into cardboard bales in the backyard the month before deer season.
No one cared what you shot, everyone always was excited when ever anyone got lucky!
From: Huntcell
27-Jul-16
Doug Kittridge Bowhut catalog and the huge Herters catalog and there store in Beaver Dam with the giant standing polar bear mount.
Saving up my school lunch money for 14 weeks to buy a Ben Pearson laminated limb recurve $40. no sights I practiced and practiced trying to hit a paper plate on bales in the hay barn at 15 yards. Older brother stops by for a visit ask if he could try, proceeds to shoot 3 arrow into the plate. Gives the bow back says "nothing to it! what ya out here practicing all the time for? first and last time he shot a bow. Damn I almost quit right then and there. Guy was a natural draw, release, hit. Like throwing a ball.
From: Drop Tine
27-Jul-16
When a knock on a door, and a hand shake and you had permission to hunt private land. Maybe work a weekend or two helping with hay or mending fence and you were in like flint.
From: CaptMike
27-Jul-16
Was it coincidence? BT posts "The other guy however, he has changed a lot. He has become increasingly selfish and petty and jealous and angry." Immediately after, masterbait appears with one of his rants. LOL!
From: huntperch
27-Jul-16
Gun hunting but remember the arm band for party hunting. I remember getting stubs from teachers in school for my party tag.
From: Jeff in MN
27-Jul-16
Bow-Tech, good post. I do believe that most bow hunters in anyone's personal circle still hunt and act they way they did 40 years ago. That is, people seek out and gravitate toward friends and hunting partners that compliment their own views and approach to hunting.
Social media like this one tend to let, maybe encourage, people to be more aggressive/confrontational.
Yes, the good old days of hunting were great in many ways. But todays hunting days are just as great if not better than ever if you let them be.
From: Swampy
27-Jul-16
Stringing game trail's . The Lil Red light for sight's . Also miss bowhunting camp at my property every weekend . I think I miss that the most .
From: Helgermite
27-Jul-16
Easton XX75s with Jim Dougherty finish. I still have about four of these arrows that are like new and several unusable post harvest.
From: RUGER1022
27-Jul-16
When there was no baiting , no tree stands , no late season , just 20,000 bowhunters , no compounds , and lots 0f land to hunt .
In 1968 I arrowed a 6 point . We drove into Clintonville & stopped at a resturant for breakfast . People dropped their forks came out to see the buck & shake hands with me . Times have sure changed .
From: TrapperJack
27-Jul-16
PB in WI, yup those Baker stands were a killer. Was up a popple tree on a cold morning and about 12' up the bungee strap snapped and the stand slid down and I was right behind it sliding down. Hooked the side bar and hit hard enough to bend it to the degree that you could not use it again. This was before safety straps and such.
From: RutnStrut
27-Jul-16
I really miss the deer camps both bow and gun I have been part of. I also miss the days of knock on door permission on just about anybody's land. Although I understand people wanting to hunt their own land. Although bowhunting is my addiction/passion. I also love aspects of the gun hunt. I really miss hunting with certain friends and family members. I also miss the buzz that used go along with the whole 9 day season. Now it seems most hunters hunt at most the first 3 days.
From: Zinger
27-Jul-16
I. Remember my old home made baker style stand. I. Wanted it to. Bite into the tree more so it would be more stable so I sharpened the pieces that touch the tree to a razors edge. Worked great going up the tree but after three hours of sitting in the stand the pieces were dug a good 4" into the tree. I. Had to scream for my parter to help me out of the tree. As far as I know that stand is still in the tree!
From: rick allison
27-Jul-16
Helgermite...I scored 15 brand new Dougherty Natural greys a couple months ago from a local shop...also 6 new Autumn Orange.
These for my longbow...I still love aluminum, especially for trad, which is all I've shot for a loooong time :^)
From: RutnStrut
27-Jul-16
The Treebark camo was the first full camo suit I ever bought for myself with money from my first "real" paycheck. I was proud as heck of that camo.
From: Screwball
27-Jul-16
It was great back in the 70's. Hunted four years saw a doe and 2 fawns in four years. Yep the goo old days. The good old days are what you make of them. I enjoy any day in the woods. People have made the hunting world what it is today. I once asked an old gentlemen if I could hunt and trap his four hundred acres. He looked at me and laughed, "no one ever asked me before" ! I was granted access all his lands he bought for logging. All the rest trespassed and never asked. Those people who trespassed, stole, vandalized changed it not the rest.
From: Screwball
27-Jul-16
It was great back in the 70's. Hunted four years saw a doe and 2 fawns in four years. Yep the good old days. The good old days are what you make of them. I enjoy any day in the woods. People have made the hunting world what it is today. I once asked an old gentlemen if I could hunt and trap his four hundred acres. He looked at me and laughed, "no one ever asked me before" ! I was granted access all his lands he bought for logging. All the rest trespassed and never asked. Those people who trespassed, stole, vandalized changed it not the rest.
From: Two Feathers
27-Jul-16
President Kennedy was assassinated? President Reagan was shot?
From: tracker
28-Jul-16
Going to Necedah for the bow hunt in the refuge that was closed except for that special period for bowhunters. The hundreds of cars and trucks along the "Speedway" and seeing more deer than you could count. But also way too many hunters there. Hunters carried extra arrows because most of the shots were at running deer.
From: stagetek
29-Jul-16
Party Permits. Needed 4 hunters to apply. Party leader had to wear an arm band.
From: casekiska
29-Jul-16
I thoroughly enjoyed all of the "Remember When" notations. Thanks to all who posted them, they brought back terrific memories. I could relate to just about all the experiences mentioned; I first went bowhunting for deer at the Necedah Wildlife Refuge in 1957 and do believe I shared the same sunrises, the same chills on a November day, and the same frustrations at missing a shot as many of those who "remembered when." It seems that in one way or another many of us have walked a common trail that led us to the point where we can proudly call ourselves a WISCONSIN BOWHUNTER.
From: huntperch
29-Jul-16
One of my favorites was going to State fair on opening day with my Dad to get our bow and gun hunting licenses. That was when they first became available for sale and our numbers were usually less than 100. Really good memories....I miss my Dad.
From: Bloodtrail
22-Aug-16
Nice post huntperch -
Many here miss their Fathers...I know I do!
From: Sayner Man
22-Aug-16
Nice thread. I have been bowhunting Vilas county since the late 70's. I remember when we use to go find a nice spot where a couple of runways came together, found a nice couple of trees together, and hammered in a 2x4 between 2 trees to stand on, and then hammer a back board between 2 trees and call it a "butt board" which was only there to keep you from falling out of the stand backwards. Leaned up against the tree while standing on the 2x4's. No safety harness, bear recurves, bear razorheads, wood arrows, and no consideration for scent. I remember the memories of hunting with my grandpa and father, who are both gone.....and whomever had the most WBH pins on their hat was considered the better hunter.
From: Bloodtrail
23-Aug-16
I remember the good ole' days of 3 day waiting period, back tags and registration stations along with bow/gun cases. I still use my gun/bow cases..-
Like many things in life - be careful what you ask for and cherish those good memories that most of us grew up in.
From: Zinger
23-Aug-16
I remember those great days when people who were banned actually didn't come back again and again.
From: retro
23-Aug-16
I remember hunting with family members who have been gone for many years from the woods. The good times that ended way to soon....
From: Nocturnal8
24-Aug-16
I remember hunting with family members who have been gone for many years from the woods. The good times that ended way to soon....
X2 retro
From: Bloodtrail
24-Aug-16
Retro -
Great post!
Yes, that is what I miss the most - many of them gone now. Dad and all my uncles...I was a very lucky young man!
Problem is - when your living it - you have no idea just how lucky and fortunate you are. I took too much for granted and miss so much of it now....
From: Swampy
24-Aug-16
The excitement that came with every deer that was shot .Being able to say you killed a deer and not harvest one .
From: retro
24-Aug-16
Same for me Bloodtrail. My father and two uncles. Never thought it would end either. I still hunt the same big woods area. Much of it has been logged since then but there are still a few places that look the same and hold many memories. I can still see my Dads orange cap coming through the woods.... And those turkey sandwiches that we all had for lunch the last three days of gun season. I laugh now because none of them would believe what deer hunting has turned into today. Thank god for memories!
From: Pasquinell
24-Aug-16
I remember my first deer hunt sitting in a tree with my bro in law and getting so excited to see a deer coming toward us. As he raised his shotgun to shoot, I puked my breakfast out and off went the deer.
I felt like crap but that story got passed around many, many times and the laughs continue.
From: Bow Crazy
29-Aug-16
Jeff in Mn said it, "But todays hunting days are just as great if not better than ever if you let them be." I totally agree, each season gets better and better and has since I started deer hunting in 1978. I look forward to each and every season with more excitement than ever before.
I split my lip on exposed broadhead sticking out of my Kwikee Kwiver.
BC
From: 10BUCKS
29-Aug-16
Face painted with Bear face paint. It came in tubes of green,black, and brown.Shimmying up a big white oak to stand in one of the crotches. And like MF it was a rush just seeing a six point almost close enough to get a shot at. I loved it then, and I love it now...
