Why our Grandfathers were WAY Better Hunters

This is a a clip from our full interview with Jordan Jones of western North Carolina. Jordan is a "Big Woods" mountain whitetail deer hunter who has grown up hunting these rugged mountains his whole life. In this clip, Jordan talks about bringing the fun back into deer hunting to keep from getting burned out.
What made our Grandfathers successful as deer hunters
A simple understanding for deer hunting
Technology isn't everything
And Much More
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[@mysheepowl]

that's what i do!! i dont use cameras. i just like to go out and hunt. worst day in the woods is better then the best day at work.

[@NeffTattoo]

I feel like cameras are an unfair advantage. Part of the fun is not knowing every deer in the woods.

[@floivanus]

@@NeffTattoodeer can SEE your camera, they avoid it and only show up when it’s dark, they’re too stupid to know what it is, but it isn’t natural to them

[@plowmaster1206]

Unless you work in the woods

[@trentondagrind]

@@NeffTattoohow do you feel like there unfair i use them and not once has a camera ever got me a deer all the camera does is show me what deer i have on the property and let me know if predators are getting to thick in the area a camera has never helped anyone get a deer it’s luck and being in the stand

[@maxjax21]

I don't use cameras either. I don't care if anyone doess. In my personal opinion i don't use them because if I rely on them for information then am I actually a good hunter if I didn't have them? Logically thinking it is a bit crazy to hang cameras in the woods to use the pictures to hunt a specific deer. That may out wit someone if they didn't have that camera

[@jamestrotter3162]

About three years ago I was squirrel hunting in the woods behind my house less than 100 yards from my back yard. It was mid October and I was sitting on a large rock with a using a 22. I wasn't moving, just sitting there, watching and listening. I caught some movement out of the corner of my left eye, and slowly turned in that direction. There was a 10 point buck just standing there, about twenty yards from me, staring at me. I didn't move and neither did he. He kept blowing and pawing the ground, but he never did spook and run. He finally just turned and walked away after about 5 minutes. I just sat there for a few minutes just being thankful for the chance to see him that close to me. I didn't get any squirrels that day, but I had a great hunting experience.

[@joellape6494]

I stopped using cameras back in 2020 during Covid. I scouted the woods and read the sign. I had the best season ever and the most fun ever. I encourage everyone to give up the cameras and keep the woods sacred.

[@Yamaha38XCRacer]

I use cameras just for the fun, in fact I have 3 that never leave the area…I squirrel hunt and find my locations for years now..killed more bucks hunting places I never would have hunted because camera didn’t get a pic of them when they walked just far enough away from getting a pic..I hunt on sign and food in the mountains cause deer just wonder and don’t do patterns like the farm country..I have pics of bucks on cam once a week here and days later on the opposite mountain.I figure the circle I call it they run and pick a bench or trail I think they travel to complete the route..never lets me down and got the racks and 5 top 20 state records in my state in 10 years alone that I have scored for the heck of it while getting mounted..

[@TimMichaels-u3q]

I'm 76, when I hunt I find what looks like a good spot, sit and listen and watch, maybe not today but I know that deer are in the area and sooner or later they will pass my way. Patience is a virtue in the woods. Tim M. 11-25-2024

[@chucknoidea]

This clip literally just snapped me out of it. I was starting to get too crazy overthinking everything. Glad I saw this

[@taylorharbin3948]

Me too! I’ve had an awful season in terms of harvest. Haven’t taken one yet, but I’ve seen two and shot at one, and this is my first year using crossbow.

[@Waynebrady99]

My dad always used to talk about how he’d see 40 -50 deer a day. We went to the same places when I was old enough and were lucky to see two. Ohio here

[@nicorsar]

This is absolutely brilliant analysis. I was deer hunting one year at the top of a ridge. I told my my co-leasing partner I heard a turkey gobble up there. He said no way there are no turkeys up there. I said I heard it. After gun season I went back for turkey week and if I weren’t an idiot could have killed a turkey right there with a rock, bc one stepped out five feet from me. But I left my shotgun at my blind when I went out to look around after a stagnant morning. I learned a valuable lesson there too….when you’re in the woods you’re hunting at all times. Not just when you’re ready to hunt. Anyway the woods are the greatest teacher!

[@308blr2]

Two fellow hunters were watching me drag a buck down the hill to camp. I asked why they were back at camp. They said they weren’t seeing any deer; so they came back. I replied, “I wasn’t seeing any deer either; until this one showed up.”

[@WanderingWhitetails]

Amen! The best parts of hunting are the connection with nature, our forefathers, the escape from everyday life, and the mysterious element of the unknown bucks that lurk in the woods! Learning to let go and just enjoy the journey is truly the best thing. We love to honor our family heritage and tradition by hunting the old school way. Good luck to everyone out there watching this and reading this comment! Go have fun and enjoy the opportunities that present themselves.

[@ThePhack3]

This dude is a effin breath of fresh air.

[@Jim_jong_un]

I bet you’d take a deep Whif of his fart

[@rudygeorgiamulesandcountry1594]

...... these are the same dudes that make you believe you need all the gimmick in the first place !

[@timothywining8094]

Best memory of hunting with my grandpa and uncle was when they would put me in a area and told me to sit there and lay the gun across my lap and listen and look around and enjoy the moment.

[@user-zd8dw8gb2n]

I'm 66 years old, he is a 💯% right. That is how I've always hunted. God Bless and be safe.

[@matthewh117]

Amen brother. Very wise young man. When I started hunting, the preferred high vis clothing was Woolrich.

[@Sclopiopipio]

@@matthewh117 I wish that was still legal on public land

[@sparkyplug788]

Same here, I’m 62. I’ve been blessed to live out west, so I can hunt the same areas my grandfather, dad and uncles did. The bucks may not be there every year, but I still get them in the same areas they did back in the 50’s.

[@RobertMiller-se9cm]

Jordan Jones is spot on! We need more woodsmanship and to just deer hunt!

[@enzostrada4705]

This was my first season hunting no cameras, no crazy tik tok recommendations, ignored all the crazy topics on wind moon what ever. i only did two things watch the does near water and go sit 2 nights a week and Saturday mornings and I'm now tagged out until January very blesses and I'm having a great time

[@joellape6494]

I stopped using cameras back in 2020. I’ve had more fun and shot bigger bucks since I stopped using them and started being a better woodsman.

[@mintberrycrunch3867]

What does watching does near water mean?

[@bearhunter302003]

Great video. I really enjoyed it. I hunt the way my Grandpa taught me with the same tradition for my entire life. No cameras, no feeding, no scent killing stuff. When hunting becomes a job the fun is taken out of it. Thank you for the great content.

[@rosscoursey4979]

I use a game camera because I like knowing what’s out there because it’s cool to watch the deer go about their lives for an entire year before I actually get a chance to get one. I understand what you’re saying though about all the extra stuff making it like a job, but I just enjoy watching them all the time. I get excited every time I get a notification from my camera.

[@waynestock2006]

The anticipation is what makes a hunt great. If you just go hunt, you never know what might show up. It's like the night before Christmas every day

[@jeremywood9659]

Being a newer hunter this made me feel great. Always worried about so many tactics and theories. Back in my grandpa's day he used to get huge bucks. I appreciate this a lot. Best of luck.

[@andyblinkblink4198]

It's an information overload for new hunters these days. It's tough to weed out the BS and find what's actually important and keep things simple.

[@jeremywood9659]

Exactly ​@@andyblinkblink4198

[@nc_mtbmedic1399]

Love it, that's all I do. No cameras, find trails. Just spend time in woods, go hike. Learn land nav, with compass and pace count, use a gps as a back up

[@mike3020]

I hate cameras except AFTER the kill or catch

[@trump-ob5xl]

Im trying all this

[@aelaroui]

It’s overwhelming, all this new tech and studies about deer patterns, vision, wind scent, camo, thermals, rut, moon, temp … i just decided to go in the woods and enjoy the opportunity, and allow myself to make mistakes and learn from them.

[@Yaboifootchie]

One thing you're overlooking is that there were way fewer guys in the woods back then, and way more habitat. My local area has been reduced by half due to development

[@curteaton]

Population of game and hunters and habitat and regulation was VASTLY different 80 years ago when my grandfather was hunting. He was still better than me, but it's also not the same playing field today.

[@shaneshubert1663]

Government raises prices on license then log out about every good hidden gem of state ground

[@k9six185]

Less guys in the woods but they killed a deer every 10 days to 2 weeks

[@Pnwelkhunter]

@@shaneshubert1663the problem is that they don’t log enough anymore. Deer hunting is easier in logged out units. We have logged the pnw since the late 1800s and the Indians burned the units prior to that. But in the late 80s the government stopped the logging industry and stopped allowing hound hunting cougars. That’s when hunting changed.

[@RedRider763]

Bud there was so many people in the woods back then compared to now I can’t even believe u tried to say otherwise people used to have to hunt I mean have to

[@Michael-um5pd]

Like everything else nowadays, there's more going on to do something,more preparation, more gadgets you have to own, with no knowledge on exactly really how to hunt. I was very blessed to have a grandfather who really was an old mountain man

[@ShaneStewart270]

This video is what I have been needing to hear. I have been overthinking hunting too much. I asked myself this exact question this week. I believe next season I am pulling all cameras and just Hunt.

[@anthonymedeck7081]

Dad convinced his little group (3 other guys) that hunted up by Big Fork, Effie area in MN in 1970 that I was ready to join them. I was 15yrs old. They had a shack in the woods since 1960 and usually got a couple every year. Problem was some bad winters 69,70,71 decimated the Deer herds so much that MN closed the season statewide in 71. Anyway, I guess I learned to hunt in some very tough conditions during those formidable years. Made me into the type of hunter you guys are talking about. Hunt in AZ now for the last 20yrs. Elk,Coues,Javelina, and Quail. Pushing 70yrs old now and enjoying every minute of it.

[@normgurschick3528]

Amen to that. I dont do a darn bit of scouting. I just go out and go with my gut whatever feels right and i go with it. Right place at the right time.

[@SasquatchComposites]

It’s funny, most of my deer spots have been discovered when I was out hunting for other game. Great advice here.

[@salemlott5072]

thats exactly right!! just going out to a location and going hunting is the most relaxing hunting you can do!

[@botijaism]

My father and his friends got together to hunt deer in the Texas hill country back in the 80s and 90s. They went hiking through the woods and they had a great time and got some great deers. Does and bucks. Then everyone came together to share the meat. They still talk about it to this day. They were in their early 30s. I’m in my 40s and will never have that experience. Those were the good ole days.

[@glorybound7599]

Bingo! God bless, enjoy the woods and God will open your eyes.

[@reedmitchell6716]

I learn my deer woods during Spring Gobbler. Late morning 1030 walking logging roads and creek bottoms. The sign and tracks are there. Also late season Flintlock after Christmas here in Pennsylvania tells the story. Nothing beats boots on the ground.

[@94s75]

I got rid of my blind this season. Hunted central Texas same large piece of land my whole life. Seen more this year than I have in years. Just a ghili suit and a tree

[@languagesource355]

I'm a late beginner and also like to help friends who are new to hunting. Very fortunate to have an amazing group of friends hunt every year in a remote area of a very beautiful northern state forest. A couple of years ago it was a friend's first time hunting, ever. He didn't even have camo, wore a skiing suit to stay warm. Borrowed a friend's rifle. Shot a buck on his very first day, just sitting on a hill in the woods. He seems to get a deer at every hunt, gets ducks every time we go for waterfowl. I've only ever harvested one deer, back at home, even though I've been going a few years. But every time I'm in the woods, especially in a real forest, it's fun, no matter the outcome. I drive almost a thousand miles one way for that, and pay almost two hundred bucks in nonresident tags for the experience. Oh, and we tend to all bring back meat because we share everything. I can't help being a gear geek, it's just in my nature, however mostly in guns. I definitely always tend towards low-tech in almost everything else, especially the process itself. I'll look at a map at home, just to figure out the spots I want to try, but in the woods I want to look around, smell the air, listen to the sounds and absorb it all. Slow down. Get away from gadgetry. Being freshly outfitted from a sportsman warehouse makes you look conspicuous. An old man in worn clothes with his dad's Marlin 336, such as I met in those northern woods - you can't buy that setup, nor would you want to. You have to live it. Maybe I will some day.

[@mmpatriot2170]

I like it. Keep it simple. Dial into the mountains. Enjoy being there.

[@delles1548]

As one of those old grandpas, actually a great grandpa, I can tell you we actually "hunted". Growing up on a poor, country dirt farm surrounded by many acres of woods, both our and several neighbors, we grew up hunting and fishing for food. While most of our early years of hunting was small game with only rare game management areas having deer, we honed our skills in finding game, tracking and learning how to be extra patient and quiet in our movements. Once deer became more widespread, it was a rather easy transition in locating and hunting deer. Squirrel hunting while sitting and stalking would place us on a lot of deer signs and numerous sightings of deer that informed us of were they were for the new bow seasons and then the gun seasons. Similar sightings would occur during swamp land duck hunting, as we would often see really nice bucks from our blinds and boats or while exploring new spots searching for ducks. That led to some really big buck kills that most people would never see due to the deep areas they lived in.

[@jc6077]

This is how I’ve always hunted. I do try to keep an eye on the wind direction so I don’t blow out my own property; however, I’ve started covering my scent by standing next to campfire smoke before heading out, it works…just killed the biggest 8 point in my life 2 weekends ago….and a hunting app I use for maps said it was a horrible day to hunt with only a 10% chance of seeing a deer move. Turns out it’s 100% getting mounted on my wall once the taxidermist finishes.

[@KevenTomlinson]

Even Iron sights are underrated .

[@jackgreenstalk777]

So many good lessons, even for non deer hunters. Get out, scout, hunt, have fun in nature. Keep it simple. Go as often as you can

[@kristenclark1957]

Could not agree more. I started to get to a point I was so stressed trying to play so strategic spending thousands on gear and scents and cameras, subscriptions, stands, fancy camo brands and on and on. And I can say I had better luck in the woods when I didn’t have all that when I just went out taking a jab at luck on a stand in hand me down camo clothing that didn’t match. This year I started to scout while I was hunting making different moves and setting up in new areas after I saw deer moving further away doing similar patterns, sometimes 50 yards makes all the difference… and that filled the freezer. Hunted a new area this year no pre-scouting walked in with a stand saw a deer trail looked back and saw the river was super low figured they were crossing there set up in a stand 20 yards off that trail and sure enough that night shot a deer. I turned into the person that was “all gear no deer”. Seeing the others who have straight up went out archery hunting in blue jeans and shot wall hangers I couldn’t understand then so I rehashed and went back to the basics just enjoying the woods. This is exactly what it’s all about. When I pass around jerky at Christmas as gifts never heard anyone say “Oh man my bag is so good this must be that trophy buck, or yuck is this doe jerky? lol” Best way to make life long friends and have been told it’s a favorite gift too. It’s more enjoyable and less discouraging to go out there and know you may not shoot that trophy buck people envy and you may only shoot doe that year but you’re in the woods enjoying nature happy as can be and any deer is a trophy! 🏆

[@SwitchAxe]

yeah man, 100%. I decided to not run any cameras this year for this reason. I found myself last season not going out because the wind predictions were iffy etc. It really does take a lot of the excitement out of it. My best hunting memories were just going out and having something show up. I've had a a lot of house problems come up this season but really looking forward to hunting late season bow in michigan

[@JackSmith-fj6sn]

Amen. No cameras, no bait stations, just me and the deer.

[@BmgGunsAndStuff]

That’s why I thoroughly enjoy bird hunting. I just started this year on my own, my dad and I used to go when I was just a kid maybe 10-12 years old but this year we both started hunting together again and of course I went out on my own when he didn’t lol and I gotta say walking and finding the grouse is my favorite part.. driving and seeing one in the road is fun too but walking the trails is great.

[@danny_the_K]

I’m 68, I walk slow, I have heart issues so I don’t go very far, very fast… but I’m able to walk um up. I hunt public land almost exclusively. I think I see them 1st or sooner, and I don’t make a lot of noise. Last year I went back to a long bow. I guess they don’t see me as much of a threat, until…

[@kennethharding9118]

COOL

[@ScottsTanks]

I've heard this before, instead of hiking 10 miles in a day, hike 1 mile very slowly and you'll be more successful

[@jeffogden-v7w]

You're correct, there is no substitute for time spent in the woods. Every chance you get!!!!

[@charlesmorgan2638]

My goodness my guy is speaking the truth! Thank you so much

[@whitetailhunter7202]

Wow, who doesn't Hunt like this??? Almost 30 yrs of deer hunting and I still just love watching the deer. Deer season is the time to get in the woods and relax. Take a good book , a good lunch some coffee and relax. That's how it's always been.... 🤷

[@JKR86]

Nailed it. West / South Indiana !

[@cecilguinard7828]

I hunt in NW Montana and it would be awesome to have this kind of knowledge of the land/animals in the area.

[@Nonconformist-l3b]

The only family I had that hunted was my grandpa and he just bird hunted. I learned deer hunting from magazine articles and just being in the woods. Just my opinion but I believe experiencing something is a better teacher than reading about it. We didn’t have cable tv or smart phones or computers to teach about deer hunting. I started taking my son deer hunting when he was 10. He’s now 51. I like to believe I gave him the basics about hunting. He knows a lot more about deer and has harvested a lot more deer than me and I believe that is because of a lot of time in the woods. Being in the woods, learning about what all the animals do, what they eat, how they travel, where they bed, is the fun part. When/if you harvest something , that’s a bonus and that’s when the work starts. 🙂

[@happilyretiredmark2964]

I dont use cameras and I don't use Livescope. Proud to have 4 good bucks on the wall...not as big as some but proud of them. The scouting and planning is the fun part!

[@kevinwilliams9427]

Great video, I completely agree. I just need to remember it and enjoy the hunt.

[@OneLieutenant]

Grandpap grabbed a bunch of buddies, lined up along a patch of brush or woods, threw some 00 Buck in the 12 gauge and they pushed that patch. As soon they jumped a buck they unloaded.

[@Dadoutdoors24]

This is the first year I really hunted. I made a racket getting into the woods setting up a stand I hadn't used before. Forgot my release and had to go back to the truck and climb back in. No more than 5 min later I had a big 6 and a doe walk by. The only thing I look for is acorns, water, and some tracks 🤷 figure if there's food, water, and sign they'll come by eventually.

[@thefisharcher6784]

Well done bro. I've been trying to find a way to put that into words and you nailed it. I hunt miles of public land in oklahoma once deer season ends my squirrel and post season scouting trip begins!

[@funinlyfe1250]

With that being said scout and walk your area and your all good for the season

[@tombystander]

Bow hunted all october and saw nada. First week of November it was like a lightswitch came on. But the 15 or so hunts i didnt see anything made that first couple days of good hunting even better

[@davewallace.8303]

Brother, I TOTALLY AGREE with you! I’m hunting govt land on an Air Force base. There was little opportunity for me to scout any of the areas, so I’m LITERALLY going in sight unseen, picking a spot and putting in a pop up chair blind and just HUNTING! I just love sitting in a stand of woods and listening to what’s going on around me. And it’s ALL bow hunting, no rifles allowed. Thankfully I have a crossbow, yes it’s “cheating” but I’ll take every advantage I CAN GET! It’s still hard enough! Thanks for the great podcast!

[@manyfeather2knives423]

It’s called having fun. Just enjoying the outdoors. When I was young a spike buck gave me bragging rights;a doe kill filled my heart with happiness. Too much technology mixed with mocha bull.

[@CSSVirginia]

That's the truth. Now most hunters are trying to look cool on Instagram

[@davidtennant505]

Thank you for saying what I've been saying for years!

[@ItsJustAnotherTahoe]

Yep, went out my first time this year using methods I learned from my grandpa. “Sit still, shut the hell up, and listen to the woods” got meat for the freezer opening day! All I brought with me was my 12 gauge with slugs, bag of cut up apples to put near my stand, and a few snacks. Cigarettes too. I swear the smell of tobacco drew them in

[@charliehiatt1132]

I've been hunting for 40 years now and I find my best big game hunting spots hunting for small game

[@davidscott9572]

My grandfather and uncles went out in their black and red checkered wool clothes with the intention of putting food on the table. There weren't magazines and equipment companies convincing them their manhood would get larger if they got a bigger buck. It wasn't a competition it was food and friendship. It was about the hunt not the antlers. Hunting has become a comercial enterprise spend enough money on equipment and you can gratify your ego. When I look at the pictures on the wall at the sporting good store the biggest smiles and the most joy is on the faces of the 12 year olds holding the spike not the old dude with the ten point. Grandpa loved his venison wasn't obsessed with antlers.

[@Christisking1911]

I always get crap, because I hunt simple the way my grandfather taught me growing up. I always have a wonderful time, and when Hod wills it I have a successful hunt. I always get meat in the freezer, and most of all it makes me appreciate the time I had with my family on the farm. I like the mystery of what is going to come my way.

[@hobbyoftheday4017]

Absolutely agree, I'm not a super successful hunter but I get a buck every year. And ind just love hiking into a new area I find on google earth, in the dark and, seeing that area for the first time as the sun comes up.

[@JebMillenderKicking]

I get his point, and agree with a lot of it. You can't let the cameras completely dictate your choices and therefore disappoint you. If I get a big buck on camera and go hunt and don't see him, I still went and hunted. As my uncle says, "It called hunting, not killing." If I get a weekend to go to the woods and its pouring down sideways, that's what rain-gear is for(as long as its not lightning). To his point on simplifying hunting, the morning I killed the biggest buck of my life was one where I just went and sat down behind a fallen log up against a little 6" tree. Knew where I wanted to hunt that evening so that spot was out and didn't like the almost negligible velocity wind direction of where I was going to go that morning originally, so I went somewhere else and just sat down. Didn't expect to see anything, just wanted to be out. Would have been a great morning to have used the excuse, the winds have blown all my spots. Ended up with 1 photo of that buck, and it was about 8 hours before I killed him and he was going the opposite direction. If I let that camera dictate where I had set up for him, then I likely wouldn't have ever seen him. That camera is a resource for me to know a bit better of what is there and how they are doing more than a plan hunts around it resource. That's not to say if that big buck is consistently walking past a camera in daylight that I wont strategize how to hunt around it ;).

[@taylorcleblanc]

Definitely take into account the number of hunters now compared to then, and the number of deer compared to now and then

[@Dcotoz]

There's probably more deer today.

[@curteaton]

Where i am there was about 300% more game alive when my grandfather was hunting. But i like to think he would still out hunt me today. If there was one fish in a lake, he could catch it, when i couldn't. RIP

[@jacobhochstetler825]

You can also ruffle quite a few feathers when you point out that your granddad probably did not use a tree stand or cammo. A good friend of mine just shot 3 deer from a lawn chair he propped up in the woods over the weekend.

[@johnnynovax]

I’ve got a 139, 148 and a 167 on my wall and I never hunted any of them with cameras. I hunt from the ground and love to go sit in the woods. Never killed one looking at my phone. I’m hunting a good area this year and don’t have any idea what’s there. Can’t wait to find out!! I’ll tell you though it’s hard to let that three year old 120 walk when you don’t have his daddy on camera but I’ve finally came around to it. To each his own.

[@yazooyellowcats1403]

That I know of my Dad didn't really worry about wind direction. I have no clue how many quality bucks he killed in our area of north Mississippi from 125" to around 180"

[@stog9821]

One thing I didn’t know until recently is that deer see blue, which isn’t really a color seen much in the woods unless you look up, at perhaps a blue jay. As an old timer I used to always hunt in jeans. Knowing that deer can see that, I might wear something else if I could go back in a time machine, but otherwise not much else. Well, range finders are kind of useful too.

[@thecedarridgechronicles]

Poor folks done learned so much they afraid to just go get em

[@jimlahey3919]

We’ve had a deer camp in our family since 1977. When I first started going there as a new hunter in 2005, there wasn’t a rack on the wall over 120”. Since then, we’ve added more than 20 bucks over 120 to the wall, including a dozen over 140. I myself have 8 or 9 of them. There were more deer back in the day, but there are certainly much better buck now, and it’s still incredibly easy to harvest a doe.

[@normankaster917]

That's the exact reason i still hunt/ track.... Don't own a signal cam. And live for the public land shuffle.... Thanks for talking the truth brother, some "Deer hunters" are still alive and well here in Michigan.

[@knotengajin7359]

I don’t see a camera as a hunting tool for bagging game, just as an aide to gauging the numbers and variety of critters in the area.

[@dandelion1598]

I am a trophy hunter until first light... I have harvested deer and elk 99% the first day & within 90 minutes of loading my rifle. I have taught my children how to hunt & why the animals do what they do. Im sure it helps my kids that i am a retired professional trapper, when i watch & listen to them , they were paying attention to details of what they had heard..

[@Angrybird53593]

I am new to hunting so I’ve been watching all the videos I can to learn

[@williamlackey123]

3:21 as someone who’s never killed a deer I gotta say this comment resonates with me

[@rayhopkins5246]

I have had zero cameras on my property for last five years. I realized back then what he is talking about. Not one kernel of corn anytime. I am a non believer in tossing out corn. Great hunting time in the woods for me.

[@23DanielVincent]

I needed to hear this.

[@Patrician9000]

I would say it's because the older generation has more access to farms and farm fields. Most of the older generation shot big deer in fields, the newer generation has to drive 2 hours, walk 3 miles into the woods and compete against all the difficulties of the woods. Most big deer are seen and killed in fields or field edges. The farms are disappearing and so are the access to great field hunting opportunities.

[@collinjohnson3822]

Never been a big equipment guy and I don't think I will unless I hit the lotto. Family heirloom .243 from the early 1900's, a nike hoodie, and sitting in an old blind or stalking is good for me.

[@Dougarrowhead]

Winchester didnt release the .243 until 1955

[@collinjohnson3822]

@@Dougarrowhead the rifle is from the early century, my gramps had it rechambered for .243

[@randallferguson3821]

Scrolling through and see ol JJ’s face from Lenoir NC.

[@Bigfish1day]

I hunt like this, my dad got me 13 acres 30 years ago, I walk and look for signs. Sometimes I just go sit to see what’s there. I have had turkeys walk within arm’s reach. Just sit and watch and listen, the woods teaches.

[@Dadlife911]

Except now all our properties are small and over pressured. Just like today. I was still hunting and as I slipped over the ridge I heard somebody rattle behind. I turned around and found somebody who had just walked up and was hunting my property line

[@richardbrown6591]

Thank you

[@jeffellinger3257]

Young man gets it

[@andyackley1985]

Over the last few years I have used SD card cameras in the woods and treated them as gathering historical data for future hunts in the area rather than influencing my hunts for that moment. Last year, I tried cell cameras at my stand sites and was the most unhappy I have ever been deer hunting. I wouldn't go out if I wasn't seeing a target buck for a few days or I would be in one stand and get an alert where I'd see him at another stand and second guess myself while I was hunting. I spent very little time with boots on the ground exploring and gathering data in person. In the past, I had been reading books written by the Wenzel brothers and took that knowledge into the woods scouting in and out of season frequently to find quality spots. I'm definitely no big name trophy hunter but I killed 4 bucks in 5 years over 120" with one at 141" that way and was much happier overall. This year, I just used the cell cameras on the perimeter of the property for security. Its October 29 and the boys are moving and I'm exited to see what might come through my funnel stands and give me an opportunity.

[@rickwells1131]

Amen brother 🙏! I don't run trail cam's. I have killed 2 nice 8 point's in the last 4 years. I do things the old way.

[@josephfoster5593]

Heck I just got a new piece of private land to hunt, I scouted it last week, didn't put up any cameras or anything just found a spot that looked like deer would travel. First day hunting I had 20 deer come in between 5 and dark

[@DebbiPrince]

Nailed it 💯 percent!

[@jmebig3044]

This is probably the biggest misnomer in the outdoor world. I think we all love nostalgia so much, that we just feel this is true. My experience has always been the opposite. If you hunt public land, you know that the old timers are usually the worst hunters you will meet out in the woods. Don’t know what they are doing, stuck in their ways, and have some of the worst hunting etiquette you will ever see because it’s what they’ve always done. Just because there have been good hunters in the past, definitely does not mean it’s anywhere near a majority.

[@Dougarrowhead]

I agree. Some of the most spiteful and disrespectful too. Good to use cameras too if youre trying to kill the biggest buck in the area and not just a good one. If youre lazy and dont strive to be successful and be the best you can then you make excuses like most of the folks in the comments. Most of these folks dont seem to care much about what theyre doing because of laziness and ignorance.

[@BillCourtney-u9v]

I'm 27 and I used to use cameras, and all that stuff. But then I just started doing what my papa used to, and I'm more successful. Than I was with the camera's and all that stuff. I just go out, look for good game trails, and I just hunt by those trails. And I do pretty well with it, I just one day said heck with it, I'm gonna do what papa used to do, and I'm a better hunter.

[@ur-huckleberry9695]

Well said

[@zackstrong8034]

I've got my deer almost every year I've hunted. In some locations where I could get multiple, I did. And I've never once used a map, GPS, camera, or a stand/blind/hide. I simply walk the land. Most people are too lazy to put in 12 miles hiking up and down mountains. When I lived in Alaska for six years, most people would road hunt. That is, they'd take their four wheeler or truck down a trail and literally only hunt from the road. They wouldn't go down into the brush, push through the alders, or, heaven forbid, hike up a mountain. My Dad and I did. We were often exhausted at the end of the day, but we saw so much amazing scenery, enjoyed nature and wildlife, and, as mentioned, nearly always got our deer (and, in Alaska, usually several). No one needs fancy gadgets to hunt. We simply need to not be lazy and to put in the work. Doing so is infinitely more enjoyable and is a far better school for learning.

[@TheCowboylogic]

I am 64 years old. I have never owned a piece of camo, or never once sat in a tree stand. I have taken a lot of deer. It is called 'hunting' for a reason.

[@desertdog1125]

They went deer hunting. ! (Good Stuff)

[@joeydingeldein1785]

I’ve made it to this point. Don’t overcomplicate things and don’t pass on deer that make you happy, no matter how poorly it is received on instagram or by coworkers/friends

[@Sharp_Spoon]

Thank you❤

[@cainkopczynskie6296]

That's how I was taught to hunt, and that's why I tag out every year. 3 deer in archery, 2 doe, and a nice buck this year. I still can't figure out bear hunting, but I'm trying.

[@jasonweishaupt1828]

Because our ancestors went out hunting. They weren’t treating a deer hunt like a combat patrol in Sandboxistan.

[@Artisanwoodworks73]

Where you guys out of? Great GON shirt by the way This is the first clip I've seen of your show. Very nice indeed. Thanks for sharing.

[@NDB469]

This is 100% correct. Get rid of all the tech and just go out there, be patient, the bare essentials will reap rewards.

[@nelsonchandler1015]

spot on !! thanks great job !!