We were sitting around the campfire this weekend and this subject came up. All around the campfire we debated this, and had a multitude of answers, some getting a big buck, some the thrill of the hunt and others the commarodre. What would it be for you....................

It used to be the silence when sitting in the stand and just watching nature in it's finest, whether it was icy snowy day or I was sitting there in shorts and a T shirt it did not matter. That was the best part of deer hunting.

Now it is being out in the pasture with kinfolk just visiting as the younger ones do most of the hunting. With everyone spread out all over the state or even the country this is the only time we get together except for funerals. The deer pasture is a better place to visit than a cemetery.

It used to be the campfire and BS for me I miss it so much. Now we are on a small place with 4 people, my Dad goes to bed around 8 so Im usually just hanging by myself. I have an awesome place; I guess my favorite thing is seeing a new mature buck and getting one of my friends down to see the awww on their face when they actually see some deer and alot at that.

Any more it's taking other people hunting, especially the kids. If it weren’t for that, I’d probably lose interest.

Mainly the anticipation. I can sit for hours sometimes day after day expecting something to show any second or soon after every sound I hear.

I go along with both yours and DogCatchers answers.

The thrill to me is camp life and seeing/hearing folks talk about the deer or hog or turkey they killed.

I don't like to hunt by myself anymore, it is no fun and that is the main reason I got off the place in Montague county.

i like the deer camp atmoshphere. i like to hunt but would rather do so with family or friends. very rarely will i go out if no one is at the ranch.

this is one reason why i like guiding so much

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this is one reason why i like guiding so much

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I second that viewpoint.

The best part for me is watching a new day dawn and the sights and sounds that accompany that. Whether it is birds flying over or squirrels scurrying about. There is also an anticipation of seeing the best deer I have ever seen.

besides the "chance of a big buck", there is also the unpredictability of what u will see next, especially out here...

Watching my niece and nephew hunt for the first time. I heard a 45 minute speech from my nephew about how a doe came out and ate at the feeder. It was great.

Personally I just feel at peace when I am in the hunting woods. Whether it be a foggy cold morning or the perfect still evening that you wish could last forever, it is a spiritual experience. I feel closer to God in the wild woods than any place else.

I love that it gives me a chance to be around the ones that mean the most to me. Family, friends, and the dog. But I also like being in a tree or on the lake in the Ranger before sunrise. Watching the world wake, and thinking about all the trips as a kid with my dad and grandpa. I miss those days.

I have to agree with all of you about being around the camp fire with family and friends but what really gets me is that I spend so much time, effort, and money to get everything just right to draw the deer in. then when you sit In the freezing cold so still and quiet and that buck walks out just puts a smile on my face. You are in there habitat and seeing them knowing that you brought them there makes it all worth while.

Taking my 9 year old Grandson.

Right now, it's hard for me to get excited. I'm seeing very few deer. I expect it's the acorn crop. A bunch are still on the trees and I have corn rotting on the ground under a couple of my feeders. The deer have also gone pretty well nocturnal. But, I would prefer a healthy deer herd to a bunch of hungry animals.

Every time I go out, I enjoy the anticipation. Last weekend, I went to 5 spots and tried rattling. No results but I still enjoyed it. I can enjoy seeing some does walk out and hope they will be buck bait. Actually, I can enjoy watching a possum or armadillo. I really enjoy watching a coyote. He's a better hunter than I am and I've learned a lot from them. I guess I just enjoy nature.

I enjoy sitting in the woods and waiting to see what will come out next.

The adrenaline rush I get will watching deer. My heart starts racing when I am just watching a fawn or a doe and I know that I have no intention of shooting them. I love it.

The Family campfire, and telling stories over a few cold yeast beverages.

Just walking and sitting in the woods. Knowing Im not sitting in traffic somewhere in the big city!

Funny you posted this, because a hunting partner & I just had a similar discussion. As someone who recently lost property on which I had hunted for 28 years, I have to say that my excitement came from being a good steward of the land and the game on it, and seeing it pay off.

I could day hunt anywhere, but for me, there's nothing like seeing game come & go according to a setup that took years of trial & error to get it right...seeing all the blood/sweat/hard work increase the quality/quantity of the game every year. When you hunt for meat like I do, you put a lot of stock in your setup. So seeing great results in the form of game is as exciting as hitting an ace-high straight on the flop.

Happy Hunting!

The entire experience is what it is all about. Being in aw of the big star filled sky at 4am to hearing the first bird chirp at that somehow makes the woods come alive at day break. The complete isolation of the morning traffic and the Friday deadline. The adrenalin rush of a big buck is something that cant be matched it is like hiding under your girlfriends bed in High School avoiding capture by her parents.

Getting ready for hunting season. Scouting, fooling with the feeders, working on blinds, etc.

I also like:

Sitting in the blind at dawn sipping on a hot cup of coffee on cold morning.

Watching deer mill around the feeder.

Going back to camp and eating that special deer camp breakfast

Taking naps in the middle of the day.

Watching those spectacular hill country sunsets.

Eating some more of those great deer camp dinners.

Firing up the wood burning stove or sitting around a camp fire looking at the stars and having small talk.

In fact, I like every aspect of deer hunting. Well, I could live without having to clean a deer and even that's not too bad.

You hit just about every aspect except I don't drink coffee.

I also like all the kidding and poking fun at friends that goes on. One guys purple atv (we call it Barney) won't ever start. It's fun to watch him fight with it.

seeing a deer close, expiceally a big buck.