Non-lethal deer hunting?

[SimonSays]

Anyone ever think of "catch-and-release" deer hunting?  I've always wanted to go hunting but I've never been too interested in Vvenison or having trophy heads on my wall.  

Is there anything like a tranquilizer gun deer hunting thing?  I wouldn't mind tranq-ing a deer running up to it, snapping a picture and running away before it wakes.

Sounds like fun to me!

[weknowhowtolive]

I've thought about that before haha. Seems like it might be a little more dangerous than catch and release fishing.

[Bassnbrett101]

How would you track it without a blood trail?

[SimonSays]

How would you track it without a blood trail?

No tracking needed =P

Fast acting sedative?

something that works within 5 seconds or less if you hit in a vital area?

[Bassnbrett101]

Ahh lol, I never took that into consideration

Im game for some catch and release deer hunting.  I hate to kill them but I like shooting lol.  I could go for some catch and release squirrel hunting too

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Anyone ever think of "catch-and-release" deer hunting?  I've always wanted to go hunting but I've never been too interested in Vvenison or having trophy heads on my wall.  

Is there anything like a tranquilizer gun deer hunting thing?  I wouldn't mind tranq-ing a deer running up to it, snapping a picture and running away before it wakes.

Sounds like fun to me!

Been there, thought that,lol

I was thinking along the conservation lines.  If the state dept of wildlife/fisheries offered a packet for field stats (hair sample, measurements, teeth photo. etc) for the tranq'd deer, then folks with no desire to kill the animal could still get the "stalk" part of the hunt and bring back info for the state.  Maybe there's just no need for that info,....there are too many deer and that's all they need to know.

[Gatorbassman]

It's called a camera. I used to spend the entire off season in the woods and I would keep my skills up by bringing my camera along and taking pictures. It was a blast. I would see how close I could get to a deer and snap a picture.

[fishbear]

There was someone that actually tried it..... seems the deer did not respond well to tranquilizers.... they had a very high mortality rate..

[flechero]

It's done all the time in south texas, but not for sport... they sell the deer to game ranches and as breeders.   I knew a guy who used to dart deer for his game ranch... he said you had to have a veterinary license for the drugs and gun.  Even with proper training and knowledge, he lost about 1 in 5, since the drugs are based on body weight and even small variances can be lethal.

As far as sport goes, take a camera and get close...  bowhunters do it all the time, it takes some time to develop stalking skills.  If you want some adrenaline, try stalking wild hogs with a traditional bow (recurve or longbow) and only bringing rubber tipped arrows! (bludgeons or rubber blunts to the shoulder plates)    Blunts are no good for deer because you will break ribs.

[SimonSays]

The does make alot of sense, needing some kind of license for the tranquilizer use, if not I'm sure someone could find a way to get high off it or something, I like the camera idea but I've always wanted to take one of those pictures holding the antlers of the deer

[71Rig]

What about a tuna fighting chair bolted to the back of a pickup truck, a Penn 50 reel on a stout boat rod and a big treble hook with an apple on it.  

You can spread apples and corn all over a field to act as your "chum slick" and wait.  When one takes it you set the hook and the fight begins!  

Maybe put some ambisol on the hook so it numbs the deer's mouth, no need to be cruel.  

[roadwarrior]

It's called a camera.

+1

Geez...

8-)

[Wayne P.]

I do it all the time during deer season while waiting on THE one.

[Wayne P.]

Another C/R deer

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Another C/R deer

LOL, had it been me, the only "release" involved would have been to initiate arrow flight  

[Hookemdown.]

Another C/R deer

LOL, had it been me, the only "release" involved would have been to initiate arrow flight

So true...  That's a nice buck for around here.

All of y'all need to try some venison steaks or jerky.  It makes all of the hard work you put in during the season worth it.

[Shad_Master]

For you guys with cameras - did you have to buy a license to go out during the hunting season - I wanted to go out with my brother-in-law a few years ago down in  Arkansas - but the game warden said that I would have to have a license and deer tag or risk being ticketed.

[weknowhowtolive]

For you guys with cameras - did you have to buy a license to go out during the hunting season - I wanted to go out with my brother-in-law a few years ago down in Arkansas - but the game warden said that I would have to have a license and deer tag or risk being ticketed.

So he basically said it was illegal for you to be outside during hunting season in camo with a camera?

[Hookemdown.]

For you guys with cameras - did you have to buy a license to go out during the hunting season - I wanted to go out with my brother-in-law a few years ago down in Arkansas - but the game warden said that I would have to have a license and deer tag or risk being ticketed.

Where in AR was this?  That guy was full of it.  You only need a hunting license if you are hunting and intending to take a game animal with a firearm/bow.  That is ridiculous.

[BucketmouthAngler13]

The venison is the best part! lol

I love sneaking up on animals just to see how close I can get to them.

[Wayne P.]

I am hunting with a weapon and with my camera. I don't hunt for the meat anymore and will not settle for an animal that is less than I have already taken. I have only seen one with a better rack, but it was too young (in my opinion). I am not doing my part in the population control of deer. Even if I take one, the meat would be donated to the Hunter's For The Hungry program. We have way too many deer, but I just don't care to fool with them anymore.

I participate in archery season, muzzleloading season, and the general firearms season with rifle or pistol.

In Va. if you are with someone that is hunting with a weapon, then you are participating in the act of hunting. If you go alone with a camera and no weapon, then you are not hunting and it would be no different than taking pictures of deer along the roadside, in a zoo, or park during any part of the year.

[daviscw]

Kinda defeats the purpose of hunting doesn't it?  

Like mentioned before, I live in the country and the deer population is EXPLODING. I'm talking these deer are causing serious problems. I.e. damaging cars, causing people to wreck, and eating away vineyards. The 6 deer a season bag limit is not enough.

On a positive note, I can sit in my recliner and watch them walk through my pasture every single night. They are very pretty animals. I've shot several within 100 yds of my house, and I can tell you, that is the best country style steak I have ever eaten!

And for the guy asking about the license, I have never heard of such a thing, but I can tell you that walking around in camo during deer season isn't a very bright idea. State law in NC says you must wear blazing orange to hunt. People getting shot because of being mistaken for a deer is not unheard of around here. Be careful!

[fishfordollars]

I have never heard of a license for a camera. You can pay to get on some south Texas leases to hunt with a camera at a reduced rate. Have a friend that approached several leasing agents to discuss the camera thing and talked the lease owners into letting him shoot(No pun intended) with a camera to verify the health and deer density on each lease so they could adjust their pricing according to deer density. He now has many leases he shoots for and has quit his fulltime job to verify the deer populations in many areas across the state. He is making four times the money he use to make.

[Wildbillb]

Isnt it like fishing without hooks?

[daviscw]

Isnt it like fishing without hooks?

Would that really be "fishing"?