Hunting Blogs

25 Latest Articles Current Articles | Archives | Search
'The Walking Dead' And Deer Hunting

By: Josh Dahlke
20 comments Mixed Bag with Josh Dahlke

Oct 31

Zombies, zombies, zombies. It's no secret that public fascination with the un-dead has been on the rise. I won't spend time pointing out the numerous zombie-isms that have been popping up lately, but I will take a moment of your day in the spirit of Halloween (I think zombies are much more exciting than pumpkins) to ask a thought-provoking question that should hit home with my fellow hunters:

If humanity suddenly fell victim to a zombie takeover, would you continue to hunt deer?  Why? (Answer this question in the comments box below. I'll choose my favorite response this Friday and the winner will score a five-pack of VisiColor Zombie Targets from Champion Traps & Targets.)

I, too, have been bitten by the zombie craze ... which is where that question stems from. I don't watch much TV, but I recently stumbled upon "The Walking Dead" series on A&E. The second season just began, and I'm totally a fan.

Carl, a young character in the series, walks up to a stunning white-tailed buck in full velvet during the first episode (watch the video here, or see the photo below). Unfortunately, a hunter named Otis shoots the buck in a direct line with Carl, causing a life-threatening injury to Carl. Otis didn't pay attention to one of the Golden Rules of Gun Safety: "Be sure of your target and what is beyond it." But that's not my focus in this blog post.

It's unclear if Otis was trophy hunting for big bucks, or if he was simply trying to provide for his family and lucked upon the bruiser buck. Regardless, he's clearly a die-hard deer hunter if he's hunting during a zombie invasion ... and that's cool.

 

 

20 comments

# Big Dawg
Monday, October 31, 2011 12:55 PM
Of course I would continue to hunt deer for the food for my family and the hunting would also be a plus when it came to hunting and killing Zombies. Nothing else as this is the only answer that would be the norm in a very unatural world.
# jlahoe
Monday, October 31, 2011 2:13 PM
I'd still hunt not only to feed my family and fellow survivors but to also hold on to some sort of normality in an otherwise non-normal world. Plus with all the headshots I'd be taking to kill zombies, I'd become one heck of a good shot. How can you not be with all the target practice that is slowly walking around.
# california1967
Monday, October 31, 2011 2:16 PM
I would definitely continue to hunt deer (but strictly bowhunt as to not draw any attention to my ultra secure position). This is especially true since all the grocery stores will probably be picked over and unless its okay to eat nothing but Twinkies I may need to have some protein. That is unless there are ... ZOMBIE DEER!
# fbarnhart
Monday, October 31, 2011 2:29 PM
You could not drag me away from my stand. I love bow hunting with a passion that you just can't let go of. The crisp cool air, the smells and sounds of an early morning hunt. Waiting and watching everything that you can see and hear. All of your senses are on a state of alert as you go thew your check list in your head time and time again. The rush as you await the prey you have heard and spotted coming your way.
There is nothing else like it that I have ever seen. Coaxing that buck the rest of the way in when he just doesn't want to go by your stand is awesome as well. The first one I rattled in was unbelievable, he ran straight to me from over a hundred yards away and I mean ran.
So how do you top that kind of a day?
# blueeyeddragon76
Monday, October 31, 2011 2:33 PM
Of Course I would keep hunting deer, aside from food, which is a given. I would also use the hides for clothing in the winter, this is especially important because if and when a zombie attack happens I am taking me and my family back to the wilderness. The racks from the deer could be used to make early warning systems for intruders, as well as close quarter combat weapons , as well as fishhooks, and traps for smaller game. there is no waste of anything on the deer, any fat not eaten i could render down into fuel as well.. I am sure i could even use the bones for arrowheads, and the intestines into bowstrings... At that point it is all about survival and I am going to use everything at my disposal to survive... up to, including, and especially that deer!
# gooddogs
Monday, October 31, 2011 3:50 PM
Of course I would be hunting for food, but also because killing Zombies is easy! After a while you would need to fine tune your skills and need a challenge again. I mean Zombies don't care about how bad you smell, they like it when your making all kinds of noise and if they see you moving they are even happier to come limping in for an easy shot.
# tkunz
Monday, October 31, 2011 4:33 PM
Yeah I would still hunt deer. Its time we all got back to our roots and became self sufficiant. Besides you would never run out of targets in the off season. Zombies make excellent 3d moving targets and you would never run out or have to go to the store to buy more.
# GarrisonRandy
Monday, October 31, 2011 4:39 PM
Of course I would continue to hunt deer! First off, one of the great zombie movies of all times is "Dawn Of The Dead". Since early morning is considered one of the prime whitetail times, the two go hand in hand. And what better way to keep an eye out on everything than perched up in a tree looking out for a big buck or maybe an extra "prize". Just like hogs in the south, zombies are a nuisance and need to be taken out!
# bowber118
Monday, October 31, 2011 4:52 PM
Ya darn tootin! Deer hunting would be even more important during the zombie invasion. The lushious meat, for the family, provided by them would be reson #1. Honing my skills for self preservation against those damn zombie attacks would be benefit #2. The third use of my "deer" prey would be to provide bait for my zombie traps to protect my home base. I could also use the bait to lead them away form my haome base. Finally I would continue to keep in close contact with nature during my hunts to see if things are getting worse or better. If the animals, birds or other critters start acting wonky as well, then I would know to be more careful in what ans when I hunt in the future.
# rhartsell2
Monday, October 31, 2011 4:57 PM
Its when all factories shut down, fast food chains die, and super markets no longer exist when everyone realizes the best source of food was always out there. the ones who have built the skills and the knowledge will survive. Of course I'd still hunt. some of the purist food you can get.
# firefightermre04
Monday, October 31, 2011 6:14 PM
I'd keep hunting deer, then whenever they open up a "Zombie" season, I'll sit high up on the second floor of some downtown building without any stairs for the Zombies to climb, I'd be eating my deer jerkey, shooting Zombies with my .338 'till the town was out of Zombies!! I can only hope that the building I'd be sitting in was a Cabela's Store, above the ammunition department!!!!!
# mlinkrpt
Monday, October 31, 2011 6:50 PM
I'd continue to hunt deer for food, but utilize my bow as to not draw attention to me by the Zombies. I'd also wait until I could line up the Zombies and get more use out of my weaponry. The carniage would be increditable!!! Would be prepared to utilize a Samurai Sword for close encounters...Slaughter them Zombies!!!
# jporter86
Tuesday, November 01, 2011 8:14 AM
Of course we would all contiue to hunt for food. Given that the zombies do not acquire a taste for animals. I would hunt to survive but I would also hunt to do some QZM. Start making food plots and throw some old school boomboxes in the middle of my plots and just cut loose with a mounted 50 cal. Nothing beats the 50. Man can you just imagine the choas you could bring down on a hoard of zombies. Your choice of ammo and wepons would be limitless. It's funny because my little boy loves to play left for dead and COD Black Ops. These games have zombies in them and he just loves blowing the lifeless looks of their faces.
# jwhitney5
Tuesday, November 01, 2011 8:57 AM
of course i would continue to deer hunt. after all you can feed your family as well as use the entrails to lure zombies in for the kill.
# CLUTCH11
Tuesday, November 01, 2011 9:44 AM
I've never seen the show, but perhaps Carl was a zombie and taking 2 trophies with 1 shot is not only skilled but cost effective in these trying times. I would continue to hunt since the only thing that's ever gonna stop me from hunting is the "old dirt nap".
# geknows
Tuesday, November 01, 2011 11:10 AM
Zombies or not I would certainly continue to hunt. Everyone's comments on hunting for the ability to provide food, etc. are great! Thanks for this blog post, it sparked alot of interesting conversation!
# ewisdom
Tuesday, November 01, 2011 12:10 PM
Of course, nothing would change the fact of Hunting for food and enjoyment. For me it is medicine for relaxation. However, if it would come down to to the world ending and zombie take over such as those in the movies, I would have to resort to using Only a bow and possibly spear. save the shotgun shells and bullets for self defense. Get back to ancestral instincts of survival.
With the need to hunt for food we must be reminded of proper management so that the resource for protein will continue for as long as we need and longer. We will need to manage our own hunting areas more closely than ever. Just because there are no more laws it is up to every hunter to make sure the survival of a species continues.
# larsonjo
Tuesday, November 01, 2011 2:24 PM
I dont buy meat from the store now, I would have to keep hunting. I would probably have to cure more of it into jerky like meats but I would still do it. I would practice lots and lots of still hunting with my bow. Plus there are all the bones and the hides that would be very useful in a apacolyptic world scenario.
# skibroom
Monday, November 07, 2011 5:12 AM
The only thing that would change for me is to carry more ammo......a lot more ammo!!
# Web Editor Josh
Tuesday, November 08, 2011 1:44 PM
@geknows: No problem. It definitely sparked some interesting debate!

@Everyone: Thanks for your comments! There were a lot of great ones here, but I have to say my favorite comment came from blueeyeddragon76 -- a true reflection of self sufficiency and creativity. So, blueeyeddragon76 wins the five-pack of zombie targets from Champion Traps & Targets.

Post Comment

Only registered users may post comments.

NAHC Staff &
Contributor Blogs