As I continue to celebrate autumn’s splendor, it seems there’s very little in the headlines around the world of pro bass fishing. Terry Butcher, an Oklahoman hammer who toys with full-time pro fishing, again displayed his ability at a recent PAA event. I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with Terry several times, and, believe me, he’s a stick. You can tell just by the tone in his voice.

Other than that, things have been quiet, allowing me more time in the duck blind, but also permitting me to take my annual deer-hunting trip.

Now I know most of you deer hunt, and I can get into that. Filling the freezer with one shot is a pretty strong selling point. But the purpose of my trip is to share in the camaraderie and spend some time with family.

As I sat on a deer stand in western New York last week, I found myself having plenty of time to contemplate the differences between bass fishing and deer hunting, two incredibly popular pastimes that, for some reason, have a lot of cross-over participants.

But while I’m a fan of pursuing just about anything in the outdoors, I find that bass fishing simply blows the doors off deer hunting.

While many of you will strongly disagree with my statements, they are, in fact, all cold, hard facts. As I sat motionless for what seemed like eternity, I was able to carefully consider my thoughts, and compile a list of explanations for my previous statement. So, in light of the quiet fall season, and seemingly everyone’s interest in pursuing Bambi, I give you …

The Top-10 Reasons Why Bass Fishing is Better Than Deer Hunting

10. While bass fishing, if I’m in an unproductive area, I can always move the boat. With deer hunting, I have to sit in the same treestand, watching the same field, hoping something shows up. It’s like casting to the same stump a thousand times, waiting for a fish to swim by. No fun.

9. Camp chili is not all it’s cracked up to be. I don’t know about the rest of you, but for me, a big bowl of beans and hodge-podge, followed by a long sit in an overstuffed winter coat, just creates drowsiness and gas. Both are bad circumstances when sitting in one place all day.

8. When I miss a bass, oftentimes I get another chance and end up catching the fish. Not so with deer.

7. When fishing, it really doesn’t matter what I smell like. I don’t have to douse my body in any kind of animal urine and I never have to put on a space-age carbon astronaut suit. Supposedly deer can smell your clothes, laundry detergent, footprints and even your breath at 20 yards, and deer hunters must take extreme measures to overcome that. Rather than go to that level, I’ll stick to washing my clothes with soap.

6. When bass fishing, there is no constant fear of falling out of a tree.

5. While fishing, I can always “pause” the game by not casting. Regardless of how hard I try to prevent it, the only time I spot a deer in the woods is when I have to get up and take a pee. I can be completely motionless for 6 hours straight and see absolutely nothing, but one stretch of my legs, or a quick search for some jerky, and an 8-pointer is wheezing and bounding away from me instantly.

4. At no time when bass fishing do I ever have to wear fluorescent colors. Blaze orange … really? Am I working on a road crew? Which way to the downed power lines?

3. Tournaments. Few things in the outdoors are as thrilling as pulling up to your last spot, with little or no time remaining, and getting on a school of big fish in a tournament. After dropping yet another tank in the livewell, you attempt to re-tie, knowing that you must keep your cool. Hands shaking so terribly, you can’t get the line through the eye of the hook. One more cast is on its way, and, as the crank glances off a stump, you feel, you just know, that a bass is about to swallow the lure. There he is, bigger yet, jumping on the horizon. Your watch clicks past 2:55, a 3:00 check-in is imminent.

Yeah, deer hunting ain’t like that.

2. Bass don’t sneak up on you. For the most part, whenever I catch a bass, it always comes from the direction that my rod is pointing. Deer always come from behind me, no matter which way I face while on stand.

1A. Catch and release. It goes without saying that one of the best parts about catching bass is releasing them to be caught again. Try as I may, I’ve never been able to catch a deer (although my neighbor always asks me if I “caught anything” when I come home from hunting).

1. Dragging deer is the worst job in the world. I’m completely certain that the righteous go to heaven, while the sinners of the land are condemned to eternally drag deer out of swamps and ravines. No matter how young, strong, or accustomed to dragging deer you are, I’m reminded nearly every year that nothing in outdoor sports is worse.

So there you have it. All of you bass nuts who are contemplating going deer hunting in the coming weeks can cancel the trip, assured that you would be doing a great service to your own well-being by going bass fishing instead. Bassers to the north can watch old videos and sharpen hooks.

It won’t be long before the holidays are here and gone, followed by a new year and the launch of a new pro bass season. Until then, we’ll all just do as we must to make an excuse to get outside. Hopefully my impartial, fact-driven list can allow all of you to make a responsible choice when deciding what to chase.

(Joe Balog is the often outspoken owner of Millennium Promotions, Inc., an agency operating in the fishing and hunting industries. A former Bassmaster Open and EverStart Championship winner, he's best known for his big-water innovations and hardcore fishing style. He's a popular seminar speaker, product designer and author, and is considered one of the most influential smallmouth fishermen of modern times.)