ORIGINAL: CLOUD 9, MN
I really don't care what anyone shoots....there all trophies! For me, in this stage of my hunting experience, I shoot a doe to eat and then hunt monsters. On our property for 25 years we (our group/party) only shot 1 trophy buck. In 25 years we maybe only ever even saw 3 or 4 trophies. 5 years ago we decided to quite shooting any buck unless it had a huge rack. Lots of disipline! The first couple years we didn't shoot any bucks,but the last 3 years have totally changed our woods.......we see lots of trophy bucks, lots of medium and plenty of spikes and baskets! The last three years, we got4 trophy bucks and see/had numerous encouters with other bruisers. Our hunting has greatly changed. We still take lots of does for meat. Our experience.....let'm grow! If you don't care about big racks...shoot for meat....thats fine too!
Good Luck...enjoy your season!
Hi Cloud nine - Thanks for your post. Your post says it all from my point of view. If shooting the first deer that comes your way is what appeals to you and makes for a memorable hunt then by all means, take your best shot.
Like you Cloud 9, when I first started hunting the piece of property that I now hunt (10 years ago) there were very few if any mature bucks running around. The previous owners and neighbors shot everything they could and most deer never had a chance making it past their second birthday. That has all changed now. The neighbor and I decided to try letting the smaller bucks walk, while at the same time taking olderdoes for meat. The results in only 10 years has been dramatic. Seeing mature bucks during hunting season is almost a given. Of coarse, the property is surrounded by corn fields and the enviroment is perfect for this outcome but could only be achieved by letting the small deer walk.
Not long ago the previous owners stopped by to visit. When I showed them several of the deer we have killed in the last 5 years he said "Man, we never had deer like that when we lived here". Ireplied "thats because you killed everything that walked by and didn't give them a chance to make it to that size". He kinda smirked and said "Ya we killed a lot of deer outa here".
I have tried not to offend anyone with this post. I have just stated what I have experienced first hand. If you want to shoot every deer you see, more power to you. If you want to see and kill mature bucks then you have to let the younger ones walk. 