Wolfen, You brought up a good point, that I'd like to address. I suppose I can only speak from my personal point of view and experience.

Yes, I am a "meat hunter". I never was, am not now, and have no intentions to be, a trophy hunter. That not withstanding, I'd be lieing if I didn't say that, since I first started bowhunting, I always had in the back of my mind the hopes that I'd shoot a big buck.

This year, I shot a buck that I'm very happy with. I'll admit it, I was tickled to death to have taken that deer. I'm very proud of it, and it's going on the wall. After the 60 day drying period, he'll be scored and entered in P&Y.

Even so, it hasn't changed the way I hunt, or what I hunt for. I still hunt first for the enjoyment, and second for meat in the freezer. Antlers are nice, and yes, I like them...but they're just not at the top of my priority list.

I understand what you're saying, that it seems as though everyone wants to shoot a big buck, but few will commit to it. I guess I'm one of those people. It's just the fact that I place a higher priority on other aspects of the hunt than antlers. That's not to say that my way is the best way...far from it. It's just to say that we're different.

For example... I know a guy from IL who is, from what I've been able to gather, a very dedicated trophy hunter. He's said that one of his goals in bowhunting is to take a Boone & Crocket buck (170 typical minimum). However, he'll gladly take the first 130-class down the trail (which is a heck of a deer IMO). I suppose the same argument could be made that, while he wants to take a B&C, he's not willing to make the sacrifices to do it (i.e. passing up below B&C bucks).

I know, it may sound silly to make an argument like that...passing up P&Y deer because they're not 170-class...but the same argument gets made often about guys who dream of killing a P&Y deer, but shoot the first basket-rack down the trail. It's no different really, just the measurements have changed.

JRW



Edited by - jrw on 11/27/2002 09:37:04