ORIGINAL: IL-Cornfed
Soooooo, it oter words you thought about QDM but now you've decided against it???
I remember you singing a different song, I guess that was very short lived![&:]What happened to that "mature" buck that you said you wanted? Perhaps the realism of the sacrifice and dedication seemed a bit more of an obstacle than you could overcome?
One more thing, WHAT IN THE WORLD were you doing sitting in a deer stand before the season opens ?!? One thing is for sure, you'llforever shoot yearlingswith stunts like that. Stay away from your deer until you can hunt 'em! It's no secret that the first time of two you hunt a fresh stand will be te best chance you ever have at a quality deer from that location. It does indeed take a totally different mindset and dedication level to get in the game and one must be honest with himself about just how far he's willing to go. Good luck this Fall with whatever you want.
I have a higher standard than most that I hunt with, but it isn't something that needs to be pushed on others. The true spirit of the hunt that entails more than just a set of horns or engineering the production of a 'shooter' via 'management' techniques that go way beyond the QDM intent, has somehow gotten lost . Passing smaller , younger bucks, and achieving a realistic and natural buck to doe ratio(which when it is put at 1 to1 is not natural or healthy) along with proper land management, which does not have to mean converting the majority of your land into food plots,is somewhat different than the trophy only mentality. Itis a matter of preference and ones expectations, which are sometimes realistic and many times not. Those that are just as excited over a spike have my blessings and if taken legally and ethically, no one should bust their chops over it. Everyones goals and level of pure joy of the hunt may not be the same, and there is something refreshing about those who have not lost sight of hunting itself as being enjoyment enough. I have higher standards, which entails no over management, food plots or anything else that takes away from the pure wilderness experience that makes hunting menaingful and enjoyable to me. I am looking for an older class animal, and an adequate balnace between buck and doe harvest, but I am not going to restrict my enjoyment to the expectations of others. I shot a 4 1/2 year old 4 point that weighed 180 lbs on land that holds a population of about 8 deer per square mile, has very steep and rough terrain and has very poor genetics and food sources. ButI hunted him, and took him under tough circumstances, which gives me a great deal of satisfaction , regardless of rack size. There are those of us who still place value in the hunt part of hunting as opposed to the farming aspect. No probs at all for those who do, but it isn't for all of us. I wantto go natural, undisturbed as possible and appreciate the surprises of what the land naturally yields along with me doing my part to be a good steward of the land with the principles of QDM in practice, without having to manipulate the land to satisfy my cravings for only one narrow target. My time effort and energy go into scouting as opposed to food plot building. I find natural food sources which change as the season progresses making it my assignment to stay in touch with deer patterns changing from food sources to prerut haunts, and doe herds as the rut comes into play, and the to find the buck hideouts after the rut is over and food sources are scarce--allwithout letting them know that they are being pursued. That is my objective, and probably there are others who share it, but I don't or won't pressure others into my perspective or shame anyone into seeing it 'my' way.