ORIGINAL: GregH
ORIGINAL: davidmil
ORIGINAL: GregH
ORIGINAL: davidmil
You know, it's real easy to pass on a bunch of bucks when you have a lot of deer. When you can go out and expect to see deer usually every hunt, it's not real hard to say I'll wait for something bigger. I spent the summer glassing every deer within a 3 mile radius of my house. I saw a big 8, and a 6 and a spike repeatedly during the summer and Sept. That was it. During deer season I saw 1 spike and he wasn't the one I watched all summer. Realize, the big 8 and 6 were always on land adjacent to the land I can hunt. The 8 was killed on that same land. For the entire bow season I saw I guess maybe 6 deer from a tree and 3 during the muzzleloader season. I know of one that was poached in my woods with a rifle. So, tell me I'm suppose to pass a basket rack 6 up here when he walks by at 20 yards. Last year I saw and 8 and a spike. I shot the 8 with the bow. There's lots of pressure from hunters, night hunter and plain old outlaws all year. It's pretty tough to be a trophy hunter in such places. In Maryland I passed on deer all the time with no regrets because it was easy and the population per mile was about 40 more deer. I'd typically see hundreds in the year. I'm looking for a new woods. The last time I was in Ohio I passed on 4 bucks one evening that would have been prizes here.
Nobody's telling you what to do.
IF you want to be a trophy hunter, Rule #1 - Hunt where they live.
But that's easier said than done if you want to spend some time in the woods. I'm not talking of taking off and traveling to another state. I'm talking about walking out the door in your home territory and go hunting. Land access is always a problem. Time is a problem. But most of all, deer populations are a problem along with mismanagement by DNR and legislatures. Place genetics and all that in the same pile and everyone is not fortunate to have a 150-175 inch deer around. It's a fact of life. I'm not willing to pay some guy in Illinois, Kansas, Iowa or whereever,$3,500 to hunt for a week so I can say, I'm a Trophy hunter. Everyone doesn't have access to land where big bucks roam. I have in the past in other states but not now so I adjust accordingly. I'm not worried about what I'll have to shoot 10 years from now. I'm 64 years old. How many years do I have left? It's easy to say hunt where they are.... but it's not that simple is it really for MOST people. Most people have families, time restraints, money restraints, and quite frankly other priorities they put first. They still should have a right to hunt and kill what they want within the laws without someone(especially QDM tools like Morris) telling them they're a lesser person if they kill a basketrack.
I agree with everything you have said, trophy hunting is easier for some people than others. It depends on how important it is to you and what you are willing or not willing to do. Some people move to different states to accomplish their goal ( I don't have to do that ). There is always a consensus that you have to make and/or a comprimise. If you are forced to hunt in an area devoid of trophy bucks, you could strive to kill bucks that are the best in your area. These would be considered trophy bucks in my mind. Just one way of looking at it.
Move to another state just so you can trophy hunt? Now that ladies and gentlemen is truly having no life outside of hunting. That group of people would be so small. I'd give up hunting tomorrow for the betterment of my family. No way would I make a life decision based on Trophy hunting. That really is a narrow, selfish way to run your life. That wouldn't be admirable... it would be pitiful.