ORIGINAL: TEmbry
I think the problem with hunting isn't about hunting big bucks....its worrying about why others hunt. Some hunt for meat, and resent others for hunting big bucks and missing what hunting is all about. Big buck hunters resent meat hunters for shooting anything that walks. Bowhunters resent rifle hunters for the stereotype of being unsafe and shooting anything that walks. Rifle hunters resent bowhunters for having a MUCH longer season. Archery hunters resent crossbow hunters for not partaking in "real" archery. Dog hunters are basically resented by everyone.....baiters are cheating....the list goes on.
It isn't just big racks....it's envy from all sides. Hunting will never be struck down from the outside, it will simply impode and slowly be chipped away. Many say bowhunting or deer season will never be taken...right now no, but they won't start with the popular seasons...They start by eliminating Dove seasons, NJ bear season, CA cougar season, etc....hunting with hounds, hunting over bait...they will exploit the quarrels and differences among us until slowly nearly all hunting could be done away with. The funny part is, depending on how a movement is worded to ban a certain aspect of hunting, it can often gain a LOT of support by, get this, hunters.
Calling others out for hunting for the wrong reasons, is well, a slippery slope. If some guy wants to hunt solo and only chooses to hunt big bucks...so what...let him be. He isn't missing what deer hunting is all about just because he doesn't partake in deer camps or comraderie of hunting....he is just missing out on what YOU deem as what hunting is all about. And vice versa.
I agree hunting is about the experience more so than the end product....but is someone who thinks otherwise wrong?
Trevor,
Will is right, you are wise beyond your years.
I think I know what you mean Dave when you get to the point of really holding out for a nice 140" deer, then in retrospect you think to yourself you should have taken one or two of those mid-120's that you passed up because at least then you'd have something to "show" for your efforts. I know I personally have balked at shooting some smaller deer, even some with some interesting character because I hoped I'd see them again the next year, only to never see them again. For me the hunt is about the thrill of "tricking" the animals and watching them without them ever knowing I was there is what it is all about. Harvesting them is just one of the factors that I enjoy. But it's also the HIGHLIGHT of a season when you can take a good buck or a OLD MATURE doe. In my eyes either is quite a trophy. I supposed I'm into "furology" because deer that are quite memorable to me usually get their hides tanned and I enjoy a bit of nostalgia reminiscing of those hunts while looking at them on my quilt racks and bannister.