ORIGINAL: TURKEY FAN
ummmmmmmmmm, are those key deer??? From florida?? If not they are very small bucks,
They are NY bucks..............and in 17 years of hunting I wouldn't call them small at all. We got 63 and 65 lbs of meat from them respectively. Average to slightly above for a whitetail around here. I got 80 lbs of meat from my buck last year and that was a deer people see around here about as often as a white rhino
should have been let walk by.
You hunt your way and I will hunt mine. I personally don't let antler size dictate the success or failure of my hunting. If he's got a rack cool..........if it doesn't that's cool too.
They all look the same in my freezer.
But if your a meat hunter, then i understand,
I am a DEER hunter.
Given the choice though.......I'll take a years worth of meat over a rack any day.
i know the ol saying down south "if its brown its down"
I don't live in the south.
i just dont shoot anything that small, and maybe i am lucky for that.
Again.........to each his own.
It just kills me to hear these guys talk about what big bucks they can kill this year, and end up shooting a one a half year old buck, not saying its you, but................
I like big bucks as much as the next guy.......I just don't make it my lifes work pursuing them. If a 1 1/2 year old buck walks by me opening day next year he is getting shot too. I know my woods and am realistic about my goals for the season. I am more then pleased with my buck and if I let him pass he will go down to a gun in three weeks. You can except it or live in denial and let deer walk for others to kill......simple as that.
i would like to see hunters doing some better quaility deer management. but congrats, and happy hunting.
I guess the big difference is what people consider a "quality" deer. You are judging the "quality" of a deer simply by it's headgear. In my views that is silly. Actually the best "quality" deer IMO would be the youngest little bugger out there because it will be so tender you can cut the meat with a fork.
It's all perspective my friend.
Thanks for the congrats and don't take anything I have said personally. We just have different views that's all. You would not be pleased to kill either of these deer and me and my buddy couldn't be happier with the way our season is going.
BTW..........I also have been hunting some tightly managed areas this year as well.
Like I said.........there is a time and place for hunting big bucks. You just have to be a realist about which situation you currently are in and react accordingly.
Best of luck to ya