ORIGINAL: BOWDACIOUS
I am talking about letting the immature bucks, or those less than 4 years old, walk by you, making a cognizant decision, choosing to NOT take a killing opprotunity in order to let that animal reach its potential as a mature trophy.
In who's mind????............Yours??
But, as I have gained experience and skills in hunting whitetails I could see that the year in and year out killing of these inexperienced youngsters, wasn't only not much of a challenge but,
What a coincidence that line always finds it's way into mission statements like these.
It is decreasing my odds, and the odds of others, of ever getting a real "wall hanger" and that, doesn't have to be measured in inches.
If no one killed small bucks the big ones would be a dime a dozen and suddenly you would find yourself wanting something more then that.........when is it ever good enough?? The uniqueness of a bruiser is what makes them special in my book. If their is one that looks just like him on every other truck at the check in then that special feeling is gone.
For me, and I think I could say for most of us the thrill is the HUNT...and to raise the level of difficulty there are many things you can do.....for instance. Start hunting from the ground. Start using a longbow. Leave the range finder at home, these are just a few things that would make it much more difficult to kill even yearling deer.
You are assuming eveyone has equal lands to hunt and deer are just so plentiful that whacking one is almost a foregone conclusion when entering the woods. If that is your situation then great.......but don't think it is everyone's. I have 4 hunting buddies that saw a grand total of 7 deer between them (1 buck) all last year and they hunted full days and at least 18-22 days on average each. Everyplace isn't a petting zoo and just taking a deer from some places is a pretty damn good accomplishment........even if you don't think so.
That is what makes hunting a Mature whitetail a serious challenge. Buck or doe.
I am so proud of many, many young hunters that are "Passin the Buck"
So.....nothing but hunting "Mature" whitetails is a serious challenge huh?? We should all be ashamed of anything that doesn't make the book???
In some states the wildlife departments have issued "minimum" guidelines on the bucks to be harvested. Most if not ALL of the outfitters in the country that are sucessful have minimums on the bucks they harvest. Several clubs and individuals have been and are self imposing restrictions on the size and age of bucks to be harvested and also in balancing the herds doe to buck ratios. It is good management of the resource.
Yea.......they sure did one hell of a great job in PA.
This is NOT a plea to those that are "meat killers" and I am NOT trying to impose my personal set of convictions on anyone.....what I am hoping to do is, contribute, and encourage those of you that are considering letting those immature bucks pass you by.
Why is it always either "meat" or "antlers"???........Like it is some black and white issue that has no chance of ever landing somewhere in the middle. I like bucks as much as the next guy in the woods......taking a big deer is fun........so is taking a smaller deer......if I see headgear coming at me in the woods my eyes don't pop out of my head.......my heart races just as fast when I see a doe coming up the path. For anyone out there that has lost that feeling and can only get excited about a big buck I honestly feel sorry for you.......and I hope I never sit in my stand watching deer and not feel the thrill I still do today. My heart beats just as hard.......maybe harder then the day I took my first deer almost 15 years ago. I still feel like that young kid every time I raise my bow or gun and settle in behind the shoulder of a deer no matter what is on it's head.
To do so....it will mean: unfilled tags, more dedication, more planning, more scouting, more practise, the lows will be lower and the highs will be higher, but, at the end of the day I believe you will be glad you did!
Screw that.........I already go through that hell. I bust my ass way to hard all year to let deer walk and some other guy shoot it or not see another deer for the rest of the season......maybe the year. No thanks.
If I have a legal tag for you in my pocket........you best stay out of range of whatever weapon I am holding because I am gonna put a Stinger or a slug or a Powerbelt right through ya and take you home to meet my grinder
I killed a 4 ptr and a 6 ptr this year........plus a mature doe and a 6 month old doe. I had an absolute BLAST in the woods last year. So many stories and great times with family and friends and we have about 600lbs of venison in our freezers this year.
The year before I saw about 7 deer all seasons combined........one was a 13 point that I killed. Yea, it was fun and all but that year sucked so bad..........the year before that I killed a 6 pt and a 4 pt and a mature doe.........I had a hell of a lot more fun in the years sandwiched around that big guy I can tell ya that. I'll take a year like I had last year any time.