Shoot what makes you happy, easy as that, if you're going to have any remorse when its dead, let it walk..decide before you enter the woods what you want and what you will satisfy your needs.

And the war rages on. I will say this Wolfen, you will NEVER be able to tell people to let the smaller ones go....God gave everybody FREE WILL. That being said, I started hunting for mature bucks a few years ago after it seemed to no longer be a challenge to take a younger buck. And before any of the trad guys want to jump, I've killed deer with both trad and compound...that's not the point. As the younger ones get older, YES they get wise to the ways of humans and become harder to get, but it all boils down to being in the right place at the right time.
I always take at least one doe every year for the freezer so I have venison because it is delicious, but after that; I'm after the big boys. One aspect of QDM that is seemingly usually overlooked, but HAS been stated in this very thread is keeping the DOE population in check. If the doe numbers are kept where they're suppose to be, then the population WILL be better off as the DOMINANT bucks will be the ones doing the breeding. If there are too many doe, the lesser bucks are allowed to breed because the bigger bucks are already with a doe. This is where as mentioned earlier that rattling doesn't work because there is simply no competition for breeding rights. It also goes without saying that there will ALWAYS be smaller bucks that need to be culled from the herd for inferior genetics so either way, this debate will forever rage on.
I say to each their OWN; follow what we like to call PDM...Personal Deer Management, if you like it, KILL IT. It's that simple folks, but just because you'll nail the first deer that walks by you doesn't give you the right to come unglued on someone like Wolfen, you can simply agree to disagree. I mean really....does he hunt around you? If he doesn't, then why worry about what he has to say? Get out in a tree and enjoy the scenery...kill whatever you want.

If one loves bowhunting and one respects the prey in which he hunts then one would responsibly do what is best for the betterment of the herd of the prey in which one hunts...ergo, to let young bucks go, so they can grow and to aid in balancing buck-to-doe ratios by harvesting does instead which is biologically factually proven to be the best condition for a herd to be in is quite simply the right thing to do. More and more state DNR's are realizing this and passing the almighty legislation that many drones seem to require as a guide before making a responsible decision. Having access to an abundance of land, outfitters, baiting, high fences, and on and on is not a part of this equation. There are often limits, laws, and restrictionson the size of a fish one can keep and there evidently must be on the size of a buck a hunter can take for so many people to ever be accepting of the concept which is unfortunate. []

Unless your its your first deer or your going hungry, for God sakes is it too much to ask to let the spikes and 4-pointers have a chance to mature?? If you go out hunting and stick a spike rather than the doe standing right next to him, don't expect people like me to "RESPECT" your decision. Things like "I bought my tags" and "I'm gonna fill my freezer with any deer I can" makes hunters look bad... not the guys who couldhavekilled the same spike but choose not too... When I see some experienced 40-year-old hunter checking in his 4 pt at the check station it makes me physically sick. Actually it makes me embarrassed for him. Kinda the equivalent of beating up a sixth grader and being proud of it. Here's an idea, next spike that walks by your stand, draw... aim.... and then back the bow down...Trust me, its a far better feeling than killing it.

[quote]ORIGINAL: davidmil

Shoot whatever makes you happy. IF you like the looks of that little 4 point or 6 point... or if you don't like his looks... go ahead and whack 'em if it'll make you happy and it's legal. We have enough laws without having to follow the "Laws of Wolfen" or the laws of "I Wanna-bigger-buck". In fact, I think it's good we just KILL a little bugger once in a while so the anti's can't say it's all about trophys and big horns. It's hunting and it's suppose to be fun. It's not about shooting "THE BIG ONE" always nor should it be. Take a look at this... NOW THIS IS A HAPPY FACE!!!! I like that much better than seeing Wolfen or Jackie Bushwhacker with the next world record.


"laws of wolfen"...that's it, villanize me for trying to educate hunters on doing what is best for deer herds nationwide and hunters nationwide. In reality, if hunters were more educated on the FACTS OF DEER BIOLOGY and not using barbaric logic, like....."In fact, I think it's good we just KILL a little bugger once in a while so the anti's can't say it's all about trophys and big horns."...then the anti's wouldn't stand a chance!

My work here is done.[8D][8D]

One parting remark. Around here I can shoot a 1 1/2 year old buck and have 120-130 pound deer.... OR.... I can shoot a 1/ 1/2 year old doe and have a 70 pound deer. If I get that buck at two he weighs mayb 150-160. Why that doe is now a whopping 80-90 pounds.My buck is still young enough to be real tasty and he's more than a puppy dog. Now the "MATURE" deer of 4 or 5 years old(You know...the one with the BIG HORNS) he may weigh in at 165-200, he's tough as nails and stinks like hell. WHo wants to put something like that in their brand new truck.[8D][8D][8D]

Hey if someone wants to hit from the ladies Tee go ahead.Personally I am not shooting small bucks.The biggest beef I have is the I have to shoot a buck mentality!The experienced hunters that have to kill a buck even though their area's are over run with doe's.So the naive little buck's get whacked and the ratio's get further out of balance.I am pretty certain the meat from a doe taste's the same as the meat from a buck.
As the deer biologist from NYS said when asked where all the big bucks are,as a person in the audience complained that he was not seeing any mature bucks,the biologist said they are home in your horn box.
I would never do anything out side of a conversation with another hunter or in this setting to divide our ranks,and I would be the first person to congratulate a new hunter on any animal they have taken and to offer encouragement.But to mister or missus I just shot my 20th four pointer that would not be the case.
This is my opinion only and I am pretty certain I have a right to it!

Help me understand this "new" concept... I grew up hunting for any game to bring home and eat. I didn't hunt for "mature" rabbits,squirrels or birds,they were all the same to me. I used to see "shooter" deer racks at the curb in the garbage. When did deer become so special compared to any other animal in the woods? I always took what was available and enjoyed the meal. I never hunted for sport or bragging rights. Looks like things have changed...
P.S. I took up bow hunting because it gave me more time in the woods for deer...which had alot more meat than a rabbit.

So , if a hunter shoots three doe and then shoots a small buck , is that acceptable to the QDMr's? It's all about QDM right?

I know I give you QDM'ers a tough time. I probably shoot as many or more does than most of you. My problem with the whole thing is thatit's NOT a necessity to have a QUALITY herd to only shoot the mature bucks. MOST of those pushing it are really, in my opinion, nothing more than BIG HORN hunters. Herd quality would be a cross representation of all age groups and sexes.We all shoot does so don't preach that you should let the small buck walk and shoot only mature bucks. Most state laws are designed to keep herd sizes in control. When we start feeding, planting, supplementingand "GROWING" a herd that would otherwise NOT be sustainable on a piece of land... we've changed the whole deal. That's what QDM has become today. Raising cattle/deer to a lot of folks. They call it QDM... but that's just a smoke screen for "Look at me, I shot THE BIG ONE". It's not hunting....it's shooting. Most of you don't remember the days when getting a deer.... ANY deer was something special. Many states had NO season. I remember. Now we have the QDM'ers trying to shame us into not enjoying the spirit of the hunt and the adventures in the woods. It's all about having a bigger horn. How dare you tell me what I should and shouldn't do. How dare you belittle some guy for shooting a deer and being happy with it. All do not have private lands, time to scout, or time to hunt like some of you. They get a couple days here or there or an hour here or there. They like the meat, they like the hunt. They like to shoot a deer. And YES Dorothy, THEY KILL IT. THey don't "Harvest it". They just plain and simple kill it dead. They have fun, they puff out their chest a little and are proud of their hunt. I salute all who enjoy the game and make it fun for others. I don't care if my buddy has shot 200 deer. If he shoots a 4 pointer I tell him congrats, take a picture and see if I can help out with taking care of the meat. I'm proud of my buddy for enjoying himself. If someone gets in his face... I tell them to stuff it. He's my friend, he had fun and you aren't going to spoil it for him.