RE: This question is going to make some people mad.
 

ghemry, This post is about science growing deer bigger deer.

RE: This question is going to make some people mad.
 

One is in a cage and can not get out, one is free roaming may die of old age, and some poor bastard spent ten grand to feed the deer its entire life!!

RE: This question is going to make some people mad.
 

:D:D:D:D
If yall havent noticed, Im poking fun at all the anal retentiveness behind the idea of trophy hunting. I don't care what anyone says, Money will always equal biggest racks. I love this quote and will quote it again.

RE: This question is going to make some people mad.
 

Wow. Great post.

Instead of offering an opinion....I'll state MY innentions with the deer herd on my hunting property (And then likely offer an opinion, anyways).

I have 48 acres on which to hunt (one tract). I didn't plant any food plots, this year.....but I plan on planting 3, next year. And, yes.....I will hunt over them. I DID bait deer all hunting season, this year. But....I never took a shot at a deer over bait (andonly took one shot, so far, this season). I WILL put in a mineral lick for the deer, this year.....because it's (I'm told) full of minerals and nutrients that their bodies NATURALLY crave. I live in rural NC.....and the antler growing aspect of this means VERY little to me. I'm concerned for the deers' well-being, honestly.

I haven't set up a feeder.....but I WILL....right after hunting season is out. Will I hunt near it?? Nope. But I hope it keeps the deer frequenting my property.....until next year's food plots come in.

I could give a rat's axx about a record book. It would seem like giving a trophy to ones self. I don't care if anyone believes this or not......but I'm a hunter AND an animal lover. I think about my deer right now.....with the ice storm we have going on in my area. I'll be putting food out as soon as it stops sleeting.....and I'll feed them throughout the Winter. Will I hope one of them sticks around the area for me to take, next bow season? YOU BET!

It all goes back to how we feel about OURSELVES as "Hunters/Sportsmen". I often use the analogy of the overweight guy somking a cigarette in the platform on top of the Suburban in TX.......shooting a 170 class buck from 250 yds......vs the guy taking the six-pointer with a bowfrom the land he scouted . People who don't know the difference will look at the guy with the big buck mount....and assume he's a better hunter. The bow hunter knows........and so does Mr. big guy.

As long as I can sleep at night......let these other guys continue to buy themselves trophies.

Jeff

RE: This question is going to make some people mad.
 

This isn't about baiting.......it is about what is being planted. By "natural" I meant a crop planted for food like corn, beans, apples, etc.......these are all natural food crops and of course deer and other animals are gonna want to eat them just like we do.........What is being discussed here is the "crops" being planted for deer to eat with no other purpose then ultimate antler growth.........having big deer around crops like corn and soybeans is a side effect. Having them around Biologic is the goal. These are not natural products........they are chemically altered and supplemented with additives to promote antler growth. It is like tricking the deer into taking steroids by hiding them in his food. Nothing more then "growing" deer scientifcally and artificially.

RE: This question is going to make some people mad.
 

Well in that case let us head down the slope, and here we go

Science has made are
Bows better to shoot deer with, so at what point do we put restrictions on them?

Camo Better- When is camo "to good"

Arrows Better - Would some of these hunters kill the same deer with a stick and a stick looks likes an arrow

Cars-4 wheel drive can get us to place others can not hunt because they do not have 4 wheel drive.

The list could go on and on, Gore-Tex is a big one. Now we can all hunt in the rain, 30 year ago it was tough to hunt in the rain. Now I do not even think about it.
A lot of reason deer grow bigger, who make the choice what counts and what is not fair chase?

RE: This question is going to make some people mad.
 

I hate to point this out, but since I have a farm and buy soybean and corn. Both are gentically altered from what they were 20 years ago. Beans are bigger and have more protein etc..., now where do you draw the line. Again, Sceince is growing bigger deer who are eating "reguluar crops"

RE: This question is going to make some people mad.
 

Well I guess because I choose to wait and shoot a bigger buck than I am shallow. If just shot the first buck I seen I would be done the first week of the season. I hunted for 21 years shot my fair share of deer. I love the challenge of shoot a big deer. I always try an arrow two doe's for meat, if I do not get a buck I am fine(my manhood is still intacted). It is to bad some of the "meat hunters" have to bash other hunters for what they choose to shoot.
Can't we all just get along!!

RE: This question is going to make some people mad.
 

So a guy owns 50 acres and plants 10 acres corn, 10 acres of beans and 3 apple trees. He doesn't plan to harvest any of it, only feed the wildlife. Because these are natural crops and not Biologic this is different? What is a natural crop? You don't see a lot of corn fields spring up out of nowhere.

RE: This question is going to make some people mad.
 

Lol. Ya we can. Note the "PURELY" In that quote. I assumed that was indicating those who hunt only for a big rack with little regard for the meat.You stated you put some meat in yourfreezer, so I wouldnt consider you asnot part of theintended group of the quote.? I to will pass up a few young bucks, but when the year starts coming to an end, im arrowing something for the freezer. I have shot a smaller racked buck with a big body over a small buck with a big rack. Another quote I like is ;
For each his own. I did not intend on my post bashing anyone. Justtrying to head off all the name calling on the converse.