RE: Is the obsession to shoot big bucks corrupting bowhunting?
 

The unethical people are the ones that ruin things, not trophy hunters or an obsession.

RE: Is the obsession to shoot big bucks corrupting bowhunting?
 

Would you rather pay too see monster bucks harvested or some stunted ones?

RE: Is the obsession to shoot big bucks corrupting bowhunting?
 

High Fence and captive herds have corrupted hunting cause its completely unethical. If you have hunted in a high fence your not worth a crap to be called a hunter

RE: Is the obsession to shoot big bucks corrupting bowhunting?
 

Sorry, but that's nottrue at all. Subsistence hunting isentirely different. A subsistence hunter who passed on a fat, dry doe because he wanted to stoke his ego with a large rack wouldn't be welcomed back home. I'm not making the point just to argue, but to point out that I see some big cultural differences here. So the question really is whetherthe obsession to shoot big bucks is corrupting bowhunting as you know it.

When I first took up archery in 1970, there were very few archers where I lived and we were considered to be irresponsiblebecausewe were treatingthe serious business ofputting meat on the table into a sport. If it wasn't for our ability to buy a second tag during rifle season,I have no doubt that archery would have been outlawed. Even at that, there were strong objections - we were spooking the deer, we were wounding deer, etc. But since all tags were either sex back then, our success rate was pretty good even though we were all shooting recurves. So as long as we broughtextra meat off the mountain, we were tolerated.

As the populationand affluence grew, (affluence being a major factor in this issue),we started seeing non-locals showing up during the hunt, followed bycomparatively wealthy out-of-state hunters. That's when I was first introduced to the whole concept of trophy hunting. After all, affluent people can get meat anywhere.

Times have sure changed. But one thing is as true today as it ever was - the rack on the deer you shoot is as much a matter of luck as it is skill - sometimes more.

Archery was once abouttakingpride in one's hunting skills. For me, taking pride in the size of the antlers is a poor substitute and a bit of a fraud. But that's me, and after all, there's a lot of hunters who've never known anything but the value of antlers and so would have no clue what I'm talking about. That's a cultural difference.

RE: Is the obsession to shoot big bucks corrupting bowhunting?
 

Times have sure changed. But one thing is as true today as it ever was - the rack on the deer you shoot is as much a matter of luck as it is skill - sometimes more.

Archery was once abouttakingpride in one's hunting skills. For me, taking pride in the size of the antlers is a poor substitute and a bit of a fraud. But that's me, and after all, there's a lot of hunters who've never known anything but the value of antlers and so would have no clue what I'm talking about. That's a cultural difference.
[/quote]

Your right in the fact that times have changed. I disagree on the fact that the rack is MORE a matter of luck than skill. Yes in some cases that can be true. Scouting and getting to know the habits of a trophy buck is a skill that evolves thru careful preparation and experience. As I said in an earlier responce; I hunt trophy horns for the simple fact that it generally increases my time in the woods. We have a long bow season and I would like to enjoy more time in the woods. Be it scouting or hunting. Limiting myself to a good set of horns gives me this time in the woods. Much more so than if I went out and shot the 1st buck I saw. I been there, done that and had several seasons that ended on the 1st day of the bow season.

I have family members that hunt and shoot whatever they want. I have no problem with this at all. Its a personal choice.

Corrupting our sport is no different than any other sport, be it fishing, baseball, etc. There are always those few that do the corrupting in any sport and unfortunately they are always the ones that stand out.

Shhot what s leagl and what you want. I for one will continue to hunt the way I want whether a neighbor displays jealousy at my success or not.

I think jealousy has more to do with this than many think.

RE: Is the obsession to shoot big bucks corrupting bowhunting?
 

I dont know about you all but I find there is much more satisfaction in a clean kill where the animal had no idea what hit it than any official record book measure. Not dissing, everybody has a right to make thier own definition of 'trophy'

RE: Is the obsession to shoot big bucks corrupting bowhunting?
 

Well Im not a fan of fenced hunts norwould I pay to do it, but, there are circumstances that I also look at. I know several people that own businesses. They LOVE to hunt but dont have the convenience of putting in lots of hours of scout time or time sitting in stands waiting for that one lucky moment. I also know guys that have families that require them to be home to take of their family leaving little tono field time. What can they do? Pay for a fenced hunt where they know they will get some meat and a rack while taking 4 or 5 days off? Pay for a fair chase hunt where they may get a chance at a nice buck or a doe because they are obsessed with hunting trophies? Whats right?? The fact that they are unable to get time to hunt the way we all preffer tohunt and scout,and then pay for ahunt make it corrupt, andthat it creates a business avenue for someone to fence and farm deer?

If someone is corrupt because they are obsessed then thats an individuals ethics like I mentioned in my first post.

RE: Is the obsession to shoot big bucks corrupting bowhunting?
 

When I harvest any deer I am more than satisfied, and dont really care what other people think of how big or how many points it has, I hunt for myself and nobody else. I hunt because I love it , not for glory or recognition from other people. But if other hunters do hunt only for trophies, that doesnt bother me either.

RE: Is the obsession to shoot big bucks corrupting bowhunting?
 

I'll chime in on the subject. As most of you know I'm not a big proponent of QDM. On the surface it looks good and those who truely practice it are doing a justice to the deer herds. HOWEVER, I believe that 90% of those who say they practice QDM are really practicing QAM and I think that mentality is indeed corrupting bowhuntig as we know it.

Too much emphasis is put on the size of the deers antlers plain andsimple. You need to look no further than this very sight. You will find post after post of people asking "Is this a shooter?" or "Would you shoot this buck?" Just the fact that those questions are even ASKED shows the weariness some people have for shooting what others may conceive an"inferior" buck.

Just like many other things in life, some people take things WAY too seriously.

RE: Is the obsession to shoot big bucks corrupting bowhunting?
 

Don't you know it. At least 50% or more has to do with it.[:-]