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

I think too in a way it is the whole hunting sports. Me I would be glad to see a buck during bow or gun. Yes, I can understand the big rack, but as I see it, it is in the eyes of the hunter. The hunt, the shot, the animal. It may be an off rack, most wouldn't shoot, or smaller, but then where I hunt, if it has more then 4 it is a big one....... so I would remember every minute, the heart pounding the shaking arm, trying to steady myself and the legs wobbling or just collapsing after the shoot to keep from falling off the stand. THat is what the trophy is all about. The only deer I took with a bow has been a doe, but that was a trophy, I can remember shaking afterwards and trying to take the climber down without falling....... that doe was a trophy in my eyes, a shooter, success!~

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

every animal i shoot is considerd a trophy to me. cause its a trophy if i can put it in the fridge and slap it on the grill later, cause i eat every last inch of it. i just love meat that much.

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

Yes absolutely. The prevalence of QDM accross the country makes that quite clear.

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

In most parts of the country they encourage taking does to reduce the herd. In Illinois you can only kill 2 bucks in total gun or bow, but you can get as many doe tags as you want. My opinion is to do what feels right to you,kill a doe or two for the meat,hold out for a bigger buck than the last one. Letting the smaller bucks go just gives you a better chance of getting the bigger buck someday.

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

I really like that answer....and it saved me saying it, thanks Gus.

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

No more than a base-ball player trying to win the world series???

Not shooting little bucks is a good thing, and only leaves more bucks for guys to kill. JMHO....

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

I agree that it is totally corrupting deer hunting. My friend was always a guy who would be happy with anything. Now he refuses to shoot anything that does not have antlers. It is sad really. I am glad that I have not gotten to that point yet and I will do my best to never get there. Though I would like to get a 'big one' I will not allow that to ruin my joy in hunting.

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

If your friend is happy with himself waiting for the right deer, whats the problem. Does this make you unhappy for him? I hunt for big racks. Does that make me a bad hunter? I don't hunt for the meat although I eat it. I hunt for the joy of hunting, being in the woods all I can, and by hunting good racks I increase my time in the woods. I spent several years shooting any buck that came along. This gave me few days to enjoy the woods and its solitude. I think that to blanket all trophy hunters in the same fashion is wrong. You hunt and shoot what you want and I will mine. And lets not condemn each other for our preferences.

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

I have never killed what the TV shows would call a "Trophy Buck" My biggest buck to date is a 130" 10 pointer. And to me and my son he is a monster!!! My next biggest is a whole lot smaller than him.

I love hunting deer,(asdoes everyone that is reading this right now)
I will never be what some people call a "Trophy Hunter"
I'll be very proud to show all of you the pic if I'm able to shoot a 12" wide 8 pointer with my bow.
In Indiana we can only shoot one buck perseason. So some people around here will damn you if you shoot a 4 or 6 pointer with a bow because now you have to go through the firearm season with out a buck tag. Oh well!
I don't think any of y'all are wrong!Especially if you shootwhat YOU think is a trophy and what you shot fulfills your needs. Weatherthose needs areto hang something on the wall to show your buddies ora needto fill your freezer.
I sure did enjoy watching that big 10 pointer fall, but I can HONESTLY say that the 6 pointer I watched fall last year during bow season felt pretty damn good too!

So to answer you question, Corrupting I don't know I guess. But I do think the passion for a shooting a big buck has stopped a lot of people from enjoying the simple pleasures of hunting, by simply not filling their tags with "the big one".

And by the way, that trophy room I mention in my signature, it has more pics of me and my family and best friend hunting in it than it does antlers!!
Those memories are my "trophies"!!


And like basserman, I do ramble on too! Sorry!

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

I think I'm kinf og on the fence on this one, as far the right term for it. I don't know many guys (0) that go out in the woods and before the set out say "Today, I'm going to try and kill the smallest buck in history." Everyone, for the most part, would love to shoot one real monster someday, however many of us won't. Because the people on TV are shooting monsters and that is what many hunters refer to for the standard to be upheld, those are the bucks that people strive to kill. Whether that is bad, I personally don't think it is. No one is going to be able to tell you what deer to harvest unless you are either in a high fence or some sort of hunting club with a size minimum, and with those scenarios, you know what you are getting into. I have never been able to figure out why people get pissed off about what someone else shoots or more common, what someone doesn't shoot. If someone passes on a buck that I think is a good buck, that deer has used up his chances because I will take him. my biggest deer to date is an 8-point that might go about 100" and I was happy as a pig in mud when I took that one. This year, I hope to do better and take that elusive monarch, but I don't think my wanting a big buck is going to corrupt anyone else.