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

Thats why i said ifYOU eat it. buttonbuckmaster

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

Everyone I know that hunts and holds out for a big buck shoots a doe for meat. I would guess that most of the big buck hunters on this site do the same. Familys going hungry because they are holding out for a big buck... give me a break! I don't think starving familys are worried to much about big antlers.

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

Very interesting topic. I have mixed feelings on it, but i want to start off saying that i feel like no matter what our own opinions are on the subject, we are all missing out on the fact of the matter at hand- Enjoying time spend in the woods with family and friends. Do i want to shoot the biggest bruiser out there, obviously. Am i going to let it ruin my season if i dont,absolutely not. To me, hunting is about being in the great outdoors and seeing things that my friends and family only see on the discovery channel. I get as much enjoyment watching a doe come down the trail and arrowing her as i do watching a spike frolick in the field as i do getting all nervous watching the big boy hoping that he comes down the right trail. I cant stand how a person will put others down when they post a picture of a "smaller" buck but the person in the picture has a smile from ear to ear. Trust me on this, i love shooting big deer, my own personal preferance is to pass on anything younger than 3 1/2 but again, that is my own preferance. My one hunting buddy isnt as picky, he will pass year old deer, but will shoot small 2 and a halfs, deer i would pass on, and i love seeing the smile on his face and helping him drag it out of the woods, to me, this is what hunting is all about. I have scouted a number of "shooter" bucks to me this year and i pray i get a chance at them this fall, but to tell you the truth, i have something that is driving me even more. My friend who i have been best friends for the last 25 years with got into hunting 2 years ago, hehasnt hunted all that many times and he has never even seen a deer while on stand. He cant comprehend the excitement i have when i come home from the woods. Well this fall i already have devoted one of my top 3 stands just to him. He can hunt it anytime he wants. I am just counting down the days when we are on stand that opening morning, ill be in the tree with him filming him, and the first does start coming in. I cant wait to see him start shaking and draw and let the arrow go. This to me is more important than the score of any buck and will certainly be the highlight of me season. Like i said before, i want to shoot the bigget buck out there, but that being said, i think its sad how hunting is losing this feeling and how people are starting to judge their seasons only by their deers score.

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

There's a real solution, don't fall into the trap. I've been saying for years this QDM crap and all the propoganda that goes with it are ruining hunting. It's suppose to be fun. When a kid shoots a little 4 pointer he's suppose to be proud and not feel he has to apologize to be politically correct. OH, and we never worried about PC in hunting when it was FUN. Yes, some of us and all of the TV celebrities in their quest to be "THE EXPERT" are spawning this, it has to be big or else. And the poor guy who doesn't have the herd and land they do feels like it's no fun, he'll never succeed. It's suppose to be fun. Many of these so call EXPERTS didn't hunt 35 years ago when simply getting a shot opportunityor two in a year was an accomplishment. Today they thump their chest and scream, look at me, I let 28 bucks walk by this AM. Boy I'm a great hunter. And the kid with the 4 point hangs his head. Heck, it doesn't have to be a kid, it can be the guy from the mill that gets Saturdays only to hunt for a couple weeks. So he hunts 2 days a year and the QDM crazies want to tell him it's unethical and low class to shoot the 4 point. Blast the little sucker and have fun. It's not about bones, it's about tenderloins. And don't you dare tell me the guy that get's to hunt two days a year can shoot a doe for tenderloins. He too wants a buck, it doesn't have to be THE BUCK. There's only one guy that's going to shoot the BIGGEST. It's suppose to be fun, not competition. I could go on for hours but I instead choose to move on to another thread. I've shot this basket rack case enough. I've never put a tape or allowed a tape to go on one of my deer. They're never classified as MATURE or MANAGEMENT deer. They're fun deer and I shoot when I have a fancy to. They're not refered to in terms of inches or POPE and YOUNG score. They're all nice bucks, or big bucks, or bodacious rascals. IT's suppose to be fun. We have bag limits like crazy now. You want to shoot a couple basket racks, knock yourself out buddy. It's suppose to be fun. I'll slap you on the back, laugh and gafaw with ya, gut him and help you drag the thing out. You start telling me you got to score him first, well hell, I have to go to the car and meditate. See ya back in town. It's suppose to be fun. Most things done for the "Health of the herd" are camouflage for "Growing big hons for me so I can thump my chest and make the kid with the 4 point hang his head and apologize. That just isn't fun to me. I had a lot of fun hunting BEFORE there was a Pope and Young. I didn't need them to have a nice day in the woods.

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

njbuck22:

Well said. Thanks for introducing your friend to "the feeling". He'll never forget it (nor will you). I had that time with my son, last year. Awesome!

I guess what some are trying to say is......when people (read - other hunters) hear their peers talk about "yeah I pass on anything under 140" ".....the "class" of the buck is "seemingly" stated for a reason......otherwise it wouldn't be mentioned. Whether intended or not.....it's demeaning to other hunters. Its kinda like showing how high on the wall you can pixx. (just MY opinion) It would serve the same purpose to simply say...."I'm holding out for a good buck, this season".

Hey...I'm just a good ol boy from NC, though. What do I know????

jeff

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

clear as mud. As long as someone eats it, I don't see the big fuss.

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

Have fun Gobbler.[8D][8D] You can hunt in my camp anytime just as long as you shoot what makes you happy.:D I'll never do anything but congratulate you and help you drag. I may razz you about putting it in you game pouch to carry out, but I'll still be happy for you. How can you pass something and then say you let it go. The thing got away on ya.[8D];);) Brings to mind something about counting chickens.[&:] I've actually hunted a time or two with people that got jealous because I shot something. Dang folks, it's suppose to be fun, not make you feel bad.

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

That's a good one.....;)

BTW....I enjoy your posts. Good luck to you, this season.

Jeff

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

There is nothing wrong with the so called trophey hunter. I go out every year after a trophy. I didn't always do this, especially when I was younger. I've just realized good deer hunting management. I get two tags a year. A doe tag and a tag for anything. I shoot my doe right away and go after the big boy the rest of the year. Then the last two weekes I will shoot a doe again ifI don't get a trophy. What could possibly be wrong with that. I am puting food on the table. By passing little bucks up all year I am giving them a chance to grow size. I am also spending qaulity time in the stand learning every time I am out,as well asenjoying nature to the fullest.

How could someone possibly tell me that that is the wrong way to hunt. Im not hurting anyone. I don't care if some guy comes out to the area I hunt and shoots a 6 point, "good for him". I just know what Imdoingis helping me better my chance aswell as others chances to see morebucks and bigger ones.Oh....and just because Ihunt this way doesn'tmean somekid hangs his headbecuase he shot a 6pointer. We all hunted asyoung menand you take whatever you can get. Although, at some point you mature into a different hunter and the challengechanges.In my opinion.

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

No matter how big a buck I shoot in the future this will always be the greatest deer I have ever seen taken.
David, as you have said it's all about the fun and it will never be any more fun than seeing my daughter take not only her first deer but the first deer for either of us