Trophy Hunting?
 

Guys, I think trophy hunting has taken alot of the fun out of my hunting expierence. I can remember years back when a buck of any sort would make my heart pound and I would be super proud if I took it. I let several nice bucks walk this season trying to out smart a single buck that I had been after. So today was the last day for me to hunt before gun season starts and I take a buck that I normally wouldn't even consider just to put some points up for a contest. This tells me that something has gone wrong in my thinking. Can any of you relate?

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

As a first year hunter (in lower NY where they aren't that big to begin with) I'd have to say I'm enjoying every inch of every hunt regardless of rack. No pun intended.

The coyote that stolled under my stand, the owl that landed in my tree and even the fork horn that stared at me from 10 yards on the ground (we have antler restrictions in my zone.) Not to mention the delicious meat I've got from a buck you might have past on. It was the first time I'd shot, butchered and grilled something from my own land it was awesome.

Maybe my novice enthusiasm will rub off!
Live in the moment.
Your moment, whatever it is.

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

Good advice, thanks.

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

Mowtown, you feel this way now, yes, but only because you didn't get the opportunity to tag the buck you were after.

If and when you do finally outwit that buck, your sense of accomplishment will be much greater than it would if you had shot the first buck that walked by. You put in a lot of hours hunting a specific deer, it becomes like a chess game. When you finally get him in check mate, you'll be happy you held off.

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

Nothing wrong with trophy hunting. You should shoot what makes you happy. Some times that means going home empty handed at the end of the season. I hunted a 160" buck last fall in the kansas early muzzle loader season. That season is in setember, that paticular buck was in a bachelor group with 3 other bucks. None of which were shooters to me. I saw them numerous times before season. I had every buck that 160" deer was running with come within 15 yards, the big boy never showed. Was I disappointed in the hunt. Hell no, not by a long shot! My season was a sucess. I got to spend time doing something I love. I hunted hard, I got close to deer, a couple times very very close while sitting on the ground. That'l make your heart beat reguardless of the deers size, at least it does mine. Just being out in nature and enjoying what it has to offer is enough for me. If I get my big buck, great, if I don't thats fine to. I'll shoot a nice doe for the freezer anyways. I think you might be takeing hunting a little to seriously, takeing the fun out of it. Get back to the reasons your hunting in the first place and you might be happier.

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

Yup, been empty handed myself. That's okay. My hunting experiences are for me anyway not anyone else. Take fulfillment from your own experience regardless of what they may be. A filled tag does not always equal success.

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

I have become a trophy hunter at this stage in my hunting life. My freezer is easy to fill with all of the extra doe tags available so why not. My policy and my wifes' is that if we are not willing to spend the money on a taxidermy fee than the buck walks. My buck wasn't a monster by any means this year but he was a dandy and what made him a trophy to me was how I called him in and filmed it all on my own. So to answer your question was it bad to take a little buck just 'cause it was the last day of season just to put points on the board for some stupid deer contest when he could have walked and grown for next year...well we each have our reasons and nobody can judge someone else. If this deer challenged you and left you withsatisfaction of your hunting skills;only you know.
P.S. Congrats on your buck!!!!! All deer taken with a bow are a trophy!!!!!!

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

MotownI wrestled with the same question6 years ago when I made the choice to only hunt mature bucks. I came up empty end of the year, I shot 2 nice doe's so the season was still pretty good. I hunted hard until the end and really got down on myself. The next year I decided I coud careless about shooting a buck. I was going out for the joy of hunting a mature buck. Once I made the commitment to enjoy tag soup all was good.
Last6 years I have had some great hunts, learned a ton about hunting mature deer. We in MI have the "I have to shoot a buck" virus. I just ignore it now and have fun hunting my way.
My way is different then yours that is cool, just remember whyyou are out there.
Another thing I have done last six years is adopt a youth hunter, I teach him the ropes and keep in touch with him on his season. I also let them use some of my gear, really helps me focus on what is important.
For me shooting a deer is not important, like tonight me and gramps did not see a gritter, but what a sunset we enjoyed, one more time I got to be in the woods with him. One more story I will tell his Grandson who is name after him. How his Dad and Great Grandfather tamed the woods here in MI(I will have to make some stuff up)[8D]

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

Let's see some pics!!!!!

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

I feel bad for you..........I was just having this same conversation with a taxidermist friend of mine. He shot a 163" buck a couple years ago and now he wants something similar or he is not happy. He gets to hunt some unreal property and was telling me about deer he let walk that went anywhere from 120-140ish. This has gone on for 2 years now and he is not having much fun anymore. He told me he wishes he had some of those chances back he let go because heshould have taken them and now regrets it.

I told him that it sounds like his deer hunting has changed from something he had fun and loved to do.........into a job. That sucks.

My heart raceswhen deer of any kind are around my stand so I can't really relate to your story. I do pray it never happens to me though and I hope you find your own personal way to rekindle the joys of hunting.

Do what I do..............stick a few button bucks every once in awhile and then EVERYTHING looks like a monster........sort of like starting from scratch :)

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

Trophy hunting... a.k.a. Horn Hunting, has ruined the hunting tradition. It's taken the joy of hunting out of the game. Now it's macho or you're a lesser predator. It's not the experience anymore.... it's the glory. A sad thing indeed. When there are only horn hunters willing to pay thousands to secure their place in glory land with macho buck left, hunting will end. When the people willing to pay thousands to shoot macho buck have control of most of the hunting ground, hunting will end. People will lease it to them for the last dollar. It's no longer an outdoor experience. It's business. Look at it. THe only reason we're having this discussion is for bragging rights. It's not for the health and welfare of hunting.

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

Motownhonkey,
I am in the same boat as you. I think that you are feeling the effects of burn out. I cannot let this contest cause me to compromise my goals. I have come up empty before and will come up empty again. No big deal, the buck won this time. I liken it to a chess match, a long match that will take years. At the end of the match you'll have wins and losses. The losses are where you'll get your learning from. To me they're not really losses because of all the great things I've learned and experienced. I understand that you have 2 buck tags? If so, take some time off and relax. Maybe re-evaluate your strategy. Late season can be a great time to hunt for a big one as well. Yesterday I saw 2 big ones bumping does and fawns. One of them was a real horse I'd never seen before, 155"+, 9 pt. with a sticker. My point is, that by passing on a lot of great bucks, I got to see more than I ever have before. This is actually my best season yet. To have 7 shot opportunities at mature bucks (including a miss!)and to have 25 sightings of mature bucks (10 different ones), actually makes me happier than if I'd of shot another clone of what I've already got. I'm sure that your outlook will change once you've had time to recharge your batteries.
Good Luck
Greg

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

They way you worded this implies thatin your minddeerhave been reduced tonothing more than "points"... "for a contest". Maybe that's not really how you feel and you just worded this extremely poorly, but if it is then I think something truly has "gone wrong" with your thinking. And no I can't relate...

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

What, you don't like the meat? I'm sure you do. Don't look at it as putting up points for a contest. Look at it as putting food on your table. Also, why not take a doe? You have to harvest doe for the good of the herd. Let me ask you this, did you shoot a buck, just to "say" you shot a buck? You maybe could have let the small buck go and take the doe. But in the end its up to you what you shoot at.

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

I started hunting deer in 2005 in mid October. I took one shot at a doe in the late season of '05.

So far, this year.....I've taken 4 deer with my bow. I'll likely take another. I don't know now whether or not I'll enter the HNI buck contest next year. I'll be a different hunter, next year. Like HCH....I don't think I'll ever shoot another buck I'm not going to mount. I shot one Saturday......extenuating circumstances......but I don't regret it one bit (and I won't have that one mounted). I think he was the last one that I'll ever shoot that doesn't go on the wall. That's my plan, anyway. I may not be a good teammate, next year.

I've got PLENTY of doe opportunities. I'll take them....because they need taking, here. I'll also take a buck that is RIGHT FOR ME. I second-guess EVERY kill. I wonder did I do right by GodAND that animal with its taking. It's a tough question I have to answer......but I respect these animals SO much. As long as I'm putting the meat to good use (I am)....and I show them the respect they deserve.....I sleep pretty good.

Hunting is VERY personal. The choice in the taking of a particular animal.....although it's sometimes made in a split-second.....is a tough one. I just hope I never regret my choices. I hope you don't regret yours. Only you know that answer, though. Good luck with your dilemma.

Jeff

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

You know there is some logic in his statement:D

I know this I have enjoyed seasons I have hunted until the end then my last two. Both I was done on the 29th Oct and I have not hunted Nov in two years. Man do I miss being in the woods:)

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

Being fairly new to bowhunting still I feel like every one of the 3 deer I have killed in the past 13 months, and the hogs, are trophys. 2 does and a spike. I take more pride in these animals than any I ever took with a gun. So, I am a trophy hunter. If I kill a forkhorn tonight it will be a great trophy.

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

Ya think? Shooting a buck that you're not satisfied with for an internet message board contest with people you don't and never will know? Wow dude time to check yourself IMO.

I'm at the trophy or nothing stage with my bow. I ate tag soup this year. I wasn't about to shoot something I didnt' set out wanting to shoot at the begining for anyone else. That's just weird. Even though I didn't take what I was after, I did get to full draw on him. I did enjoy every minute I was out there. My favorite part of hunting is having bucks (or does) that you pass on walk 5 yards by. Nothing cooler than that. My heart pounds the same as if it was a 150" buck. I feel sorry for you that you lost that feeling and your hunting season resorted to an internet team concern. Hunt for yourself dude. Enjoy the finer things of hunting. Enjoy just having the opportunity to be in the outdoors. Or sit home and get a hunting playstation game or something.

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

Trophy hunting ended for me when I started taking my son out with me. Taking a 9yr old out led to different hunts less time sitting and more time,bonding with my son. Now he 16 and he's taking deer on his own and I take my daughter out she's 8 and occasionally hunt by myself. I have enjoyed this season as much as any other I've hunted, and I haven't killed a deer yet. Did learn the correct way to eat a Kit kat bar one day sitting in a two person stand with my daughter however.

Hey hunt for whatever reason you want, but remember if we don't pass it down to our kids it's all over. I have friends that have kids ten and eleven that have never taken them out yet, they might not bag mongo if their kid moves.

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

BTW, I hate hunting contests.

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

Motown, it definitely can take the fun out of hunting if you get so wrapped up in one buck. I've done the same thing in years past and have changed my outlook and attitude somewhat.

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

SB, I couldn't agree more. You said exactly what I feel. To be a second year deer hunter you are way ahead of the game my friend.

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

I think it is time for a new challenge. Maybe take a child hunting, stalking or hunt with a dog. I don't run deer with dogs, but this is the second season that I've been in the woods with my dog. He learned very quickly to track a downed deer, so we started stalking together. He's not a "hunting breed", he's an Australian Cattle Dog and just our family companion. But it sure is nice to take a break from trail watching, and it is a real challenge.

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

I had the honor to share his house and his woods and he's right on the money and what you just wrote, I told him last weekend in person. Jeff gets it as do many and why I'd love to have many of you share my woods, others, not so much. ;)

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

I tell you what, you men are the best unknown friendsI have ever had. Wish I could meet and hunt with you all. I think Greg H nailed it for me when he talked about just being plain wore out. I appreaciate every one of your comments, even the harsh ones because you speak the truth. It was an awsome season with a ton of hours on stand and many deer sightings. I'm a better man and hunter from being part of this group. I'll get my grove back in a couple of weeks and get back out there for some fun doe and turkey hunting. Thanks again, Chris

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

Thatis what I was hoping to hear. You'll be demanding it in no time!;)

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

I think even TDWW would respect that;)

RE: Trophy Hunting?
 

I didn't realize he had stopped demanding it!!!

He is welcome in my camp anytime although I think I would have more fun hunting in his camp!! I want to see the brutethat is busting up all his bucks. NOW that buck demands it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tim