Have your standards changed?
 

Last year....in my first full year of bowhunting....I had standards I set for myself (as to what I would take in the field). I still maintain I won't shoot a buck under 2.5yrs........but my doe standards are going to be different. This coming year.....I'm shooting EVERY doe that doesn't have a spotted fawn with it (based on the doe numbers where I hunt). Last year.....every doe with ANY fawn got a pass.....and many, MANY does got passes if it was during the rut.

Bucks.....no less than 2.5 (no change).....but does.......beware.

Do your "standards" change? And, if so, how often? I could see where they might change in mid-season (if you'd taken a good buck, already). Do you think of these things before heading out that opening day.....or do you play them by ear?

Does anyone make a game plan.....before the season starts?

Edit: I DID shoot a young deer, last fall (piebald). If I see another one.....I'll shoot it, too. We have no deer poplulation problems whereI live.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

The only thing that has changed for me since I started bowhunting some 30 years ago is that back then if you even saw a deer you had better fling a arrow at it because it could be a long time before you saw another one. With the population the way that it is now I don't shoot yearlings but anything else that comes by my standhas a good chance of getting shot at.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

my standards have always been a deer. If it was a deer and i had a good shot, i would take it.Now that i am gonna be bowhunting instead of guni think i am gonna be a little more selective due to the legnth of the season

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

My deer standards definitely changed over the years from any deer to only P&Y class deer these days. As skill levels increase I feel I need to increase standards to keep the same challenge but I have the luxury of not having to hunt to fill my freezer (I fish to do that). [8D]

After shooting my first "book" brown bear I've upped my standards to only world record contenders. As the world record increases so too does my standard. I haven't got a need to fill my house with brown bear rugs.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

ive never changed mine, but then again ive only been hunting for 5 or 6 years now. so maybe down the road they will change. only time will tell.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

I find that playing things by ear and going into the season without some sort of a game plan often leads to a disapointing season.

Yes, my standards may change halfway through the season based on the activity of the deer in my area, but I always go into the season knowing what I'm after and what I'd like to acheive.

Since I started hunting, I've become more of a trophy hunter. I'm not saying that I hunt strictly mature bucks [yet], however; I hold out until the last few days of the season before deciding I'll stick a doe. We're only allowed one deer a year in Washington, so I don't have the benfit of being able to fill the freezer early with a doe and holding out for mature bucks the rest of the season.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

Nope not at all.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

Coach,what's the game plan this week? :eek:

Coach repllied, "lower your standards raise your average!" :D


Naw all joking aside, standards and subsequently goalschange year to year for me. Like Kodiak eluded to with his above post. As for game plans, I can't remembera hunt I went on without a plan in place. Plan the hunt, hunt the plan as Gene/Barry Wensel say. It would be coaching a sport without a logical scheme for success based on the variables/obstacles your gonnafacefrom the opposition. Hard to win those gamesunless your talent base is superior, otherthan that yoursimplyrelying on circumstance and luck, I'dchose tostay home if that wasthe case. I'd rather work towardsaccomplishing agoal by setting a standard than lowering them to raise my average.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

I guess it all depends on what comes easy .... My family and myself LOVE venison .... we can eat 5 deer a year easily ... let my nephews and brother in the pic, add another 5 deer. So when I see the title of this thread, my answer would be ... what standard?

I have never hunted a place where taking even a 1 1/2 year old deer was automatic like some in here make it sound like they have it. If that were the case, I would be more picky ...but brother, I'm gonna fill my freezer.

As the deer fall, I get more picky ... after all, butchering all those deer get tiring ;)Also, bowhunting is my absolute favorite way to hunt deer, as I can hunt many places and different bucks. If I am going to pass on a 1 1/2 year old buck, it'll be during bow season, as I believe my chances for a big daddy are better ... but that's me guys ...

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

My plan for this year is to wound a mature buck with my bow, immediately chase him down on foot and finish him with a knife. No more waiting for me thanks. I did this once before, but on accident. Since that time, nothing else makes my heart pump like that. It is the real deal. Dangerous - yes. For everyone - No. Am I a freak - most likely. If you're up to it - try it. You may just learn some pretty neat stuff about yourself.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

No wrong answer, PT. I just happen to live in a place like you mention.....where I CAN pass on 1.5 yr olds (and some 2.5 yr olds). I saw several of them last year that I watched, only.

If I were meat hunting STRICTLY, I'd tag out in a very short time. I see a lot of deer, though. I hope I don't get tired of butchering them....but it's plausible. I'd like to take 8-10 does out of our herd. MY standard will change ......because I wouldn't have dreamed of buggering up my best spots killing does, last year. This year....I know that's what is best for the herd.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

Jeff, you are definitely blessed to have an area like that .... I would be more selective if I lived by you ...by the way ....send me your classifieds will ya? [8D]

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

PT...

Funny thing is....I built Churches, EXCLUSIVELY, for 5 years. I've got more pastor friends than the pope.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

My standards have come a long ways since I started out. From shooting any buck that walked by to holding out on a good one for my area, meaning I judge him to be 120+ or 3.5+. My standards on does hasn't really changed. In most areas I'll shoot any non young of the year doe, with a tendency to pick the biggest of any group coming thru. In special regs areas, and expecially if I am on the ground hunting, I'll shoot any doe, even a small one. They butcher up fast and are mighty tasty, and there are a lot of deer.

As far as game plans go I head into a season with the general strategy of shooting does early and often, unless I think I can pick off a mature buck the 1st couple days. THen its all low pressure doe hunting. Once the last week of Oct rolls around does get passed if I still have tags left. Then its all about the big boys. Although I can't speak for my actions atthe moment of truth, I don't expect to lower my standards on a buck late in the season.
I also try and plan out the next few days hunts as I go thru a season. However I try to remain flexible for things that pop up.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

As Far as bucks are concerned, I won't shoot at anything I won't consider mounting. To me shooting a little basket rack 6 is no different than shooting a doe. I am not trying to offend anyone with the last comment, just the standards by which I hunt. As far as doe's goif they don't have any really young fawns with them, they are fair game. I do try to target the older mature doe's. We have a terrible buck to doe ratio around where I live, so taking out multiple doe's is something we always try to do, even then it doesn't seem to help at all.

Shane

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

a doe to me is a 67 point buck hunting only 20 acres when i get my first deer that is goin to be one of my lifes accomplishments all of yall probly hunt 100 acres and over but when you hunt small land your standards change drammatically.....but ill tell you one thing if i hunted 100 acres i would be alot more picky

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

When I started hunting it was me and only me to feed and many only buck tags. Now there is seven in the house to feed. I can get up to five tags so first is freezer with one tag for the wall. Yes little hunter things do change with time.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

I have pretty set standards from season to season. Bucks Ill start off the season not shooting anything except 150 class maybe mid 140's. Early season I shoot several does since we have too many, but come the rut every doe walks in hopes of a booner following. Tail end of the season I would shoot anything that would make pope and young if I havent killed a buck yet.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

Yes, my standards have changed.

I used to care a lot about the size of the horns. Now, I hunt for the enjoyment of the hunt, and the meat it provides,although I usually give most of the meat away to family members that don't hunt, but love deer and elk meat. I don't even consider size of horns as part of the decision.

In Washington, Deer and Elk Archery seasons overlap. I hunt elk, and while hunting elk, if I get a good shot opportunity on an adult deer (doe or buck) that will not interrupt my elk hunting (I.E. I'm not on fresh elk tracks, not 2 miles down in a canyon, not first thing in the morning, etc.), then I will take it. After elk season, I will take a deer under different circumstances, but it is not based on the size of the horns. I allow "How I am feeling" to infuence whether I take a shot or not. I don't feel compelled to take every shot opportunity that presents itself. Some days I just enjoy watching the deer walk by.

I can honestly say if I had two deer together, and I could choose which to shoot, I would pass the bigger, older, fully mature buck to shoot a 2 - 4 year old buck or doe.

The one standard that has not, and will not change: I will not shoot any animal on my own property.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

Hey Monkey Man, have you been hanging out with TDWW? LMAO:D:D

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

I try not to shoot anything less than 2.5, an not anything that the width is not greater than its ears width. I will shoot a doe first part of season but not during or after rut.IfI still haven't shot anything by mid season my 2nd year I start wanting to shoot.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

They change all the time. It depends what is walking my way. Plus it depends if I am hunting in MO or in IL on that particular day.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

All deer are trophies to me but, honestly, I've never really gotten a lot of enjoyment from a small buck. I don't hunt alot of areas with large bucks so usually will try for bigger does, pass on a bunch of bucks and maybe get 1 or 2 opportunities at a decent buck. I'm sure my standards would change if I hunted areas with lots of big bucks in the sense I'd be passing on decent bucks and holding out for bigger ones.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

My standards have changed ever so slightly. Last year my goal was to get my first deer. I shot a spike as my first deer so that's not too bad. This year my goal was to get any deer again, and after i did that i changed my goal to go for a buck unless i had a mature doe within range that i knew i couldnt miss. I ended up shooting a doe and a minute later a 5 pointer walked right by me that i let walk. A few weeks later i ended up shooting a 4 pointer to end my season. Next year i plan to shoot anything over a 6 pointer. Since i hunt public land you never know what you will see.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

well im still if its brown its down during bow, unless a yearling. (shot one last year as first with bow)

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

Nope no change here Brown it's down

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

My standards, game plans, goals, or whatever you want to call them change each year, but usually not during the season. I set them and stick to them. This coming fall I am holding out for a buck that grosses 130" or above and I am going to shoot as many does as I do bucks.

Last year I shot 2 bucks but wasnt able to take a doe. I passed on many does during the early season last year. By the time I was ready to take one I think they knew the game plan and somehow eluded me just enough to stay alive. I did miss one in november. Yes, I missed her, no branch, she didnt duck, or any other lame excuse. Although, I do think god might have deflected my arrow to save her as if itwasnt her time to go. Maybe fall of 2007 will be it for her. Cant wait to see......

GMMAT, You were talking about bowhunting werent you?? Because if you were talking about women then my standards certainly do change. Sometimes day to day or even during the middle of the day(or night). For certain reason such as availability of them, days since my last harvest, level of intoxication, and even price.:D

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

I really dont have dont have a problem shooting a dow with a yearling, unless it has spots. For bucks I just set a personal goal shooting the same size buck or bigger then the one i shot the year before. So far it has worked great for me. It doesnt ruin my season if i dont get a buck.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

No my standards hav'ent changed, I still want that trophy. About 4 years ago in a blowing fridget snow storm I had 2 shots at the state record of more than 200" of mass. It was so f@#kin cold and two clear misses. Just to pull the bow back was an accomplishment. I am only allowed one buck tag here and Idrag it outtill the end of season and the last week in Nov. is usually the peak of the rut so if I hav'ent filled my tag I'll lower my standards and then pick up the 30-06 just to fill my tag but I do drag it out to just about the last day and kinda wish I would of shot some of the ones I passed on.:(

Bobby

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

Nothing really changes for me, I set out every year to have fun and shoot whatpretty much strikes my fancy at the time. I always try and shoot a few extra does more than what I plan to keep. I do this to keep the population and the doe to buck ratios in check, (as best I can) and to donate at least one deer to the hunters for the hungry programs here in Illinois.

As far as bucks go, I usually just play it by ear......when I see the deer is whenI make my decisionto shoot himor not.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

I don't know who TDWW is - so I guess the answer is, no.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

my standards are changing i still wont shoot a deer inless its 3 1/2 with a big rack or a 4 1/2 and up. i will only shoot a doe in early season this year.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

Mine have only changed in that I pass up lots ofbucks now. I didn't do that when I was younger.

MC

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

I wont shoot a year and a half old buck. My goal is to shoot a pope and young caliber animal, but i have only seen 2 ever, not in range, so normally i end up shooting 110-115 inch buck. Any doe that walks by without spotted fawns is in trouble.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

GMMAT,
Where do you hunt?

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

Here I can not and will not shoot a doe, I will shoot a younger buck and if I can get close enough a monster buck. But, absolutely no does even though I am allowed to shoot one in bow season only. I know a lot of you frown on that but, if you get a chance take a look at my post on the predator forum " The Sickening Trueth About..." . As it will explain alot all by itself, thank you.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

Mother Nature's QDM

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

My standards have changed. Starting out 15 years ago, I would shoot anything that walked by. Now...I won't shoot a buck that I wouldn't mountwhich would be 130" or betterdeer. In fact, that's the rule on our property; if you shoot a buck...you mount it.

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

Last years plan was to shoot lots of does and be selective on bucks. I think I was successful in achieving those goals for the most part. The areas I hunt have too many deer. I kind of wonder if I spent too much time messing around with field dressing and dragging out does. Maybe that time could have been better spent waiting for Mister Right, don't know.

Come next fall, bet I'm buying fists full of tags again!;)

RE: Have your standards changed?
 

Heo:

I hunt in NC.