Keeping things in perspective.
 

Tonight while sitting on stand hoping to see some deer I did some thinking. I looked over my left shoulder to see a nice 6pt. He was almost identical to the buck I killed last year. As he fed 20yds away oblivious to my existence I remembered just how happy I was to take a deer that size. I sat there thinking just how happy I would be to kill a deer of that size with my bow. At that point it really put things in perspective for me as far as goals and what "shooters" are. My "new" definition of a "shooter" is ANY deer that would make me happy. It's easy to sit here at the house and think up goals and restrictions for yourself without getting out of the house and seeing what deer you have. Moral to the story, I have a new outlook on what a "shooter" is for me.

RE: Keeping things in perspective.
 

Well said. Anything that makes a person happy is a trophy to them. I have said many times my blood gets flowing 10 times more shooting a doe with my bow than shooting a 130" buck with my rifle.

RE: Keeping things in perspective.
 

Well said !!

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You said it--perspective, and you are right in line! Don't lose it.

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I agree.

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You know....

As much as I've been talking about shooting does.....don't think I won't shoot the first buck that tickles my fancy...........then the next one if I so choose. I woudn't be surprised if I didn't take a buck, this year.....but I could just as easily take one OR two.

I'm gonna do like you cougs.....and shoot whatever I want to. I'll know it when I see it......but if it's a buck...it's going to have to be something to go on the wall.

Good luck, buddy.

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Well said cougs!! GMMAT cougs is my ROSS shooting buddy, Get your own[:-]

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dude for a young fella you have a good head on you shoulders...makes people think about that post a few days ago about listening to youger people

RE: Keeping things in perspective.
 

Soooooo, it oter words you thought about QDM but now you've decided against it??? :(I remember you singing a different song, I guess that was very short lived![&:]What happened to that "mature" buck that you said you wanted? Perhaps the realism of the sacrifice and dedication seemed a bit more of an obstacle than you could overcome?

One more thing, WHAT IN THE WORLD were you doing sitting in a deer stand before the season opens ?!? One thing is for sure, you'llforever shoot yearlingswith stunts like that. Stay away from your deer until you can hunt 'em! It's no secret that the first time of two you hunt a fresh stand will be te best chance you ever have at a quality deer from that location. It does indeed take a totally different mindset and dedication level to get in the game and one must be honest with himself about just how far he's willing to go. Good luck this Fall with whatever you want. :)

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It's taken me a while but I'll have 2 ROSS'S soon. Going to try to set the 337 up into a spot killing machine once the Cardiac gets here.

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Yeah I also will shoot what makes me feel good.Sometimes I think we as hunters worry about shooting a trophy buck,and thinking back on some of most fondest hunts have been the killing of a wary smart old doe.I have been busted many more times by a doe than a buck.I do let deer walk both does and bucks a lot of it depends on my attitude at that particular moment.If I've been hunting hard and not seening anything then i may shoot the first deer that gives me a good shot and I feel relly good about it.Then sometimes I like to just sit and watch the deer and let them pass.

RE: Keeping things in perspective.
 

Well that's alot to answer.


As far as QDM goes. There will be ALOT of does taken this year. ;)and as far as bucks go, I'm not saying I'm going to be shooting yearlings left and right. If I shoot a buck under 3yr old I will ONLY kill 1. The does taken this comming year will outnumber the bucks.


As to why I'm sitting in a deer stand. If this was a spot I had to worry about stinking up I wouldn't be sitting in one. You would have to see my hunting spot to understand. There is a house on one side of me, 150yds away. Another house about 200yds away. The landowners kids ride 4 wheelers through the woodlot a few times a week. There are occasionally dogs passing through. My spot really reminds me of GMMAT's without the herd density of his place. Deer become accustomed to human smell. I think in some cases it's hard for you to understand what some of us hunt. Like GMMAT and myself for instance. I'd say your place you hunt is pretty remote, big bucks, and you HAVE to worry about overhunting stands, stinking your place up and so forth.

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I bet there are a lot of folks rigt now that arepretty excited about having a guy that will shoot a yearling on their TEAM! :([8D][&:]:D

As I've mentioned, shoot what you like, it's YOUR tag. I simply challenge folks to rase the bar a bit instead of complaining that there are no big bucks around. Good luck

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My bar was raised the other day when I saw the drop tine buck......No other buck on that farm will do now. ;)

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a 6pt here is a solid 2yr old. A yearling here in most cases is a spike or a fork. Deer since varies ALOT from the cornbelt to the Appalachians. Here it may take a deer 4yrs to break 100"

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A yearling is a deer that was born this year. There is no question about that. Most hunters have a hard time telling a yearling buck from a doe. Unless they know what they are looking at. A 6pt is usually a 1.5 year old deer. Its all about the genectics. I have never seen a spike or fork yearling. If I ever seen a spike or fork yearling I would say that buck will be a trophy at 3.5 years of age. In my 29 years of hunting Ive never seen a spike or fork yearling. I think your confusing a yearling with a 1.5 year old deer...

RE: Keeping things in perspective.
 

A yearling SHOULD mean a year old deer. Hence the name, YEARling.



Yes I meant a 1.5yr old spike/fork. A general 2.5yr old is a 6pt here. Pics to follow.



1yr old here.





average 2yrd old

RE: Keeping things in perspective.
 

A yearling is a deer that was born this year. Ask any of the hunters here. Yes a 1.5 year old deer can be a spike,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 etc. Its all about the genectics, and food source. ive learned to much over the years and know what Im talking about here... Not trying to argue about this...

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I agree I have said the same thing before about a yearling and only to have someone say that a yearling is a deer that is a year old. Not trying to argue either, you are much older and wiser than I :D

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I have a higher standard than most that I hunt with, but it isn't something that needs to be pushed on others. The true spirit of the hunt that entails more than just a set of horns or engineering the production of a 'shooter' via 'management' techniques that go way beyond the QDM intent, has somehow gotten lost . Passing smaller , younger bucks, and achieving a realistic and natural buck to doe ratio(which when it is put at 1 to1 is not natural or healthy) along with proper land management, which does not have to mean converting the majority of your land into food plots,is somewhat different than the trophy only mentality. Itis a matter of preference and ones expectations, which are sometimes realistic and many times not. Those that are just as excited over a spike have my blessings and if taken legally and ethically, no one should bust their chops over it. Everyones goals and level of pure joy of the hunt may not be the same, and there is something refreshing about those who have not lost sight of hunting itself as being enjoyment enough. I have higher standards, which entails no over management, food plots or anything else that takes away from the pure wilderness experience that makes hunting menaingful and enjoyable to me. I am looking for an older class animal, and an adequate balnace between buck and doe harvest, but I am not going to restrict my enjoyment to the expectations of others. I shot a 4 1/2 year old 4 point that weighed 180 lbs on land that holds a population of about 8 deer per square mile, has very steep and rough terrain and has very poor genetics and food sources. ButI hunted him, and took him under tough circumstances, which gives me a great deal of satisfaction , regardless of rack size. There are those of us who still place value in the hunt part of hunting as opposed to the farming aspect. No probs at all for those who do, but it isn't for all of us. I wantto go natural, undisturbed as possible and appreciate the surprises of what the land naturally yields along with me doing my part to be a good steward of the land with the principles of QDM in practice, without having to manipulate the land to satisfy my cravings for only one narrow target. My time effort and energy go into scouting as opposed to food plot building. I find natural food sources which change as the season progresses making it my assignment to stay in touch with deer patterns changing from food sources to prerut haunts, and doe herds as the rut comes into play, and the to find the buck hideouts after the rut is over and food sources are scarce--allwithout letting them know that they are being pursued. That is my objective, and probably there are others who share it, but I don't or won't pressure others into my perspective or shame anyone into seeing it 'my' way.

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Thats correct Courgars. They didnt know what they were talking about...

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I think that if a person shoots a deer and they feel its a trophy then good for them. Its hard enough to harvest a deer with a bow. I myself place a goal on myself to shoot an older buck with my bow and an older doe. I wont shoot yearlings. Thats the goal I place on myself. But to be honest I hunted a buck that I knew was an older buck and was way up there in years and last time I saw him he was an 8 pointer with a declining rack but a huge body. I never sealed the deal and we found him dead that same year. It was too bad because I enjoyed the thrill of hunting him. I myself practice QDM, but the young deer have a free pass by me. Its just too bad we have a gun season cause some of those hunters shoot any thing that moves.

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Kinda cool sitting there? I can't remember the words exactly, but it was something about a good person in a standbeingcloser to God. You seem like a pretty good kid and a real good hunter. Keep it up! Don't worry what morons say, stay focused and just keep doing what you're doing. Good luck this year with deer you choose to take!!!:D

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Personally I could care less if he shoots a spike and is on my team. Hunting isn't about the size of the rack or how old the deer is. It's about getting out there and doing what you love to do. Depending on the day and the mood I'm in, I very well may pop a 1.5 yr old too. Besides, it's not like theres really anything won anyways except for bragging rights.For some of us here, it's far more than killing a big buck.

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Id take the guy that shot the yearling and was happy about it.....over the guy shooting 140"ers and belittling others. I know that.

It's my understanding that a "yearling" was born last year. A deer born this year is a fawn.

Here's what dictionary.com says :

year·ling /ˈyɪərlɪŋ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[yeer-ling] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun



1.
an animal in its second year.



2.
a horse one year old, dating from January 1 of the year after the year of foaling. –adjective



3.
being a year old.



4.
of a year's duration or standing: a yearling bride. [/align]

RE: Keeping things in perspective.
 

Heres a young man excited about hunting, spending his free time in the woods and not causing trouble and we have people in here that feel they need to belittle him. Come on. So it isn't a deer some of you would shoot. I have sat in a stand in the off season before. It is the next closest thing to bow hunting if the season isn't open.

Coug I hope you get your buck. Good luck.

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Im no expert, but i got to agree with jeff on this one, a yearling was born last spring, hence come hunting season, its a year and a half. Deer that were just born this spring are fawns. A male that was born this spring will be a button buck come this fall and nothing more, and will sport his first rack next fall, which could be a spike or a 10 pt.

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pssssst....thats called a fawn.;)

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LOL! Exactly what I was thinking! Calling it a "yearling" instead of a fawnjust sounds better when you tell folks you killed one! [:o]

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I don't know that it sounds better to say but I know they sure taste better to eat. I like to call them "Crock-Pot Stuffers" or "Dinner and a Snack" or "The Weight Watchers Special" or "A Light Meal" (only applies to yearlings under 50 lbs and is great when washed down with the new beer Yearling Lite)orthe"I'm Yearning for a Yearling" deer roast or "ka-bambis" (a little known variation to the standard ka-bob) or my all time favorite the"Barely Out Of Spots Burger" topped with sauteed mushrooms and onions and covered with mozzerela on a lightly buttered/toasted bun, forget about it.:D

Kill them all and let the crock-pot sort them out.;)jj

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Yummy! Ibet they'reharder to hit to! :D

As long as you are "happy about it",.... because "every deer with a bow is a trophy"! ;):)

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They really aren't any harder to hit, just pick a spot and let fly!

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This is the same way ive been thinkin.

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;) I don't know about the every deer a trophy part but I am sure nothing else quite sums up happy like a nice hot breakfast of yearling backstrap & eggs and a side of biscuits and "backstrap" gravy.

The perspective I like to use is this.

I, like many predators, often find it easier to pick a couple of young animals from the herd and one reason I do that isbecause when I eat venison I want to eat the youngest most tender deer I can get, so I make sure I get a couple like that every season. Of course I stillhunt anduse the bigger/more maturedeer I kill (mostly in sausage/burgers/jerky) and I giveplenty of meat away everyseason but for the most partthe venison that I keepin my freezerfor my family and friends is more comparable to veal than beef. So unfortunately (for the little deer anyway) there are going to be some that just don't make it this yearand as I carry them out (yes carry not drag):D I will hold them proudly over my shoulder knowing the bounty they will provide. It's the law of the jungle the stonger, smarter animals survive the other ones ........welleveryone knowswhat happens to them (unless a QDM guy gives them a pass for like 4 or 5years).;)

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My wife tells me to shoot the little ones.

She likes tender venison.

:)

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We all have our own sense of what will make us happy from an accomplishment point of view and from the point of view of what it means to our local deer herd.We all do what feels right to us."Personally" I am far more understanding of a young or inexperienced hunter killing a young buck than I am an older and/or experienced hunter.These are my personal beliefs and I wouldn't belittle any one for doing otherwise as long as they are within the law.I may not welcome them to hunt with me or my area's though.
In my home area a 3.5 year old buck or older represents less than 10%of the buck population,most of our area's hold less than 3 bucks per square mile.It could be a whole lot better than that if many our experienced hunters didn't feel the need to shoot two or three 1.5 year old bucks a year.
To me it is all a matter of the amount of experience of the hunter and the make up of the deer herd in their area,passing 10 does to shoot a spike horn kind of stuff makes me just about physically ill!

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That's my point. IF I shoot a 2yr old buck, I will only shoot one. I know what shooting too many and not enough does can do to a herd.

RE: Keeping things in perspective.
 

I think IL Cornfed is getting at that a lot of people "talk" about passing onyounger bucks and honestly have the intention of doing it, but one that little guy with horns is in front of you that trigger finger gets awfully itchy.

Would I get excited about shooting a 1.5 year old buck (or whatever you choose to call it), heck yeah.I get excited over every deer I shoot. However, I also know I would regret it afterwards knowing that my area holds someolder bucks and that is what I'm really after. So, I will choose to pass on the yearlings, or 1.5 year olds, or non-fawns.

I don't see it as putting anyone down, but if you say you want to practice QDM and then say you want to shoot a young buck you are going back on what you've said. So, it's not putting someone down but stating a fact.

Personally, I say shoot what you want, but don't regret it or say you are going to one thing and then not follow through. We all don't have the same situation or opportunities, but we do need to make sure that whatever we do is something that will make us happy and not just for the moment.

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I would be very disappointed after the fact if I killed a 1.5yr old buck because 1yr old bucks here are VERY small here. It's the 2.5yr old 6pts that I'm talking about.