Bowhunting Contest - Do you ever lower your standards?
 

So now that most of us are into the season,does anyone ever lower your standards for you buck, if at all? I can hunt all the way until the end of January. But after the first week of December, honestly, seeing bigger bucks seems to get more difficult as they have been shot at, are worn out after the rut, have another season of knowledge, and seem to go nocturnal after all that. My goal was to take a 130" class buck. After December 7th, I will take a 120" or better buck unless Im still seeing bigger bucks consistently, but try not to go smaller than that just because Im trying to leave those guys for next year. Im still confident I have a legitimate chance at something real big like 150" + but was curious as to howsome map out your buck hunting.

RE: Bowhunting Contest - Do you ever lower your standards?
 

That is a question I just don't know the answer to. I'll know when I see it.

RE: Bowhunting Contest - Do you ever lower your standards?
 

I live in a one buck state so Iwould not take just any deer for the contest unless it is getting late in the season. I think you have to hunt for yourself first especially in states where you can only shoot one buck with yer bow.

RE: Bowhunting Contest - Do you ever lower your standards?
 

My Goals are always flexible..just depends on the reality vs the goal... If I'm into early November with a goal of 125 and haven't caught sight of a 125..I'd better do some modification to either:

A) The plan
B)The goal


My land struggles are well documented this year and it seems every sit is a seat of the pants decision. Heck, I'm anxious to see how it all falls into place, myself!

RE: Bowhunting Contest - Do you ever lower your standards?
 

Unfortunately for my team...no. If its not a buck I want to take, I'm not gonna take it - just for the contest. Hopefully this year that buck I want will come by and I can help my team out....haven't been much help the past few years. [&:]If I could count several does as some points for my team in lieu of horns...I'd be doing ok [8D]

RE: Bowhunting Contest - Do you ever lower your standards?
 

They change with location and local land rules. But other than that, when I decide on what to do I do it. I've eaten tags, like early bow season this year, but I decided that going in. Or tags I wasted two years in a row in Ohio with nice8 point bucks and multiple bucks in bow range the last evening of the hunt. One standard I don't change no matter where I'm hunting..... Nothing with Spots> LOL

RE: Bowhunting Contest - Do you ever lower your standards?
 

I don’t expect to lower my standards for any reason, but I suppose I can never really say for sure until that borderline buck is standing before me. I’ve got great potential this season, I’d be a fool to not to try and maximize it.
I’ve lowered standards in past and did not like the decision afterwards.

RE: Bowhunting Contest - Do you ever lower your standards?
 

If anything , it raises my standards. I passed on several good bucks last year, to only see my chances ruined by poachers later. Normally these bucks would have been taken, but I wanted a special buck for the contest, and especially since my Dad passed away 5 days before teh season started, I was hoping to win the contest in honour of him. I held out to only get shafted by some sorry, trespassing, night hunting ,boneheads that made my goal unreachable. Thyey are still having aneffect on my local land, so I have been going to Kentucky to hunt where there are definitely bigger deer. I am debating with myself as to just how much I am allowingmy persoanl goals to be affected by the contest, and if it is changing the way Ihunt --for teh right reason, and righ now I am notsure. I like competition, but I also don't like turning unting into more than what is attainable or reaistic. I like challenges, and although I am still frustrated over the poachers, it provides me with more of a challenge to score even with this 'handicap'. I have hunted my local spot this season, with sighting only 2 deer the whole season as opposed to close to 100 by this same time last year,so their effect is definitely real. But, I don't and won't give up.I hope that I can do good in Kentucky--away from my poaching problems--, but if not, I may have to settle for what I can realisticallyget here locally. So far, a yearling 6 and a doe are all I have to show--sightings that is, not kills---for my efforts here in Georgia. I only recently saw them after doing some drastic tactical changes with the poaching influence in mind, adjusting to it. It worked the first time, since that is when saw the 2 deer. So, the contest has made me a better hunter, and yet, it really hasn't changed my outlook. I still think that anyone should be able to choose to take whatever legal deer they want without having to feel ashamed or to be ridiculed by others with other goals. I have a higher standard, but it is within reason,and it is by my choice, keeping in mind thatI don't need to hold others to it.

RE: Bowhunting Contest - Do you ever lower your standards?
 

No, my standards don't drop. Good or bad, I guess I am just stubborn.

RE: Bowhunting Contest - Do you ever lower your standards?
 

You're nopt even in the contest, LOL

Contest is for fun and to me people, and I love it. I now have friends all over the USA. In 2005 I knew a few people out of my state now I have many friends in

KS
Iowa
MD
IN
ILL
PA
TX
OK
Canada
Idaho
WY
CO
MO
FL
Georgia
AL
MISS
NC
SC
VA
WVA
KY
TENN
NY
NJ
Ark
New Mex
Ariz

I am sure I missed a few, but all of these friends are from contest.

So my standards are the same, but my friend list is not, it's waaaayyy bigger:D

RE: Bowhunting Contest - Do you ever lower your standards?
 

Im pretty much set in my ways, if they get a pass at the beginning of season, Ill let them pass at the end of season also.
Where I live now a 120 class 8 pt is a great buck (GERM can tell ya, his family has a cottage not far from me) Yet would not give one a second thought if I still lived in Kansas.
So where Im hunting also plays a roll on what I turn an arrow loose on.

Sure would like to see a picture of you on our team board with one of those MD, 150+ bone heads :DI will be heading your way Monday the 15th to the 26th to give it a try!

RE: Bowhunting Contest - Do you ever lower your standards?
 

I have a picture of 140'' buck near Glennie, when I get it from the cabin I well send to you.

Biggest deer my Grandpa has seen in ever, he's been hunting the area since 1942. Hell if I see a 100'' deer in NLP I am shooting it;)

RE: Bowhunting Contest - Do you ever lower your standards?
 

I dont shoot any youngins but still want to fill the freezer up by the end of the year ;)

RE: Bowhunting Contest - Do you ever lower your standards?
 

I'm not in the contest but if I were I'd say "screw the contest" and shoot whatever makes you happy.;)

RE: Bowhunting Contest - Do you ever lower your standards?
 

Germ, I gave an example. I hunted 5 states last year. I have more than one friend.... honest.[8D][8D] I have so many invitations to hunt I can't make them all. I decided the other night to forgo Indiana and Ohio this year because mySquadron Commanderfrom Vietnam called and ordered me to a reunion in DC on Veterans Day. His words, "You will be there Captain". So I'll be there. That's the way it is. If he told me to kill you.... well I'd make it quick and ethical.[8D] I have friends in just about everywhere that I've actually met face to face and spent a lot of time with. Not these psychos from the internet. LOL

RE: Bowhunting Contest - Do you ever lower your standards?
 

Captain Miller, hope you have a great time at the reunion, and try to stay out of trouble while in DC ;)

RE: Bowhunting Contest - Do you ever lower your standards?
 

Pumpkin, WI

RE: Bowhunting Contest - Do you ever lower your standards?
 

I will stick to my goals all the way through until the end. I've eaten quite a few tags over the years. Plenty of does tags to be had to fill the freezer. There are days though that 120 - 135 class buckslook good andare tempting to shoot.

Goals... 150 for 5pts or more. 135 plusfor 4 pts with the buck being 4.5 year old or older in all cases. Granted due to field judging errors on my part, ground shrinkage of 5 - 10 inches is allowed to cover my a$$. :D

Contest has no bearing on my hunting goals.

Tim

RE: Bowhunting Contest - Do you ever lower your standards?
 

That's one of the main reasons I don't join Big Buck Contest or any hunting contest. I don't want anything interfering with my "Fun". Never have, never will.

RE: Bowhunting Contest - Do you ever lower your standards?
 

Fun is in the eye of the beholder. Its fun for me. I enjoy the comradery of becoming friends with new teamates every year, staying friends with old teamates, learning about different deer activity all over the country, enjoying the THRILL of others kills, trying to meet my goals, and of course the ribbing with everyone. It was fun shooting a Doe opening day and its beenmore fun grilling venison several days a week. Its been great sitting in a stand almost 20 days now, regardless of not taking a buck and not knowingif I will even get a shot at one. This year has been extremely challenging because of the heat and the lack of water on properties. Shooting my first buck of the season is a miniscule part of my hunting enjoyment, I hope the idea of you trying to get a contest buck isnt what interferes with your enjoyment Dave :)