I'm not sure that you are the one to tell anyone why they hunt. I must respectfully disagree with what you have said here. We all hunt for our own reasons. I can tell you point blank that I have never hunted to put meat on the table, and never will.
I eat what I shoot, but I don't really care for deer meat so much. Should I shoot a bunch of does when the meat will go to waste? I have tried to find somebody who would take the deer I shoot, but nobody is ever interested. The butchers in my area will hook a hunter up with a food kitchen, but the hunter is gonna pay full tilt for the processing. I can't afford to pay out that kind of money and I don't have time to butcher deer for people. As a result, I shoot animals that fit the standard that I set, and nobody else. If I end a season without taking a single deer, that is my choice, and I'm fine with it. If I shoot a deer two years in a row, it will take three years for me to consume the meat. My standards are high this year for that very reason. I still have meat in the freezer right now from the last season.

man i think there is a term for this, Ground shrinkage.

Oh well ,just think you can hunt the PA Rut next fall . If your going to Alberta to bowhunt,don't ever think those buck's come easily ,they are the most illusive deer your gonna hunt .

nubo

As I said,this wasmy 3rd shot this season. The first 2 were doe's, so I am having a good season.Not getting a "good" look at this buck was the mistake I made, and I honestly regret it. Thinking about it, I truely believe I would have gotten a shot at a much better buck during the rut.I learned a valuable lesson from this because I'll missa fewgreat days in the woods.[&o]I never quit, I've still gota week inAlberta ahead of me.

Quick question why are you bummed out you shot a nice buck and youre on here complaining on how small it is and that its not a "real deer" compared to what you might shoot in Canada[:@]stop complaining and be proud of what you shot!!

congrats man, he may not be what you set out for but that still is a very nice buck.

1. Number of Deer DOES NOT EQUAL Amount of Experience....otherwise an average joe who shoots everything he sees and kills 35 deer in 3 year down south would technically be more experienced than a savy hunter who limits what he shoots at and hunts for and has only killed 15 deer, but has passed on more deer than the first hunter saw

2.he NEEDS to hunt the wayt he wants to, which appears to be for bigger bucks than the one he just recently downed, no problem with setting goals and standards. He may very well have been hunting longer than you have, just hasnt stacked up the number of deer that you have.

3. Trophy Hunting has NOTHING to do with shooting does, in fact, most huntrs who target bigger bucks shoot does for a better buck to doe ratio. "trophy" hunters pass on small bucks, not all does. he even told that he has already shot two does this year so far.

4. So hunting has to be about this? people can't set goals and standards or limitations in this sport just as in anything else in life? just because he targets bigger bucks doesnt mean he kills animals slower, butchers them wrong, or doesnt eat the deer.

im sorry but i dont agree at all with your post. if you dont like that he tries and shoots bigger bucks, dont read his posts.



Congrats on your deer tho man, anything with a bow is an accomplishment, IMO. another lesson learned when it comes to judging bucks. Still a respectable deer and like you said, you have Alberta still to chase the big boys Best of luck to ya, and again, congrats!

Hey early, didn't you see the milk on his mouth gleeming in the moonlight?j/k brother you can always use the hide to make a couple of key chains. [X(] Good shooting bud he will eat good.

Thanks guys, I actually feel better.