View Poll Results: A poll
Voters: 316. You may not vote on this poll
What kind of deer hunter are you?
10-29-2013, 01:15 PM
#112
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,359
I'm still fairly new at this bowhunting thing. I've gun hunted since I was 14, but I've really only been a serious bowhunter for 4 years now. I've managed to take 9 deer with my bow in 4 seasons. The problem is only 2 of them were does! One was a mature buck taken in Illinois. The others were either button bucks or 1.5 year old bucks.
Here's the kicker: In 4 years of bowhunting in Michigan, I've only seen one buck that looked older than 1.5 yrs old.
At the time I didn't feel bad at all about shooting young bucks. Heck, I probably only get about 4 or 5 deer in bow range all season where I hunt. So I felt like I needed to have a "brown its down" mentality. I'm also starting to realize that I'm probably my own worst enemy because I've shot so many young bucks in the last few years that its no wonder I don't see more mature bucks. But as a new bowhunter I think it was good experience at the same time.
This year, I gained access to a pretty good area to hunt during the rut. I can see myself becoming a mature buck hunter next year, and shooting does for meat. That was my plan this year, until I hunted the entire month of October without seeing a deer of either sex. Then I got frustrated and decided to stick an arrow in the first deer in bow range. Of course, it was a BB (accident - thought it was a doe).
Now that I'm confident in my abilities to kill when the time comes, and I've got a few under my belt, I'm going to try to become a mature buck hunter who shoots mature does only for meat. That's my goal for next year.
Here's the kicker: In 4 years of bowhunting in Michigan, I've only seen one buck that looked older than 1.5 yrs old.
At the time I didn't feel bad at all about shooting young bucks. Heck, I probably only get about 4 or 5 deer in bow range all season where I hunt. So I felt like I needed to have a "brown its down" mentality. I'm also starting to realize that I'm probably my own worst enemy because I've shot so many young bucks in the last few years that its no wonder I don't see more mature bucks. But as a new bowhunter I think it was good experience at the same time.
This year, I gained access to a pretty good area to hunt during the rut. I can see myself becoming a mature buck hunter next year, and shooting does for meat. That was my plan this year, until I hunted the entire month of October without seeing a deer of either sex. Then I got frustrated and decided to stick an arrow in the first deer in bow range. Of course, it was a BB (accident - thought it was a doe).
Now that I'm confident in my abilities to kill when the time comes, and I've got a few under my belt, I'm going to try to become a mature buck hunter who shoots mature does only for meat. That's my goal for next year.
Way to many people saying "I shoot small bucks because I don't see any mature bucks" of course not, dead bucks don't mature.
Perfect IMO...you did your thing, got it out of your system. Now for the hard part....sticking with it.
Last edited by rockport; 10-29-2013 at 01:18 PM.
10-29-2013, 02:18 PM
#113
Typical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hatton, Alabama
Posts: 520
I'm going to try and not step on toes but here goes.....
Hunting is to me the pursuit of game which is to be consumed by the hunter. I hate the way that hunting shows and magazines put their focus on collecting trophies as opposed to the responsible taking of game. To me the vast majority of poaching is done by folks that are looking for something to brag about. We are our own worst enemy by placing our attention on the size of a rack.
Don't misunderstand me, I'm not knocking folks that trophy hunt. I just believe that you should take only what you need and leave the rest. If I've loaded the freezer I might go after a hoss but I don't believe in wasting meat.
Hunting is to me the pursuit of game which is to be consumed by the hunter. I hate the way that hunting shows and magazines put their focus on collecting trophies as opposed to the responsible taking of game. To me the vast majority of poaching is done by folks that are looking for something to brag about. We are our own worst enemy by placing our attention on the size of a rack.
Don't misunderstand me, I'm not knocking folks that trophy hunt. I just believe that you should take only what you need and leave the rest. If I've loaded the freezer I might go after a hoss but I don't believe in wasting meat.
10-29-2013, 02:49 PM
#114
Spike
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SE Mn
Posts: 61
I'm going to try and not step on toes but here goes.....
Hunting is to me the pursuit of game which is to be consumed by the hunter. I hate the way that hunting shows and magazines put their focus on collecting trophies as opposed to the responsible taking of game. To me the vast majority of poaching is done by folks that are looking for something to brag about. We are our own worst enemy by placing our attention on the size of a rack.
Don't misunderstand me, I'm not knocking folks that trophy hunt. I just believe that you should take only what you need and leave the rest. If I've loaded the freezer I might go after a hoss but I don't believe in wasting meat.
Hunting is to me the pursuit of game which is to be consumed by the hunter. I hate the way that hunting shows and magazines put their focus on collecting trophies as opposed to the responsible taking of game. To me the vast majority of poaching is done by folks that are looking for something to brag about. We are our own worst enemy by placing our attention on the size of a rack.
Don't misunderstand me, I'm not knocking folks that trophy hunt. I just believe that you should take only what you need and leave the rest. If I've loaded the freezer I might go after a hoss but I don't believe in wasting meat.
Nothing against anyone who want's to wait for a bruiser to step out. To me, that is nothing more that a huge bonus to a successful hunt. Because if they were all giants, then they'd all be the same. What I have a problem with is those who say, "let it go and let it grow". Why? Maybe it will never grow. It might get hit by a car. It might die by some other means. One mans trophy cold easily be considered a world record to someone else. Hunters numbers vs, deer populations vary greatly across the country. I know people that say, I'd never shoot anything under 130", and another who says he won't kill a buck unless it scores at least 160. Well, which one of these guys is right? The 130 guys thinks I'm nuts for a brown is down, meat in the freezer attitude and the 160 guys thinks were both wrong????
I asked both of these guys once if they were flying in the mountains, and they crashed, how would they survive. Starving and having a rifle as a means to hunt with, would you wait for a "trophy" to come by, or would you shoot the first deer you see LOL. They didn't have an answer.
10-29-2013, 02:55 PM
#115
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,359
I'm going to try and not step on toes but here goes.....
Hunting is to me the pursuit of game which is to be consumed by the hunter. I hate the way that hunting shows and magazines put their focus on collecting trophies as opposed to the responsible taking of game. To me the vast majority of poaching is done by folks that are looking for something to brag about. We are our own worst enemy by placing our attention on the size of a rack.
Don't misunderstand me, I'm not knocking folks that trophy hunt. I just believe that you should take only what you need and leave the rest. If I've loaded the freezer I might go after a hoss but I don't believe in wasting meat.
Hunting is to me the pursuit of game which is to be consumed by the hunter. I hate the way that hunting shows and magazines put their focus on collecting trophies as opposed to the responsible taking of game. To me the vast majority of poaching is done by folks that are looking for something to brag about. We are our own worst enemy by placing our attention on the size of a rack.
Don't misunderstand me, I'm not knocking folks that trophy hunt. I just believe that you should take only what you need and leave the rest. If I've loaded the freezer I might go after a hoss but I don't believe in wasting meat.
10-29-2013, 02:58 PM
#116
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,359
+1.
Nothing against anyone who want's to wait for a bruiser to step out. To me, that is nothing more that a huge bonus to a successful hunt. Because if they were all giants, then they'd all be the same. What I have a problem with is those who say, "let it go and let it grow". Why? Maybe it will never grow. It might get hit by a car. It might die by some other means. One mans trophy cold easily be considered a world record to someone else. Hunters numbers vs, deer populations vary greatly across the country. I know people that say, I'd never shoot anything under 130", and another who says he won't kill a buck unless it scores at least 160. Well, which one of these guys is right? The 130 guys thinks I'm nuts for a brown is down, meat in the freezer attitude and the 160 guys thinks were both wrong????
I asked both of these guys once if they were flying in the mountains, and they crashed, how would they survive. Starving and having a rifle as a means to hunt with, would you wait for a "trophy" to come by, or would you shoot the first deer you see LOL. They didn't have an answer.
Nothing against anyone who want's to wait for a bruiser to step out. To me, that is nothing more that a huge bonus to a successful hunt. Because if they were all giants, then they'd all be the same. What I have a problem with is those who say, "let it go and let it grow". Why? Maybe it will never grow. It might get hit by a car. It might die by some other means. One mans trophy cold easily be considered a world record to someone else. Hunters numbers vs, deer populations vary greatly across the country. I know people that say, I'd never shoot anything under 130", and another who says he won't kill a buck unless it scores at least 160. Well, which one of these guys is right? The 130 guys thinks I'm nuts for a brown is down, meat in the freezer attitude and the 160 guys thinks were both wrong????
I asked both of these guys once if they were flying in the mountains, and they crashed, how would they survive. Starving and having a rifle as a means to hunt with, would you wait for a "trophy" to come by, or would you shoot the first deer you see LOL. They didn't have an answer.
Starving stranded in the mountains and they didn't know if they would trophy hunt or shoot the first deer?
I don't care that you just want to shoot whatever shows up. If that is what you like thats great. What I don't like is downplaying the work,skill,and patients that goes into what I do by saying things like "there just aren't mature deer where I hunt so I shoot whatever I see" there wouldn't be mature deer where I hunt either if I shot whatever walked by.
Last edited by rockport; 10-29-2013 at 03:17 PM.
10-30-2013, 04:04 AM
#117
Typical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hatton, Alabama
Posts: 520
Is it the biggest cause? Probably not but it doesn't help.
As to wasting meat that was probably a poor choice of words. My intent, because I have seen it personally, was to say that I have seen more than one buck carcass with the rack cut off being left to rot.
I guess what bothers me is that trophy hunting is all about being able to brag. I have never been able to have anyone convince me that taking a 4 1/2 year old is better than taking a 2 1/2.
10-30-2013, 06:19 AM
#119
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,359
It absolutely is. I live in North Alabama so I know quite a bit about spotlighters. There are a lot of guys that might just shot anything they see but most will absolutely go out looking for big racks to shoot after daylight hours.
Is it the biggest cause? Probably not but it doesn't help.
As to wasting meat that was probably a poor choice of words. My intent, because I have seen it personally, was to say that I have seen more than one buck carcass with the rack cut off being left to rot.
I guess what bothers me is that trophy hunting is all about being able to brag. I have never been able to have anyone convince me that taking a 4 1/2 year old is better than taking a 2 1/2.
Is it the biggest cause? Probably not but it doesn't help.
As to wasting meat that was probably a poor choice of words. My intent, because I have seen it personally, was to say that I have seen more than one buck carcass with the rack cut off being left to rot.
I guess what bothers me is that trophy hunting is all about being able to brag. I have never been able to have anyone convince me that taking a 4 1/2 year old is better than taking a 2 1/2.
11-01-2013, 02:13 PM
#120
Spike
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SE Mn
Posts: 61
Sounds far fetched to me. They didn't have an answer? really?
Starving stranded in the mountains and they didn't know if they would trophy hunt or shoot the first deer?
I don't care that you just want to shoot whatever shows up. If that is what you like thats great. What I don't like is downplaying the work,skill,and patients that goes into what I do by saying things like "there just aren't mature deer where I hunt so I shoot whatever I see" there wouldn't be mature deer where I hunt either if I shot whatever walked by.
Starving stranded in the mountains and they didn't know if they would trophy hunt or shoot the first deer?
I don't care that you just want to shoot whatever shows up. If that is what you like thats great. What I don't like is downplaying the work,skill,and patients that goes into what I do by saying things like "there just aren't mature deer where I hunt so I shoot whatever I see" there wouldn't be mature deer where I hunt either if I shot whatever walked by.
I think you missed the point of what I was conveying about the "stranded" scenario.
I don't think I nor anyone else downplayed what goes into stalking a large mature deer. I certainly know that those who do go for the big boys, spend plenty of time studying and patterning them and I certainly did not say "there just aren't mature deer where I hunt so I shoot whatever I see".
My point is that not everyone should be forced (antler restrictions) to take an animal that is classified as a "mature" animal by someone else, and when I say someone else, I mean the people that lobby to get such rules implemented. I hunt for one reason, and one reason only, meat. I have never mounted a single deer or elk that I've taken. I simply cut off the horns and either toss them in the shed or nail them to the wall in the barn. There are PLENTY of mature bucks where we live, corn fed country, and plenty of opportunity for those who seek them to harvest them and that goes for a good part of the country. Granted, they might have to work a bit harder, or hunt longer for them, but "to the victor, goes the spoils".
