What is really the trophy?
 

The majority of people show off the antlers when they get a nice buck. The antlers are nice but seems to me like the real prize should be the fact that you outwitted or patterened a mature deer. An animal thattheir main job isto avoid danger. The accomplishment oftaking a deer that is 4.5 an up should be more gratifing than whether the deer has a PY or a BC rack.

Why do you think this is the case.

RE: What is really the trophy?
 

Iam one of the few who beleaves anydeer taken with a bow is a trophy....except ones with spots then thats just plain wrong.

RE: What is really the trophy?
 

I agree with you 100%, when I first started bowhunting I considered everything I harvested to be a trophy. I still feel that way, but for some reson that massive rack of ANTLERS sure is a plus. On the ranch we hunt, we are under a pretty srtict management program that we dont shoot bucks that are not mature unless they are really under par (management deer) and we harvest a lot of does under this managementprogram and I consider all of them to be a trophy with my bow. I know a lot of people that won't even take a deer unless it scores x amount, I don't agree with that tactic as a whole, to manage your deer herd properly I feel you have to take several deer that won't make P&Y or B&C to get the full potential of your deer herd. Just my thoughts......

RE: What is really the trophy?
 

A 4.5 yr old deer is 4.5 whether he resided in MO or FL....and irregardless of whether he sported 150" or 100" of antler.

RE: What is really the trophy?
 

X2... Right on Ranger, I'm the same way. To take it to the next step, I consider it a "win" when I get deer into bow range even if I don't Pull Back.

RE: What is really the trophy?
 

My trophy is in a frying pan with butter, onions and garlic!:)

RE: What is really the trophy?
 

Trophy= memories.

Unless one is heavily hunted and one isn't.

RE: What is really the trophy?
 

until the deer get birth certificates,they will be judged by their horns.Simply because five years down the line thats whats still hanging on the wall.[:-]

RE: What is really the trophy?
 

This photo below represents a real trophy to me. It was the specific doe that Matt (Rick James) wanted me to tag. She was a smart dominant doe and when Matt saw her, in an excited voice he said, that's her.....it was a great hunt.

RE: What is really the trophy?
 

Every deer that I take with my bow is a trophy, but thereismore of a label so to speak on a 160"5.5 year than a 115 class 5.5 year old. The antlers seem to be the prize instead of that fact that you have outwitted orhave been able to take a deer that is rarely seen in the woods regardless of the size of the antlers.