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RE: Less of a deer hunter???

Quote:

ORIGINAL: GMMAT

No.

Short add....the mounts on my wall are tributes to the DEER....not me.

I think it is a little more than just a tribute to the deer. If that was the sole reason, then we wouldn't kill the deer, but maybe just take a picture of that deer. I believe most hunters mount a deer because they are proud of their accomplishment. I respect and pay tribute to every deer I kill, but I surely don't mount every deer I kill. A trophy, whether mounted or not, is in the eye of the beholder. I'm not disagreeing with you, just adding a little extra.

RE: Less of a deer hunter???

Quote:

ORIGINAL: LittleChief

There've been a few posts on here lately that have made me take a look at myself as a "deer hunter".Threads like "What is your goal" where a lot of folks said they're going to hold out for a 120", 130", 140" or 150" buck or higher. I wish you all the best of luck, but it's just not for me. Valor10 made a post in "The kill" thread, and I'm going to quotepart of ithere:

Quote:

Interesting thread indeed. You know, I’ve never mounted a head. I’ve never hunted deer for the rack. I take no offense of those that do, and I’m very appreciative of a nice mount. It’s just not me. I take the same pleasure in killing a young doe, as I do a mature buck. I hunt deer for the sport of killing them, to eat. I’ve said a prayer and thanked the Lord over every kill I’ve made.

This pretty much fits me to a "T". My goal this year will be to hunt with my sons, hunt with my brother, take8 deer (3 in Arkansas, 2 in Missouri, and 3 in Tennessee), have a wonderful time, enjoy the outdoors, enjoy life and fill my freezer with venison. A huge buck, big buck, nice buck or even a decent buckwould be nice, but big does will do just fine for me. I'm just not after a trophy buck to hang on the wall.

Honestly, I feel just as successful when I go out and hammer a big doe as I did when I took my biggest buck ever year before last. Now, I have all the respect in the world for those of you who can go out and scout, plan and develop a sound strategy and take wall hangers with consistency. My hat's off to you all. Also, I'll admit to sitting on the stand and daydreaming about a big ol' 200" class "Mack Daddy Freaknasty" (Michael Waddell:D) non-typical walking in, but I know it's not a realistic expectation for me, and I know I'll have a great season even though it doesn't happen.

So tell me... does this make me orsomeone elsewho share these views less of a deer hunter?

I agree with you 100% little chief. I hunt to hunt. If I a get a good one, that is a bonus. I havea couple mounted... both less than 120". One may be 100" and the other 80" or so... trophies to me and I truly don't care what others think

RE: Less of a deer hunter???

I may be all alone in thinking this.....but to me....the harvest photo is for the hunter. The mount is paying tribute to the deer.

That's just the way I view it.

It doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks, though, really. You guys should huntfor and why you want to ....and don't worry about anyone else.

Respect.

RE: Less of a deer hunter???

Quote:

ORIGINAL: superstrutter

Quote:

ORIGINAL: GMMAT

No.

Short add....the mounts on my wall are tributes to the DEER....not me.

For me to have one mounted, it would have to be an absolute bruiser.... one so big that it would just be a pity for it to just disappear from the face of the earth without some way of being remembered other than steaks in the freezer and stories where I hold up my hands and say "it was this big". Does that make sense?

RE: Less of a deer hunter???

No less of a hunter in my book. I hunt all deer, and kill em as I see fit, sometimes it's a good one sometimes it's a doe, regardless, I enjoy them all. I have never considered myself a "trophy hunter" and i never will, not anything wrong with it though, I just love to hunt deer and some years i kill deer that i wouldn't have in other years. A trophy hunter hunts for mature "big" Bucks, I hunt them too, just not exclusively. Now, this year I will not shoot a small buck because I don't to shoot a small one when i have bigger ones around in my area. I killed a few 100-115 " deer last year and I would like to kill another deer with the bow that i will mount, that will hopefully be around 120-125 realistically. Not exactly a true troohy in most cases. What Im saying is, I would rather just shoot a doe as I would a 4 pt .

RE: Less of a deer hunter???

I enjoy my mounts. They are a daily reminder ofpast hunts. I enjoy the outdoors so I bring some inside.

RE: Less of a deer hunter???

Quote:

ORIGINAL: GMMAT

I may be all alone in thinking this.....but to me....the harvest photo is for the hunter. The mount is paying tribute to the deer.

That's just the way I view it.

It doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks, though, really. You guys should huntfor and why you want to ....and don't worry about anyone else.

Respect.

I was actually talking about a picture of the deer while he is alive.

RE: Less of a deer hunter???

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Vabowman

What Im saying is, I would rather just shoot a doe as I would a 4 pt .

Vabowman,
I agree. I don't shoot every deer that walks by, and I hope everyone didn't read that into what I wrote. Last year, I passed on 2small 6 points, 2 fork horns and 3 spikes, so I ended up not getting a buck with my bow. In years past, I would have dropped them, but I've learned quite a bit on these forums in the past 14 or 15 months. I passed on them because I was bowhunting, and I could take does. I might not be holding out for a monster, but others are, and if I can fill my freezer with does, I'll let the youngbucks grow up a bit. Maybe, if I get to stay where I'm at, my own actions will have one of those great ol' big ones walking by someday.

RE: Less of a deer hunter???

If you are happy, I am happy! Sounds like you got your priorities stright just enjoying the time spent with your family. Which gives me an Idea for a new thread.