What's wrong with just shooting?
 

There's been quite alot of talk around here lately about "top end" bucks, and waiting for the right buck, hunting specific bucks....that sort of thing. Now, don't get me wrong, there's absolutely NOTHING wrong with that. I admire, and have a ton of respect for, ya'll that pull that off. Maybe someday I'll be there as well, but it ain't gonna be this year.

I'm asked often about what is my goal? What size buck defines a "shooter" for me. I can't honestly answer that, because I don't have a specific goal. When the right buck walks past, I'll shoot him. The ONLY goal I have is a "nice" 8 point or better. I don't personally care about how old he is, how many inches of horn...Folks ask if I'll shoot an equal or lesser buck than the one I shot last year. My answer to that is an emphatic YES, if he's the "right" one. Ya'll know what I'm talking about. A buck walks up, you're like...."Do I want to shoot this one?" In my limited experience, if I have to ask myself that......I'm gonna let them walk. When I see a buck and don't have to think about it, I let loose, no matter the size or maturity stature.

So what say ye? Am I wrong? How many of ya'll have the same "goal?"

[Deleted]
 

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RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

Thats myplans exactly as my unexperienced butt sits in a tree this season.

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

I think everyone has "their" goals.

I think the threads we have had have been good and well mannerd. Nothing wrong with buck talk:D Your's is good one also.

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

It's not wrong to feel any way about shooting any deer.

Most of us are probably bored and its niceto have something to talk about. The biggest reason I do what I do is causeI can shoot multiple does, and for the majority of my season that is my focus and fun. So I can be pickier about bucks. Will I shoot one smaller than my biggest....in a heartbeat. But I am fortunate to have a realistic chance at some nice bucks, so for me its like a why not wait and see what I get approach. IF my current lands change, I'll re-evaluate what I feel like shooting.

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

I find my goals can change from day to day....hunt to hunt. One hunt I may just watch adeer then Imay just send an arrow at the same deer the next time.

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

Don:

My standards aren't that high;).

When you're "holding out" for 100"+ or a solid 3.5yr old+......that's not so tough. Don't get me wrong, though.....I've hunted 120+ times the last 3 seasons.....and I've seen exactly TWO that fit that bill, here.

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

Mobow, I sincerely apologize if I in any way made you feel wrong for hunting any way you want. Certainly, that was not at all my intention because you are not wrong. Everyone should do exactly what you do and that is hunt the way they enjoy. I have just gotten more into the "targeting" of bucks because I have cameras now that tell me what is around. I really didn't search these guys out. They are just the ones that I know that are around that I will be after. A lot like you actually only I get a "sneak peek" at them before hand;)

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

Ive always said it anyway, shoot what make YOU happy ;)Ill be the first to give congrats unless someone beats me to it :DPersonally im going to hold out for a 3.5 this season or better even if i eat my tag. Ill tag does for my fix ;)

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

huntingson, you haven't, nor has anyone else. My only point to this, speaking from experience, is that we can put an awful lot of pressure on ourselves, and EACH OTHER. When we talk about bucks, we generally talk about BIG bucks, and expectations, and goals, and targeting certain bucks.

ALL I'm saying is that I sometimes think we inadvertantly put undo pressure on ourselves sometimes, thinking, all be it subconsciously, that we have to shoot a certain size buck to be ......"accepted"....

Now let me follow that up by saying that Iknow this isn't true, I've never seen anyone here "reprimanded" for shooting a small buck. In fact, there's congrats all around and pats on the back a plenty......BUT, let's face it. We have a what? Buck contest in which the winning team is determined by what? Most inches. When bucks are talked about, it's the "big" bucks that are talked about, holding out for the big one.....

When someone in our "family" shoots a buck.....it's ALWAYS a celebration, no matter the size......I just think sometimes we need to take a step back and put things in persepective. Go out and have fun. When the right one walks by, shoot the thing.

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

Is it that time of the month Don? :DKidding [8D];)

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

Says the dude with the 130" whitetail in his avatar.[8D]

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

LMAO!! I think I need a band aid.....I think it's from just sitting around IM'ing all day......[&:]

I'm sorry if that all came off as crabby or what have you....it's not meant that way at all....I was just trying to add a different spin to it is all.

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

Duke, you bring about a good point. I guess that's easy for me to say, huh? [&:] But believe me I know about the pressure I was speaking of. I felt like the world was lifted from my shoulders when that buck went down. I was just looking for that "nice" 8 point, and got much more than I expected. God blessed me, and I was fortunate.

But I'll tell ya......I didn't have to ask myself if he was the right one when I saw him...;):D

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

&

Was that the same poster?[8D]

????????????

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

Don.. my avatar should now appease you.:)

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

I think it is great for those of you that have huge goals and only look for those huge bucks. With everyone at a different experience levels and hunting different areas that may not produce the type of numbers that others have access to I go by the rule that if I would be proud of taking that deer then it meets my size requirements. I have passed on a few that I questioned on weather I would have been proud or not. Because of this I am still waiting to take my first deer. I have all intentions of that happening this year. But can honestly say I have no idea what I am looking for.

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

I fail to see the contradiction? Or wasn't that your point?

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

Don:

No malice intended....but in one breath you're telling people to take a step back and put things in perspective.... "go out and have fun"......and in the next breath admitting to having the weight of the world on your shoulders.....prior to killing the '07 buck.

I just thought it was funny....and if you don't see the contradiction.....well...no biggie.

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

No malice taken either. But I think the statement about having the weight of the world on my shoulders supports the reason behind.......Going out and having fun. Pressure, to me......isn't fun.

Have a good night.

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

I meant it in fun....and I agree with the above.

Good night

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

As most of you know, it's all about having fun for me....And it always will be. I'm a spur of the moment hunter in that if I see something I like I'll try to kill it. It doesn't need to be old or a P&Y. Yeah, I have my standards and I've let a lot of nice deer walk over the years, sometimes because of aslammer I've seen and others because it just wasn't quite what I wanted. The nicest deer I have ever seen was a perfect basket 10-point that probably wouldn't quite make 125in (P&Y) but the rack was just about as perfect as I've ever seen and I would have loved for that deer to have given me a shot at him.

I hunt for me...I hunt for fun and I will never stop doing that.

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

I shoot what I want to. Be it a buck doe or fawn. I suggest everyone else do the same.

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

I have no problem with anyone shooting what they want. What I do have a problem with are the folks that complain about there being "no big bucks around" or the folks that say "if I don't shoot 'em then someone else will". These excuses simply do NOT hold water in my book. Don't be part of the problem, be part of the solution. It is ALL of OUR responsibility to do our part to take control of the badly skewed and out-of-whack deer herds that years and years and poor management have led us to. Good luck and good huntin'

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

Mobow, I think we all are really deep down in the same boat, you said it best when you said when the right one steps out in front of you you will know. That is how it is with all of us you just know. I had a thread a while ago about guys throwing around numbers too much and I think you just summed it up perfectly for me. By throwing around numbers too much you start to make so other hunters uncomfortable with there decisions, just because the buck that makes me go that's him might not do it for others. So in a nut shell "SHOOT WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY"end of story every deer buck or doe is a trophy it just depends where you are at in your hunting carreer at the time.. Walt

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

I'll shoot when my brain says, " OHHHH! THATS A SHOOTER!" Its not complicated for me.

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

Deer Hunting Gospel :)

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

Peer pressure. I think it's more destructive than good. I'm sure it is.

As an obstinent man it has the reverse effect on me, but it obviously still effects me for the bad.

I'm a gin it.

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

I'm in it for the meat! A big buck is considered a bonus. I have let many smaller bucks pass though.

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

Given the severity of the poaching situation whereI hunt and the number of tags we have in Virginia (6, including two antlered tags) and the problem with the deer population here, I'll shoot whatever I can, except for 1st year animals. I'd like a trophy, but I also like meat.

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

I keep my goal simple. I get 1 buck tag and I buy 2 doe tags. My goal is to fill all 3 tags. ;)

I have never passed up a shot at any legal buck. We have antler restrictions so my only criteria is that he meets the legal requirement of 4 pts on a side. I determine the weight, age and score after the kill.

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

"A nice 8pt buck" is your trophy standard, you won't shoot a 6pointer, as some guys wont shoot an 8pointer under 150" etc...etc...

many meat hunters will simply shoot the 1st deer that presents a shot, doe, buck, 1.5yo, 8.5yo no matter.

everyone has their own standard/goals, nothign wrong with either of them.

as far as pressure on ourselves...I can kinda understand that, I don't see it as pressure, I see it as simply a minimum standard of buck I'll shoot, I won't be happy with less, so passing a 135" buck to me doesn't pressure me, or upset me. I know guys that want to shoot a 170" buck, but the first 120-130" buck that comes past them they shoot. I don't think that is a good plan if you want a 170. I don't feel like less of ahunter because I have killed less deer than other guys, or that I've yet to take that 190" whitetail with a bow. I really don't hunt to seek the admiration of other hunters, maybe one day they'll give me praise, if not, doesn't matter to me. Personally my view would be that a guy who has 3 bucks over 200" vs 30 bucks that are 130" and not 1 over 160", well the guy with 3 200" is more successful, but other guys may say 30 bucks is better than 3. I myself know I could have taken 130" buck every year I've been hunting, but have passed on them.I also don't see the need to put 130" buck on my wall every year, my own little plan is to keep shooting bigger and bigger deer, within reason, if i were to shoot a 200" buck this year, next year I wouldn't be waiting on something over 200". I won't shoot a buck that I won't put on the wall, thats my own philosophy, I'll take a doe for meat, maybe a buck, though I have yet to as a management buck.

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

The main thing is to keep your goals at a point where it is Fun for you. If the Fun leaves Bowhunting for anyone they will not stick around long.

Many times I Trophy hunt for a couple of weeks. Sometimes I'm successful, sometimes not, but then I have times and trips set aside to just fill the freezer and have fun.

Whackin & Stackin!!;)

Dan

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

I understand your point, and you are right. EXCEPT that....in my particular instance......a 6 point isn't a legal deer. That changes the parameters a little. So it's not so much a goal as law.

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

That does change things! When it's the Law!!

Don, is MO. still keeping the 4 point rule? I heard there was talk about dropping it in certain areas, or completely, or ???

Dan

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

i do exactly what your talking about and it does work ive shot a bigger and bigger buck every year... it makes it more challenging and you gotta wait extra long for a bigger one(most of the time).

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

I shoot what I want and whatever gives me the shot I want to take whether it's a 6pt(Pa. has antler restrictions),a book buck,doe or button buck.Somebody earlier mentioned about how the deer herds were askew and mismanaged.Pa. for years had 1 million deer in the state.If anything,there were too many doe but the herd was healthy & we killed alot of bucks and many more doe each and every year.
Shoot what you want,enjoy your time in the woods and don't worry about horn porn

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

Dan, they are indeed keeping the AR's, and in fact have increased them from 19 counties to........uhhhh.......I'm shooting from the hip here, but I think it's been increased to 39 counties. Personally, I believe it will be state wide in another year or two, along with quite a few other changes.


Dan, you PM box is full brother....tried to send you a message.....Now I gotta retype it....[:@] :D:D

RE: What's wrong with just shooting?
 

I'll fix the PM box!!

Sorry![:@]

Dan