"Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

For those of you who are of this mindset, why do you believe this statement to be true?

At the same time, is any rifle kill a trophy?

Any muzzleloader kill?

Any shotgun kill?

Why is bowhunting that much different as far as what constitutes a trophy?

I'm not looking for a debate on why bowhunting is better than any other form of hunting. I'm just curious as to what some of you think about this statement. We hear it often enough, but I've never heard anyone explain why.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

While shooting a deer at 200+ yds an example of good marksmanship,you're really not beating that deer's senses.Shooting one at 15yds or under is totally differant

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

I have mixed feelings, after REALLY thinking about it.

I believe the trophy is in the eye of the beholder. Cliche', yeah. I believe any deer harvested(by me) is a trophy, IF it is a deer that I think it is (see Caught up in the Kill)Who is anyone to tell anyone else that it is in fact a trophy because you shot it with a ________?

Just my thoughts.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

If you can't figure out on your own why harvesting a deer with a bow is a bigger accomplishment than with a rifle or muzzleloader, then there is no sense in explaining it to you. It's kind of like comparing taking a deer with a recurve or a compund. If you can't figure out which one is more difficult then there is no sense in explaining it to you.



Let's see................A deer with a bow from 20 yards, or a deer from a rifle from 200 yards. You be the judge.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

So distance relative to the hunter constitutes a trophy?

Could a rifle hunter not simply do the same thing? Waiting for a shot at an animal inside 20 yards?

Would that trophy be the same as one taken with a bow?

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

That is some flawed logic:eek:

At what point does

A rifle at ____ yards = bow at _____ yards.

What if I shot a deer at 900 yards with a rifle, then would it be a trophy?

...how can you tell me that a trophy to ME, isn't. I'm real confused.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

Sorry, I was assuming we were talking realistic shots. IE 20 yards with a bow, 200 with a rifle. Hell shoot one at 3 miles with a rifle and it is a trophy. I honestly think some of you talk out your ass sometimes just to argue.

BTW you can call one of your turds a trophy and I can't take that away from you.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

You still didn't answer my question though;

Distance relative to the hunter is what constitutes a trophy, JB?

If that were the case...

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

I believe anything is a trophy no matter what its harvested with. My biggest three trophys are firearm kills, even though i rarely hunt with them anymore. My sons first buck was a 1.5 six point with a shotgun. It was to me and him better than any trophy i had taken at that time. Its what you make of it. In my younger years anything was a trophy to me but as i have gotten older with many deer under the belt, i have changed in my eyes what a trophy is TO ME. Its where you are at the stage in your life and what your goals are. If you think a 1.5 -4 point is a trophy, then so be it, it is!! Its what anyone deems a trophy is to him/her.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

It's not about distance.It's aboutbeating a deerin his own backyard-beating his senses and getting off the perfect shot

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

The trophy status is determined by the person taking that animal.....and no one else. Someone may see someone elses kill and think "Gee, that would be a trophy to me," but it's not theirs and they can't decide that for the person.

It is not determined by distance or any other measurable variable. It is determined by the person's perception of their accomplilshment.


There are guys on here that lay down buisers with consistency, and we have rookies who will soon go into the woods with a bow for the first time. These people will likely be going after different types of deer while they are hunting, but if they kill what they are after, they will both have taken trophies.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

uh.... okay?


Wash, to answer your question... No, I don't think that every animal I kill with my bow or anything else is a trophy. I've killed stray cats... they aren't trophies whether I shoot them with a bow, rifle or a sling shot. For me... a buck or bull that is large enough for me to mount would be a trophy. Trophy does... I'm not sure about that.

But my answer is No.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

WH, ol Jeff is wearing off on you:D. Difference between bow, ML and rifle is stealth, much stealth is needed to accomplish a bow kill. Rifle or ML you can sit on the back porch and kill.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

For those of you who are of this mindset, why do you believe this statement to be true?
I'd love to see some of you pros hunt where I do.,.I know a few on here{ pros} that have hunted the area and refuseto go back..their answer..theres no deer..However ..60 were harvested last year;)..My area takes serious skill , work and the blessing of God..We can take does during archery but only bucks during general gun..In the Green Swamp WMA any deer is a trophy..you will be lucky to see 10 from your stand in 3 months..

At the same time, is any rifle kill a trophy?
For me...yes not literaaly a wall mounter but diffently one where I call all my friends and post on HNI even if it's a spike..NOW when I hunt in Missouri..NO..we are looking for decent racks..In central Florida WMA..any buck would be great.

Any muzzleloader kill? diffently

Any shotgun kill? yep

Why is bowhunting that much different as far as what constitutes a trophy? there is much more that can go wrong..
a. twigs
b. little bend in the rest
c.little bend in a fletching
d.shakes
e.must be closer so the risk of getting busted
f. I must stand up ...with a firearm I can sit.
g. with my bow the arrow could come off the rest
so the odds of scoring lessens..IMHO


I'm not looking for a debate on why bowhunting is better than any other form of hunting. I'm just curious as to what some of you think about this statement. We hear it often enough, but I've never heard anyone explain why.

As far as trophies..I fish in the bass capitol of the world..so what I consider quality fish is much bigger than my Northern friends..diffently must be 10 pounds or bigger to mount.Our deer are much smaller...a 100 incher is certainly a mounter here..

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

WH,
I like the idea you are trying to get at, I think some are missing your point.

Personally every deer I kill with my bow is not a trophy, some aresimply food.

I've killed 4 does in gun season with my revolver. 15,17,22,35 yds were the shot distances. These were difficult kills and I am extremely proud of them. Much more so than the last 4 does I've shot in archery season...MUCH.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

Ryan, that is a great point ... it's all about what it means to the individual ...... unfortunately, what others say can affect what is a trophy to said individual ....here is the bottom line ....... be proud o whatever you shoot and to hell with the opinions of others that try and lessen it :)


On average, only 17% of bowhunters take a deer and 26% of gun hunterstake deer ... this includes doe, BB, Rob Bucks, et al.

When you take a deer, you are part of a small percentage

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

Trophy???? What's that? I do not personnally feel every bow kill is a trophy. They're cool and it's what we wanted to do, but sometimes it's just some steaks and backstraps. A trophy is to whoever declares it so. I don't honestly think any of them are trophys. They're deer. They're steaks and maybe a nice set of horns or something, but I don't look at ANY deer as a trophy. I think of a trophy as something I won in track in high school. To me a deer is a deer that I hunt for food and the enjoyment it brings when I succeed... or fail.[:@][8D]

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

"On average, only 17% of bowhunters take a deer" Preacher TOny


YIKES!!! now the pressure is really on..I guess I need a Caleb and Joshuaattitude brother Tony...The odds are against me but my God is able.;)

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

I believe any deer is a trophy, with any hunting means available, within the laws.
Hunting in NH is much different than my hunting trip to Texas last year or Ala. in 1994, we just don't have those deer numbers up here.
It's more of a question to me about what's more challenging?
Obviously Bow hunting, hunting with a pistol or hunting with a flint lock muzzle loader means you need to have deer closer for an ethical kill within your own abilities.
I use the flint lock as an example against an in-line muzzle loader.
As I can shoot 150 yards with my in-line, plus moisture is not as much of a concern, but probably wouldn't chance a shot over 60-70 yards with the flint lock.
This increases the odds of the deer and the ability of the hunter, along with the famed wind. Luck plays a factor sometimes too!
I am happy with what ever I decide to pull the trigger on, period.;)

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

I personally think every deer I kill, whether it be by gun or bow, is a trophy.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

Point well taken. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought for sure Jeffposted this thread.;):D:DAnyway, I think it'sjust the little EXTRA details you need to take care of. Like letting him/her get close enough, drawing the bow without being detected, ect. This subject could go back and forth forever though. Hence my first statement.:)

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

I think bowhunting is much more involved, practicing hrs and hrs,figuring the deer patterns, setting stands at different areas, and setting them for the right shot. playing the wind to get in undetected so you can get close and harvest a deer. I think bowhunting gives the deer a chance. you have to place the shot just right to make a clean kill. you might have to grunt to get him in to 20 30 yds and hope he gives you a good shot. with a rifle you got to place the shot right, but he dont have to be within 25, 30 yds. you might be able to shoot thru a few limbs too. if he runs off and stops to look back at ya, you might be able to get off a shot, with a bow thats out of the ?? I hunt every area with a rifle too. Ijust jump off 50 or so yds, and alot of times wish I had the bow. But to me every deer taken with a bow or rifle is a trophy. just more rewarding with the bow.and some good eating

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

For me I am alot like davidmill, I hunt for the steaks. After having said that I find shooting a deer with a bow is alot harder to do. I can shoot a deer running with a rifle at 100 yards. Now you take a bow and there is no chance of me trying that even at 10 yards..All my hunting is from the ground,walk and stalk or just sitting there waiting for one to come by. Here in my area there is not alot of deer to be found. Coyotes and bears pretty much keep them a bay so hunting them my way is very hard to do. But all in all I have shot 4 deer that way and all of them made some great eating. I have never tried muzzle loading so I can not comment on that one. For as far as shotguns I have shot a few that way as well and can also hit them running. So shooting one with a bow to me can leave no greater feeling than to know you out foxed a deer in the deers own terf. That alone makes it some sort of a trophy that will serve me and my family just fine on the table for dinner..

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

I wont say any deer I've taken is a trophy. I look at them all as accomplishments, but my reason for hunting is enjoyment and food, not trophies.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

To me any deer on the ground is a trophy and meat in my freezer. I am just as proud and appreciative of the deer I take with my ML as I am of the deer I kill with my bow. Same would be true if I could use a rifle in my area.

Don't think that just because you don't use a bow it is easy. I know people that have hunted for years with shotgun, ML and rifle and have never killed a deer or killed very few. I manage to take one every season I hunt. I feel that is an accomplishment. If it was that easy everyone that had a tag would take a deer, and that simply doesn't happen and we all know that.

However for me it is not a competition, I don't care that you killed more deer than I did, or less or how you went about it or that yours was bigger and older than mine. It simply doesn't matter to me. And I can't for the life of me figure out why it would matter to anyone else, unless they are of the mindset that they just have to be better than someone else.

If you don't "feel" right taking a deer with a gun or taking a young deer or doe then fine. That is your personal goal, just don't impose it on anyone else. If you don't want to hunt with a gun, then don't. Like I always say, I could argue you are less of a hunter by not using the best weapon available to you, or that you let deer walk by waiting for something better. I could also argue that bow hunting is less ethical than gun hunting. I'm sure you wouldn't like it if I told you that. The purpose of deer hunting is regulate the population, not let them walk by waiting for something better. If that were the case I wouldn't need a weapon, I could just get a nice camera.

I can't understand why someone feels the need to undermine another persons accomplishments. Like say a coworker has been hunting for 4 or five years (started as an adult) and finally takes a deer. He is excited and tells you he killed his first deer, or second or third for that matter. And it just happens that he did it with a .243 at 120 yards. Why would someone say "Well yeh, but you did it with a rifle, I'm a real hunter I use a bow." What purpose does that serve other than making someone feel bad and stroking your own ego?

It MIGHT make you a better hunter, but it certainly doesn't make you a better person. At least not in my book.

And by the way, I killed a deer my very first time in a stand with a bow. First time I ever hunted for deer, half an hour into opening day. Wearing black jeans and a cammo T-shirt, no scent lock or anything like that.

Paul

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

I hate the word trophy, its just so subjective, and means so much to different people, which why I dont use it.

All of my deer kills whether they be withbow orshotgun are accomplishments to me. I do not shoot a deer just to kill it, I shoot it because I want to harvest that particular deer. This applies to anything from a BC buck to this years fawn. If I am succesful in harvesting that deer, I have achieved my goal and am very proud of that fact and that alone.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

Any deer on my dinner plate is a trophy. Rifle/Bow/Shotgun whatever. Doe and bucks a like. Hell, if me and a friend went out with the exact same setup and I came home with a spike and my friend came home with 200 points. I'd still think "MINE" is the trophy just cause it was mine.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

I actually think it's funny when people say "anything I shoot with bow is a trophy to me".

I don't see many people puting fawn and doe heads on their wall.

I don't even like the term "trophy" being used when it comes to hunting...trophys are something you get for winning a game or competition.

Hunting means much more to me than any game.

Just my .02.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

"Any bow kill is a trophy"
"Any bow kill is an accomplishment"

Same thing in my book, just use which word makes you more comfortable. Last year my son shot his first deer with a bow, a doe. It sure felt like a trophy to him.

Many years ago when I started bowhunting compounds were still relatively in the developmental stages and deer were not nearly as plentiful, at least in Illinois. We were allowed one deer permit with bow and if you were lucky enough to draw a permit one deer with firearm. My fatherinlaw who got me started in bowhunting told me the same phrase. Where he read or heard it I don't know. I'm pretty sure the "any bow kill is a trophy" phrase was started long before that.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

any buck is a trophy to me. because this is only my 3rd year deer hunting. i havent shot a buck yet so any buck is a trophy for me

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

"Any bow kill is a trophy"...
All of you are WAY overthinking this!
When someone says this, they dont literally mean "trophy". It is a simple phrase, with a simple meaning. When you say it, you are just saying that bowhunting is extremely hard in its own way. Almost as if you've done something difficult and deserve a trophy.
Thats all there is to it.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

EVERY deer is a trophy, just maybe not every hunt!;)

I know i get more pumped up about the hunt when i kill one with my bow, but am still damn proud of what i kill with a gun!:D

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

Trophy... nevermind

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

If I dont feel that ANY deer that I shoot is a trophy to me, I wont shoot it.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

If you shoot a deer at 20 yards with a 300 mag an consider it a trophy so be it. I think the trophy logic also is taken in the difficuilty level. Thats is why a doe is considered a trophy also. If you do not consider anything that you take the life of a trophy why do you shoot it an not give it that honor. Go to the store an buy your groceries.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

I could care less how others define the deer they shoot.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

Yea, the quotation marks around the title were a dead giveaway:D

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

early, I think you have a secret obsession with Jeff ...... he consumes your thoughts ... hence some of your recent posts ;)

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

I disagree that any deer killed with a bow is a trophy. Anyone can kill a deer with a bow in my opinion. Ive seen some deer that look like they have no clue what is going on and would come in no matter what you did. What im saying is that someone who doesnt put any time into scouting or any thought into scent control is going to get lucky sooner or later and shoot a young(dumb) deer. However, the guys that can go out and get in close to a 5.5+ year old buck or doe can consider that a trophy. With older deer I believe a lot more weight falls on your stand location, scent control, being quiet in the stand etc. A 5.5 year old monster is much more of a trophy to me then a young deer that doesnt know any better. As far as deer killed with a rifle, shotgun and muzzleloader I think that can be pretty easy. Especially with a rifle that can reach out to 300 yards, I dont consider that to be real challenging.

RE: "Any bow kill is a trophy..."
 

I'm proud of every deer I have taken but would not call every doe a trophy. I have shot doe that I felt that way about and have my eye on a fat old piebald doe that has messed with me for years and I sure would consider her a trophy if I was able to lace her this season.

I have also come to full draw on young doe ofthe year while sitting on the ground 10 feet away. I could have clubbed the little lady. It would not have been a trophy. Dang I could have hand fed her apples..