Since this is the bow hunting forum, my reply is this: If the person who downs the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd thing they see and will eat it, congratulations! You have consumed an animal that nature intended to be ate. I' ve bowhunted since 91 and haven' t picked up a gun since. I' ll shoot the 1st brown that walks by. I may shoot the next brown that walks by. The 3rd, I may be selective now. I have a wife and 3 boys that love eatin deer meat. My time at home (if I' m lucky to be home and not deployed) is valuable. I move to several places meaning I know no locals and have to figure the land and deer by myself. I don' t have the luxury anymore to know where the bigguns are usually taken and know the farmer that has land to hunt on that isn' t leased, etc, etc. So, when I find land to hunt on, and I see a doe or young buck, I' m gonna try to put him/her in the freezer.

IMHO I think that most hunters say that frase is near the end of the season and they haven' t filled their tag or when they are party hunting and helping fill someone' s tag at the very end of the season.

I appriciate all the candid responses to this topic. My property is in an area that there are not alot of animals. We work very hard at qdm year round, and it is outragious(in my opinion) to see a young animal hanging on a pole. I beleive that selection of a quality animal for harvesting is every hunters responsibility. I also realize that the younger the animal, the better the quality of meat for the freezer. But what will happen if we reduce the young herd to the point of no return.

Once again, thanks for all the spirited discussion. This is what makes us individuals.


Hunt on Hunt hard Eat well

It' s hard to change old habits and ways. Some folks are brought up to shoot a LEGAL deer. They do it with pride. They would say " HOW DARE YOU... try to tell them how to hunt, what legal animal to shoot etc etc" AND, they do have a point. Some people are simply hunters for the sake of getting out, accomplishing their goal(shoot an animal) and could give a darn about your QDM. It is their right just as much as it' s yours to set your OWN goals. Some people don' t have as much time to spend in the woods as others. They get a day a week or a couple days a season. They are included in the numbers of " Supporters of the hunting community" . You try to slander them and make them something less than they are or say they' re detrimental to your hunting. Make your way the law and 99 % will obey. Until that happens they' re having fun in the pursuit of a sport they love... maybe even more than you. Get off the soap box.

Words I hate: HARVEST [:' (] : It' s killing
QDM: (Simply another way of saying horn hunter for most)
TROPHY: It' s deer meat for gosh sakes.
MATURE ANIMAL: Same as last two in most cases

My partner and I guide hunters here in PA, and the only limits we set are the ones established by the GC. I figure that if Joe Hunter brings his child to hunt ,and it' s their 1st,let em have at it!!In fact we encourage the taking of does and if your down to your last hours and paid us $600 , who are we to say " go home empty handed" . Now I' ve hunted alot of places and w/some good and some bad hunters but never judged one on basis of trophy quality. For instance , this year my eldest son took his 1st turkey. It was a 16 lb jake . Some thought it a bad idea to let him kill it. They assumed that it was killing for the sake of killing. But those who know us personally, have seen the work he put into it (scouting, hours in the rain,and pre dawn hours of patience only to have to go to school of all things LOL).These few understood it for the true " trophy" it is!! I myself have killed lots of younger bucks in my time, but have" graduated" . I myself hold off for " good" bucks at first but since I love venison as does my entire family,I' ll shoot meat!!! I also Know people locally who have several kids and maybe only one parent workin or both out of job. A few does can go along way. This year with my son hunting we' ll have six tags ,but half of our meat will go to a lady who is the soul provider for 11 kids!! So I guess all in all I' m saying judge not what you don' t know. Sorry for the essay but just my 4 cents

CHEF, HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT KILLING YOUNG ANIMALS WILL REDUCE THE HERD TO A POINT OF NO RETURN????
THAT' S WHY THE LAWS ARE THERE!! IF YOU OBEY THE LAWS (I KNOW NOT EVERYONE DOES) THEN THERE SHOULDN' T BE ANY RESON FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

I THINK IT' S OUTRAGEOUS FOR A HORN HUNTER (OR ANYONE ELSE) TO PASS JUDGEMENT ON SOMEONE FOR KILLING YOUNG ANIMALS.

I believe in this saying on the last day of shotgun season and the last week of bow season. Otherwise it aint up to me to judge what others do and dont do.

I' m thinking it' s too early in the year to get into this crap again.
I' ll wait till wolfen68 shows up , then I' ll tell ya what I think[8D]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Exactly!!

Not everyone hunts big bucks. I don' t have a problem with shooting anything other than a spotted fawn. I like big racks too but the main reason I hunt is because I LOVE venison.