Meat Hunter.
 

Last night I finished reading my NRA American Hunter magazine. It has an article on Meat vs Trophy hunting. After reading it, I'm proud to say that I'm a Meat Hunter! I'm proud of the Does that I shoot, and usually take a nice plump Doe first thing in the season for the freezer. I then use another tag for a Nice Buck. Haven't gotten a wall hanger yet but if I can harvest a Doe or two...the Season was a Success! And I won't get discouraged by not getting a Monster Buck.

The term Meat Hunter sometimes has a negative meaning, like shooting an animal under illegal circumstances just to get the meat. Thats not a meat hunter, thats a poacher, same as the guy that shoots a deer with a huge rack after dark by spotlighting. Read the article in the American Hunter and be proud to be a Meat Hunter.

Yep, I'm a Meat Hunter and Proud of it!

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

well around here i guess i dont have a choice to whether im a meat hunter or a trophy hunter. i dont hunt a big plot of woods so there arent too many trophy deer where i hunt. so i guess that means im a meat hunter but its ok, the thrill is still awesome and i still get excited when i shoot a deer.

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

I wouldn't be so quick to be discouraged. You would be very surprised where you will find some great bucks. I bet there are a whole lot more around you than you believe there are.

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

I love hunting and I love cooking....And I really love cooking venison. As a result I usually "target" at least one animal that will be excellent table fare...and that usually does NOT mean a older big buck. Although I've killed my share of larger animals, and I know full well how to make even a tough old buck more palatable, it cannot be denied that a younger animal-all other things being equal- will taste better and be more tender than an older animal. The 1.5 to 2.5 yr old Does I put in the freezerare good eating. The larger buck still taste good, just not as good.
I'm a deer hunter. and they just happen to be made of meat.....really good meat.

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

buckeye,

i didnt explain what i mean, sorry. i am sure that there a trophy bucks in the woods i hunt, it is just not where they are consistantly bedding and eating. just where they happen to wonder every once in a while. chances of seeing them are rare but the chance is there. hope that cleared things up??

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

I love that article , the best is the pic of the old man dragging out the monster from the mountains! Reminds me of the first day of rifle here in PA draggin my deer out of the tall pines in the north mountains! Great article!

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

I am a Deer hunter, we are all deer hunters, I would rather not devide us into other groups. Guys who hunt deer for meat, would rather shoot a monster buck, given the opertunity. I take plenty of does for fun and food, but hold out for the 140+ class bucks. If I get one, thats great, if I don't, thats OK too. Sometimes I have even let those pass. Hunting is a personal thing, the way we perceive hunting is different for every individual.

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

The one point in what was said is what is a pocher...if my family needed something to eat... I also know were the wiold berries are.
If were just for the kill or to sell that would darken the gray drasitcly.
But to just condem.

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

Gentlemen:
May I take this moment to remind you all that any deer taken with a bow is a trophy, be it a doe or monster buck, as long as we treat all of them with the same respect and go out of our way not to waste any of it.

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

RCD! I'll read that article tommorrow, I have a copy of the Mag right here in front of me .Some do look at meat hunters in a different perspective, but we all know what you mean because I'm just like you meat in the freezer first then hunt that wall hanger ,which I haven't gotten yet either. They are on the property I hunt so hopefully soon I'll have one on my wall.

nubo

Be proud of being a hunter whether to fill the freezer orr to hang the big boy on the wall .I don't kill animal's strictly for the antler's the meat get's used as well . Some people think that trophy hunter's just take the rack's and don't care about the meat ,have they ever been informed wrong.

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

Well after what happened to my buck from last season.

I am only going to shoot doe's and fill the freezer.


That is unless another big buck comes walking past:)

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

Well i'm both but wouldn't get an trophy animal without taking the meat. I wouldn't be an hunter if i did just that [:@]

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

I hunt for the love of the sport. Anything that presents a good shot is in the freezer. I've passed up some small deer but oppurtunities are rare for any deer where I hunt. From now on I'll take any deer, legal of course. Trophy hunters must love burgers!

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

I consider myself a trophy hunter, but I think of "trophy hunting" in a different way then most do. My idea of a trophy hunter is somebody who manages the deer herd to the best of there abilities to better the deer herd and habitat. I think a trophy hunter is somebody who passes up young buck (4 1/2 or less) and only takes old mature bucks (5 1/2+) who have passed along there genes. I shoot alot of does and some cull bucks each year, but the reason why I'm doing this is to better the overall deer herd. My main goal each year is to get a 150"+ buck that is 5 1/2+. I think everybody would be a "trophy hunter" if they could, meaning that if they had the choice between a 170" buck or a 100 pound doe, they would choice the buck. But in some areas of the country the hunters have no choice but being a "meat hunter" which isint a bad thing. But I'm sure they would rather have the chance to be a "trophy hunter".

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

I'd like to see the categorizing of trophy hunter's and meat hunters dissappear,because we all hunt mainly for the same reason ,whether he's a trophy or not he's a memory that we'll all be able to share with other's regardless whether it's a big one small one or even an odd ball . Sure if he's big we'll have him on our wall but he still doesn't get wasted .I've gotten small buck's and doe's and i remember them as well as the other's which I haven't got yet THAT WALL HANGER} We all enjoy the hunt that goes with every animal we take and that's what we remember the most . Do you guy's agree with this?

nubo

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

TXHighrack,
I too always look for that 150+ buck but haven't had the chance. I've seen a few but not within range. In 1974 I shot my first buck with a Browning BAR .270 at about 300 yards, five minutes after the season opened. He was actually a 12 pointer. Uncle owned 3000 acres of pasture in western Nebraska and we just drove to the top of a canyon wall and glassed for bucks once the sun came up. Took that rack and nailed it to the outside of his shed. If I had to guess, I'd guess it would score about 170. The buck has 4 brow tines about 3 inches each which is why it's a 12 pointer. Anyway, shot a couple other bucks this way and figured out there had to be more to deer hunting than this and picked up a bow. Still have that faded old rack out in the garage somewhere. Since then I've shot lots of Does and have had to work a lot harder for them. Therefore I'm really proud of them. Make no mistake, I'd love to shoot a 150+ with my bow and maybe will someday. I'd love to have the property I used to be able to hunt but it's since been sold, so I have to do with what little ground I have. Does or Bucks...I'll take whatever the good Lord allows and be proud.:)

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

Of course i look for the +150 class buck, who doesnt. But i also look for that tasty doe walking past. I am 15 an i shoot whatever walks past. The only trophy hunter that i would set aside from the general deer hunting group would be the one that doesnt care about the meat. One that will stick one late at night and leave it until morning and cut the rack off and leave the rest there.

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

SHARPSHOT ! those guy's that do that aren't in our class and I don't call them hunters .They are POACHERS not hunters ,they don't belong in our category. They have no pride and I'm sure if they looked in the mirror they couldn't possibly feel the same as we do about our achievements. They forget about those hunt's and the little details and we don't forget any details about how each hunt occur's.

nubo

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

i'm a meat hunter ......if a big buck walks by.....i'm gonna take him...but i like shooting does to......they are all trophies
;)

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

I right now feel like I should be an exterminator. There are way too many deer now and more need to be dropped. They are out of control. They are no longer respected in many communities and have become a common pest. That is where I am at fault. I should be doing my part and filling all of my tags. I'm guilty of contributing to this mess.

I don't really care for the meat anymore. There was a day that I did. I remember telling myself how I would always be a meat hunter not out for the sport. My how times change. I really blame it on how busy my schedule is. I don't have time for dealing with the meat, I give it all away. I want the monster and nothing less. I only hunt my choice areas that I expect to see the big ones. I have a few choice properties that hold biggens daily. I have opened some of my own property to hunters who want meat.

Good luck next season.

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

Theres a lot of excellent table fare to be had with all deer, but especially the younger and not so mature deer. It is definitley true that if you plan to care for it properely and do it allyourself it is time consuming.
There are plenty of programs in most states for donating your game meat to the needy.

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

iam a meat hunter:D

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

Nubo: I think your right on track! every deer in one way or another is a trophy! to take one with a gun or bow, show the animale all the respect it deserve`s and love everything about hunting! the meat and the memory`s;)

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

Well....I am a MEAT hunter also.......:D

I only hunt to MEAT a Big Buck........LOL[8D]

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

I always bust the first 90-110 doe for the freezer.As far as the "trophy" is concerned,If you'er not putting on the wall,don't shoot it!,you can't eat the antlers anyway.Here in Maryland,with the properties I hunt,the landowners want the deer removed,so my buddies and I donate alot to the homeless.Besides that,if you know where the does are,sooner or later,you'll get a chance at that "trophy".Thats the beauty of bowhunting,their all trophies with the right to be sliced thin and piled high!!!...Bob

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

I spend a lot of time looking for 150 plus bucks during the year to hunt but i always get a good doe for steaks the big bucks make great jurkey chilli and roast i didnt hunt the past 3 years i have a friend who does the procesing so i had free meat since i have moved ill have to get my own meat now i dont care if you call it meat or trophy hunting as long as you are ethical and fallow the rules its fine by me[8D]

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

No sir, you are a QDM hunter. To me a "meat hunter" is a hunter that just kills the first thing he sees because he wants the meat and that is all that is important.

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

I agree wolfen68, however i wouldnt shoot a baby deer yearling i would shoot the first mature thing that came by, i always kill a couple does before i look for mr. big.

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

I pick bambi everytime if I plan on meat hunting.

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

Fieldmouse...why? You get about a third or less meat from a baby deer than a mature deer and you have absolutely no way of knowing what sex of deer you are removing from the herd. To me it is an unnecessary act without much thought.

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

I have yet to go bowhunting for deer, but that has always been my philosophy when rifle hunting. Horns were always a bonus.

But, I don't know that I would follow that same path now. Mostly because I'd hate to end the season too quickly.

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

Simple, Bambi are lighter and much easier to deal with.

As far as the herd goes, you can't damage the herd where I hunt. There are absolutely too many deer and not enough hunters. Limits are going to unlimited but that won't even help. It's hard to describe it unless you see it first hand. This year I will take a day armed only with a camera. I'll get shots of the herd and you can tell me what you think. I'm willing to take bets on how many deer I can get in one shot first time out there this fall. I'll go as high as 15 and possibly 24+. I'm sure I will see well over 24 go past me in 3 hours time.

As I said in many past post, ethically I should be filling my tags out every hunt. I don't care to deal with the kill most of the time so I pass on most hunts. When I do shoot that monster, he will be taken directly tothe Taxidermist and the carcus will be going to Hunters for the Hungry.

RE: Meat Hunter.
 

That article was the best I've read in a long time. I think the differentiation between trophy and meat hunters is useless and artificial in most cases. I'm a meat hunter - I buy no red meat from the grocery store, but I'm also a trophy hunter - because I have the time and tags to do it.