Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Matt's post reminded me that it is time to remind everyone else to be proud of whatever animal you take. Too often in past years forum members reported that they "only shot a six" or "only took a doe". Each year we try to eliminate that mindset as any animal harvested with a bow and arrow is a true trophy.

Be proud of your animal and let everyone know how well you did/do this season!
:)

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

I like the idea of a "Judgment free zone".

If you're happy with it, Stick it!:)

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Amen brother. If you took the time to wait, shoot it and drag it, you should always be proud of it.

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Honestly,some of my favorite hunts had a doe or a small buck at the end of the blood trail.Those were the days when friends got together and hunted.Now we all hunt alone:(I would go without adding another buck on my wall to have those days back.

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Ah yes, our annual 3 pack is now complete...first the Recovery post, then the Picture post and now the Be Proud post.....great reminder Frank.

PA (Frank) is right, if you've decide to take an animal for one reason or another, be it a doe, spike, 6 pt. or B&C potential...it was your decision to do so and no one has the right to say it was wrong. It's your deer, your decision and you should not have to defend your decision....be proud of your take....let's not read....well it's only a 4 pt but.....BE PROUD.

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

If someone says, "it's only" then obviously it must be below their own acceptable standards or desires which doesn't necessarily mean that they are not "proud" of their kill but perhaps they are not "as proud" as if they would have shot something more challenging.

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

If they say "its only" could also mean they are intimidated by what everyone else may think.

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

If i didn't take any pride in what I'm doing or done I don't think i would do anything at all :(
I enjoy being able to get out there and look forward to doing so every year !
And to fulfill my enjoyment there's a lot of pride that go's with it and a big
smile that sticks with me as long as i can say yup I got out there !:D

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Its always like that after the hunt is over. Thats just the way most hunters are, its our testosterone. I don't believe anyone is not proud of getting a deer. Your in that animals backyard and to take one, escpecially with a bow your doing something. I believe its more like the schoolyard mentality, someone else gets a bigger better one so the one you get doesn't seem as good. Doesn't bother me, some years I won't even shoot at a deer. Its more about getting out to nature to me. I don't get into who's bigger and better junk. If I decide to take one, you can sure as hell bet im proud of it. Heck, alot of people don't even know what there doing and never even see any all season! Thats my two cents anyways for what its worth. So don't be too hard on the people that don't seem like there proud, because im sure they are.

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Frank.

I could not agree with you more.

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Hey this year alone I've watched spikes, forks, 6's ,heck just monday I had an 8 at ten yds hanging around and looking straight at me for 30-40 min while I was standing, bow in hand waiting for him to leave. Finally he walked off. Why didn't I shoot? cause the zone I hunt the buck must have at least 3 points on one side, oh and aaaaaaaaafter you shoot that "It's only a doe" are you allowed to shoot a buck. So that "it's only a doe" means a heck of alot here if you want a big un.:)

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

I am proud of all seven deer that ive taken, every squirrel and rabbit (cant remember every single one tho) both mice (long story) and one particular rabitt that i shot with the bow.
My first two deer were nubbers but i was still proud of em. i cant pick any of my deer over the other. the biggest buck ive shot is a 4 pt and that makes me proud too.
this year i had to shoot a doe since im in earn a buck and i did and i am really proud of that one

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

My first buck slash deer with a bow was a basket 6pt. For sure was a trophy to me. Also I got him by rattling him in. That was fun and what got me hooked on bowhunting. I haven't harvested a buck since with my bow, but have missed a few and had some awesome encounters with many. I have put a few does in the freezer and I get the same rush out of harvesting a doe. Man just talking about it I can't wait to get out to the woods again. :) All in all I mostly hunt for meat although I did pass on a small 6pt on opener. Mostly because on my trail camera I have pictures of some nicer bucks hanging out in the area. MORE MEAT on them. HEHE!

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

DITTO!!!!!

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Everyone has made some great points, but where are the pics of those trophies. Everyone that has a pic of their kill, post it and let us see your trophy

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Hello all. Long time lurker here, haven't had many posts but check this site out every night after work. I got a used High Country this past spring and have learned a ton from reading this site. This evening at 6:00 I shot my first deer with a bow. It was an 8 pointer. I know I probly shoulda let him get bigger, but I'm a more proud of this deer than other animal I've harvested before. I arrowed it with
a HCA Ultra Extreme set at 70 #, shooting 100 grain wasp boss bullets with cabela's carbon arrows. The shot was from a treestand at approx 22 yards. Took a quartering away shot and had a pass-thru. The arrow actually stuck about a foot into the ground after passing through the deer. The blood trail was easy as heck to find. Deer ran about 50 yards and expired. Anywho, enough jabbering, here's my trophy :)

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Well doggonit, I can't get the pic to upload! Heh, gonna keep trying, stay tuned :)

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

This will be my 8th season in the woods. There was a break of several years in there between 5 and 6. I have killed 3 deer. 1 doe in year 6 and a doe and a button in year 7. I've completely screwed up some opprotunities to take does, spikes and big rack bucks. Each of my three kills is magical to me. The first doe was the first. The second doe I shot at 930 am, I thought I had missed but found blood so I tracked thru briar rabbits home town on my hands and knees until 1 pm before I recovered that doe. That was special to me. The button was my first rifle kill. That was awesome. God willing, I will get lucky this year. I might have does, buttons or rack bucks in my future but they will all thrill me. There's something more than antlers in the hunt. So much more. It's that thing that makes you and your hunting buddy understand so much without saying very much. it's what makes me look forward to the day that each of my boys will take their first kill and I pray that I am there by their side when they do it. I could go on and on but you guys already know the 30,000 things I'll say. It's hunting.

David

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Congrats fultontx on a fine first bowkill, I have yet to get my first buck with a bow, they always seem to wait until I have a gun in my hand to show up and offer a shot.

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Jolly good show fultontx! Sounds like you had a great hunt and made superb shot placement to boot. Just think, now you have another hobby to contend with! Congrats! :)

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Cant post pics, but took a 7 pointer on opening day.

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Well I am Darn proud of both my trophies this week!!! The first was Sat. Morning, a 2x3 (137 lb dressed), my first bow kill. I saw 2 bucks, 2 does and 3 fawns in my clover patch, the bucks left and I tryed "the can" I knew it was too early to pull the bucks in with it, but I had called does in close several times in past years. As soon as I called the bucks came running back into the food plot and started pushing the does arround. After they were sure no one else was interested in "getting lucky" they made their way past my stand. He only made it about 15 feet after the shot! :D As Awsome as that was it was nothing compared to the 7 lb 6.5 oz bundle of future deer hunter that arrived at noon on wed. I couldn't have imagined a better week!!!

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

This year was my second year bow hunting for deer and my first serious year at that. In the official score area you will see my 'little' buck. There were a lot of hunters (I would estimate over 1000) hunting the Kiabab National Forest this archery season and after 5 days of hunting approximately 50 hunters had taken a buck. According to the Game Warden I spoke with, there was only 1 buck that would be considered a 'Trophy' and all the rest were spikes, 2x2's, and few 3x3's.

My buddies and I spotted this particular buck the day before the hunt (we only saw about 5 bucks before the hunt started all spikes and 2x2') and I set up for him. He provided a broadside shot at 47 yards and I took it, taking out both lungs. 35 minutes later, I found him only 40 yards away. It was an experience I will always remember and enjoy.

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Yeah, I know I'm breaking some photo rules but I didn't have my camera with me. Taken at about 25 yards with a Gold Tip arrow and a 100 grain 3-blade Muzzy and using a Buckmaster 320 with a Keller pendulum sight. She traveled about 20 yards and then expired. While not opening day here in OH, it was my first hunt of this season. My Dad and my brother were there too. Unfortunately they didn't get any shooting, but it was great to have them there to share in the joy and pride of a great kill.

Am I proud of her...ABSOLUTELY. As my handle implies, horns aren't my thing. I'm into full freezers of tasty doe backstraps and roasts.

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Shot this doe on opening day of Illinois archery sesason around 5:30PM.

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

exactally what I was thinking.

I hope we all don't have to hear the you should of let him walk crap. I mean if someone asks if they should of let him walk and let him grow kind of thread then fine but if someone is proud and puts up a picture and posts his hunt we should congratulate them on there fine efforts. Like frand said its their choice and every animal with a bow is a trophy.

Brian

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Here's my first buck of the year. Here in WI, with the CWD thing going on, for every doe we shoot, we can get a buck tag. I took this buck off my dad's small 30 acre property, after my brother and I decided if given the chance he would be a good one. He isn't a giant, but one of the better ones I've taken with a bow, and it was the biggest buck taken off the property in the 15 years my dad has owned the property. He scored 114 4/8".

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Taken in September in 16B, Gila National Forrest
Green score 310 BC

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Some great animals here guys. Congratulations on all of them. Now it is time for me to add my own....

...shortly. ;)

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RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

My sincere apologies to any who are offended by posting a rifle-killed deer on here, but this is my son's first deer. IMO, the picture is decent too.;)

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Congratulations to him Jeff!! That is one fine doe. Tell him he can get a little extra something the next time you stop down at the shop. :)

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Couldn't be prouder of this guy.......textbook hunt.........and the pics came out nice too :)

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

HERE is my bow buck from PA this year shot him stillhunting through a pine creek bottom what a hunt!!!

http://www.awesomeantlers.com/showph...cat=503&page=1

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

This is not a pic of me...But my twin.

It was his first buck. He has hunted for 8 years and this is the first one with horns.

The kicker: He shot the buck in a Zone t EAB unit, i shot a doe two days before and well he shot the buck that was following a doe. He dropped the buck and than he took aim on the doe. He shot her, perfect heart shot, on the run though some thicket of trees.

It took a while to position the deer to get a goo pic. Hope yall like it. I made him take a nice pic of it he was gonna take one that showed he gutted underbelly.

Not the biggest buck, but it is a nice one for our area.

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

My first post. I don't have pictures:( but got a doe monday eve. Couldn't be happier. This is 2nd deer with bow. Still would have thought she was a monster buck as excited as I was. She was about 25 yards and broadside. Arrowed through heart, she went about 60 yards. Thanks for the information this is a great site, have been reading for quite awile. Just joined this summer and finaly somthing to post all questions I've had have been anwered with other post. I'll try to get my digital fixed so next time can post pics.

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Finally scored on Wednesday morning. I am very proud of this guy. Hope you like it.

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

This is my second year bow hunting, last year not even a shot. Did some serious scouting and homework = payoff. My 10 yr. old son did the calling, rattling and doe bleat, called in a very nice buck that I missed. Hour later shot a doe, which ended up being a spike buck. All I can say is Proud, Yeah Man!

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Here's a few pics of the one I just shot, not the biggest one I saw this year, but non the less proud of it....Getting down to the wire here in Pa so I decided not to pass him up....Pic quality is horrible, getting a digital cam for next year, but he is an 8 pt.

RE: Be Proud of your Animal-3rd Annual*
 

Here are a few pics of the buck my dad also got....