Rob's post about "after the shot" made me think of another topic that was hot last season...being proud of whatever animal you harvest. I can't remember how many times I remember seeing a post where someone stated "It is only a doe..." or "It was only a 4 point..." as if there was something wrong with harvesting a doe or a "small racked" buck. This shouldn't be the case. We should be proud of whatever we harvest and we should support and congratulate our fellow hunters whenever and whatever they manage to take this season.

Not all of us are fortunate enough to have the time, location or interest in harvesting a big buck. Is the "wash of emotions" any less for a beginning hunter who shoots his first doe? I think not. Or how about the hunter who is only looking to put some meat in the freezer? Each person comes from a different situation and a different set of priorities..not to mention skill level.

Every deer, bear, etc.. that is harvested this year is a trophy.

I work very hard for every animal I harvest and feel that each is a "Trophy" in its own way. You'll never hear the words "It's just a " comming out of my mouth!

Good luck this year, hunt hard and hunt safe!

PABowhntr truer words were never spoken on this subject. I will confess that I called the buck I got last year a "DINK" 4 point, but I earned him! I put forth a lot of time and effort for him. It was my first year hunting in a whole new area and I had no time to preseason scout due to moving.

My biggest trophy I hope comes this year, my first bow kill!!! I do not care if it is a buck or a doe, it will be a trophy to me! I have killed my share of buck and doe with a gun, one really big 8 pointer, but a bow kill has eluded me for the first two full seasons of bow hunting I have done.

Every kill is an accomplishment, I am sure many of you know people who have hunted for years and never made a kill, if you make a kill be proud, both of having outsmarted one of the smartest game animals in the US and for the meat on the table. A trophy lives in your mind and not on a wall.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club

Good post Frank.
To me any animal taken with bow and arrow is a trophy.
If you are going to say "oh its only a doe or only a little 4 point"
then let it walk and wait for something else that you will be pleased with.

I say if you shoot a doe then good job, good for you. If you shoot an immature buck and it's your first then I say good job, good for you. If you shoot an immature buck and you've been hunting for 10+ years and immature bucks are mostly all you've ever shot then I say bad job, shame on you, raise your standards and if you claim you just want meat then shoot another doe! If you shoot a nice mature buck, then I say, nice trophy...congratulations!

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If you take the time to practice, scout, pick your area, hunt, shoot, track, dress, (and a few other steps i am forgetting) then be proud of your harvest. Can't wait for all them pics to start being posted. It is just fun for me to see and hear about all the deer across the country being taken in areas I may never get to hunt.

wolfen, why do you say "raise your standards" to someone who has been hunting 10+ years and wants to shoot a small buck? Do they have to raise their standards to meet yours? Hell no! If they are going for a deer with antlers and that's what they shoot and they are proud of it, then I say congrats, you did what you set out to do. I personally try to set a level for myself that exceeds my previous accomplishments, but those are my standards nobody else's. IMO we shouldn't push our own standards on others, but support each other and congratulate each other on what we are fortunate enough to harvest.
BTW great post Frank.

Hey i could'nt agree more.I've taken my share of 90# Trophies.Sure everyone wants to have a monster shooter buck in his sights.I know guys that wont shoot a deer unless its 140+ class.To each his own.But dont look down on me because i shoot a spike buck or a 90 lb doe for meat.They should all be Trophies in our eyes!!

It's not how big the Deer,But the size of the experiance that matters!!

As has been said before "Any animal taken with a bow is a Trophy PLain and simple" We are handycapping ourselfs by hunting with the bow in the first place. We HAVE to get much closer than most gun hunters. Sometimes we are looking the animal eye to eye and the first to flinch loses. Most gun hunters don't even think about how close they can get.
And last but not least, the string gun dosn't have a great deal of knock-down power, so we must be good trackers as well as good shooters in addition to being good woodsmen and paying attention to a large number of details......... (I could go on but then I am preaching to the choir <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>)

Even a rabbit or Squrriel is a trophy when taken with the bow!

rant off!


Greg

&quot;Getting close to the game is the joy of Bowhunting for me, the harvest is a bonus.&quot;

Live 15 ft Python after eating a small Antelope!