Is everyone a trophy hunter??
 

It seems as I cruise the forums everyone is a trophy hunter only. Hardly anyone will admit to shooting a fork or anything less than a 3.5 year old. I wish I could be that selective but I don't have the luxury. I just plain don't have that many deer around and sure don't see them everytime out in the stands with or without horn.
Other than buttons everything I see is at risk.I guess if I am lucky enough to score this year it had better be big enough to post or I will just keep my dirty little secret and hang my head in shame..

RE: Is everyone a trophy hunter??
 

I would love to see any deer pics. I like to wait for a big one. I'm not always successful though. I pass up dozens of deer every season including nice 8 points. I guess thats why hunting is so enjoyable. You make up your own rules and do what makes you happy.

RE: Is everyone a trophy hunter??
 

Any deer is a trophy,a wall hanger will come by one day,enjoy what is
there for you!

RE: Is everyone a trophy hunter??
 

another thing is where I'm at in PA a buck has to have 3 points on one side to be legal.

RE: Is everyone a trophy hunter??
 

if there's a nice buck in my area then sometimes i really hunt him. with 2 weeks to go in the season it's brown and down. some years i take the first legal buck that comes in. there's nothing to be ashamed of to take a lesser buck. any deer taken with a bow and arrow is a trophy.[8D]

RE: Is everyone a trophy hunter??
 

I am a meat hunter, so first come first served![8D]

RE: Is everyone a trophy hunter??
 

You can believe this or not. I really dont think about the big bucks much. I think it has always been more about the hunt for me. Being outside and having something to do. Now dont get me wrong, if I kill a big buck you will all hear about it with me jumping up and down and yelling but I will also post pictures of all my kills be wall hangers or not...

RE: Is everyone a trophy hunter??
 

This will be my first year deer hunting, I am prepared to shoot any deer that comes by. I will get more selective once I gain some experience.
Hopefully this time tomorrow my son and I are dragging out our first animal.

RE: Is everyone a trophy hunter??
 

Good luck to all.....every hunt is a trophy.
BOB

RE: Is everyone a trophy hunter??
 

I do not consider myself a Trophy hunter at all. I have noticed a few things and am trying a few things also. Like I have a nice eight already. Could be my ego, but I would like to have a real nice buck on the wall. At least one that is ten points and 150+ inches. Another reason I started passing up bucks last year besides size is taste. I can tell a real difference in buck meat compared to nice young, smalltender doe meat, so unless it is a nice buck, my meat is going to be young doe, if it is late in season any size will do if I have nothing, my stove does not complain. I also in the last couple of years have got my dad back into hunting and my nephew. Both times I passed up the nice little eights I was thinking of my dad and nephew getting a crack at it. Last year I passed up doe's on the first few weeks of season, hoping to see a nice buck and trying to keep my presence to minimum. Last year I ended up with no deer at all. So with all that said the first thing that walks by me with out a rack is taking a dirt nap, if it has milk on its breath sorry about its luck! Ohio is only allowed one buck, so I would like to hold out for a nice one since I really don't care to eat them.

RE: Is everyone a trophy hunter??
 

Don't get me wrong. I like to shoot big deer and have a few "decent" 8's and 9's in the house. Never scored them but it never really mattered. The best ones are not even mounted cause I like to pick them up and fondle them from time to time. I also have a few spikes and forks racks laying around. My bow buck from last year was a beat up older fellow with a ratty but unique rack and I shot a doe still with milk and a couple of yearlings. I'm an old guy (NOT as old as Smoke) and hunt as often as time permits which is not very much. May be more after an unexpected layoff. I have passed on small bucks and will again but the right to shoot them is always reserved. I guess when I made the original post I was a bit miffed as there were guys on the other forum calling people who shoot yearlings "Baby Killers"
One thing I know is that any deer I shoot will get posted on this forum and I KNOW i will get alot of atta boys regardless of size. I can shoot two bucks and will end up with at least three doe tags. How many deer I shoot is gonna be another story all together.
I guess I will keep the story of the crisper drawer deer to myselfbut boy that was one easy drag. Deer are like the girls from my college days. Everyone passed on may be lost forever..LOL

RE: Is everyone a trophy hunter??
 

I have a 6 point in my woods right now that is pretty big as far as sixes go. He dwarfs a lot of 8 points I have seen. He has a ton of mass and is a very young deer. I don't want to shoot him because he has such potential to be a very big buck next year and the year after. Not sure if he'll be in my woods next year but I sure hope he is. Even if I don't get my wall hanger this year its nice to know I could have. Another thing is I don't mind spending time in my stands so I don't want to shoot a decent 8 this early knowing 100% that I will see some much larger bucks. Might not get a shot but I will see them. Depend on your area I guess.

RE: Is everyone a trophy hunter??
 

If it's going to score a 180 or better you bet....other then that I only take doe's....Dont need a wall full of deer heads :D.

RE: Is everyone a trophy hunter??
 

Better than 180?? Please tell me your just kidding right??Inmy general area the state record bow kill was taken last year and scored 185. In the surrounding states like CT, RI, and ME the best deer taken last year with bow or gun wereless than 180. I would be pleased just tosee a 180 while in my stand.
It probably has as much to do with location as time spent in the woods. The bowhunter success rate in this state is around 6%. I wonder what it is elsewhere.I would certainly have no objections to antler restrictions IF they worked. I have heard mixed things about PA and understand some guys are shooting deer and then counting points which could be the result of driving which has zero to do with archers. Good luck with whatever you chose to shoot as long as it's legal.
I know an awful lot of guys who have spent years trying to shoot their first deer with a bow.

RE: Is everyone a trophy hunter??
 

Yeah I'm not sure if our antler restriction does any good or not. Now we have little spikes and scrawny 4 points reproducing more than ever cause no one can shoot them. I'm not sure what to think.

RE: Is everyone a trophy hunter??
 

Nope....thats what it will take for me to shoot a buck.....WELL OK....I would do a 165-180............................maybe:D.I like them doe's I say....

RE: Is everyone a trophy hunter??
 

Circumstances offten change things,I looked for a big buck for a long time when I finally got him he was real pretty on the wall for about 20 years,the he spoiled,same thing happened with my 600 pound black bear and the boar that charged me.
Now I just enjoy myself, I have one that I see occasionally that usually goes 14 points with a nice stout typical rack and if he walks out in front of me I'll nail him other wise I'll proaly take a nice fat doe theres getting to be too many of them anyway. Lee

RE: Is everyone a trophy hunter??
 

Lots of mixed reports Brad. I have hunted PA in the past and last year for opening of rifle. Never seen so few deer in PA and although it was warm it was also troubling.I think hunters want to see numbers for the most part and quality is second. I had always been able to take a doe home for the freezer and with the exception of opening AM did not even have that opportunity in a week of hunting. I can remember going to a meat cutting plant in Leona and they had aPILE of deer waiting to be cut, but I don't think there was a real qualitybuck in the pile. They did have a BIG game land buck hanging though. Just forks and spikes. Sure would be nice if the restrictions worked. Seems like they have been in effect long enough for some evidence. What is it?? Six years now?Good luck!!
PS.. Will never use my time to gun hunt PA again. It's a state better suited to bow OR private land.

RE: Is everyone a trophy hunter??
 

yeah its been probably 6 years or so. Your right about private land. State game lands here are a joke. It really depends on what part of PA. Some areas west and north have very poor numbers. Southeast is loaded though so I'm lucky. I belong to a gun club about 45 minutes north of me that has land to hunt and they closed it down this year because the lack of deer. It is backed up too state game lands that are just as poor. Good luck to you.