Borch

If I've got a doe permit I'd rather shoot a large mature doe than a young buck. Have let smaller ones go under those circumstances. I had a friend who hadn't shot a doe in years. He shot one two years ago and can't figure out why he waited so long. A doe definitely taste better than a big rutted up buck. But lets face it. Big bucks make better stories and does make bettter steaks after the season is over. It all depends what you're after. For those without a doe permit, a young buck is the next best thing for steaks. We all hunt for different reasons. I understand your frustration because your looking for bigger bucks. But others in your area don't feel the same way. Just the way it is though. Not much you can do about it. It you keep letting them go others aren't gonna shoot them all so you are having an impact. Just not as much as you'd like to make.

Have a great season!

jlb66

I hear you. My personal opinion on the subject is that if a person gets drawn for a doe permit that person should have to shoot a doe no if's and's or but's about it. I know this past year in my area there was one group in particular (not mentioning names) That had 8 people in their party all had doe tags and not one of them shot a doe. They all shot bucks. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!!!! Biggest one they shot was a 3X3 basket rack that weighed about 170 lbs. That's F*#$@#& pathetic in my eyes. So instead of limiting the mandatory doe taking to just management permits they should limit it to all doe permits. That may help a bit but it's just a question of wether or not the state would pass that type of law. I'm sure other states have done it with some sucess why can't we try it. I shot a doe this year and passed up many many opportunites at spkies and 3X3's because they could use another year or 2 or 3 to grow. I also shouldn't mention it because it's kind of a pride hurter. I missed a very large very nice 6X7 that had lady luck sitting on his shoulders. Anyway. That's my opinion on subject. It's not just the mentallity in northern MN either I'm in west central and darn near ever hunter here is that way.

Wait, wait, ready PLUG EM!!!!!

jeffmiller

Usually in our group we strive to fill the doe tags, the bucks are just extras. But since I take a bow during the gun season, I like to have a chance at a buck. I agree though, too many guys shoot a little forkhorn and complain that there are no trophy bucks around.

"Playing under the table and dreaming"

Lilhunter

judging by what I have read so far I wonder. Growing up we hunted much the same "if its brown its down theory". Antlers were a plus! Some folks just dont care if they get them or not but will take them over a biggun! Others dont have the time or want/desire for a big buck. They shoot the first buck that walks and then conjure up dreams of bigger ones, not to mention the heckling you'd get in camp for shooting a spike....but what is wrong with it? If you're not managing a particular plot of land for big bucks...shoot what you want. The tags dont say you cant shoot a buck if you have a doe tag. I wont disagree, I would much rather shoot a big fat doe then a spike but its just another optoin! I dont mean to stick up for them but come on...yall are going to make this a rich sport REAL quick if antlers are why you are in the woods!

Lilhunter

2 deer I was damn proud to hang $200 worth of tag fees over!

Black_Rap

Well...the last generation of "If it's brown, it's down" hunters are getting to the point they don't really hunt anymore. I'm the beginning of the new generation (oldest of the cousins) and am going to try to teach them to hold off their shots. I will admit, my first deer was a button. But he was my first deer, and I was so excited I just started shooting. I swear there were 6 or 7 deer, but I dout it. Everything was so fast, I got brown in my scope and pulled the trigger. But that's the only spike I will take (on purpose). I could make a mistake and take a button thinking it's a doe, but I'm gonna be pretty sure of my prey you could call it. Hopefully I get things changed around our hunting area.

My uncle claims to have seen a 'Huge Buck!' that he shot at 4 times and missed. That gets me encouraged!! I just hope he avoids the poachers bullets during this off season and presents me the shot next year!!
~Cody

SuperX

JKlein, I hunt northern MN and have owned land up there for decades. I have to say that the main problem practicing QDM in the northern pine forest is the vast amount of public land and the equally vast number of hunters. Passing on a young buck to let him grow up doesn't much help when the 10 guys over the next ridge will gladly take him to fill their freezer. Now if you owned a nice chunk of land where you could truely manage a herd and the hunting pressure, I think you could practice QDM, but such large tracts of private land just aren't easy to find. In addition to hunting pressure, there is an active wolf population that takes a lot of deer and some really brutal winters that disproportionately impacts bucks exhausted from the rut. Remember the late 90's?

Another reason is economics. While I am sure most hunters would love to shoot a bruiser and let the spikes pass, I think the reason a lot of people shoot inferior deer is to put food in the freezer.

I agree with Deerslayer Still... there are a lot of little deer heading to area code 612.

Personally, I love to shoot a nice buck once in while, but if I have to take a deer with my rifle, I prefer if it is a nice middlin' size doe. Now if I could just make sure I get that antlerless permit <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

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SuperX

Lilhunter

inferior....dang tell that to my freezer LOL!

Hey you ever think about leasing a bunch of different land? Then you would have control over the land and the land surrounding it. Also dont over look it just because there is a small tract you cant lease/hunt as they might not let anyone else hunt it either! You could then do your supplements and what not to get your big deer, then again if you dont have the knowledge to hunt them you are just shootn in the breeze!

SuperX

LOL Lil, didn't mean inferior that way, I guess I meant less than a &quot;QDM&quot; trophy buck. I have eaten many an &quot;inferior&quot; deer and they are delicious! <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Leasing - no luck so far getting USFS and State of MN to lease to me - heck, it took 4 years to get an easement to my land across the USFS land and that included a biological survey and an archeologist to determine if we crossed over any artifacts. You may not realize just how much land up there is federal and state forest as well as national parks (Voyageurs, BWCA, Superior, etc.)

*I* am not complaining about the size of my deer. I am just stating how challenging it is for most people to practice QDM in Northern MN and defending folks up there a bit from the &quot;brown its down&quot; comment. (by the way, if you ask my neighbors, Duluth is not in northern MN)

Re: your last sentence... was that directed at me?

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SuperX

Edited by - SuperX on 01/13/2002 18:56:38

Lilhunter

yuppers, good eatin stuff eh LOL! Just makin sure. I ment lease from farmers and the bigger land owners and such...kinda the same as they do in Texas. To the last sentence...for anyone and directed at no one! I think you know what I mean. hope so <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>!!!