RE: Indiana
 

I don’t think the length of gun season makes them more selective. My neighbors who every year says they will only shoot mature deer shoot what ever comes by first. 2 years ago the one shot a 140 class ten point that was 3-1/2 years old. I had let him walk many times because I wanted to see him reach at least 5-1/2. He was shot by the neighbor but I couldn’t get that mad it was his first big buck. He said he was only shooting big bucks from here on out. Then last year whats he do shoots a 1-1/2 3 point. He said it will make a good meat deer, I responded by telling him shoot a doe if you want meat. Specially since they don’t shoot but maybe one doe a year out of 5 guys

RE: Indiana
 

Gosh, I'll bet your neighbor sure is grateful for you not getting too mad at him for filling his tag and not shooting what you wanted him to shoot.[&:]

Seriously though, i had originally raised the issue of total acreage of hunting land in Indiana compared to other states, for example, Illinois, in the midwest, all of which are significantly larger. Has anyone ever seen the numbers on this?

RE: Indiana
 

i know there populations are larger than ours. You can tend to get mad when you set up resrictions that are agrred upon by both parties and one doesn't hold up there end. i could have shot that buck at 15 yards with my bow.

RE: Indiana
 

Sounds like you and your neighbor don't quite see eye to eye on what constitues a mature deer, if you are getting hot under the collar over him dropping a 3.5 year old 10 pointer.[&o]

RE: Indiana
 

i shoot the first 3-1/2 that i think is big enough now. we had an agreement and he didn't hold up his end. I don't talk to them now. they shot a rack off a 5 piont last year and the one woman shot a deer with #6 bird shot she said she didn't check the bullets. every year we find a dead buck they they don't recover.They are piss poor hunters and thats all there is too it.

RE: Indiana
 

Yep, a lot has changed in 20 years.

RE: Indiana
 

your right there. I was raised as a meat hunter still am i just like to have a nice rack also. my grandfathers never shot a doe and still won't to this day.

RE: Indiana
 

He wouldn't like it in my part of illinois then. if you dont shoot a hell of a lot of does you better not plan on raising sweet corn or driving faster than 20mph down the road. And just 20 to 30 years ago it was rare to see a deer near the road or someones house. That's why wanting to be like Illinois would have its pros and cons.

RE: Indiana
 

I wish you were my neighbor Trophyhunter25 I would enjoy shooting all thwe nontrophy 140 inch bucks that you pass on. By the way how old are you anyway? Because that could explain alot of your thinking.

RE: Indiana
 

Dbowling, I hunt Parke county. Im thinking thats where you hunt as well. How hard did EHD viruseffect where you hunted last year. I hunt southern Parke county over by Coxville and it hit them there pretty hard... That played a role last year in the harvest. But thats nature and that happens...

RE: Indiana
 

i'm 26 and probably shot more trophy size animals then most on here. what you don't relize "beehunter" is if you make an aggreement on something and then go back on it it makes you a worthless liar. If you don't care about the size deer you shoot then fine do what ever. But don't say your going to do one thing and do the oposite. I'm sorry if I affend anyone because i set higher goals. But thats life some are happy getting bye others want to thrive. Its what you want out of life.

RE: Indiana
 

RE: Indiana
 

Trophyhunter25, I dont think you offended anyone here except for beehive. He started on me at the begining of this post. I just looked at it as his opinion. I think you have handled him well. I think he was wanting to start an argument with me and then he started with you. Maybe he should open his eyes for a different view. I myself respect everyone opinion. I have to say I agree with your thinking. His I do not agree with, but then again its his opinion.

RE: Indiana
 

Its your attitude that bothers me, shooting a small buck does not mean you just want get bye as you call it. Trophy hunting takes alotof time something most people who work and have kids don't have alot of, so don't say that just cause someone wats to shoot a small buck and enjoy the hunt that they are just happy getting by. I am not trying to start or pick a fight on here just giving my opinion like everyone else.

RE: Indiana
 

I agree with you Beehive. I'm lucky to hunt 3 days during the whole season. I have 3 kids, 2 jobs and a wife. I don't have the time to be picky.

RE: Indiana
 

Sorry folks don't mean to upset anyone or even get into a fight. That being said I believe that "trophy" is any critter that you think is a trophy to you. I don't care if it's a 5" spike that was my son's 1st buck or the huge doe I took last year for venison a trophy is in the eye of the individual hunter and even can vary from time to time.

RE: Indiana
 

If you read my post you will see that they say; if you want to shoot a small buck then fine. I also say that life is about goals. I didn't say that if you shoot a small buck your happy just getting by. If your goal is to shot any buck that you get a chance at and its small then you completed your goal, But if you say your going to shoot a 120" buck and you shoot something that is not then your just shorting yourself. Either way its on you. Me I always set higher goals. Some of you say you barelly have time to hunt, well make that a goal. Me I hunt alot. I have a kid housepayment property payment,and don't have a high paying job. But i don't have a brand new truck either. I never said anything about what a trophy was. Its what you make of it. I just don't see how people are happy shooting young deer every year. But thats just me I like to challange my self a little more than most but thats just me.

RE: Indiana
 

I knew when I read the first post, this thread would turn into this. Big shocker. Everyone has opinions, but they should never be forced upon another.


I'm 26, and have a wife and a job that lets me hunt every Fri/Sat/Sun from October until I'm done. I'm cool with whatever I shoot. I'm lucky enough to have some great land in LaGrange..where I can pick a few deer that I go after. Others don't, and I've been in that boat before. Hunt Adams County, anda person's goals will change real fast. lol

RE: Indiana
 

Pats right everyone has opinions. The state of Indiana's deer herd is pretty screwed up. By that i mean you have some areas that are polutted with deer but go 20 min. south and hardly any deer. same land everything. Thats why some say there are to many hunters and other say there are too many deer and not enogh hunters.

RE: Indiana
 

That's sort of how it is around my home, here in Adams county. Great farm land, the habitat is wonderful for deer to thrive in. Big woods, rolling fields, lots of rivers and cricks, corn everywhere (this year especially)...but very few deer. Only a few hundred are killed her each year..pathetic given the amount of hilljack deer hunters around here. I used to go all of October only seeing a few deer...the whole month..hunting practically every day. "Fur Fever" is magnified 1000³ if you only see 1 buck a year...lol.

In LaGrange, our land is nearly identical in terms of habitat as my home here in Adams County..but the deer are THICK. Late October thru December, it's a bad day to not have at least 1deer in bow range. Tons of does though, so we try to harvest a few. Personally I only shoot 1, but 1 big mature doe and 1 mature buck is my personal goal..and it provides more than enough meat for us. I give meat away to my brother and his wife, my parents, and my buddy if he doesn't shoot a deer.

Indiana is screwed up...