My 1st thoughts were the same as liv's. Holding out for a nicer deer does not make you a bad person. Shoot what makes you happy, if that takes a nicer buck, so be it, there is nothing wrong with that at all.

It is to some people.Then again I have passed on 20-30 different bucks and my tag went unfilled as a result.However,I did enjoy every minute that I spent hunting,and did not regret passing up those bucks.

then what is the problem?

Is a trophy hunter a bad thing now? I thought they were experienced, management minded, upstanding hunters who were tops in their field and most were to be admired for their past as well as consistent success'? Now they are being demonized? I think alot of that comes from many on this board IMHO.

Now for the question about a 14 year old trophy hunter. NO I DON'T think you are a trophy hunter from just this one incidence. You actually saw a 10ptr so you knew he was there and the possibility existed that you might get a chance to take him even though smaller bucks were around. That isn't trophy hunting, that is taking an opportunity that presents itself. Now if you continue to let small bucks go and wait for larger bucks that you cannot (or never have) seen then YES you ARE then trophy hunting. I don't see anything wrong with that other than the fact that at 14 you probably haven't taken many deer and run the risk of getting burned out early after you go a season or two and take nothing. But that's another topic.

BTW, who was it that told you trophy hunting is wrong?
RA

whitetailblaster, if I read your post right, it sounds that you are 14 years old! Believe me, you hopefully, have a lot of years ahead of you in your hunting career. ENJOY THEM! Don't get caught up in the success or failure attitude about hunting. Enjoy every minute in the woods! It's not about whether you're a "trophy" hunter or not, of which there is nothing wrong with, except for the fact that you have a lot of years ahead of coming home empty handed. Have fun!!!

I have to agree just because you waited for a shot on a big buck when he wwas standing right there doesn't make you a trophy hunter. To me that's what most hunters would do because most would like to shoot a big one.

To me, trophy hunting is waiting for a big one that you can't see that moment and pass up small ones even when no big one is around. It takes alot to be a trophy hunter and I for one can't do it yet!



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I never said trophy hunting is bad, if it sounded like I was offending you, please don't think that. My aunt's boyfriend onle shoots the big guys and I'm catching from him. I'm usually shoot anything I can shoot that's legal. Now, I'm just waiting for the big fellas'. Like today, A small buck came along, I was thinking of shooting him until a fox spooked him. About 1 and a half hours, a nice 6er or maybe 7 or 8 point came about 70 yards. To far for me, then he came closer, and started to feed at 50 yards. Tempted as I was, I pulled the trigger, he did a total front flip. As late as it was, just at the last bit of light(shooting time just ended), there was not blood in my sight or tracks for some reason. In my think woods, it's tough to see. When I seen him just hit the ground like that, I was sure he was dead. Maybe he is, I'm gonna look for him tomorrow, Wish me luck!

p.s - When I went to the site of where the deer was, I smelled deer, I mean like walking into a butcher shop smell. Is that good?

i think you played it safe by not shooting. maybe hell come back. i would have done the same thing.

Mr. Whitetailblaster,
I really didn't become a trophy hunter for the trophies per se'. I tagged out on the first day of archery twice, early in my hunting career, on smallish bucks. I know how depressed one can get, knowing that their buck hunting is over even before summer is over. I began holding out to preserve my hunting time in the woods. As time ran by, and I got quite a few bucks under my belt, I began to want to take ONLY bigger bucks no matter what time of year. I think you are confusing trophy hunting with trying to take the bigger of two bucks you are presently staring at. there is a difference there. If you truly become a trophy hunter, you will pass up a smallish buck on even the last day of hunting for the year. Very few will do that, but I happen to be one of them. I think you should kill whatever you are happy with, especially at your age. Don't feel obligated to take or pass any legal buck, based on things you read or hear from other guys. I have often said that I never really know what I will choose to kill until it is standing in front of me. I let my natural instinct dictate. I find myself never picking the bow or gun up at most deer that come to me. I just trust that when I finally do see what I am after, I will automatically begin to draw or aim at it. If you do become a true trophy hunter..be prepared to go without a deer, sometimes for many seasons in a row.

P.S. Good luck finding him. You sound like you are a highly motivated hunter for 14, and wiser than your years. The smell means there is blood and tissue sprayed on the ground from the shot. I hope you nailed him good.

Know how you ruin a good hunt? You kill something.
I hunt Canada for a month and a half and if I kill one with only a few days left I still get that depressed feeling, no tag left. I like to spend every last day, every last second out there I can.

Stubble, am I off the hook yet?