Meat or Trophies
 

I know trophy hunting has become more popular in my area so I was wondering how many hunters out there are trophy hunters, meat hunter's or both.

RE: Meat or Trophies
 

I consider myself to be a trophy hunter, but to an extent. Here is my reasonings. I hunt for a buck that would be fairly large in my books, but it depends on where I'm hunting in my state. Public land I want to shoot something descent and respectable because I know the area and know there is something out there that is descent. On my grandparents land I hunt for a buck that is larger then what I have shot, or something descent. I'm not gonna fill my tag on a little rag horn because the following year they will get bigger. I know a lot of people hunt does but I have not. A-there not as elusive as a big buck, B-the meat is not really that important to me, and C-I would rather hunt for a buck.
I try to shoot something respectable every year, in order to practice game management. I have hunted my grandparents place the last two years and shot a 4x4 that scored close to 140, and this year a 5x5 that scored around 160. My relatives practice management, they would rather shoot a doe, or a small basket rack buck, then shoot a buck that has lots of potential. That is the reason they are getting good deer.
So all in all I am considered to be a trophy hunter, but if I don't get a trophy I'm not gonna settle on shooting something that has potential the following year. I like being out there hunting, not grocery shopping.

RE: Meat or Trophies
 

Great post Big, I've got nothing against trophy hunting, I usually try to better my personal best every year as well, until the last day then the does die. I was just curious I don't care who hunt's for what reason.

RE: Meat or Trophies
 

Meat.......I'm not a head hunter, but if one shows up, that's a gift and meat!:)

RE: Meat or Trophies
 

I too go for meat in the freezer! Here in Wisconsin I can shoot plenty of Does so if one happens by I just might happen to shoot it, either with my Bow or Shotgun! My property in Michigan is a different story! For non-resident it's $100 for a antler-less tag if your lucky enough to be drawn! I concentrate on a good buck while up there! Good luck!

RE: Meat or Trophies
 

Wow, glad I don't live out of state. Doe tags for private land are only 7 bucks and you can get one a day. I can't believe they want so much for out of state tags if they want the does thinned out.

You really don't have a choice that fits me. I fall inbetween shooting monster bucks and "if it's brown it's down", as do most others I think. Not that if a huge trophy walked by I wouldn't shoot it, but I don't really set out and plan for it. I do like to shoot decent deer for my area though. Say 7-10 points over a few years old. And for the most part I only take one deer a year.

I would consider myself a meat hunter, but I don't throw the racks out either;). If I was strictly a meat hunter I would be shooting does since there are more of them and the tags are cheaper. I have no desire to shoot a P&Y deer or have one mounted. If I did shoot one that big I doubt if I would even put it on the books. It's just not something that matters to me.

I hunt because I can pretty much.

Paul

RE: Meat or Trophies
 

Meat..and trophy. I'll shoot what's legal till I get enough to last the yr. then a lot of different variables kick in that will determine if I shoot or pass. How far to drag, rack size vs drag distance, time of day...how far back I'm hunting vs check station closing time. Where I'm hunting and what tags I've got for that WMA and what tags are available if I use the ones I've got. Some WMD's it's one buck and one doe per permit and permits are transferable and I know people who may have serveral. If no extras are available I will hold out in an area I know good bucks are abundant and wait on one. If plenty of tags around I'll shoot smaller buck for freezer and keep eye peeled for big one. The WMD's issue the tags in certain amounts to keep poplulation under control.
Lots of variables....Sometimes I think I liked it better when I just shot the first legal thing I saw no matter what...put it on the ground then worry about getting it out etc.

RE: Meat or Trophies
 

I'm going to say trophy only. Because I don't harvest smaller bucks, but would rather them pass and shoot a doe instead. I think a doe is more of a trohy than a young buck. JMO

RE: Meat or Trophies
 

Meat is #1 but if the rack comes with it, it’s a bonus...;)

RE: Meat or Trophies
 

Meat only , I have no use for trophies .