hunting becoming a competition
 

Anybody else have a hunting buddy that tells you what you need to shoot? I have a couple of friends that I swap hunting stories with, show them my buck, vice versa. The past few years, I feel like I am listening to a QDM seminar every time I take a deer to show them. My goals for hunting are:

1) Have fun.
2) Take a better deer than I did last year.
3) Take a doe or 2 every year.

Thats it. I don't shoot fawns or spikes. Sometimes basket racks are in trouble when they catch me in the wrong mood. I eat what I kill, but I'm not just out there for the meat. We don't hunt the same ground, so it shouldn't bother them what I shoot, IMO. Its too the point when I kill a deer, I show it to the wife and kids, take a few pics, and head to the butcher. Am I the only one who is tired of hearing "Nice cull buck?"

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

Do you mean aside from here ? ;)

The only one I compete with is the deer , anybody else ain't doing my hunting for me so what they think is their own opinion .

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

Sounds to me like you're the one that needs
to be giving lessons.:) Keep up the good work,
try to pass on what you believe and ignore
what you want no part of. I doubt you'll change
them as they've gotsupport groups all over;)

God bless,
PK

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

That's what I do, if people want to come and see it, they can come over and see it. I don't drive it around or anything like that. This goes for all of my deer, P & Ys included. Times have changed around here, it used to be fun with a deer in the back of your pick up, and having people admire it. But where I live, if you do that now, they'll say "what is that?" Then you'll hear "Awe!!! poor little bambi!" So I kinda keep it low key myself. A couple of pics from the digital camera, a couple of clicks of the mouse and all the people important to you know what you shot.

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

Hunt for you ,heck with the others opinion.

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

hunting is only a competition if you let it get that way. I only compete with myself and the deer. Yes, I want to shoot a mature buck. Notice I didn't say record book. I do that to make it more challenging for myself because I hunt a lot and where I hunt if I would shoot a 1.5 or 2.5 year old buck I would be done in early October. I must admit though, I do wish more people would pass on the yougner bucks and yes it is so that there would be more big ones, but if you don't want to it isn't going to make me mad or anything. I enjoy hunting mature deer because they are smarter and thus harder to get. That is just me though and I don't show anything off, except last year I did to my old man because it was the first time ever that I shot one bigger than him

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

Just thought of this, but what our group does is whoever gets the biggest animal has to buy dinner at a nice restaurant for everyone else and their significant others. You wouldn't believe how hard you end up rooting for each other. Of course, some of these guys are so cheap I swear they would pass on a big one just to avoid buying dinner.

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

If you are happy, don't worry about what others think. Lots of people are happy shooting quail, doves, raccoon, coyote and other animals and could care less about a deer. To each his own.

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

You definitely have the right attitude. If you're happy with yourself, that's all that matters.

If you're friends remind you ofyour "cull bucks"', have them come to NH/Maine and cull some of ours. I suspect they would be lucky just to see something cull-able. ;)

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

I hunt for me and my family. I used to enter big buck / big doe competitions every year and found myself setting unrealistic goals and the fun level really dropped.
I hunt for the pure enjoyment of the sport. I eat what I kill and I also don't drive around showing off. A deer is a deer and if your fortunate enough to get a trophy be proud but do it in the proper way.

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

I don't worry about what other folks say because I'm usually not even of the same mindset. I would rather shoot a young doe or buck since the meat is much more tender and tastier. Whenever one of my trophy hunter friends shows up with a huge, rut-swollen buck, I congratulate them, but at the same time I'm thinking that most of that meat is going to end up thrown in the trash the following year.

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

I've shot quite a few bucks like this and have never had to throw any of the meat away. Of course they were all corn and bean fed bucks, much like a steer.;)

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

Greg,

In my experience, a lot of folks love to shoot deer and hang the racks on their wall, but aren't that enthusiastic about eating it. They might do some backstrap off a young one from time to time. But, anything leaning toward the tough and gamey often goes to waste.

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

Im 15 and hunt with my dad and his buddy on a piece of land they lease. They dont tell me what i need to shoot, but they do tell me what i cant shoot. What really ticks me off is needing to know a deer's age before you can shoot it. I cant tell how old a deer is by looking at it and you dont always have lots of time to score him before its even dead. my dad said the deer need to be 3 1/2 years or older before we can shoot them and he doesnt want to kill the does just cause he doesnt see many and on the cameras we get lots of doe pics. They said if a shoot a young deer there i probably wont be able to hunt there next year but this year i might kill a young buck. It is just as rewarding to me as killing a big buck. As far as competition, ill enter a deer contest every year if its cheap because i could kill a huge buck, but i dont spend all season looking for a certain buck. thats no fun.

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

There is some truth to what you say, I too have some friends who are more interested in the hunt and the horns than eating the meat. One of them is one of the most sucessful big buck hunters that I know. He usually gives the meat away. He's taken over 2 dozen P & Ys. Me on the other hand, I just love venison. My GF, son and I have been living on venison for over 18 years. In order of importance,to have tasty venison, 1) where did you shoot it. (no gut or stomach shots). 2) how clean did you field dress it. 3) no band sawing through the bones. and 5) Do Not over cook it. Another thing about big bucks is that they're great for getting your staples such as burger and sausage. As far as tender and tasty goes, I think that the 1 1/2 year old doe is the way to go.

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

I'm not sure if I can go along with this. You are only 15. Have you ever killed a big buck? If not, how would you know if it was just as rewarding? I've killed 37 bucks, big and small, they're all rewarding, however, the biggest ones have caused my body to do some involuntary shaking. Both before and after the shot. It is a known fact that bigger horns causes bigger excitement. I've got nothing against big buck contests but I've never entered one. I've shot a few that I know would have won, but I just haven't entered one. Maybe superstitious, if I enter one, that wil be the season that I won't even see one. One last thing, spending the entire season chasing one big buck is about the most fun that I could possibly have.

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

I think this is just part of the learning process. He is coming from a stand point of being 15 and being just as grateful to shoot a smaller buck than a bigger one. Greg your coming from an experienced standpoint of knowing the benefits of letting the younger ones go and chasing that bigger one and how that affects deer management. I think its just the difference in age and experience. I'm 32 and that little fork I got last year was the first deer with antlers I've seen in 4 years of hunting on my friends land. I was so excited to see it and than get it with a bow. Would I do that again this year...I would hope not. I want to let them walk and grow up now that I've taken my first. I didn't even understand or know very much about deer management last year. I've learned a lot since. I think this young guy will be fine. May be frustrating now to wait for a bigbuck and not get a doe but you are learning patients and how to respect deer and the land owners wishes. The values your learning are even more important than the deer you take. I wish I had someone to take me hunting and teach me that when I was 15. When you get that 3.5 year old show us a pic and we'll rejoice with you![&:]

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

fun2hunt, you are absolutely right. Just trying to show the young man that there two sides to every story.;)

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

Do what you want, on what your friends think. When they start paying your bills they can have a say in your life.
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RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

This part of the post shows cause for concern. It sounds to me like his dad and his dads buddy have a lease with rules. IMO, it is better to not hunt the land with rules, rather than shooting a buck under the rules limits. If nothing more then just out of respect for his dad. Why embaress dad? Dad should be told that son wants to shoot deer... no rules. Nothing wrong with that. Maybe go to public land or look for more spots. I think it is better to not knowingly violate the rules.

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

I don't care what others think, and will tell them so.
I hunt for a lot of reasons, but I kill for the meat. period.I don't care what kind of rack it is as long as it's legal. I can't eat a rack. If it's a big buck, I'm only excited because I'm getting more meat. Heck, maybe if I do see a monster buck I'd be excited to a degree but that's only because not many come from where I get to hunt even these years after the change in the min. point regulations. (frankly, from what's heard around the back rooms, most of the one's with a large rack "dissapear" well before the rifle season)

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

Yes, I'm right there with you Greg. Iron sharpens iron. :)

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

It is a competition within oneself...that's it!!! I have always said as long as your happy then I am just as happy for you. If you ask my opinion I may give you a response that is different from your mentality or situation but it is just that an opinion!

To your question, Yes. I have a few buddies, one which was my (former) main hunting partner who thinks that a certain level must be obtained to reap the benefits of hunting. Long before we split our hunting ways I took more out of the experience than the actual harvest, however hunting to me was/is scared so I wouldn't/won't let anybody dictate how should feel while doing it. Point is hunting is so much more than what you hang your tag on each fall, live and love it how you choose never letting anybody tell you how it should be or feel!

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

Bingo...;)

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

Take a couple of does for the freezer and go after a buck better than the last one you got. That's what I do!!

BTW, a better buck is not necessarily a larger rack, but rather one that you get when it is the most memorable and exciting experience and the result of good old-fashioned preparation and hard work!

None of the 4 bucks I have mounted are giants, but all are great memories I'll keep forever!

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

Depends on the season for me. With archery gear anything is a trophy, I still try to fill my doe tag first and then try to get a buck. Archery season is long here so I can wait a while for a buck. Muzzleloader season I always take a full week to hunt, I hold out until the last day of that week and then shoot a doe if I have to...... basket bucks aren't an option for me anymore...... I've taken several from the public land I hunt and would just like to see one of them when they are older. Now that I pass on them I have missed oportunities on some bigger bucks...... wait too long to get a good look at head-gear and they take off. Its thick bush and things happen fast.
My hunting mentor (everybody should have one) is 25yrs older than me...... he would never think to ridicule me for taking a small buck. I met him at a butcher shop where he worked and I got a job..... he has tought me everything I know about cutting meat and almost everything I know about hunting too. "Fill the freezer first and then go for the wall hanger" or "shoot them in the neck..... so you waste as little meat as possible". I used to follow guidelines and shoot for heart/lungs even at the closest shots, that was for a few yrs when I told him I just need to do it this way until I get confidence......... last yr 4/6 of my deer taken were shot in the neck.
If you don't like the way your hunting buddies talk then tell them, they sound like my brother-in-law. Now I just ask him how many deer he has taken and how many arehanging from the wall...... big fat goose egg on both... and he knows to shut his yapper or he doesn't get any steaks from my fine eating specimens.

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

Exactly!

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

To each his own, One man's pass buck is another man's trophy. Do what you feel is right, and have pride in the animal that you choose to harvest! Keep up the good work.

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

OK guys, im considering a big buck 115 inches rack which is my biggest so far. I killed it with a gun.2 years agoi hit a 120 class 8 point with a bow but unfortunately couldnt recover it after 13 hours of tracking. I got a pic of it a few months later and saw the scar from the arrow and it was healed. Anyway, 2 weeks later, I killed a 5 pointer and was just as excited as my other kills. So i dont have 37 buck kills, but i do consider my biggest buck a big one.

My dad even says kids should be allowed to kill small bucks or whatever they want but where we hunt, he wont let me. I dont get it.

Sure, ive let small bucks walk before, but i dont hunt to shoot monster bucks. I hunt to get away from everything and being able to be in the outdoors and get close to the game im hunting. Besides, venison is tasty! And there are so many small bucks killed, i figure i might as well kill one or the neighbor probably will! I hunt about 70 days of wisconsins deer season and have a heck of alot of fun.
I sold my compound this year and am going to be hunting with a recurve, no sights or nothing. Just instinctive shooting. So after countless hours of shooting with a style of shooting that i tought myself, not relying on a sight to show where my arrow will go,I think a young buck would be just as rewarding as any deer. I will need to kill a doe first since we have earn a buck this year. And for all you QDM guys, dont worry, if i have the opportunity, i will kill a big, i mean, mature, buck or a doe And im sure i will someday.

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

Skeeter's words ring true for me.

RE: hunting becoming a competition
 

just remember this as my late but great deer hunt'n grandpa us to tell me you can boil the antlers you ain't going tosoften them up enought to eat them. in other words if it's a spike or a 200 point buck shot it you may not get a chance to take onelike the one in front of you. i killed a 3x1 buck last fall he was 286# before i gutted him. so take what you want that has the most meat.