Meat or antlers
 

Who hunts for meat and who hunts for antlers?
I hunt for the meat.

RE: Meat or antlers
 

meat
hunting for antlers is pointles

RE: Meat or antlers
 

Meat!

RE: Meat or antlers
 

Meat

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both
i take a doe for meat. then i hunt for antlers

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Meat.

It's the true purpose and roots of hunting.

Antlers are just an added bonus.

RE: Meat or antlers
 

When in Canada I hunt for antlers, but remember, under the antlers there is also meat. When I hunt in WI I have no problem shooting does for meat. I have no reason to shoot a small buck and throw the spikes in a box when there are plenty of does to kill.

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I would say I hunt for antlers, mind you I take every bit of meat and such. I don't shoot a doe the first day of the year, nor the 2nd or third. I like to see some horns, but I won't shoot a smaller buck in most areas, I would rather shoot a doe.

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Meat. You can't eat antlers. Beside, unless you go to a property that is heavily managed, the "trophies" of yesteryear are gone.

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I have several tracts that are management for antler type of tracts and some of them I'll shoot anything I want to.

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I try to shoot a doe early for meat. But ill take a shot at a buck too. it depends whats walkin under my stand....

RE: Meat or antlers
 

I drink to that!That's a good one


I hunt for meat, and the antlers are kind of like a memorial in honor of the wonderful meals he provided. The more impressive the rack the more honor he gets...not fair buthuman nature! there are many years I go without a rack,so I will shot a doe for the meat!

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i hunt for meat from sept16 thru oct.20th ., then i hunt for antlers., from oct.20 thru nov20th., then it is back to meat till im done hunting in the end of dec.

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If anyone saw my buck in the bowhuting forum, you will see the size of antlers doesn't really appeal to me. I'll go for what I can get.

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I Hunt purely for meat antlers are a bonus. There is only one time i go for antlers and that is when i get a mulie draw in an area that produces lots of B&C deer. Then i stay out untill i see a big boy but still dont waste meat cause well hell you have to be mental to get rid of perfectly good deer meat.

RE: Meat or antlers
 

Both? I only want 1 deer a year for the meat. So, I will only shoot one deer a year. I don't like shooting small bucks, I would rather let them grow. If a buck isn't mature, I'm not shooting it. I would rather shoot a doe. I hunt for big mature bucks. If the season is comeing to a close, then I will take a doe for the meat. I like to hunt and be in the woods, I could fill my tag on the first day of the season with a doe or small buck, but then I don't get to really HUNT. I like the challenge of hunting bigger deer. If I don't fill a tag, thats fine with me too. I'm just glad to be in hunt'n.

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Both. I shoot does for meat and antlers for fun. I've found that the ones with the antlers make for better hamburger/sausage meat and that the does (especially the 1 1/2s) make for tasty steaks and chops. There's a lot more meat on those antlered ones which really helps when your going for 100 lbs of burger.(2 lbs/week). So usually 2 does and 1 buck will do me for a year. I will take more if I have to.;)

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I hunt for meat.If it has bone on it's head-great.I'll take the 1st legal deer that gives me the shot I want to take.

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That's what I do unless deer populations are really low, then I'll pass on a doe

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I hunt for meat, and deer populations are low here so my shooting is for a buck. Unless I travel out to another area where the population is some what higher.

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I am a registered Brangus cattle breeder, and if I want meat, I will have a calf slaughtered. I hunt as a wildlife manager. I shoot what needs to be killed to benefit the deer herd. I may not kill a buck every year, but when I do, it WILL NOT be an 18 month old spike. I hunt mature bucks with quality horns. I killed 9 deer in two states last season and donated every one to Hunter's for the Hungry.

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Ditto, however this year I get 2 tags, a doe tag and then a buck tag...it would be nice to get both !! I didn't have any last year !!!

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I hunt for meat with a nice set of antlers attached to it.

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antlers no one at my house likes the meat but me

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I like em' both:). I buy doe tags but my either-sex tags are held onto, if I need more meatI will shoot a doe vs an immature buck with the either tags as my season dwindles down.

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I hunt for meat first and fill my freezer and then i go for antlers.

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MEAT

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I use the "restaurant" method. (Smoking, Non-Smoking or first Available?)
(Buck, Doe, or First Available?)
I go with 'First Available".
That said, I'm still looking for 'The Rack' to put above the fireplace (the only thing the wife said that I can hang).
If presented with a 4 point and some does, I'll take the biggest doe.
A button by himself, to the freezer he goes.
If presented with a nice 8 or 10 point and some does, I'll take the buck. After that, if there's a buck and some does, if the buck isn't nicer than the one currently above the fireplace, a doe is going down.
Right now, my son and I have only put does in the freezer.

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i hunt for meat but have no problem hanging the head on the wall if the antlers call for it.

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I like to look at antlers while I'm eating the meat.

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I couldn't have said it better .

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Both. I shoot does that provides for my family and reduces the doe herd as needed. I will only shoot mature bucks and save the smaller bucks for seed. I have 2 boys hunting now ages 10 and 12. My 10 tear old has killed a doe when he was 8 and last year killed a 9 pt 168# for his first buck. My 12 year old has killed a 6pt, 8pt, and 2 does. The year he killed the 8 pt he passed shooting a spike and a 6 pt. He now understands to wait and let the smaller bucks live to get a chance at a larger buck and saving the small ones for next year. My youngest dosn't grasp that yet and thats alright. Look out forky. Given time he will learn to pass the smaller bucks up. I hope most hunters grasp this style of harvest to help the herd and give the bucks some age to maturity. Shoot does for meat and mature bucks only. Kids and new hunters being the exception.

RE: Meat or antlers
 

BnB, I think what you are doing with your kids is a good thing. We need more hunters like you and your kids. Good job.

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what ever i see that is leagal

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Both,a big maturebuck is the best of both worlds.

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Its meat for me.

A big rack is good for bragging rights but I shoot the first legal buck I see.

There have been a few times where I shot the smaller buck out of 2 or 3 because the smaller one presented a better shot or was closer.

Me and the kids really go through the jerky.

RE: Meat or antlers
 

For the meat for me

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I hunt for meat also. Now ifone thats got some nice headgear steps out I'll shoot, but I'll always take the first legal one that presents me the shot.

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I love deer to eat but I'm a trophy hunter also. We can shoot one buck only so I want the challenge of a mature buck. If I had to hunt to survive then it would be different. Not oneof us hunt just for the meat anymore. It's for the sport and fun of it. We can get all the meat we want without hunting. So you can feel superior for being a meat hunter but you ain't fooling me.

I see this question every year along with scoring a buck for the record books. Some always make it known that they are somehow better for having only the most pure reasons for hunting.

It doesn't matter to me why you hunt. As long as we are all ethical and follow the laws then go for it. Just don't judge me and my reasons for hunting.

RE: Meat or antlers
 

Nicely said, KY. I hunt for the enjoymen of being outdoors and in the timber. It clears my mind and rejuvenates me. I hunt for antlers, but the meat is definitely not wasted. There are plenty of needy families out there and I donate a large part of what I take every year. My family doesnt care for the meat, but they do like the sausage and jerky that we get from the deer. Its a hell of a lot better for them than chips and junk food!

I teach my kids not to waste anything and to never kill just for enjoyment. Any life is sacred, and to take it wantonly is just plain wrong. I definitely enjoy the rackhanging on the wall, but I also treasure the memories and the meat that I bring home.