Shooter or nothing
 

At my age [45] I can not make my self shoot a buck that I wouldn't get mounted.I have no trouble taking a doe for the meat.Do any of you seasoned huntersfill this way? How many w.t mounts do you have? I have about 11 now.Looking for a new #1 or bust,all the time.

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

I feel the same way. I have 6 whitetailedmounts. I like watching the smaller bucks you can learn quite a bit about deer that way.

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

any buck i shoot i get a skull mount, and i get the full mount for a big buck.

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

Ditto here. I am 54 and have shot close to 75 bucks. Most of thosewere 1 1/2 year old deer. It just became too easy and not the challenge I wanted. I was actually starting to not enjoy hunting. But now that I am hunting southern Michigan (and doing it mostly with bow) where the potential for trophy bucks are greaterthan they are in the northern part of the state, along with the fact that I am starting to hunt Canada, I feel I can be more selective.There isno excitement for me inshooting something that wouldn't beat my biggest mount (I have 4 and my wife nags me to quit hanging them...haha). But, that's "hunting", the search fora trophy and how each person defines trophy is going to be different. I respect that and hope others do too. Leaving friday for Manitoba so hoping for a Booner this time out.

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

Yea, I have 2 on the wall and another at the taxy and a bunch of skull mounts. At one time I would have been thrilled to kill a spike, especially with a bow, but I pass a lot of deer now. Being able to shoot a lot of does means I can shoot them for meat and let the small bucks walk. The does are more challenging than the small bucks anyway.

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

I'm with you....wallhanger or doe. I've been hunting for 23 years and I have had enough of shooting little bucks. So, I'll fill the freezer with a doe and I'll wait for the big boy to show up.
BTW, a wallhanger for me would only need to be 125". Seriously.
Brian

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

I'm with you now on this one. I've taken 4 bucks now, 2 I have or am currently getting mounted, and 2 I just have the antlers. I really enjoy watching the small bucks and it feels great knowing that you might shoot that basket 8 in 2 or 3 years when he is a big 10.

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

Same here, For about the last 5 years Ive been passing on the small bucks, I have learned so much about deer behavior by just watching them. I have 6 mounted, and about 6 more skull mounts, and just dont get any thrill out of taking a young buck, I can take a doe about any time if I need meat or to fill a tag, and this year Ive passed on more and bigger bucks than I ever have before. I have passed on deer almost every day Ive hunted, including 21 days of vacation from oct 27 -nov 17, but Ive only seen 3 shooter bucks this season, but it was worth it, havent connected with one yet on our farm, but rather let them grow if they already aint big:)

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

I feel that same way. This is my first hunting season and 20 mins after I got into my deer stand a spike was no more then 10 yards awat from me. I didn't even think about drawing my rifle. I just watched him. I passed about 4 small does after him and the guy that I hunt with is like WTF?! Why didn't you shoot.I told him cause I want to take a big buck or doe. Hes the type that takes what he can get. I guess I have alot of patience. Theres this buck in my area. I've seen him in my field in late august. Then in late sep/early oct. he ran out in front of me on my way home from work. On The second day of hunting season I was driving to my co-workers place to hunt, he ran out in front of me again. Then yesterday I came home from work my sister said she saw a buck in our field (I know it was him) then again today when I got home from work my dad said he saw a buck in our field. So I guess he comes around my place at around 3pm. I'm telling you I want to take him BAD. I can't stop thinking about him. I plan on hunting my field on thanksgiving morning. I hope he comes. If I don't get him then I hope no one else does cause he'll be bigger next year!

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

For me its a mature deer, doe or buck so long as its mature.

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

I finally got this concept through my head this year. I have taken many nice bucks over the years but nothing that has touched the booney chart yet. I saw many good bucks again this year but i find that i have spoiled myself on the borderline bucks and am mature enough now to let them walk. I do not need the meat therefore i have no problem eating my tag which is what i ended up with this year. I actually feel good that i did not shoot anything because of a few of those bucks i left will be pushin shooters in the next few years if they stick around. But it is each to their own to make that decision. However for me some of the feeling has gone from when i was a younger hunter.

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

I think its the natural growth of a sportsman. First is to take a legal animal, then to tag out,then get a trophy, then beat the last one. I have started handgun hunting to keep it challenging. Its like bowhunting, but after they've already been shot at for weeks.

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

Wallhanger or tag soup during bowseason without a doubt.

Gun season my expectations lower slightly. I'll take a good buck that I won't neccesarily get mounted.I don't see any good bucks after the first 2 days. I hunt a totally different piece of land than my bowhunting land that we manage. I don't know how much sense it makes but its what I do [8D]

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

99.9 percent of the time I shoot does. To me the meat is much better and there are far to many does where I hunt. Many hunters won't shoot the doe thus adding to the problem. I never mount any heads as the wife does not like dead animals in the house. I would rather watch the big bucks than kill them. JMO.

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

I really like to have 2 deer in the freezer by the time the season is over. I'd certainly prefer it to be 2 B&C wall hangers but I'm o.k.with a couple 18 month olds if that's what it comes down to. I like the meat too much to pass. Now given our current low population of deer, as far as choosing between a young buck or doe though I'll choose the buck and hope the doe goes on to produce healthy bucks and does each spring replacing the young bucks I might shoot and then some. When the population get's back up I'd choose the doe overa youngbuck.

In gun season here in NY, many times there is no choice between buck and doe. If you didn't draw a dmp thenit's either take a buck or nothing so again, I'd of course prefer the B&C but if it comes down to a fork horn or nothing I'll drop the fork horn.

THis year I managed to take a beauty of a 9 point with the bow after passing several doe and smaller buck. In gun seasonit wasbuck only for me (no dmp). I probably would have passed a small buck the first couple days but I didn't see a horn. Dropped an 18 month old 6 point yesterday afternoon. That's my 2 deer. Had a great season and I'll enjoy the meat and the mount.

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

Deer are scarce where I hunt so I have to take what I can get essentually. I have no problem with it because I'm really only meat hunting anyway. If I happen to see a monster then even better. If I had access to land where I was able to see 50 deer a day I'm sure I'd take the same aproach as you guys. Now I'm lucky to see 3 deer a day and sometimes go several days in a row w/out seeing any.

Nowadays there seems to be more trophy hunters than meat hunters. Fine by me as long as they're taking their kids w/them.

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

I feel the same way. If I need meat I'll shoot some does. Otherwise, I usually hold out for a nice buck. I'll have 15 mounts when my gun buck is done, still trying for a bow buck.

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

I'd agree with this but I'd add at least one level. I think after going through what you've mentioned here you come to a point where what you take isn't that important anymore. Sure it's always nice to nail a wall hanger, I can't imagine ever not getting excited about that prospect.But for me anyway, it's no longer very important. If I get a few moremounters then fine but at 55 if I am to finish out however many more years I have hunting taking onlydoe and small buck then that's fine too. It's thebeing there that's what's most important to me. Being there and bringing home a deer now and then so I can enjoy some jerky and steaksthat willpacify me until the next season.

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

Good posts! If that is the way you feel about it in your heart, that IS what you should follow! If it is strictly an either-or issue, then I'd have to say I am a meat hunter!
Where I hunt the doe season is fairly short, so I basically have to take a doe or two for meat, then be selective with the bucks. If I had my druthers, I'd leave the does as "bait" for the bucks, then take them later. But that is not really feasible right now, unless I am willing to take the chance of no venison!

Hopefully, next season, I'll be in a new area, that has a different management concept, but in reality, a legal deer is what its all about!
Because, if it were only up to "trophy hunters" to keep hunting alive, it would be far to expensive for most of us to hunt! Public, and cheaper hunting, could not survive financially with only trophy hunters support!

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

I'm kind of at a "beat the last one" stage. My son has started hunting with me now, so he's pretty much in charge of filling the freezer with doe-steaks. The guys at our lease have pretty much decided that we're not seeing enough "mature" bucks this year, so my son will probably get a buck this year if one suitable for "culling" wanders by, i.e. odd rack that they want out of the herd. I probably won't shoot anything this year, as I've already got a bigger rack on the wall than anything I've seen at our current lease in three years.

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

I am like most of you who are willing to eat their tag if you don't see what you want.For several seasons I have had a self imposed 8 pointer or better criteria.I am working toward if I am not going to mount it I am not going to shoot it criteria.In fairness though I hunt out of state every year (Idaho,unguided) and it is quite likely if I do my part I will have an opportunity at a good buck while on the out of state hunt.
I will shoot doe's for meat at home.

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

In 25 years and over 100 dead deer, I am looking for a new shoulder mount or a doe. I have 5 mounts and 1 at the taxidermist. My oldest son has 1 mount, and my youngest son has 2 at the taxidermist from this season. I have been doing skull mounts for several years, but I can figure out a good way to display them. I have about 20 piled in the corner of my office. My wife says enough is enough on the skulls.

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

I feel sorry for you , you and most of the other respondants must thrive on disappointment .

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

Actually, I've never been happier in my life as far as my hunting success goes. For me, it averages out to 1 mature buck per year, for the last 15 years. Gun and bow combined. 14 bow and 1 gun. No disappointment to thrive on here.;)

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

Im 21 been hunting for7 years (since i was old enough) and i have harvest 12 bucks no does not by choice i always miss them for some reason. anyway i have shot 5 trophys score over 120" all mounted so now i find my self extremly picky i have passed so many young bucks its sick even though the freezer is getting empty could last me 6 months and could probably stretch till next year ifi have to. anyway i do feel the same way for me now its trophy only. i have a rule for myself now its either a big doe, a buck that scores over 100" with my bow or a buck that score over 120" with my gun. thats REALLY picky especially in michigan but i normally fill my tags so not to dissapointed ;)

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

If he cant be mounted I will shoot a doe for meat. We have enough hunters around that shoot small bucks to keep the herd thinned. I like to think I can judge a 150 in buck . I like to scout for bucks and have seen my share of BC's and I have 6 mounts to date And yes I am 43 years old so just in my prime:D.

RE: Shooter or nothing
 

I love the meat and the hunt so I do my share of filling tags. I will not shoot an immature buck butshoot whenIwant to shoot. Shoulder mounts at my place are far and few between, the wife don't like em and I am looking for either a boonie typical, weird arse character or a NT. I have only 2 shoulder mounts both excellent WTspecimens in my mind a 6x5 168 net typical and 190 NT. If I never mount another oh well, theeuros and skull cap mounts of 140 plus wts that line my walls have just as many stories as the shoulder mounts and everyone I am proud of for different reasons. I guessI realize that shooting a boonie or something odd is a rare thing and trying to do so every time out is impossible, instead i enjoy the hunt and let the cards fall were they may. It has made me better, more succesful and satisified as a hunter.

I also have as much fun chasing elk and moose as whitetails. More meat. more challenge and something besides just scoring. I guess I am at the stage of just enjoying the whole hunting experience vs what it looks like in pictures or on a score sheet.