Buckstopshere

First off,I've never shot a big buck with big rack so maybe what I'm about to say may be chalked up to "sour grapes". Why the big push for the big rack? An older deer is a tougher deer and if it weren't for the food i wouldn't be hunting. To put it another way, if the GW (or DEC) said that you could not eat what you kill because of of CWD or some other disease,i probably wouldn't hunt. I've watched a zillion videos where the hunter picks and chooses which rack to kill (He's a shooter,he's a shooter!),whereas my experience is if i can get ANY deer within the crosshairs once a season i'm truly excited. How many times have we heard it on this board that any deer you get is a trophy deer? I believe that,i mean i REALLY believe that. I'd appreciate hearing from those of you that live to get that typical or atypical rack for the record books so I can try and understand what I'm missing...

stubblejumper

I hunt for the biggest trophy possible in order to make deer hunting a challenge and to extend my season.I could easily go out opening morning and shoot a legal deer within a half hour.My season would then be over and there would have been no challenge at all.By passing up all but the biggest deer my season usually lasts much longer and I actually have to work at filling my tag.If it were too easy it wouldn't be interesting.

Tree climber

where I hunt there are no trophy size bucks,by that I mean the 130s and up score. the largest I have ever taken in over 40 years of hunting was scored 119.this area of Fla. just does not have BIIIIIG deer.that is not because we take the younge ones before they get big,we have 4 and 5 ,6 year old deer that are 120s.we just don't have the stock for good trophy size bucks.
so every deer I take is a trophy,I would like one time be able to turn a real big one down to look for a better one.
I have turned a few bucks dowm because I had already taken several that year.
I also hunt for the food,although if I spent the money for food,I could almost buy that amount of meat.so I guess you could say I am not a trophy hunter,just a hunter.
I would like to go north or west to just see them,then I may understand also.


I am not a hunter I am a whitetail population reduction specialest

remember keep your back to the sun, your knife sharp, and your powder dry.

kshunter

Stubblejumper took the words right out of my mouth.
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I hunt for the biggest trophy possible in order to make deer hunting a challenge and to extend my season.I could easily go out opening morning and shoot a legal deer within a half hour.My season would then be over and there would have been no challenge at all.By passing up all but the biggest deer my season usually lasts much longer and I actually have to work at filling my tag.If it were too easy it wouldn't be interesting.
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mauser06

thats a good point...it took me 4 yrs to get my first buck..ive taken 2 does in previous years and another one that day i killed the buck...the 3rd doe i got (that day i got the buck too) i was excited and all but not as much as my first...i mean..i took a ton of pics and am proud of all 3 of the does i was lucky enough to harvest but when i walked up to that buck i was jumping in the air saying loudly to my dad A BUCK A BUCK I GOT A BUCK!!!! it had to look pathetic..im a decint sized kid and turning 16..i hope nobody filmed me lol...i think thats the feeling that drives people for the racks..its not everyday you see a big racked buck..and when you do chances are its not hunting season...big racks get you bragging rights and glory...you can brag about that nice basket 6 you dropped..but compare him to your buddys monster 10pt...big racks are pretty uncommon(here anyways) so its a challenge and when you get one you are alot more pround and everything..i duno its hard to explain but you get what im saying?? my dad took a nice buck or 2 in his day but he doesnt care about racks anymore for some reason...he drops the first deer he sees now...its all on what you want..me...after my first bow kill i plan to be a trophy hunter..but also take the does...as many as i get tags for...i love the venison...but love the racks...so i will give it my all for a nice buck....but alot of people dont care about horns so they dont care about big racks...

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Nomercy

I get MUCH more excited about harvesting large does than big bucks...I passed up several opportunities on two eight point bucks this year for their fatter girlfriends, turned out with a doe dressing to 177#. When I saw the gnarly nontypical fatbody that passed through my area during late bow season, I almost cried because I didn't have a rifle, but I just wanted a deer that would be over 300#, not the rack, even as impressive as it was.

Screw the 10 ring, keep them in the zero!!!

basserman

Holding out for large racks is a personal thing. Stubblejumper hit the nail on the head. It's to easy to take anything. But don't get me wrong. Again this is an individual's choice and sometime this depends on the availability of deer in your hunting area.

I hunt for large antlers with a bow (my favorite) because of the number of deer in our area and the long season. My choice and no one elses business really.

Gun hunting is different for me though. I buck hunt only but I don't trophy hunt because I don't have the same passion to hunt with a gun. It's my meat time. Again, my choice and IMO if others don't like that.....too bad. What you want to harvest is only your business.

&quot;Semper Fi&quot;

Rack-attack

If the DEC told me I could not hunt mature bucks I would quit hunting.

If any deer that comes by is what YOU want to shoot and that deer is a trophy to YOU then keep it up and ENJOY!!!!

Meat as nothing to do with why I hunt. If I never eat another venison Chop again I will still die a happy man!

For me the challenge of limiting myself to 8 pt's or better on the public land I hunt is the ultimate challenge. In fact its not a sacrafice at all because I really have NO desire to kill a doe or small buck. For me the kill is the worst part of it. It is all about the dedication, and challenge to me. If I havn't worked my arse off and If I don't really, really want that deer - I see no reason to kill it.

Because of this choice my season lasts 365 days. It has too I would never be successful. My scouting for next year starts now. I have to put in 100's of hours scouting during the offseason or I WILL eat deertag stew.

It is a whole different ballgame hunting the bucks you want compared to hunting any deer in the woods. I have been fortunate enough to tag out both my buck tags for the last 5 yrs. For me thats the greasted feeling in the world.

See Ya, gotta go scout<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Codydawg

Would most people rather catch a 10lb walleye or a 1 pounder? A big buck represents the hardest deer to harvest. He is the monarch of the woods and harvesting him means you have matched wits with the best and came out on top. Big racks are beautiful. They have lotsa stories to tell, questions to ask...why is this tine stunted? why is that tine broken? This guy was a fighter...that buck rubbed pine trees, etc. Sure you can see those on little racks too, but the mature buck is the baddest dude in the woods. I like to see what they score, not to brag, not to compare to another hunters kill, but to compare to other bucks I or my group has shot. Wow, the 8 pointer I shot last year outscored this year's 10 pointer....but the 10 pointer had a much cooler rack...go figure. Because they are rare. I am blessed with a great spot to hunt, I could kill 5 bucks or so per year on average. Usually none are that big, little 6s and forks. To see (and harvest) a mature buck is the ultimate thrill. Yes, we eat what we get, but it is about the experience, the challenge, the ability to spend more time in the woods. This year I shot a decent 8 pointer 15 minutes after the start of the season. I was disappointed not in the deer, but that my hunt had ended so quickly.