got me thinking
 

i was looking at rodburner72's mount and it got me thinking

if you shot a world class deer something near the world record for you first deer would you still be able to kill smaller bucks or would you become a meat hunter

RE: got me thinking
 

My second deer was a good buck,, nothing like rodburners, but a solid 140 class buck, I took when I was 15. I have killed many bucks smaller than that one since,, Ive only taken one other that big, and now 18 years later, my standards have moved back up to that, I wont shoot a buck now smaller than that one, but it took me a long time and many bucks to get to that point, where I hunt you dont get to see that many that big,, maybe one a year.

RE: got me thinking
 

My dad shot a 184" and jokes and says he can't shoot a buck smaller than 184 now....

If you had a lot of land you managed, I think that would be a good philosophy, eventually your bucks would just keep getting bigger. Though I think alot of times bucks are bigger than they appear...esp big bucks....you may see a 160 so you think and its really a 180.

Haven't you ever seen bucks on a display and guessed and been way off? like way over, or way under...

If I shot a 210" typical ya it would be hard to wait for something bigger, though I'd still look for big boys 180" + or big non typicals etc...

I'd still be a trophy hunter. Could always quit....but why, I want more big boys on the wall. Some guys are impressed by 20 135" class bucks on a wall, to me 3-5 160"+ is a more impressive stat.

RE: got me thinking
 

I can't imagine that I'd quit hunting just because I killed a monster, once.

But I REALLY can't imagine having the philosopy of '180 or bust.'

One guy's definition of a shooter will surely change over the years, But I can't see one deer having that much of an overall impact. Other than maybe the first big'un.


odd question..

RE: got me thinking
 

i have hunted for 4 year skiped one year
this will be the 5th i have said the last three years 8 piont or no shooting i did take a shot on a 4 point and missed did it for meat this year i will drop any doe bigger then a big dog bucks better be 6 points or better now come end of season if the freezer is empty i will go for a smaller buck to get some meat if i have to


be it a spike doe or 180 class deer i will mount my first deer

RE: got me thinking
 

yeah anything around the 120's for me becomes decoration.

RE: got me thinking
 

to each his own. every deer Ive ever taken is a trophy in my eyes.

RE: got me thinking
 

I've killed a lot of deer, a few very nice ones, and I've passed a lot of deer. Now I shoot a smaller buck or doe if I want to, no set pattern.

RE: got me thinking
 

I'm a meat hunter first anyway and the antlers on my walls have only been a bonus. I've a close buddy that has 12 beautiful mounts hanging with the smallest being a 153 typical. He too is and continued to be a meat hunter first. Once he has the freezer filled by archery and ML he does become somewhat selective. I'm mush the same way. Up here in Manitoba we can party hunt so if it is the last day of the hunt I will take a smaller buck for there is always some one I know that that has an empty tag and would like some venison in the freezer. Or a second option is to donate the meat to one of our soup kitchens. They always appreciate the meat.

I'm still going after them but haven't seen another deer that big since.. Getting ready to try this weekend, ML opener!! Good luck to everyone and happy hunting!!

I killed my first back in 1970, a beautiful 10 point...I actually saw the deer while squirrel hunting...Dad gave me the afternoons off for a week (I worked for him after school)...Anyway, after a week, I killed him with my 22-250...

If I had stopped there, I sure would have missed a lot of fun...
I've now killed 300 or so, most of those were does but I still love going after a buck one on one...I remember my first with a bow (also a buck) and my first with a flintlock (also a buck)...While neither of them were 10 pointers, they were trophys in their own right...

i will shoot 130'' deer if thats what is there, if i know there are bigger bucks around i will hold off but when it comes down to the nutt cuttin last day im killin and grillin

I killed a buck that grossed 164 two years ago. Last year I killed one in the 135 range with a drop tine. It is a lot easier now to pass up smaller bucks, and I know I can kill does to fill the freezer. Actually it is a lot better knowing I have that trophy on the wall and I'm not pressuring my self to kill a trophy and when I see a nice buck in the 100-120 inch range, I can hope that if I pass on that deer, I might get a chance to kill him next year.

It would be a fun dilema to have but i would definately be able to shoot smaller bucks. I'm a 125" or bigger with a bow kinda guy.

This is my 3rd year hunting and have always had that dilemma. How big? I hunt in TN where we have a 3/Day bag limit on antlerless and 3 bucks a season. I shot and hung my first buck last year. Not big by any means but a really nice deer; was just proud of my first. I had let 3-4 walk simply because I second guessed myself. My friend (15 years of experience) said the best way to judge a deer is laying on the ground..lol. I am still selective but I hunt public land where if I don't shoot them someone else will. I learned that last year when I watched two yearlings lay under my stand all day. I saw the same two deer butchered a week later. I hunt for the joy of hunting. The trophies will come as a bonus.

I havent seen rodburners. can anyone give me a link?
For me I would shoot smaller but try to avoid the small uns. Just the shooters

My goal is success year after year.

If i put down a 3.5+ mature buck for 10 years straight, that would be an accomplishment. Im still working on the first.

i see young hunters that are dieing to kill a huge buck all the time. i tell them i hope they kill a monster one day,but that it won't be the same after they kill a few big ones. seems like the more big bucks i've killed i've had alittle less want to get after another one. i still love to deer hunt but its just not like it once was.

It hasn't changed much.. There aren't that many bucks like this one around here.. It was just one of those times where I was in the right place at the right time.. I would rather be lucky than good any day.... lol