Is it just me or???
 

Everyone is more worried about killing a BIG buck than filling their freezer. Suddenly you are not a good hunter if your buck is not over130". More emphasis on what you kill than the hunt itself. It should be about fellowship with friends and family and remembering the past with loved ones who are now gone. You DO NOT have to kill anything to be successful. And if you will all play by these rules maybe I will be the only one with a post asking you to guess what he scores. :deer: :fighting0007:

Well said. completely agree

I hunt to put meat in the freezer and enjoy being outside. If I happen to shoot a big buck so be it, but I don't get all morked up if I don't shoot a giant deer.

2 Years ago I went to ohio to bow hunt with a couple friends. I had was on one side of a field and my buddy was on the other (about 150 yards away) so we could video tape each other. I had a nice twelve pointer bedded down about 75 yards away when a couple fat does came out at 15 yards. I smacked the first doe and the second one ran around and came back in at 20 yards and I dropped her just for the meat.

No, your not the only one. It bothers me with all the "what does he score posts". I understand that people want to know but why not just score the stinking thing and post it? I like killing deer and the bigger the deer the more meat in the freezer. So far this year I have killed a spike and a button buck (thought it was a doe). My dad killed his first with a bow opening day here. It was a 100 pound doe, the second deer he saw that morning (he missed the first!). Point of it is that I took my dad to the farm I hunt. I sat him down right beside of a tree in pitch black dark. The deer came within 10 yards of dad and the rest of the day all he could talk about is how I picked THAT TREE and how did I KNOW they would come THAT close. I done something that amazed my dad. All I told him was I had a good teacher and he just smiled. I don't care what anyone says about antler size of an age of a buck. This hunt was the best one I had in a long long time and will never be forgotten. To me this is what hunting is about.

I will share a little bit of my side as I am a big QDM advocate. I was raised practicing, and believe in it whole heartedly. I will start by saying I often go to sit in a stand with nothing but a video camera as I get just as much thrill seeing one then shooting one. That being said, the past couple years our relationship with our hunting partner (who is family) went south, Very south...What a shame. I think about all the memories from years past, all the camaraderie that is now being missed, and that IS what it is all about, for me. I can say I havent taken a deer in a couple years, I have still been hunting a bit and have seen literally hundreds, but it is more about the camp and the good fellowship, so my ambition had dwindled.
Now, having said THAT, to each his own is what it comes down to, but in MY opinion/in our case, we spend a LOT of money to hunt,especially where we do (not to say most others dont) and be able to experience this great sport with our friends/family, so why not get the best out of it. By best in my opinion, I mean, the best experience. It goes without saying that the younger, more immature deer, are much more easily taken and hunted. Theyre not as witty, they dont seem to have that 'instinct' that keeps them just out of harms way. Harvesting a mature deer (regardless of buck or doe) is much more difficult, and in my opinion, more rewarding. I've said before, any hunter who says they havent dreamed or longed to see a monster come out and give them a shot at it, is lying. Taking does is a large part of QDM, therfore my freezer is full. No one owes anyone anything in terms of passing deer etc, if someone is taking a deer simply for meat than, more power to em'. No person who hunts for meat should then look at a QDM practicer in any negative way either. I'm just offering a mentality of someone who I guess you would consider a 'trophy hunter'....

That is entirely right.

this is right, totally agree, i always hunt with my dad and is friends and we hunt seriously for big bucks and normal sized ones. But we have a blast doing it no matter what!!! as long as your having fun hunting, it doesnt matter what you get but its always nice to get a big boy.

I agree to a point. I mean killing spikes and fawns??? Thats like starting a garden and going out and pulling your tomatos that are a month from being ripe.

I shot my biggest buck ever on nov 2 in ohio a 10 pt.I am a resident of pa and also hunt in pa with my brothers, nephews, and grandson.we enjoy hunting together and get excited when one of us gets a doe.putting a/r in pa has taken away alot of the fun we use to have by just being able to take a buck and still be proud of it.everyone wants to shoot a big buck but not everyone who hunts considers that the all mighty goal.being out together with the other hunters in your party and seeing them get something to me is better then scoring on a big buck.I would gladly give back the 10pt. I shot this year if I could hunt one more year with the person who took the time and effort to get me started in hunting my dad.I pray he is watching me in the big sky and is proud that I am trying to do exactly what he did for me and my brothers to help others enjoy a sport where everyone wins.

I hunt for meat first, trophies second. Never gotten a trophy though, so I stick with the meat. :)

I think to each his own. If you are fortunate enough to hunt an area where you can let nice bucks go and have a chance a an evern nicer one, than so be it. I have always hunted what land I could get and if I don't shoot them, the next guy will. Someday the trophy will walk by and I will put him on the wall, but for now I am happy just to have them in the freezer.

Same here.. I'm a meat hunter first, but then, I won't shoot a fawn or a tiny little button buck. I just can't do it. Once they get to be a spike or bigger, then I need some meat for my freezer and they are fair game! :wink:

Nicely put. I feel the same way, Alot of people think all about killing the BIGGEST buck, But what makes it worth it to me is spending time with my family and friends and sharing our past hunting stories together, not saying it wouldnt be nice, HECK i would love to kill me a 190 class buck, but if not, a doe or a little 8 point will do (: im proud of whatever i shoot! Most people havent ever killed a deer in their life. We should be thankful that we can hunt and enjoy the outdoors. God bless!

I have 70lbs. of deer meat so far and want a Doe or Buck for my wifes first hunt be it a small 100 plus doe or a spike buck she would be thrilled and I would be as well for her first deer. I have 6 weeks left to get my 8 pointer if I can or another doe is fine because when I eat my jerky or sausage or back straps it matters not to me if it had antlers. I enjoy the challenge of getting a mature doe or buck and it does make a difference if they are mature. It took me 3 weeks to get the 2nd Doe I got,she was a smart one. Big racks are decorations on a well made cake but give me the cake and I'll be happy even if it's a plane Jane.

This is typed completely out of respect, not to down any of your opinions or to say that i'm right and your wrong...



Well, I guess i am the exception to the norm. I can't stand to see grown men shoot spikes, or any buck for that matter that isn't outside the ears.

I do believe that children and young men-women, should enjoy taking deer of any size, age, so that they enjoy it and develop a love for hunting. However, there comes a point and time in which all hunters need to become better managers of land and herd. Its better for the herd to let the immature bucks walk and to thin the doe population.

I consider myself a hunter for meat first, trophy hunter second. Every year I shoot plenty of does, and pass on lots of bucks that are not mature, I enjoy watching these smaller bucks walk around in nature almost as much as shooting a mature doe and filling my freezer. I've shot only three bucks in five years, and trust me, I have enjoyed it just as much any of you who shot the immature bucks.

Lastly, all of you have children, parents, friends, (and yourselves) that would enjoy hunting a little more if there were bigger bucks walking around your woods whether you would like to admit it or not. I'm not talking about the "Bucks of Tecomate" size, but nice ones.

I just wanted to post the other side of this topic. Ultimately I have good friends that I hunt with and hang out with that will shoot 4 6 and 8's that I disagree with, but I respect their decisions, they just don't hunt on my land! lol.

I guess my thinking boils down to this... why shoot a young buck when the doe population in any area is more than plentiful, and has just as much quailty meat???? Why????

It's all about the hunt...the pursuit...the chase...what you shoot is up to you...that is your reward or demise to yourself...

In our club, having a 6 point or better rule doesn't mean were going for trophies, it just means we're willing to let the young ones go. Whether your a meat hunter, trophy hunter, brown and down, it's each one of our personsal freedom of choice that makes it the greatest sport known to man. As long as we stay within the parameters of the law, we all have different visions and dreams. We all love to be with family and friends, take pride and pass on some good ribbing during the hunting season. I don't have to shoot an arrow or fire my gun to have fun, if I get the opportunity to, great. I've taken my bullets for a walk many a year, came up empty, but have memories of each year like that that you can't put a dollar value on, especially when thinking of the years with loved ones who have passed on. Good luck to all out there, and god bless.

I hunt to fill the freezer also. If a doe, spike, or a monster comes out i shoot. Im not one to see a doe and wait to see if a buck comes out, you can't eat antlers. This past saturday i shot a nice buck, but that was because he stepped out if it was a doe i would have done the same thing. And because he was a nice deer I wanted to show everyone, so would anyone else. But it does'nt mean that if it was a doe that steped out i wouldn't have shot.

This actually goes with how I feel about it. In the past I had to kill what I could to fill my freezer. I tried to lay off really young bucks but it was not always possible. Two of my children really enjoy hunting, my son is 14 and probably a better hunter than I am. He buck hunts until I say it is kill time and he can usually kill a doe anytime he gets ready it seems. My nephews and brother started hunting last year. Long story short by the end of muzzleloader season last year I had 13 (I think that many) in my freezer. Gun season I told everyone no more unless it goes on the wall and my son killed a 133" 9 point. My point is now I feel like I can trophy hunt if I want because the younger generation is filling my freezer and allowing me to be more selective. I killed my biggest buck to date this year and have let a lot of deer walk. I have my eyes on a monster and may not shoot unless I see him. You have to hunt to the standards that make you happy and enjoy it for YOU and not worry what others will think. I guess I will try to trophy hunt but only because I would prefer to see the younger generation get to do the shooting.

Couldn't be put much better than this in my opinion. I'll be straight up honest I'm a HORN hunter first. Ok so thats just me. If you get your fun out of other ways so be it. No disrespect to anyone as long as your having fun with the sport! But please pass on the 1 1/2 year old bucks and take a doe as mentioned above as much as possible.
Happy Hunting to all

Im a bone colector

You shouldn't criticize a man for letting a great buck walk on by if he is blessed with the oppertunity to shoot something bigger, however you also shouldn't criticize a man who is doing what he needs to do make sure he is providing food for his family. Not everyone hunts for pleasure and we need to be respectful of everyones situation while educating in the process for when it is needed

I'll tell you why. I own land in Wis where the doe population has been decimated from years of "earn a buck" hunting. From trail cam observations I have about 3 bucks per doe. I need more does. This year I'm thinking about shooting a 1 1/2 year old buck during gun season for my meat so that the older bucks and does get a chance to survive. BTW, I have been a trophy hunter for 19 years. This will be the first time in 19 years that I will be doing this.

GregH,

You certainly are in a unique position, and 1 1/2 year olds is what I would shoot in that situation also.

I also realize that not everywhere is not the same, like here in Va anything 130+ is a wallhanger. There are bigger but not the norm, where as in the big buck states its 145-155 or bigger.

Scottishbuckmaster

Also, I doubt someone who hunts just to survive, someone who has to kill whatever he can to put food on his table so he and his family don't starve to death this week are sitting in their lazy-boy, in their pajamas, in front of their laptop computer, with thier high speed internet, reading about my opinion.

My opinion is not intended for him, it is intented for us who buy licenses, tags, guns, bino's, scopes, muzzleloaders, carbon clothes, gortex insulated boots, rangefinders, climbing stands, ladder stands, blinds, 4 wheel drives, and whatever is the newest and latest. No need to claim that we NEEEDDD the meat that bad. But I do respect your opinion.

I agree with this pretty well.

I'm not gonna label anyone for what they shoot. If it truly makes you happy...then by all means, shoot it.

I think most hunters go through stages, and eventually get to the point where getting "a" buck doesn't really matter. I know I went through several stages over the past 30yrs. It started with just getting "a" deer, then "a" buck, then "multiple deer" in a year, then "multiple bucks" in a year, etc.

At some point, shooting a young buck just didn't do it for me anymore and I gave it up. Passing them up has been the norm for the last 15yrs for me. I personally would rather shoot a doe, than an immature buck. In the areas where I hunt, the does are too many anyhow....so its good for the herd to do so. Of course, my area doesn't hold "big" bucks by some folks standards - a good one here is 100" - 110", and typically 3.5-4.5 . A 120" buck around here would be a monster. I have two properties we've been passing bucks on for over 10yrs, and its gotten better for sure. Unfortunately where I am in the mtns of VA and WV, they just don't get very big.

I hunt with guys that are in all stages of this cycle, regardless of their physical age. In fact, my wifes cousin is almost 50, and this will be his first year hunting ever. He's in a TOTALLY different place than I, and probably will be for a long time. If he gets a deer this year, he'll be stoked. If its a 3" spike, it will probably be cloud 9. On the other hand, my son just turned 13 last week, and has been shooting deer for the last 5 yrs. He's starting to want to pass up the smaller bucks, and try and hold out for something a little nicer - and shoot a doe or two also. I'm not sure he can....but I was impressed that he even thought about it at this point. :)