Deer hunting Rule sheet!
 

I've read alot of ads that say you can't harvest a deer under 4.5 years old or under 150"...I know big deer are big buisness but "really"!I enjoy deer hunting way too much to ever restrict myself! "Big" deer,hunting is killing the core of the sport!JMHO!

Either that or it is just a different sport all together!

If it is legal, then have a good time!

Depends what you want and what you'd be happy with.


If I want meat, I'd much rather take a doe than a 115" 6 or 8pt buck that's 1.5yo or a button buck.

Most bucks shot here in IL I would say are 2.5yo or 1.5yo, a 3.5yo or older is a big buck here!

Most people couldn't tell you the age of a deer by looking at it, so that would be a bit extreme. Nothing under 150", again is a bit extreme. People that live in states with small bodied deer, have a tough time judging the size of the rack on something like the Mid-West bucks larger bodies. If the state you are in has deemed something legal for you to shoot, such as it needs to have a certain # of points on one side, then those are the guidelines you have to follow. If you don't, then you are poaching. Or if you are hunting with an outfitter that says you need to shoot above a certain size, or pay a penalty fee. Some outfitters penalty fees are a bit extreme IMO, but the reason the state or the outfitter do this is the same reason. It is called Deer Management. If you don't protect the herd you have, then you won't have any.

But if it is legal in your state to shoot spikes, fork horns, and basket racks, and you are happy to shoot them and you use the meat, then it is your call as to what size buck you shoot. And it is the states loss in the long run.

I just think the sport is heading in the wrong direction, dont get me wrong I like big racked deer they are great!But even the youth in the sport now days talk about antler score ,I never even knew scors existed untill about 15 years ago, now thats all you hear!I'm afraid people judge the quality of their hunt buy the size of the rack and that too me is SAD!To each their own!Some of my most memerable hunts growing up ended with nothing in the back of the truck!

I agree iawalleyeguy, the "experience" aspect for many has been diminished.

I also agree with a lot of the things Deerdust mentioned, but...

What we're seeing is a phenomenon psychologists call "self-enhancement". It's an occurrence running rampant among North American white-tailed deer hunters. So-called self-enhancers think that they’re blessed, that they’re highly appreciated by others and that they’ll come out on top providing they shoot a bigger deer than anyone else. "Bigger" is their driving force. And yes, such thinking is stigmatizing hunting, all of hunting. The reason, these guys are doing really stupid things to get results...without regard or care to the stumbling blocks they're creating.

In my opinion, "bigger" isn't always better(considering the variables)-it's just bigger. I would gladly, if given the opportunity, travel to Europe to bow hunt nothing other than hinds, does, nannies, ewes, and sows. The time and experience of hunting in a far off land totally outweighs any antlers/horns/tusks I could bring home (the hardware is merely icing on the cake for me).

Moreover, for me the White-tailed deer of North America is not the gold standard, like it is for so many. Actually, I find it to be an incredibly easy species to hunt when compared to other species in the world-axis deer, elk, and leopard, for example. Let’s face it; killing a deer does not require an advanced college education anywhere in the United States. On the contrary, in a lot of case, it requires hardly any education at all. Young boys and girls (those capable of quickly connecting the dots) kill deer everywhere/all the time without a lot of experience or supervision! Plenty of non-rocket scientists partake in annual hunting activities and go home year after year with back straps and antlers in their hunting rigs. Some may argue I’m underrating the requirements to be a successful deer hunter, but the facts suggest I’m spot on.

My friend, be thankful you have the time to enjoy the privilege given to you (that’s the real trophy). Naturally, you should enjoy the experience legally. Hopefully, we’ll have this great past time for generations to come. Good hunting!

I guess it's a good thing I hunt on public land.

If I had to age a critter, or size a rack in the field, I'd just stay home. Score..........what score? I don't care about the score, record books, or any other self important malarkey that some folks need to feel good about themselves.

I do understand antler point restrictions and even agree with them to a point but the purpose of hunting for me is to get outside and put meat in the freezer. The meat aspect is just a way of justifying paying more money in time and effort for something that is cheaper to purchase over the counter but it works for me.

There is a joy and pleasure in hunting as well as a certain element of pride in being self sufficient. I don't need the admiration of others to feel good about myself which is what record books are about for me. Some of my friends have trophies in the record books, but that's for them and not me.

Biker

I enjoy whitetail hunting with archery gear with a passion, live for it. I harvest a lot of deer during the coarse of a hunting season, most of them being adult does. But if I put my tag on a buck, that buck will score 130" or better. It is a self imposed restriction as I get no thrill out of harvesting a young buck. I prefer the challenge of getting myself in range of a mature Whitetail buck. When I was younger I did enter a few into P&Y, but I no longer do that either, means nothing to me. If I didn't live in an area that has so many deer and managed for QDM I would probably think differently. But as long as I live in the MidWest I choose to fill the freezer with does and tag mature Bucks.

I totally agree. Well said guys.

Some good points made
 

As an old timer, it amazes me how much money is put into hunting. To a point, everyone can develop their own system, as long as it is state legal. And if it's lots and lots of money, it never was really me.
As a deceased uncle taught a young man, "Use it, don't abuse it." Some will refuse to use something, thinking it is evil. Some will use it and some will exceed the use and wind up abusing the opportunity.

I noticed the weight gain of Americans over the last fifteen years. Regardless of the rules, strict or less strict, you wonder just how many hunters will be able to even walk 300 yards into the woods?

But what do I know. I spent the last twenty or so years, staying in shape in the off season, so I could carry the tree stand climber, into and out of the woods. And sometimes drag out a harvested deer on the way out too, all alone. And that definitely wouldn't be part of modern QDM rules.

PY,

My complete respect! If hunting were easy, you probably wouldn't do it. I totally respect your conservation efforts and the degree of difficulty you have applied to your hunting. There's nothing wrong with your thinking...

None of us should frown upon record books, they fill a very important roll in the conservation and preservation field. If you think about it, without them, we wouldn't have a lot of the hunting opportunities we have today. I completely support SCI-not because I want to see my name (I admit it happens and I feel good), but rather to give back to the support of wildlife and our hunting endowment. Please do look into SCI's World Hunting Award Program. It challenges hunters on an unbelievable level. You compete against nobody but yourself. Horns and inches are a very small part of the over all framework. It's a great program which allows you to give back and feel happy about doing so!

Wise words Valentine. Totally spot on! Thanks for sharing.

i dont think theres anything wrong with raiseing the bar,id rather see the next generation be more picky then live by the saying if its brown its down.

When you go to the local womans club is bigger always better?To some yes some no same goes for deer,to each there own.

I am really tired of hearing about rack size etc. Hunting was and still should be about putting food on the table. This macho mine is bigger than yours stuff is tiresome. As long as it is legal then it is fair game. Some of us do not have the luxury of thousands or even hundreds of acres to hunt. I have only a very small area and have not seen a deer the last two years. I want meat not a trophy.

What ? "Can't harvest" ? Look, I may be way out there ... but I do not, I have not and I never will consider what I do in hunting deer as "harvesting". That is some double speak, mamby-pamby wording for the purpose of who knows what the he%%%, I have no clue !?! I hunt deer ... I shoot deer ... I kill deer. It is not the same as purposefully rearing an animal for the commercial market or personal use. If it was, we'd be "harvesting". All of this ad stuff has one and only one purpose .... it is all about the Franklins.

What we'd best never lose sight of is that this is supposed to be a challenge and remain a fun time, filled with fellowship and the building of memories. Look, I am as excited as anyone else when I luck into a big buck. But I am not a "trophy only" hunter. I have been at it since 1962. I have one "trophy". I keep the freezer full of venison. But I am certainly not "David Crockett". Just lucky becasue where I hunt there is an abundance of deer. Every season now for at least 9 years we have killed about 100 -115 deer off the 3150 acres that we hunt. It is absolutely a simple process for a hunter that will go 6-8 times a year to kill 2-3-4 does each season for meat. And it is not unusual to bag a decent buck every year if you go a few days at the right time. It is however very, very unusual to ever see a buck in the 150 class, much less bag one.

I once hunted in a "trophy club". Two seasons. Minimum was a 140 with a count of 8 points. And each member had to kill 5 does/year. The property was a free ranging, approx. 9,000 acres of great habitate. Plenty of deer. Plenty of excellent bucks. But is was the most miserable 2 seasons I ever spent hunting. Because there was bickering. One Saturday a 13 year old, during Chistmas break, sitting with his dad, shot his first buck off a food plot. It was a fine 9 pt. It green scored 136 B&C ... after deducting for the 5" long, 9 th. point !!! He and his dad were ragged out by the long time members. I left that day and never returned. Jeese !!! What a mess !

Stay legal .... shoot what you'll use .... have fun. It is that simple.

We try and shoot the biggest and oldest buck we can and it has nothing to do with anything macho. We have a long season up here and we are lucky enough to have a lot of time to spend hunting. Targeting a bigger buck makes the hunt more challenging and makes it that much more rewarding when we get a nice one. It allows us to spend more time outdoors. We also shoot a couple does in areas where there are alot of deer to try and help manage the herd. We adhere to the QDMA principles which has nothing to do with antler size, but rather health of the herd, balancing the sex ratio, etc. One of the most important factors in doing this is to allow young bucks to reach maturity. That being said I have no problem with anyone shooting young bucks if thats what they want. I will be the first to congratulate them. The most important part is people are out hunting and enjoying the outdoors with friends and family, the size of the rack is not important compared to the enjoyment of the experience.

iv never felt the need to brag about any critters iv killed,its a personal best thing.a trophys alot of things to diffrent ppl.could be the rack size or it could be the experience.why worry about what other ppl think so much.if u hunt because of the need to brag you shouldnt be a hunter.btw i am a trophy hunter but im not one to judge either.

More wise words. Skinner, I tip my hat and salute your wisdom.