Muley Hunter

Sure would be for me, but i'm not a trophy hunter. However, it's always nice to shoot a good looking buck.

Over the years i've shot some good looking bucks and bulls. Even though it was never my goal to hunt for a trophy. I do go after the mature animals just for the challenge.

rockport

Whats the difference between a trophy hunter and a guy that goes after mature animals for the challenge?

buckman11

I always explained it to people like this: I dont consider myself a trophy hunter. I call for Bucks, but when a Doe comes I'm more than happy to take her. I also call for Does just as much if not more than Bucks. Its all about the meat for me, The deer I kill feeds my family for the winter. But I love gettin a Big Buck if the oppurtunity arises.

Muley Hunter

You really don't know?

Maybe this will help you...........I leave the antlers at the kill. No dead heads on my walls.

rockport

I shoot does and eat all my meat as well.

rockport

No I really don't know the difference. It seems like most of us that are trophy hunters are pursuing mature deer for the challenge. If I just shot whatever walked out I'd only be hunting about 5 days a year.

So thats the difference? Leaving the antlers at the kill?

bristowboy_20

I read a lot of truly unbelievable things on this forum. That was just an example right?

bristowboy_20

IMO: a mature animal is just an old animal. a mature deer can have small antlers or large antlers.

Trophy hunters are looking for wallhangers.
Mature animal hunters pass up the younger deer for something a little older.

bristowboy_20

As far as I'm concerned, being a trophy hunter doesn't hurt anything. It gives younger bucks a chance to grow a little older. In my area there is a much greater number of does than there are bucks. If I want deer meat I'm getting myself a doe. It's easy meat. For me there is no need to shoot a small buck. My idea of a trophy is 125"+. I don't have many opportunities to chase 170 class deer because they are hard to find. If I waited for something that big I would never bag a buck.

rockport

Ive killed a few smaller racked mature deer.

It almost appears to me that "meat hunter" in most cases just = I didn't see any big ones.

I mean I am a trophy hunter but

1. we eat all of our meat

2. I also shoot does

3. I will also take what I can get if I can't get a big one(although I'd probably go without if that meant shooting small bucks but I don't see why it ever would)

That seems pretty similar to me.