what's more important to you, wieght or antler's?
#12

Many years ago I shot the biggest Buck that I have ever seen anywhre including in pictures and in Cabelas game rooms. I will never shoot another buck for horns unless I see one bigger than that one. I am a meat hunter and more antlers laying around mean less than nothing to me. I would shoot a small rack Buck if it wre a big body deer but only if I can't find a big doe. That big buck I shot years back was not even eddible. I could tell by the smell but one taste proved it. The big mule deer doe where I hunt will very often dress out well over 225-250 lbs. Thats what I am after. I like to shoot the big bucks only with a camera. Where I hunt, someone has to take some of the does out of the equation. I am more than happy to be one of them. I took three very big ones this year. The land owner thanked me and invited me back next year. To me its a great tasting win, win deal.
#15

I guess I would probably say antlers. I hunt here in Iowa where the deer are big. Its hard to find a deer here with a nice rack that doesn't have alot of meat to him.
#18
Fork Horn
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location:
Posts: 350

Antlers for me as well. You can't eat them but you can use them as means to set goals and up the challenge. If I were a meat hunter, I'd never shoot any bucks bigger than a nubbin. In my experience, does taste much better.
But Since I'm hunting for the big bucks, I let the smaller ones walk and shoot does to fill tags specified for doe only.
Dan
But Since I'm hunting for the big bucks, I let the smaller ones walk and shoot does to fill tags specified for doe only.
Dan
#20
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Mormonville, Utah!
Posts: 2,753

If I want more deer meat I'll shoot a few extra does.