Like anything in life, it's what each person defines for themselves. That being said, to me, a trophy is that extra special deer. A deer is a deer and I love deer hunting more than anything, but (when) I finally tag that big buck, you know the kind that takes your breath away when you first see him., then I'll have my trophy. A hunter's first deer is probably the biggest trophy of all, regardless of size.

I am also a diehard fly fisherman. I have caught many trout but it's that 10 pounder that has been eluding me thru the years. When I finally net him, it will truly be my trophy. It's the same for me when deer hunting. I hunt areas with low deer density, so I don't have the luxury to see deer every time out in the woods, so any legal deer is special, but is it a trophy, no to me. A spike is nice, but that 12 pointer than dresses over 200 pounds is what I personally call my trophy.

EXACTLY!!

A big, heavy bodied fully mature buck of at least 4 1/2 years old, regardless of his rack size.

Anything I would Kill I would consider a trophy because I took the time to scout and hunt that deer that I shot, and even if I dont kill a deer I enjoy the outdoors so much its like a trophy in itself

a buck bigger than my last. However, always happy to take a doe too. My next goal/trophy is to find one with a drop tine.

luckyone

a great day afield.

I trophy hunt whitetails. I have very high standards in what I take because I want to get the ones I see and can't get a shot off at or the ones I do I just f@#% up on the oppurtunity. Three years ago I had the opppurtunity to shoot a white tail with at least 200 inches of mass in sub-zero temps, a possible state record, but hyperthema set in after 4 hours and I was so numb and shrieving and covered in snow, I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn but bull headed I am. I have seen some other desent ones but nothing with the mass that that one had.
I do drop my standards come that last few days of the season though and will put some meat in the freezer. I just like antlers when it comes to white tail but when it comes to elk, I"m not so choosey, as long as its a bull. Bobby

I'm still at the point where any deer is a trophy. But growing up with a grandfather who was addicted to hunting an Eight Point or bigger was a trophy .
Chuck

Any deer i take is a trophy to me

I tell my wife every year that it is not about the kill, it is just being out there in the woods and enjoying the time. Every deer is special but I do consider the bigger bucks trophies, just because that is what we have always called them.