I was reading Mike Mittens article in TBM about hunting Trophy bucks, and was curious what my fellow Tradgangers are doing this upcoming deer season.
A. Tropy Bucks only
B. Quality deer management
C. Any deer, they are all trophys.
D. Other
Actually, A & B go together in my book. Good quality deer management supports having big bucks. Got to let the little ones go to get bigguns. You also have to keep the doe population at bey as well. We like to try to keep our farm at around a 3 to 1 ratio if we can. 2 to 1 would be nice but 3 to 1 is more realistic. My 2cents anyhow.
Mike
I don't have enough acreage for QDM, but I still let the young bucks walk and shoot does for the freezer. The does taste better to me, so I don't shoot a buck unless I want his antlers, or unless the freezer's empty!
I agree with Mike, and that's what I do with my hunting. But there is another reason as well. Letting the smaller bucks walk keeps my buck tag in my pocket and extends my hunting season.
A number of years ago I had just started a new job and knew my hunting time would be limited that year. With an out of State trip planned that would cut in even more, I dropped the string on a little basket rack buck on opening day. At first I was pleased with myself, but I was done buck hunting for the year. Worst bow season I ever had.
Looks like I fall into the "other" category.
I usually find myself killing a few Does or more each year. Not because I have a deep seated belief in QDM, but because I just enjoy killing and the entire process, gut'n, drag'n, all of it. Killing a bunch of Does has made me a better hunter and filled my freezer with good food.
I also feel it's important to keep herd numbers at a reasonable balance. No sense in there being so many that they're always getting greased on the roads. Lots of people get hurt in the process. I had to care for a person who was killed in a motorcyle vs. deer a couple years back. That'll give ya different outlook on high herd numbers.
As far as bucks, I live in Iowa so the opportunity to come across an older deer is there. I don't really consider myself a hard core trophy guy, but I do try to wait for a good'n as long as I can. Having antlerless tags in my pocket also helps knowing I don't have to kill a buck for just for meat.
In the end I never know what buck I'll take home until I see him though. Usually try to kill nice heavy 2 y/o or something bigger. I've gone some years and not shot a buck either. All I know is I'm have'n fun. Make it what ya want, that's the important part.
People shouldn't get to wrapped up in big deer IMO. A good portion of the time the real difference in killing them is just the area you have available to hunt. Nothing more nothing less.
I let the younger bucks walk. But all other deer are heading for the icebox. :readit: :thumbsup: COME ON FALL!!!!
Raven >>>>------->
I fall into the other category as I feel that B and C go together. I feel that any deer shot with trad gear is a trophy but dont need nearly all of the deer that I could kill in a season so after I shoot a couple for the freezer I start hunting for bigger bucks. Now with that said we dont have really big bucks down here so I am not after a monster but I do hunt in some states that do have big bucks and will be a little more picky there but not too picky as I feel like Morning Star I like the whole killin, guttin, draggin experience so I guess I am a trophy hunter for a little while after the freezer is full.
I have passed on a couple small bucks during the first month or so......however, once the rut comes and goes, I'll take any buck that gets close enough. My "low" range is just nothing below an 8pt before the rut......after that, anything goes. I hunt heavily presssured public land and work alot of hours----I enjoy backstraps too much to let too many deer pass. Any doe is fair game at any time! The more venison in my freezer at season's end is just that much less beef I have to buy for my family's needs.......
Ben
I love the trophy bucks I love the meat but I voted "Other" as my #1 goal is hunting for experiences. Plus, the World is a LOT bigger than just "deer"!
After i kill a few deer i will start hunting a goodn.
Only shooting trophy buck.And some management Does.Cant shoot a trophy buck if you take them to early. :goldtooth:
This is a great summary of my bowhunting philosophy, for anyone interested.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyGKf9x-ia8&feature=channel_page
The county i live in is total qdm so i have no choice on that....but i love shooting does, and we can take several if we so choose! :)
I'm hunting two different farms. One is trophy buck only due to well managed herd. The other needs many does shot so the does are on the menu.
I really hunt for the shot. I do try and take a nice buck if the opportunity shows itself; but getting a close shot that I feel confidant about is way more important.
I think hunting for trophy bucks is fun; and I have gone that route. I will if I spot one while hunting. But I eat. I like deer meat. And generally we have one tag per year.
I am really wondering what 'quality deer management' means.
It seems like Texas is trying to grow cattle with antlers...I am not sure that is the same for other 'QDM' programs.
Personally I would rather see a big wild buck that has survived many hunting seasons because of its wariness - over a big rack buck at a feeder that is only big- because the stupid errors it made as a prey animal were ignored; and it was allowed to live until it gets to 'trophy size'.
Any deer can be a trophy. I have found that people that cheated in some way or another to kill a bunch of deer - lose the desire that is almost like the the gleam in a childs eye to those that try for years to get ANY deer.
Where I am I can shoot whitetails or mulies on my deer tag. There are hybrids; part whitetail and part mulie; and they tend not to be so thrifty; and eat up resources for 'purebred' deer.
So - I take them when I can - I hunt them specifically.
When I see ranches where fawns are hand fed; and people gunning down the same fawns after a lifetime of living worry free... its just not what I would expect of the happy hunting grounds on the other side of life....[not my personal version of heaven].
B. Easy enough not to pull the trigger on young deer. In Texas we have parameters re spikes & yearlings. If everyone follows the same rules, by culling does & passing marginal bucks, next year's animals quickly grow bigger & smarter. Balanced buck/doe ratio offers best chance for larger heads.
I voted C any deer is a trophy to me.
I also agree with Brian. I would much rather have a chance to shoot a wary and wild buck than one that is accustomed to breakfast at 7:30 am and dinner at 4:30 pm. I have had exactly this experience in NJ and PA. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to take both of my bucks on heavily hunted public land in both states.
My biggest buck came right after the antler restrictions were implemented in PA, so he survived a few years of the "if it's brown, it's down" guys.
I would love to hunt for trophy or even mature animals for that matter but our state DNR does their best to keep the number of animals older than 1 1/2 old to a minimum. We are mostly left with yearlings, young does and a small sprinkle of 1 1/2 old bucks. Luck plays the largest part in Michigan deer seasons anymore...
Keep in mind folks,QDM doesn't mean feeders and bottle feeding. I guess I'm guilty of feeding cause I hunt an oak ridge or the outskirts of a 350 acre corn field. Maybe even the trails leading from the 200+ acres of clover the farmer planted. But QDM is more than just feeding a deer. It's managing the herd. Shooting does when needed(which is every year), letting smaller ones walk, etc. I don't care where you hunt, a buck doesn't learn to avoid people when it's born. Those weary swamp bucks people talk about have probably come acrossed a hunter or two in their lives. And trophy hunting is fun! Whip said it right when he said it keeps him in the woods longer. We only get 1 buck tag and several does. If I shot the first buck that walked by I'd be done the first day! Every deer I shoot with a trad bow is a trophy to me. But when it comes to bucks, the biggger the better.IMO>
I got to go now, it's time to feed my deer in the pen. He should be about a 150" by deer season!LOL just a little fun fellows.
Mike
Not many mature guys walking around here on Gamelands - there are a few - some are just myth. But I like shootin and any legal deer goes. Like to kill bucks but really no difference in a cowhorn and a doe.
J
I like all of them A,B, and C I'll shoot me a big booner buck and I don't mind trying to even up my buck to doe ratio, and really any way you look at it taking any deer with traditional equipment or not any deeris a trophy, but traditional equipment makes it way better.
Shoot does, let little ones walk and look but seldom kill big bucks. Content with a freezer full of good eating deer.
Still praying for my first kill. I can only harvest bucks where I'm hunting this fall, so any one that takes my arrow will put me on cloud 9!
"Other" for me. I'm Aussie, and in most instances for me it is a simple case of maths: "Kill a feral, save heaps of native flora and fauna, and help the whole ecosystem". However, I am at times hypocritical or forgetful of this "feral menace" philosophy, as I don't particularly wish to shoot a sucker pig ever again, and I counted coup on a brumby mare with a young foal the other week. If I was to hunt southern Australia, deer would be a feral species I would not "whack and stack" (they are probably the least-destructive of our ferals).
In some respects this is an east/west kind of divide. Here (AZ) we get one tag buck only. Between the desert, the mountains and the canyons any deer killed with bow is a trophy. All of that said there is nothing quite like the January bow hunt here in southern AZ. It quite simply is enough to be out and about and watch the world come to life sitting on a ridge glassing over miles and miles of country.
MAP
C for me.Full freezer means more to me than dust collectors on the wall. :thumbsup:
I'm not sure I have a hard and fast philosophy. I make up my mind as the shot presents itself. Sometimes I let them walk, sometimes I shoot. I do have a tendency to let the smaller bucks go, but that may be because I have been playing hide and seek with a really nice buck for 3 seasons now.
When I've killed my first deer period, then I might have something to say. :rolleyes:
I shoot only does, unless I have an opportunity to shoot a nice buck. I'm willing to waste tags to extend my season and our herd needs does thinned out so I try to do my part :)
I can usually use my buck tag on a doe, if I choose, and I'd rather that than an immature buck, as meat is the goal there. But I'm also usually blessed with multiple antlerless only tags, and I shoot them gladly, and stoke the freezer. I feel that a trophy is really in the eye of the beholder, and can be defined more than just rack size. Many does I've taken were worthy of trophy status. That said, I try each year and hold out for a mature buck to my liking, and if I don't find one, I'm usually looking for another doe those last hours....unless I've got plenty, then I'll hold out to the end and eat that tag rather than shoot a younger buck that might become next years trophy. My standards sometimes waiver, however, if I've chosen to hunt a certain way with certain restrictions in the equipment and methods, so.....like I said, "in the eye of the beholder".
Dust collectors eat just as good.I have eaten many and i love dust collectors.If i hunted just for meat it wouldnt be any fun.Season would be short and, I enjoy hunting mature bucks.Watching bucks for years learning thier habits and big bucks dont do a lot of dumb things.
I've recently started holding out for mature bucks only, and does. I have been doing this for the last 5 or 6 years. But I hunt ALOT, and I live in Illinois. I live and hunt in a not so good part of Illinois, but still mature bucks exist. I don't care how good you are...if they are not around you cannot kill them. However in the last 5 or 6 years, I did have a moment of weakness. I had little time to hunt, and was quite frustrated with the season I was having. I shot a small buck and regreted it before the arrow even got to him. But I think it is important to say that it is much easier to hold out for a good buck when you hunt in an area where they actually exist. If I Lived in a poor whitetail state, I would be content to take whatever the area had to offer. Mature bucks are my favorite animal on the planet, but not everyone has the opportunity to hunt them. I always like it when an experienced deer hunter from a poor whitetail state comes to Illinois and kills a great buck. Many times, these guys are excellent hunters, who have just never had the chance to take a good buck in their home state. I love to see the smiles on their faces when they come here and do it in short order. There are good deer hunters all over the nation, but not everyone has the opportunities for hunting mature bucks.
Every deer is certainly not a trophy to me. I've killed a few does that just needed thinning out, and I can't say I view them ALL as "trophies". Have I ever killed one I was ashamed of...or regretted? Nope.
"Other", for me. I have two piebalds I'll be looking for, hard. I always look for a buck for the wall, and I won a shoulder mount at the shoot I was shooting in this past weekend.
Hopefully I'll get a couple/few nannies and keep everyone in venison.
My philosophy is.....I'll shoot any deer that makes me happy.....but ANY deer won't make me happy.
This year, I'll spend about ZERO time worrying about it.
Great responses guys....Keep them coming :campfire:
A. Tropy Bucks only
define that
B. Quality deer management
define that
C. Any deer, they are all trophys.
that one is easily defined :)
D. Other
define that
I live and hunt in Iowa and I see enough big 8 point or better whitetail bucks to hunt just for them. Based on responses I see from around the country if I never kill another deer I have probably killed more than my share of 140-170 class bucks. I did not spend a day hunting for whitetails last year, loosing the farm I hunted being purchased by an out of state hunter from Wisconsin. My passion is hunting elk and I spend most of my hunt limiting resource, my time off, preparing for and hunting elk for 2-3 weeks every year. I would rather eat elk,(or beef or chicken) than whitetail venision. I would like to hunt for whitetails more and probably will this year and in the future as my shedule and hunting land availability will permit. If I hunt for whitetail deer, I am holding out for a certain size of buck. I will kill does for QDM, only if I have a doe only tag and conditons permit not screwing up the buck hunting. In northern Missouri where our family farm is there is a 4 point per side or better restriction so if you hunt there you are required to let the young bucks walk. We do cull does there and donate meat to the Harvest for the Hungry program.
I chose other... I will take any mature animial I can, I lay off does with fawns normally eventhough there is no sound reasoning for this, but I do try to be sure the animal is mature. I have taken a few large bucks which is cool, but my over all thoughts are a big mature doe is every bit the trophy a big horned old buck is, maybe more so, to take a 3 yr old doe late season vs. a 3 yr old buck during rut isnt the same at all..but guess who's picture we are all going to be showing?? doesnt make alot of sense to me... guess I am in the later stages of a bowhunter LOL !!!!
we have one tag only and now mule deer are 3 pt. or larger where i hunt, so i will drive up to the colville rez and shoot a whitetail doe like i did last year. i have to pretty desperate to kill a stinking buck to eat.
guess it's what you are used to.
I should have added I did vote as well...I voted C...The real trophy to me is when my family and I are sitting around the table eAting the meal I provided with my own two hands.
Its C for me..I don't see enough deer to be fussy,Like frassettor said, when sitting with family or friends enjoying a meal of venison...perfect!!! Remember to have fun also don't get caught up in the "Gott'a Get One Mode"!
In Vermont we have to lay off of the spikes, so anything bigger then that for me or a doe is what I am after!
"Other".
I don`t shoot "any" deer, I do pass on the little ones.
Truely big bucks are a very rare occurance here.
A three year old buck is a trophy. I usually pass on young bucks...usually.
I shoot year around, and try to be the best shooter/hunter I can be. I hope for at least one, good, close range shot at a mature deer.
I have killed my share of bucks I call big, but I know would not be considered "shooters" in some other places. So be it. When I pick up a blood soaked arrow, I am ALWAYS gratefull, and my hands are ALWAYS trembling...antlers or not.
In my area of Pennsylvania we have to shoot an eight point to be legal (four points on one side really) since the new law was passed. This year I am spending more time in scouting for this "legal" buck as opposed to hunting a good looking area and waiting to see what shows up.
my hunting season consists of elk hunting only pretty much.i buy my deer tag every year but only because i know the year i dont i will surely stumble upon mulezilla the biggest muley buck to ever walk the planet.
even in my elk hunting i am not picky as to what meat goes into the freezer.whatever gets within range is gettin an arrow flung at it with the exception of calves and yearlings,those get to walk.for now. :bigsmyl:
I had to go with the other.Never know which other slot I might fit into depending on the day,place I am hunting or just mood.I hunt because I like eating animals so getting a couple in the freezer during a season is the primary goal.Since we have long season and plenty of tags that leave many other days for different hunts.If I know or think there is a big one in the area I might well hunt for him a few days although most likly the antlers would be cut up for overlays and such and not mounted.No matter the score I would most likely never know it and it would never be put in a book somewhere.Of course I might post a picture sometime.I just like to hunt and anything besides the "other" probably will not fit. :)
Here in NH we have the option to take four deer. There are limits on seasons in various parts of the state so some restrictions come into play. However, in a more general sense I only bowhunt because I enjoy the challenge so any deer is fair game as one of my goals is also to fill the freezer. Deer densities in NH are not at all like they are in other states so any opportunity that presents itself is one that should be taken advantage of. Laura and I acquired a small landlocked parcel of 23 acres or riverbottom land nearby. It has several nice bucks that seem to use part of it as their core territory and one of our goals is to each kill one of the bigger bucks...two of them should be huge this year as last year they were both very respectable in the antler and body size dept. I also was able to shoot a cow moose two seasons ago on my wife's permit and even though a bull would have been legal we decided before the season to take a cow or yearling because we were looking for table fare. This year I drew an anterless tag for moose upstate and will be happy to take another cow or yearling if the opportunity presents itself. I guess any animal I take with a bow is a trophy for me but I do have a special place in my heart for two large bears I killed years ago and a NH record archery buck I killed in 1990. That was a four year chase and was especially nice since the deer herd in NH at the time was not as plentiful as it is now. I suppose if I lived in Iowa or Ohio or one the big deer states I would have a big buck on my "must do" list but I do not have the opportunities to see, much less shoot, too many of the big ones.
QuoteOriginally posted by jonsimoneau:
I've recently started holding out for mature bucks only, and does. I have been doing this for the last 5 or 6 years. But I hunt ALOT, and I live in Illinois. I live and hunt in a not so good part of Illinois, but still mature bucks exist. I don't care how good you are...if they are not around you cannot kill them. However in the last 5 or 6 years, I did have a moment of weakness. I had little time to hunt, and was quite frustrated with the season I was having. I shot a small buck and regreted it before the arrow even got to him. But I think it is important to say that it is much easier to hold out for a good buck when you hunt in an area where they actually exist. If I Lived in a poor whitetail state, I would be content to take whatever the area had to offer. Mature bucks are my favorite animal on the planet, but not everyone has the opportunity to hunt them. I always like it when an experienced deer hunter from a poor whitetail state comes to Illinois and kills a great buck. Many times, these guys are excellent hunters, who have just never had the chance to take a good buck in their home state. I love to see the smiles on their faces when they come here and do it in short order. There are good deer hunters all over the nation, but not everyone has the opportunities for hunting mature bucks.
Excellent post!
Does and mature bucks. I get more satisfaction from shooting a doe than a juvenile buck plus they taste better plus I can shoot all I want. If I shoot a young buck I burn one of my two buck tags.
In DE there are plenty of deer and shots at does are easy to come by. Even on public land. I see no reason to shoot young bucks.
The numerous response I have gotten from the article and the great diversity of opinion sparked by this thread, showcase the many freedoms we still have. Choosing the one that is right for you when alone in the woods is of utmost importance. I'm not sure, but are these deer hunting's good old days? Ha! Mike
Mike is right on with what's right for you when you loose an arrow at an animal is what's important. I love opportunities to tag a nice buck, but some of my most memorable hunts ended with a doe, small buck or nothing at all except memories.
Mike I would bet 50 to 100 years from now our future brothers of the bow will indeed say that this time we bowhunt in will be known as the "good old days"....
My home state does not have the best opportunity for deer so any deer will be a trophy with the recurve this year.
Utah, any buck.
Ohio, a trophy buck and does per Ben's advice.
Paul
My family loves wild meat. I do my best to keep the freezer full of pork and venison along with catfish and bream.
As far as deer go I`ll kill the first buck of the year no matter what size given the opportunity after that its does and I`ll hold out for a good buck. Our rules require one of your two bucks in Ga. to have at least four points on one side.But you got another buck of any size along with ten does to go with that.
A trophy to me is one I got my hands on.RC
I put other. I don't trophy hunt, but I do I guess. Really as fas as bucks go, I know immediately when I see a buck if it's one I'm going to kill or not. I don't have to say welll maayybe. Normally I do try to wait for a 3 1/2yr old just because, but I certainly don't have to. I may go out and kill a 1 1/2yr old this fall. Just depends on how I feel that day and I'll be absolutely fine with that.
I get one buck a year here in Indiana, but I don't have to worry about my season being over if I kill a buck early. I have 6 does I can kill also so the season can last as long as I want.
Anyway, any deer is a trophy with bow or gun to me.
Any buck, or doe is good for me. :bigsmyl:
Depends on where I am. Most of the hunting areas I hunt have lots of does, probably too many, and I like to take some out for meat. When I aim for a buck my restriction is basically: "Do I want to spend $350 to get him mounted?" If the answer is no, then I pass. What makes him worthy of mounting may vary, and is purely subjective, but it's my threshold for shooting a buck.
All the above. :cool:
I fall into the "other" category. The club that I am a member has a 6 point or better on bucks. This is a real bummer when you have a 5 point at 15 yards...lol I have no problems shooting does, but here in Florida it is not uncommon to see does with spotted fawns during archery season. I have had several does within range, but I will not shoot a doe that has spotted fawns with her.
I had to go with other. I have passed on young deer. Just couldn't shoot one with spots. Been a few years since I've tagged one but that's ok too. It's the hunt.. ya know?
Life is too short to trophy hunt, I shoot them all. Shooting deer is fun no matter what there size, IMHO.
I went with other. I'll shoot a doe, pass on the fawns, and have my first 8 pointer. Therefore my own standard for bucks is it has to be bigger than my 8 point.
I like to let the smaller bucks grow to be bigger.
I used to pass a lot of bucks and pursue only mature animals. I have since grown tired of other hunters telling me what a trophy is or what it should be.
Dan
QuoteOriginally posted by One eye:
I used to pass a lot of bucks and pursue only mature animals. I have since grown tired of other hunters telling me what a trophy is or what it should be.
Dan
:notworthy:
Here in PG County, MD you can take an unlimited amount of does. Seeing a trophy buck here is something that happens, but rarely. Theres other critters here to shoot, with the Sika deer being my choice. I didn't hunt whitetail but once last season. There was 4 in my backyard eating from the bird feeder, two were small button heads. I did chase the nocturnal Sika a bunch of times, though. I choose 'other'
I think I would go with d.In utah I only have one tag that is a sure thing archery elk and deer tags are harder to get each year.I try to hunt mature animals but if one gets my blood boiling I will shoot,sometimes they just stand around to long!I like to not tag out to soon so most walk on by.I do like QDM idea(which utah is all about the money).So if two 3 year bucks are side by side and one is 2x2 and ones a small 4x4 most likely that 2x1 is jerky(a comon bad gene in my area).Most elk units in utah are spike and cow units and the any bull units are very tough.If I can get a shoot on a elk in a season I fill lucky.All animals with archery gear are trophys and each person must make thier owen choice and I am not one to judge.
I'am with One eye! :scared: Shot doe and young deer way back then and still shoot them today. I just love hunting, if a nice buck comes along, great, but will shoot does all season long. My familey loves the meat and making buckskins from the hides. We try and use everything we can, and what we do not use we take back to the woods for nature to use.
Hunting is a individual activity, each hunter persuing it in there own way and for their own reasons.
GOOD LUCK to ALL this fall, and be safe!!
Raven >>>>----------> :archer: