Good read about killing a smaller buck or doe.
- Thread starter rsmith
- Start date
I feel the same way about deer hunting. Over the last 6-7 yrs I've went from 'brown is down' to passing on deer just to keep hunting longer.
Even though I've only hunted 4 days this year I passed on 4 easy 25 yd shots just to keep hunting longer. I even gave today's buck to 2 guys who can't hunt and I'll take the next one for myself. I enjoy hunting but the family doesn't quite understand it after seeing the pain and suffering I go through to do what I love. I even spend $400-600 per year putting in food plots and give the deer away after I harvest them.
It's just my love of deer hunting and the family leaves me alone but they still just shake their heads and don't get it.
Even though I've only hunted 4 days this year I passed on 4 easy 25 yd shots just to keep hunting longer. I even gave today's buck to 2 guys who can't hunt and I'll take the next one for myself. I enjoy hunting but the family doesn't quite understand it after seeing the pain and suffering I go through to do what I love. I even spend $400-600 per year putting in food plots and give the deer away after I harvest them.
It's just my love of deer hunting and the family leaves me alone but they still just shake their heads and don't get it.
No ya jack-wagons, measurements of success which equates to happiness in anything you do. A measurement system is a critical component to knowing if a goal is achieved or expectations met.....lawdy.
I thought you were referring to B&C measurements. So to your actual point, yes, expectations. What I'm experiencing afield is almost the exact opposite of what I expected based on improvements made to the farm, weather, timing, cam data, etc. I thought I was close to solving at least one riddle and yet, I've never been so far away. So the expectation was improvement and reality is regression. That's a tough bite to chew on regardless of the application.
I've already turned a good 4 acres in to it. Any more and the landowner is going to boycott. He likes to brush hog too much and at the end of the day, his name is one the deed. When the day comes that that changes, then you'll see some major changes on the bedding front. Actually came up with a great idea today that'll create 4-5 acres of it on a south facing slope. Just need a dozer and track hoe for 2 days.
Lundy
Member
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I think as a hunters grow with age peer pressure, whether real or imagined, begins to play a less important role in ones personal fulfillment from hunting.
I certainly changed over the years preferring to take pictures than shoot a deer in the later years.
Hunting society places premium on a buck over a doe and certainly a big buck over a small buck, no way to get away from that, been that way for the 45+ years I hunted but hunting shows and current peer pressure, yes, even on sites like this one can skew that value process from time to time. Even the contest here places more base point value on a buck than a doe. Not saying it is bad or wrong, just the way it. Each hunter must evaluate for him or herself.
I certainly changed over the years preferring to take pictures than shoot a deer in the later years.
Hunting society places premium on a buck over a doe and certainly a big buck over a small buck, no way to get away from that, been that way for the 45+ years I hunted but hunting shows and current peer pressure, yes, even on sites like this one can skew that value process from time to time. Even the contest here places more base point value on a buck than a doe. Not saying it is bad or wrong, just the way it. Each hunter must evaluate for him or herself.
bigten05
*Supporting Member*
good read, and i needed it i had a fairly rough week hunting saw some good deer couldnt get anything close enough that i wanted to shoot. i told my buddy from tennesse i need to get down there and just hunt like old times. down there it doesnt matter the size of the deer nobody talks about score its still how much it weighs and the number of points. i cant wait to get my daughter out this weekend for youth and see what is gonna happen.
I'm just the opposite of you guys... I see no point in killing smaller bucks just to say you killed a buck and then throw the rack in a pile or on a plaque. I understand if it's your first or your biggest or your children.. ,, then by all means, pull the trigger. If it's for meat, shoot a doe,, we got plenty of them. As far as not shooting a doe during the rut,,, bull crap.. I killed 2 last week and had no issue with bucks still coming in. I get just as much enjoyment knowing I could have without the regret of killing a young buck just for the sake of it. (putting on my flame retardant suit now)
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All good man everyone has their own opinions and are entitled to them. On Friday I️ shot this super cool 6 point and let me tell you, it was not a large deer and a lot of people would have probably passed on him, but let me tell you I️ was shaking like I️ just shot a 200+ inch deer for about 20 minutes after the shot. I️ was beyond stoked and when I️ was able to put my hands on him it was a very emotional experience to say the least. I️ am all for letting deer mature but man if a deer comes in and gets my heart racing and that shook up, you best believe I’m gonna shoot it. Speaking of that I️ should probably do a write up of him ahaha
bigten05
*Supporting Member*
This is why I haven't shot one yet. Because I know what could possibly come by but that's my choice. I don't hold anything against anyone who shoots a smaller or young deer that's what its about. I'll celebrate and hoot and hollar with anyone who kills a deer even if it's not one I would of shot. But like I said when I go down to Tennessee and hint with my buddies it's about the harvest not the size and it makes it fun.
You would be in the minority right now based on many of the conversations I have had this week. There'e not "plenty" of anything at this point unless you are hunting "urbanish" areas or have a large parcel locked down and under intense management. The only place on my radar where there are "plenty" of does is the anomaly that is my neighborhood, and even it is a far cry from what it was when we moved in 9 years ago. Based on my personal and camera based observations, we could take a doe off our farm this year. One. But I could shoot a couple small bucks and notice no real impact IMO.
I respectfully disagree that the state as a whole has "plenty" of does.
Amazing how the 1 buck rule affects hunting decisions, you shoot and your done. In states with multiple buck tags, your view of a shooter changes. Not saying one is bad or anything, just affects my thinking when hunting here.
Bigcountry40
Member
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I hate the idea of the chase ending early, if I could control it, I would kill my buck every muzzle loader season as the great climax of strategery, patients and dedication.
tpierce
Junior Member
After spending 290.00 for non res lic. and 3 tags in Indiana, and filling all 3 tags, I will be very selective the next couple weeks I hunt Ohio, my home state. I killed my biggest buck to date in Indiana. I have decided I will only kill a buck in Ohio that is quite a bit larger than the 1 from In. I won't shoot anything but a larger buck. Hell, I don't even have mounted head yet. I have just decided at this time I will try to improve on what I have previously harvested as far as bucks go.
Bigcountry40
Member
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Right now I am trophy hunting (which in my eyes is like 140 or above or really old buck) this is my choice and just how I want to hunt, the guys I am hunting with in Tuscarwaras County are shooting anything that walks, then criticize me for passing 100" big bodied deer (like the one I posted on facebook). I don't criticize them on their hunting style, leave me alone and let me hunt my way!
I've threatened for 2-3 years now to put my tag on any buck with antlers once gun season was over. I haven't done that yet, but am committed to doing so this year. Fairly certain I've moved past the need to only kill big ones and that the desire to put meat in the freezer is stronger at this point. Without an ample supply of does to do that, I might as well use my buck tag!
angelzd28
Junior Member
Jesse, while I agree there are less deer state wide, where I hunt Tuscarawas County, as where I think Just 1 more hunts as well, there are plenty and I MEAN PLENTY, of does in our county. I saw 17 does pile into a corn field last year and saw 6 more on my walk out. Obviously not like that everywhere, but we all have to evaluate our areas and hunt accordingly. I think your right tho, expectations are everything. I struggle every year when I don't meet my own and it can get disheartening with social media showing everyones kills and how easy it all looks. I have to remind myself if it was easy everyone would be doing it and there would be no fun left in it. It can be frustrating at times especially with all the time, money, and effort we all put into it every year.