Trophy Hunter vs Meat Hunter

maple · Post by **maple** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:13 pm

Steaks, roasts, chops, sausage, burgers, stew.

That's what I hunt. In that order. And I have taken some nasty big antlers off the meat over the years too.

What I'm LEAST interested in shooting are big bucks in rut or post rut. In my experience, they usually don't taste that good. I'd prefer an early October buck out of a corn field any day. Big or not so big, because

big = 180 pounds of BBQ

not so big = 140 pounds of BBQ

Does taste good too. = 110 pounds of BBQ

Many years if I didn't shoot whatever I saw at last light, I wouldn't get anything that year at all.

Maple

Grizzly Adam · Post by **Grizzly Adam** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:43 pm

crazyfarmer wrote:... I don't think down on anyone that does shoot a small buck. It's a free country and hunting means something different to everyone.

Good attitude, Crazy!

crazyfarmer wrote:
Woody Williams wrote:Welllllllllll ... big bucks are made out of meat too ... actually, MORE meat.
True, true, but they have TOUGH meat also.

Amen and hallelujah, son ... you're talkin' gospel now!

I've shot a few "shooter bucks" (at least around here they were, anyway! LOL) that were so tough their tenderloins were crunchy. One old buck had meat so contrary you could have saddled a cut of it up and rode to town ... even after the much-acclaimed "slow-cook" treatment.

No amount of simmering would have tamed that rank critter.

Nasty.

Hey ... I like a nice rack as well as the next guy (

) ... but I think that any mature buck is a trade-off. Nice antlers, poor meat. I think of mature bucks as jerky deer. Just my opinion ... but worth as much as anyone's!

As you said, Crazy ... to each their own!

I still love ya, though, Mike!

mikej · Post by **mikej** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 6:00 pm

Huntz wrote:Some of the Shows with him and his Dad are really funny!!!!

they are the best ones his father in law is good too

wabi · Post by **wabi** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 6:23 pm

sumner4991 wrote:
Moosehead wrote:
terrym wrote:. Any deer is a trophy with archery tackle IMHO.
Yes Sir. You are quite correct here.

Yep . . .and every deer has some meat on it too. I've tried to trophy hunt a time or two . . .guess I have devoloped an itchy finger. Any known cures?

That's the big problem with Excaliburs! I trophy hunt, but every time I look at a 6 point through the scope to size him up the Excalibur seems to just go off.

I've actually watched one through the scope and was thankful he wasn't offering a good shot angle - then he gave me a perfect broadside angle and before I thought about it the arrow was through him!

Mike P · Post by **Mike P** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 6:29 pm

Grizzly Adam wrote:
I still love ya, though, Mike!

dutchhunter · Post by **dutchhunter** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:51 pm

i get the same rush ether way every time i pull the trigger .it does not matter to me it is a deer and that is what it is al about to me .i just love to hunt deer it is the most enjoyment i can find well when the wife is not working night i do all right to hahahahahah ,but deer hunting is something i have always done and i truly hope to hunt untill my time is up .

fogducker · Post by **fogducker** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:56 pm

cant eat the antlers

one shot scott · Post by **one shot scott** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:33 pm

Im a meat hunter. If it were not for the venison i would not hunt deer. My wife is still amazed I have it in me to take a deer. She sees me as a animal lover, and I am, I just reminder her that all meat comes from somewhere. I like 100% feild fed, free-range meat. I can still be considered a newbie at hunting, having only done bow hunting for 4 or 5 years now. Gun just the last season. So i still have a itchy trigger finger

Having said that I did see a few monsters just out of range last year, so I may try the "trophy" thing next year

Mike P · Post by **Mike P** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:06 am

one shot scott wrote:I may try the "trophy" thing next year

Baits big hook with antler and casts into scotts yard.

Big John · Post by **Big John** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:30 am

Well ,that is funny.

And sure it will work to!

crazyfarmer · Post by **crazyfarmer** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:52 pm

Scott, once you fall into the group its no going back

but seriously, I cant count the number of times ive had 4-5 little bucks within 20 yards just watching in amazement. Thennnnn... THENNNNNN, at last light here comes the grandpa of the all out to show them who's boss. Had I been itchy, I know of atleast 6 bucks I wouldnt have mounted.. I would have a 15inch buck compared to a 135+ incher

but its all about what you wish to do and how you like to hunt.. I just know that its about 4 certain weeks I have my best crack at a wallhanger so Im not blowing that chance. They are few and far between

also, its nothing like letting a decent shooter walk... What you learn from watching him will add so much knowledge and help you in the years to come. But then again, all of this depends on how much you hunt to. I'm lucky to have a long hunting season due to my job so its easier to let small bucks walk since I have plenty time to give to the woods

one shot scott · Post by **one shot scott** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:37 pm

I think that what I classify as a trophy, you guys would likely let walk

Most of the bucks I have taken have been small 6-8 pointers. I would love to have a nice 10-12 pointer mounted on the wall just to have the pride to say "I did that". I refuse to buy someone elses mount from the classifieds. But when I do get out, its all about filling the freezer for the wife and 4 kids. We can burn through ALOT of venison fast!! Perhaps next season if I fill most my tags I can practise some self control and hold out for a big'un

crazyfarmer · Post by **crazyfarmer** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:25 pm

one shot scott wrote:I think that what I classify as a trophy, you guys would likely let walk Most of the bucks I have taken have been small 6-8 pointers. I would love to have a nice 10-12 pointer mounted on the wall just to have the pride to say "I did that". I refuse to buy someone elses mount from the classifieds. But when I do get out, its all about filling the freezer for the wife and 4 kids. We can burn through ALOT of venison fast!! Perhaps next season if I fill most my tags I can practise some self control and hold out for a big'un

a tophy is what you make of it;) Sometimes a smaller buck might mean more to because of that hunt and memories shared

my mature bucks are normally above 18inches in width... we get some 6pts here over 20inches wide and thats a shooter buck for me. Shooter bucks are different for all areas. In Ohio, a shooter buck becomes a 150inch deer. Here its a 125+ buck

But even the way I hunt, Ill take a few good bucks but still have no issues taking 10-12 doe to help the herd(DMAP). Thats plenty meat and we usually end up giving to landowners(or someone that can use it) of the land I farm.

Canabow · Post by **Canabow** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:33 pm

10 to 12 doe...I wish. Last year I was allowed 2 Bucks (1 mule 1 whitetail) and for the first time in a long time 2 does again 1 of each species. The doe use to be limited entry draws this year there was an 10 day open season on them Nov 10 to 20 and that was restricted to private land or crown land within 2000 metres of private land. I normally go moose hunting and if I happen upon a deer so much the better. I have passed up on smaller bucks but most of the time I take whatever legal buck gets in my way unless I have taken a moose already then I don't have as much need for meat and will hold out for a bigger deer. I think every hunter should do what he/she feels as long as it is legal. I've hunted with both and continue to do so.

crazyfarmer · Post by **crazyfarmer** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:47 am

Canabow wrote:10 to 12 doe...I wish. Last year I was allowed 2 Bucks (1 mule 1 whitetail) and for the first time in a long time 2 does again 1 of each species. The doe use to be limited entry draws this year there was an 10 day open season on them Nov 10 to 20 and that was restricted to private land or crown land within 2000 metres of private land. I normally go moose hunting and if I happen upon a deer so much the better. I have passed up on smaller bucks but most of the time I take whatever legal buck gets in my way unless I have taken a moose already then I don't have as much need for meat and will hold out for a bigger deer. I think every hunter should do what he/she feels as long as it is legal. I've hunted with both and continue to do so.

i just love the Va limits here..

you can kill up to 3 bucks and bascially unlimited doe, but you have to either by bonus tags or hunt under a DMAP program. We also get DCAP tags for crop damage to help control population in the fields. The issue here is that the buck to doe ratio is so screwed since club after club takes spike after spike but they let the doe walk. Which doesnt make sense. Then they complain about not having big bucks to shoot. Go figure

I dont have a issue with people shooting small bucks.. its those that would rather take a spike when its a doe standing 15 yards away also

The doe's gonna taste far better

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