BSK said:
I agree
LOL- I am not a Responsible Deer Hunter
- Thread starter bowriter
- Start date
I agree
Mike Belt
Well-Known Member
BSK....Agreed but I believe that trophy hunters catch more flack than their counterparts and personally I've heard more lip from non trophy hunters than I have from "trophy" hunters. Those I know or am around might suggest trying to let young deer walk but they certainly don't dictate that it should be done by all.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Mike Belt said:
That may be true now Mike, but it wasn't a couple of years ago. I remember fighting daily battles on this site with the trophy set. Just like any debate over extremes, the pendulum swings from one side to the other. Currently, the pendulum is over on the meat hunters side, but a few years ago it was on the trophy side.
But that's my point Mike. I don't think the majority of hunters fall in the "meat" or "trophy" camp. I think the majority of core deer hunters--those who kill bucks every year or at least most years--are not "mature" buck hunters. They may have grown past killing fork-horn yearling bucks, but they are perfectly happy killing that 80-110 class 8-point, a buck that is probably only 2 1/2 or 3 1/2. Those aren't mature buck trophy hunters. And although they like having some venison in the freezer at the end of deer season, they do not hunt solely to acquire meat.
BSK
Well-Known Member
...but let me also add, in my opinion, we are seeing less animosity between different groups of deer hunters than we have in the recent past. It seems as if I'm reading a heck of a lot more posts with a "to each, their own" attitude. And I think that's healthy.
horn master
Well-Known Member
I'm a deerhunter! I pay over 300 bucks a year so my family can hunt
So i plan on getting my nickels worth! My youngest son killed his first deer last yr a button buck and it means way more to me than even my double droptine from AEDC!
So i plan on getting my nickels worth! My youngest son killed his first deer last yr a button buck and it means way more to me than even my double droptine from AEDC!
deerhunter10
Well-Known Member
BSK said:
x2 I see the best and I also agree I would say the majority of people are in between but kind of "forced" to choose a side sometimes. I think people are realizing that we need to stand together at this day of age instead of fighting each other.
Bowdacious
Well-Known Member
I guess I would be irresponsible since I am probably not going to be as picky as the poster you referred to.
As for trophy hunters, I have no problem with the choice to trophy hunt. I have a problem with the few that believe all should abide by their standards and belittle any kill deemed unworthy. I've seen it too many times and it has caused me to decide to never share a buck I kill----- if that ever happens.
Shoot what you like and be proud. Share someone's joy even if it might not be a deer you would have taken.
As for trophy hunters, I have no problem with the choice to trophy hunt. I have a problem with the few that believe all should abide by their standards and belittle any kill deemed unworthy. I've seen it too many times and it has caused me to decide to never share a buck I kill----- if that ever happens.
Shoot what you like and be proud. Share someone's joy even if it might not be a deer you would have taken.
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im just a killer!!! but really it all depends on way to many factors to list with a keyboard, i may let it walk today and tell my son to kill it the next lol
BSK
Well-Known Member
Bowdacious said:
Agree strongly with both points.
KennyDale
Well-Known Member
I guess I'm irresponsible. I shoot whatever the situation dictates. If its been a tough season I shoot whatever I feel like (except buttons). I have killed big bucks (140 class) and little bucks. I had a basket 8 a couple years ago making scrapes through the fall and I told myself I would kill him if the opportunity presented itself. He showed back up in late season and I did not hesitate to take him. It was a fun hunt. Key word--fun. I don't do cameras, scent-loc, and all the gimmicks the shows sell to go after monster bucks. In fact, I wish a show was out there where regular guys shot regular deer. I guess I am just old school.
The size of the deer's antlers no longer matter to me or influence my decision to shoot. Responsibility, to me, means I shoot safely, hunt ethically and legally. I abide by the not only the laws of the state in which I am hunting but the wishes of the landowner and/or property manager.
Within those parameters, I may shoot a deer or let it walk. Whether or not I kill one and what I kill has nothing to do with responsibility. Equally, neither does what anyone else thinks of what I shoot or don't shoot. I care not one bit what someone else thinks of my choice of what I'll kill.
There was a time when I thought I had to kill large antlered bucks to maintain my "reputation". What a crock that was. Fortunately, I matured and realized hunting was totally about what I was happy to kill. So long as it was within the parameters listed above, it mattered only to me. For those who wish to kill big bucks and pass up small ones, I say "Great have at it". For those who wish to kill spikes or any young buck, I say, "great, have at it". Just do either within the parameters I mentioned and I will congratulate you on your success.
I regard myself as a tremendously responsible hunter or fisherman and do not give a flying forget-me-not what anyone else thinks.
Within those parameters, I may shoot a deer or let it walk. Whether or not I kill one and what I kill has nothing to do with responsibility. Equally, neither does what anyone else thinks of what I shoot or don't shoot. I care not one bit what someone else thinks of my choice of what I'll kill.
There was a time when I thought I had to kill large antlered bucks to maintain my "reputation". What a crock that was. Fortunately, I matured and realized hunting was totally about what I was happy to kill. So long as it was within the parameters listed above, it mattered only to me. For those who wish to kill big bucks and pass up small ones, I say "Great have at it". For those who wish to kill spikes or any young buck, I say, "great, have at it". Just do either within the parameters I mentioned and I will congratulate you on your success.
I regard myself as a tremendously responsible hunter or fisherman and do not give a flying forget-me-not what anyone else thinks.
Winchester
Well-Known Member
I worry none what anybody else shoots, and I worry none what anybody else thinks about what I shoot!
Orion6
Well-Known Member
I am a responsible hunter. I follow the rules of gun safety. I hunt in season. I don't shoot more than I'll eat.
Don't care about age, just try to base my harvest on size. Around here if it's 7-8 point or better, I'm probably going to shoot (at) it. Sometimes I'll shoot a six if I feel like it. I've killed a couple of buttons in bow season, don't lose sleep over it. I'll pile the does up when I can too.
I harvest what I want, and don't care if others do the same. Most of the guys I hunt with try to lay off the little ones when they can, but we might shoot 1 a year that would make the QDMA guys wake up with night sweats, screaming.
One thing I think is often overlooked and rarely discussed is that when the rut hits, you're often seeing deer from other properties, and the guys three leases over are seeing (and shooting)the deer you've watched at your salt lick and food plots all summer. QDMA gurus will curse me here, but in a lot of high pressure places if you don't take that 2.5 year old 8 point someone else a mile away will later. I've seen it happen too many times to call it mere coincidence. So unless you have vast, unbroken property and you're the only one hunting it, take what makes you happy, or you'll see it rolling in at the processor in a truck with Bone Collector decals, Ozonics sticker and a Yeti cooler in the back. :D
I grew up hunting places where we considered seeing a doe per trip a huge deal. My daughter has no idea what it's like to go a full season and see 3-4 deer and nothing more. I was a man before I killed a deer or turkey. She's 11 and seeing stuff every time she goes. So yeah, maybe I'm still in my "killing" phase at times. But I'm teaching her to respect the game and be safe, so to me that's what matters.
If you're being safe and having fun, I don't care what you kill. It's your tag.
Don't care about age, just try to base my harvest on size. Around here if it's 7-8 point or better, I'm probably going to shoot (at) it. Sometimes I'll shoot a six if I feel like it. I've killed a couple of buttons in bow season, don't lose sleep over it. I'll pile the does up when I can too.
I harvest what I want, and don't care if others do the same. Most of the guys I hunt with try to lay off the little ones when they can, but we might shoot 1 a year that would make the QDMA guys wake up with night sweats, screaming.
One thing I think is often overlooked and rarely discussed is that when the rut hits, you're often seeing deer from other properties, and the guys three leases over are seeing (and shooting)the deer you've watched at your salt lick and food plots all summer. QDMA gurus will curse me here, but in a lot of high pressure places if you don't take that 2.5 year old 8 point someone else a mile away will later. I've seen it happen too many times to call it mere coincidence. So unless you have vast, unbroken property and you're the only one hunting it, take what makes you happy, or you'll see it rolling in at the processor in a truck with Bone Collector decals, Ozonics sticker and a Yeti cooler in the back. :D
I grew up hunting places where we considered seeing a doe per trip a huge deal. My daughter has no idea what it's like to go a full season and see 3-4 deer and nothing more. I was a man before I killed a deer or turkey. She's 11 and seeing stuff every time she goes. So yeah, maybe I'm still in my "killing" phase at times. But I'm teaching her to respect the game and be safe, so to me that's what matters.
If you're being safe and having fun, I don't care what you kill. It's your tag.
I always say as long as its legal do as you wish. As for the ethical part, I think its kinda silly to discuss ethics since ethics vary between people, regions, countries, cultures, states, etc...
Some people think its unethical to hunt over bait, some people think turkey hunting in a blind is unethical, heck some people even think all hunting is unethical.
...Again as long as its legal have fun.
Some people think its unethical to hunt over bait, some people think turkey hunting in a blind is unethical, heck some people even think all hunting is unethical.
...Again as long as its legal have fun.
BSK
Well-Known Member
BamaProud said:
If I can add "...and biologically sound" to BamaProud's legal requirements, I'm good with it.
BSK said:
I can even get past the "biologically sound" requirement occasionally. For example on my farm, if a kid wants to shoot their first deer, they have the green light for any legal deer. It might not be the best plan from a biological/management standpoint, but sometimes other issues take precedence.
bowriter said:
Re`spon�si`ble Pronunciation: r?`sp?n�s?`b'l
a. 1. Liable to respond; likely to be called upon to answer; accountable; answerable; amenable; as, a guardian is responsible to the court for his conduct in the office.
2. Able to respond or answer for one's conduct and obligations; trustworthy, financially or otherwise; as, to have a responsible man for surety.
3. Involving responsibility; involving a degree of accountability on the part of the person concerned; as, a responsible office.
If we agreed to hunt by his standards , rules and hunted upon his property then with some justification he may be able to use this term loosely but we know we all cannot do this so IMO this guy is a nut ! Most mature deer hunters (those that have hunted at least 10 yrs) are characterized by what type of hunting property they are able to hunt with exceptions . Those who have property that if they can choose to let bucks mature usually do so knowing that they will have a good chance at killing that buck .Those that hunt public or small properties know that if they don't shoot the first legal buck then their chances are going to be slim at killing a buck at all let alone a mature one . Now some hunters are some what in the middle of this mature to any buck road . They some times shoot the first legal buck then they wait for a bigger one . Some do both , kill mature bucks and a slew of whatever is legal which IMO is great , each to his own . I don't get to hunt were some do and I'm really envious but some don't get to hunt the types of property I get to .Like I first said most hunters are the type they are primarily by the type of property they get to hunt . You sure can't kill a mature buck were one ain't I don't care how good a hunter you are !! Guess I'm irresponsible according to this guy's definition but who gives a rat's tail as long as a hunter is legal !
BSK
Well-Known Member
BamaProud said:
Excellent point BamaProud. However, I'm a bit more forgiving in my definition of "biologically sound." To more accurately express my opinion, I should have said, "not biologically damaging." In many situations with today's deer herds, I have no problem at all with a few young bucks being taken. As long as a particular harvest strategy does no obvious harm, I'm fine with it. With the buck age structure present in many parts of the state today, some young buck harvest is perfectly acceptable.
JeepKuntry
Well-Known Member
I kill what I want to. Usually I'm not picky for the first deer of the year. After that, my second has to bigger than the 8pt I killed 4 years ago. We don't eat much so I'm not gonna be wasteful.
