Trophy or Meat?

[shorthair-on-point]

This year I just want to put something in the freezer. Other years I have only been interested in a trophy. What is your goal this year?

[NW-Eric]

as far as deer gos this year im hunting for the freezer... but would like to get a nice trophy bull next week

[BC CHASER]

Horns first.  I have a coues tag for AZ and would like to get at least a good 3pt to put ont he wall.  I have an MT antelope tag and shot a 14'' last year and will be looking for a bigger goat this year,  my brother and dad are going this year and I want them to get good goats first.  Not sure on time if I am late whitetail or blacktail,  normally go for WT but might stick around and chase some big blackies this year!  I do enjoy all the meat but like the little guys to get big!

[shorthair-on-point]

Wow, you will have a lot of road time this year.

[BC CHASER]

Speedgoat Oct. 12th-19th (if we tag out early it is off to Chelan for general season) Oct. 22nd -30th coues. Two days home and if we go for late WT it is off to the NE for 2 weeks leaving Nov 3rd-19th.

[KNOPHISH]

In WA & MT this year I'm going for 1st legal elk I see. Mainly cuz it's been a few years since I shot one. WA Deer I might wait a couple days if seeing alot or 1st 3 point. MT you can be a little more picky & not shoot the 1st deer you see. Really for me it's all about the meat, Backstraps baby. Plus I already have a Big bull & Buck on the wall.

[Ellensburg]

My goal is a big ol' muley next week in high country... if that doesnt work than I'll help my g-pa get his deer in the chilliwist and hope i can get a legal buck up there. If that doesnt work out, the old honey hole in newport where I will get my whitetail buck!

Then I'll see how much energy i have left for elk somewhere in there also.

[uncoolperson]

priorities in order:
get outside and do something
dinner
couple of spikes on the wall

[NRA4LIFE]

Both for me.  Oct. 11-12, WA Deer, first legal 3 pt's going down.  Oct 25, 26 WA Elk, first legal spike's going down, then onto MT for Muley and speed goats (doe only on the goat).  Probably wait for a nice 4 or 5 point muley.  Or a giant 3.  Then Nov. 13-19 for Missouri WT.  New 4-pt restrictions will mandate waiting for something decent, but we can shoot as many does as we want to butcher.  Should put a LOT of meat in the freezer this year.  May have to buy another freezer as we put a ton of fish in there this summer.

[arrowflinger]

Oct 4-10, a legal spike elk. Oct 11 and 12, any legal BT deer. Oct 18-26, A big Utah muley. If the deer hunt here doesn't pan out, then it off for a late WT deer. Of course, I'll be chasin birds in there also.

[TeacherMan]

Its all about the antlers I hate to say. I will hunt the early season for mule deer, if I see one that is over 25" and 4pts plus eye guards he will fall. after that I have a big bull tag in the Observatory unit. 9 days of heaven, I plan on waiting for at least a 300 class bull. I would rather go home empty handed than shoot a small one, Ive waited to long for this tag. Than back at it again in the late season for deer. The NE corner is callling my name for a 150" plus whitetail. All said and done I usually get a freezer full of good eat in burger and a ridiculous taxidermy bill. 

[Curly]

Usually it is all about the meat for me.  This year I will probably pass on some smaller deer for the first few days.  Then if I can't find a decent 4 point, I'll take the first legal deer I see the last couple days of my hunt.

[finnman]

Oct. 1st my wife will be opening the FLOOD GATE on the meat dam! Moose meat for the whole year will be a tasty delight! So rifle buck will be a difficult decision since we will have all the meat we need, yet I am still battling the rehab on the ol' ACL reconstruction, not sure how well I will be doing in the rough scab ground we hunt in, if I see a legal buck close by I might dump it, hard to say, Big Bull tag for Goose Prairie starts the 20th so I am not going to hurt myself for a small bull, I will not need the meat so I will hold out for as big of a dude as I can find! Don't like wasting 12 points for a dink.

[jjhunter]

Horns, horns, and more horns.  Archery elk and deer in  E. WA(Sept), mule deer in Eastern MT(OCT 26-31),  Mule deer on a landowner tag in Colorado (Nov. 1-7), late whitetail in Northern ID(Nov 15-30).....and Muley Grande in Sonora, Mexico(January 7-16)!  I am sure I will get some meat along the way........

[GoldTip]

With elk I have always shot the first legal animal I find.  Simple as that.  I have shot several 6 point bulls, but they were also the first elk I had a chance at.  That won't change this year, I just like eating elk too much to pass on a legal animal.  Deer, I love to eat them too, so I will start out looking for a good buck, but I will fill my tag both in WA and in Idaho.  Once again, just love to eat'em and the wife does as well.