Do you let them walk...

[hunter399]

I was just thinking,now that modern is over.
I've always told myself ,shoot the first one with a horn.
Then found myself doing the opposite this year and letting spikes walk.
Does that make me a trophy hunter?
I've always supported the 4pt min for my area,then kill spike like nobodys business.

So what you guys think..
Do you let small guys walk?
Is it as I get older I've grown a an actual heart,or I'm just a trophy hunter. Cause I want a mature deer.

Just something I'm trying to reflect on,now that my deer season is done.

I guess this topic just comes from years ago being told that APR for deer hunting is a trophy hunt. But if it's self inflicted, does that make me trophy hunter.

[7mmfan]

I went back and forth on this a few years ago. That year I killed a small fork horn blacktail and decided that the amount of meat I got off that deer didn't warrant me killing it. I'd rather it got a chance to grow another year.  I passed on a small spike this year. It was my only opportunity at a legal buck, I have no regrets.

It has nothing to do with trophy hunting. I'm not desperate for food, and with the stress our herds are under, I feel I'm doing a small part in helping the young ones get a chance to grow to maturity.

[hunter399]

I went back and forth on this a few years ago. That year I killed a small fork horn blacktail and decided that the amount of meat I got off that deer didn't warrant me killing it. I'd rather it got a chance to grow another year.  I passed on a small spike this year. It was my only opportunity at a legal buck, I have no regrets.

It has nothing to do with trophy hunting. I'm not desperate for food, and with the stress our herds are under, I feel I'm doing a small part in helping the young ones get a chance to grow to maturity.

I agree and feel the same as you,very well written.
It was a biologist that told me APR for deer hunting was trophy hunting. So I don't know if it's just driving me to the land of crazy or what.

[bkaech]

I am a trophy hunter, I've never killed a large animal, because I am also a meat hunter. I also hunt for pure recreation and for enjoyment of being outside alone, and I hunt for time with family. I hunt for lots and lots of reasons, I always keep some trophy from any animal I take weather it is a large trophy or not doesn't really matter, but I would prefer a large one. All this to say, there are lots of reasons I hunt, and choosing when to pull the trigger is totally situational and everyone is going to be different in that and always changing. I don't like to label myself as one type of hunter, I am all of them in some small way.

[Dhoey07]

I'll let spike deer walk all day long, but spike elk on the other hand..........

[Bullkllr]

I've always considered myself primarily a meat-hunter. That said, I have let a lot of spikes/forkies walk over the years; more often in recent years. Now a nice fat one, on the last day, uphill of the road might be in danger depending on the current meat situation.

[slavenoid]

The real trophy is the meat in the freezer for my family. Less meat on a spike, but a spike has more meat than no deer so act accordingly.

[dreadi]

First legal animal I can draw on…PEW PEW PEW.

A few years ago my wife and I were approached by some lying solicitor wanting us to donate to their org that specifically called out being against “trophy hunting”. To which I asked her define it, to which I flipped it on her and said “taking only a head and leaving the animal to waste is not trophy hunting..that’s called wanton waste and it’s already illegal. Why don’t you specify POACHING and wanton waste?”

She got herself all flustered and told me I didn’t understand. What-ever, lady.

The label of trophy hunting has a bad taste in my mouth due to the other side’s use of it.

If you want to shoot older deer, go for it.


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[Ironhead]

Call it what ever you want, but I prefer to take mature animals. I just call it Hunting.

[ASHQUACK]

Up until this year 1st legal buck got whacked. For some reason I let two 2 year old forkys and countless spikes walk and shot a 3 year old forky. But, that said all I have in my area (genetics) are fork horns.

[Griiz]

I don't like to harvest the young bucks as they haven't muscled up yet and I get way less meat.

[kirkl]

I hunt mulies so if its legal, its going down.

[Encore 280]

If it's a decent size spike I'll take it, I'm in it for the meat. I would think if ya let 'em walk chances are the next guy that comes along is going to whack it anyway.

[jackelope]

I’m no longer looking for the first legal buck I see. I’ll hold out for a more mature buck. Not saying it has to be a 180. Just needs to be a mature deer.
Also I can’t stand the term “trophy hunting”.  We all know that it’s not what the anti crowd makes it out to be. I wish the hunting crowd would stop using that term all together.

[Mtnwalker]

I went back and forth on this a few years ago. That year I killed a small fork horn blacktail and decided that the amount of meat I got off that deer didn't warrant me killing it. I'd rather it got a chance to grow another year.  I passed on a small spike this year. It was my only opportunity at a legal buck, I have no regrets.

It has nothing to do with trophy hunting. I'm not desperate for food, and with the stress our herds are under, I feel I'm doing a small part in helping the young ones get a chance to grow to maturity.

I agree and feel the same as you,very well written.
It was a biologist that told me APR for deer hunting was trophy hunting. So I don't know if it's just driving me to the land of crazy or what.

Unfortunately biologists can be idiots too...

[doubletall]

I didn't start hunting until my mid forties and I think this was my 15th season.  It's also the first season I passed on a legal buck.  Hunting on my property for a mule deer isn't what I would call a challenging hunt, it's more like harvesting which I'm fine with.  This year I decided to hold out for one of the whitetails that I'd been seeing on my cameras.  On opening day with 15 minutes of legal shooting time left a 4x4 mule deer walked by at 40 yards.  I let him walk and with two minutes left another deer walked through my first shooting lane. It was dark enough that I couldn't positively id it through my scope.  I kept waiting for it to come out from behind the shrub but maybe it saw me swing my gun to the next shooting lane because it hung up there until after shooting hours.  It turned out to be a 5x5 whitetail.  The next night was pretty much a repeat with the same whitetail minus the opportunity for a mule deer.  I might add that part of my decision to pass on the mule deer was the fact that I have a multi season tag and I didn't want my season to be over so soon.

[nwalpineguide]

I went back and forth on this a few years ago. That year I killed a small fork horn blacktail and decided that the amount of meat I got off that deer didn't warrant me killing it. I'd rather it got a chance to grow another year.  I passed on a small spike this year. It was my only opportunity at a legal buck, I have no regrets.

It has nothing to do with trophy hunting. I'm not desperate for food, and with the stress our herds are under, I feel I'm doing a small part in helping the young ones get a chance to grow to maturity.

Well stated 7mm. I'm in lockstep with you on the issue.

[Gentrys]

If you really want/need the meat, shoot the spike.
I've shot enough deer over the years that I let the spikes walk.  Give them a chance to grow up a bit and shoot em in a another couple years.

[Apples]

Personally I have no problem letting small legal bucks walk, not a trophy hunter but if I see a legal and dont get excited about the rack I let them go, plus the amount you get on a young deer is pretty small.

[brokentrail]

I shoot the first legal deer (blacktail) that I can.

[vandeman17]

For me it changes every hunt based on a lot of factors.

1)Do I still have meat from last year in the freezer?
2)Do I have meat in the freezer from this year?
3)What hunts do I still have left in the season and what is the likelihood of filling those tags?
4)What am I seeing and how many days do I have to hunt?
5)In state, out of state, otc, quality tag.

All these go into my decision on whether to pull the trigger or release an arrow or at least I try to use them as my decision. More times than I can count have I told myself I was holding out, only to whack the first buck I saw. No regrets on any of them either because they all provided meat for the freezer which is the ultimate goal

[85yota]

Like others have stated, it's all relative.. I hunted the same
monster blacktail for 2 years and doing so passed on a few spikes and fork n horns. Old lady got it last year haloween scored 143ish. So this year decides first legal buck. Saw a small spike, decent body and went and got my friend to take it. Do I feel like a trophy hunter? Absolutely not. Had a blast and a goal of a mature blacktail is my dream animal. Do I regret not having meat from the smaller ones, absolutely, but for blacktails atleast it's cool knowing what your doing is working, and deciding to let one pass (for whatever reason) is satisfying. Got another buddy a 3x3 Blackie late hunt for his first deer ever. And I was probably more stoked for him than if I would have taken it. If "trophy" hunting means passing on younger deer for the goal of a big one, that may never happen, than call me a trophy hunter. I got a fair amount of meat from there bucks, that for late muzzy it will just be a decision I make at the time, if I ever get the opportunity.

[Buzzsaw461]

Usually let the small ones walk unless the wife is telling me She wants venison then all fat two points or bigger are going down

[dylanb]

if they get me excited and it’s legal i’ll shoot it. if it doesn’t get me going then i’ll let them walk. i had a 2 point this year that was chasing a doe that is very lucky i didn’t get a shot, shaking like a leaf over what would of been the smallest buck i’ve killed in 10 years.

[MADMAX]

For me it changes every hunt based on a lot of factors.

1)Do I still have meat from last year in the freezer?
2)Do I have meat in the freezer from this year?
3)What hunts do I still have left in the season and what is the likelihood of filling those tags?
4)What am I seeing and how many days do I have to hunt?
5)In state, out of state, otc, quality tag.

All these go into my decision on whether to pull the trigger or release an arrow or at least I try to use them as my decision. More times than I can count have I told myself I was holding out, only to whack the first buck I saw. No regrets on any of them either because they all provided meat for the freezer which is the ultimate goal

This

[huntandjeep]

Call it what you want , but im not shooting a young deer just because it's legal and i need to fill my tag . I have let alot more deer walk then I have killed in my life . Would just rather kill a mature deer .

[NOCK NOCK]

For me it changes every hunt based on a lot of factors.

1)Do I still have meat from last year in the freezer?
2)Do I have meat in the freezer from this year?
3)What hunts do I still have left in the season and what is the likelihood of filling those tags?
4)What am I seeing and how many days do I have to hunt?
5)In state, out of state, otc, quality tag.

All these go into my decision on whether to pull the trigger or release an arrow or at least I try to use them as my decision. More times than I can count have I told myself I was holding out, only to whack the first buck I saw. No regrets on any of them either because they all provided meat for the freezer which is the ultimate goal

This

x3

[Naches Sportsman]

I kill an animal when I’m hunting on resident tags when I feel like I’ve accomplished my goals  and got the most out of the season.

Shot a 2 point this year in a very tough unit for white tail in Idaho and have no regrets. Shot a 33” bull moose this year and have no regrets. Elk hunting I had a few regrets this year not shooting one of the 12 bulls I saw but knew in the back of my head that a moose and shooting a deer is enough hooved animal meat for myself.

[shadowless_nite]

I'm fortunate enough to have access to private property with a good local amount of deer. Enough that we usually take a few within the family and friends. Me and my father inlaw target the biggest bucks, simply because we spend the most time out there pursuing them and we are also the most experienced in dealing with blacktails. We leave the younger less wiser deer for those of the group that are limited in time, experience or just new and looking for their first deer and aren't picky of a buck. I will gladly pass on a smaller buck to allow my wife or kids more chance of a opportunity, especially since they are limited with school/work/sports activities and the younger deer provide them with more opportunity to be successful in a hunt. If a big buck i was targeting comes out and they are with me they are the priority since I don't know the chances of that happening very often for them but I know my chances are higher simply because I spend more time hunting. My trophy is seeing them being successful and knowing my role helped get them there whether it's a big buck or a spike to hit the freezer or just seeing the joy of their pursuit.

[bigmacc]

For me it changes every hunt based on a lot of factors.

1)Do I still have meat from last year in the freezer?
2)Do I have meat in the freezer from this year?
3)What hunts do I still have left in the season and what is the likelihood of filling those tags?
4)What am I seeing and how many days do I have to hunt?
5)In state, out of state, otc, quality tag.

All these go into my decision on whether to pull the trigger or release an arrow or at least I try to use them as my decision. More times than I can count have I told myself I was holding out, only to whack the first buck I saw. No regrets on any of them either because they all provided meat for the freezer which is the ultimate goal

This

x3

xxx4

[Humptulips]

For me it changes every hunt based on a lot of factors.

1)Do I still have meat from last year in the freezer?
2)Do I have meat in the freezer from this year?
3)What hunts do I still have left in the season and what is the likelihood of filling those tags?
4)What am I seeing and how many days do I have to hunt?
5)In state, out of state, otc, quality tag.

All these go into my decision on whether to pull the trigger or release an arrow or at least I try to use them as my decision. More times than I can count have I told myself I was holding out, only to whack the first buck I saw. No regrets on any of them either because they all provided meat for the freezer which is the ultimate goal

This

x3

xxx4

Yea, at different times I could have marked any of those categories. A couple of times when hunting high buck way back in a wilderness area I would have been called a trophy hunter albeit I agree about confusion on the term. At the time there was a lot of season left and I was looking for something special.
Other times when there were more deer, I was young and had a lot of time I have let smaller bucks go but that does seem to change as the season gets late because ultimately, I value the hunt, the meat in the freezer and the size of the horns in that order. I do want to be successful, but I would draw the line at shooting a doe even if legal. Just to be clear though, that is a personal decision. I wouldn't think less of someone who did.
Right now, it would be the first legal buck or bull.

[Birdguy]

For us (I am always hunting with one of my kids) we shoot first legal animal and by we, I mean them. If the kid misses I will shoot (only happened one time and it was beyond freezing cold) but otherwise we usually take one deer off the property and for many years it has been a kids hunt which I enjoy the heck out of!!

[TeacherMan]

My drive for a mature animal goes up more every year. With that said I let mature animals walk too in the early season. I just love being in the woods. Early season they have to be 170”+ for me to end my season early. On average I’m out 3-5 days a week Sept through end of November. The last day of the season 12/1 I’ll still hold out for a 135/140” buck. I’m really out there for the experiences more now than anything else. Could be why I’m looking at buying 1/2 a beef too 😂

[huntnnw]

I hunt mature bucks and thats it. I am not starving or going to starve cause I didnt kill a deer. The whole point of hunting in my eyes is to enjoy the process, being outdoors and taking it all in. If a buck doesnt excite me I am not shooting, sorry but seeing some tiny little 2x3 etc just dont do it for me. If I ever lose that excitement of seeing a big buck ill quit hunting.

what cracks me up is the people saying " you cant eat horns" well that 1.5 yr old buck you blasted has mere fraction of meat when it comes to yield of a mature buck its about 3-1

[BLH69]

i get tired of hearing i took a meat buck. bigger and older bucks have more meat.