Quantity or Quality?

[DOUBLELUNG]

I have shot the big doe, versas a spike deer.

I've shot the big doe over the small buck a couple of times.  I've shot a spike bull at 300 yards over a raghorn and a 5x6 that were closer, on my last day of hunting when I was pretty sure a bull I wanted to pay a taxidermy bill on wasn't going to appear.  Had that bull been there, though, I'd have killed Mr. Big.  On another last day, I once shot a big-bodied, crab-clawed 120 class 4-point that would never grow trophy class antlers, over a stud 140 class 3-year old with deep symmetrical forks, that had potential to be a future toad.

If I'm not getting a shoulder mount done, I don't really care how close to "big enough", not big enough is.  However, I prefer quality meat over quantity - I'd rather have a spike than a 5-point, I'd rather have a BIG mature bull first and foremost.  A spike is my second choice bull.

In Wyoming this year, my hunting partner and I killed a buck apiece, selectively, after looking over a bunch of other bucks.  We also killed 5 does - pretty clear we are in it for the meat too.  And, we passed on some skinny does (probably had nursed twins), in favor of sleek, fat does. 

I tend to hunt selectively when I feel there is a good chance of not eating my tag; but if I'm hunting hard for any opportunity, I'm bringing home meat.  My goal is to be successful on deer and elk for the meat, within that caveat I will hunt for a toad.  However, I don't subscribe to go big or go home empty-handed.

[Wea300mag]

It depends for me, if it's a permit/raffle hunt then it's trophy only and I don't mind going home empty handed. During the regular season/OTC, I will shoot whatever is legal. I'm really big into the sausage/landjager/jerky making these days so I like to have some good venison to work with.

[bow4elk]

It depends for me, if it's a permit/raffle hunt then it's trophy only and I don't mind going home empty handed. During the regular season/OTC, I will shoot whatever is legal. I'm really big into the sausage/landjager/jerky making these days so I like to have some good venison to work with.

I'd love talk sausage/landjager/jerky sometime.  I set aside about 50# of boned out meat from my buck.  I do lots of jerky but want to start in on a variety of sausages.  I love landjaeger sausage and have  some recipes, but have yet to try it.

[turkey buster]

definitely quantity for me first legal deer is in my freezer, I haven't had the opportunity to kill any big bucks to be able to pass on the little one, and I don't have any good recipes for tag soup, although i did try it bbq'ed once
chuck

[shanevg]

I'm both, but mostly quantity.  If I were on a permit hunt I would hold out for a trophy.  Or if I were on a hunt where I was pretty confident I can get something bigger if I just wait a bit.  But with OTC tags, I generally would rather go home with something small than empty handed.  But I'm not going to sit here and claim I'd shoot a smaller buck with a bigger body.  If a trophy opportunity presents itself, I will take it. 

[BLKBEARKLR]

It depends for me, if it's a permit/raffle hunt then it's trophy only and I don't mind going home empty handed. During the regular season/OTC, I will shoot whatever is legal. I'm really big into the sausage/landjager/jerky making these days so I like to have some good venison to work with.

Got to love the sausage making after, so far I have done, cherizo, brats, italian, breakfast, summer, pepporoni, teryaki sticks, would love to do some landjagers. I have a whole elk to process so if you have any recipes that you would like to share I will gladly take them   

Joe

[7mmfan]

I have to say quantity. With the amount of pressure in this state compared to the number of legal animals, if it has a third point it hits the dirt. I know that there are some great opportunities in this state for massive animals and if a guy puts in his time he'll get one, but at this point, i'm in the providing mode and need to put some meat in the freezer (which i failed miserably at this year). I do go to Wyoming every couple of years and that trip to me is more about quality than quantity, knowing that if the last day comes around and i haven't found Uncle Charley, then I can usually drop a two point.

[rasbo]

Ive taken big and small..But nothing tastes worse than tag soup..I have no game in the freezer except a bobcat,and Ive been eyeballing that .I set my sights on a buck that I found some sheds of,but if a legal buck shows his self to me hes going down.passed on a small bear this year sure wish I hadn't

[whacker1]

you need a third category of mixed bag.  

I would love to shoot quality over time, and I might pass on a two or three point white tail or muley early in the season, but as time goes on.  My standards grow smaller and you will find me filling the tag rather than let it go to waste.

[DeKuma]

I fall into the situational category.  I always start the season with no expectations and I make my shooting decision at the very moment I have the animal in front of me.  I have a couple wall hangers and have shot many small animals as well.  This year it was all about the meat, but being it was my wifes first year as a shooter, it was anything goes for her.  Figures she would drop a 4x5 Blacktail.........  Now it is anything goes for me and hoping to find her bucks bigger brother, or son, or nephew or anything legal.

[Gutpile]

Everybody loves big bucks but some people (me) arent totally consumed with it. I hunt 139 and when they switched it to 9 days only I shoot the first legal buck I see. I also apply for doe tags every year and I'm perfectly satisfied with shooting a doe. I like the trophy hunter guys who will only shoot a big one or nothing but I'm certainly not that guy with whity's. If we could actually shoot two deer in this state aside from the B tag draws I'd definately bang a doe then horn hunt but thats not the case. Now, If I hunt out of state where there are better chances for a nice deer I'll hold out a while but when the last day starts drawing near I'm not going to pass on a smaller one. I'm a quantity guy, I want meat in the freezer, if I get one with a nice rack it's a bonus. This is not a slam on trophy guys. I truly get a kick out of trophy hunters. JJ passing on those bucks he saw is amazing to me, I would have shot that big SOB he got pics of without hesitation.

Now, on to OIL tags. I'll definately hold out if I ever get drawn but as stated earlier, when the end of the season draws near I will definately go smaller.

To each his own.

 

[jackelope]

i voted quality.
i have killed lots of bucks...all small-ok, but nothing big. i also haven't shot a deer in the last 4 years. I have had plenty of opportunity but like others have said, it's not about killing stuff for me. it's the time spent in the woods, time spent with friends and the memories of it all that count for me. i would really like to kill a big buck one of these years, and i won't kill that big buck if i shoot a little one.

there's also no reason that anyone should be ashamed to say they kill the 1st legal deer they see.

[NWBREW]

I know some of you might not agree with me but for deer those two can go hand in hand. I pass on smaller bucks in hopes of a larger one. The reason why is because with a larger buck you can double the amount of meat (Quantity) you would get from a spike or small forky. Usually (not always but mostly) a larger body deer will have a bigger rack (Quality). So for deer...I hold out, for elk...I shoot the first legal one I see (they are all big to me). I love elk meat..



Oh and I didn't vote cause I assume it would be both

[Gutpile]

passed on a small bear this year sure wish I hadn't

That dink I shot this year has been pretty tasty. We ate a bunch of Brats, bacon, and sausage while up elk hunting. Don't pass next time you knucklehead!     I would like a bigger bear for sure next time but who knows what'll happen. The way I feel right now is that I'll pass on one as small as this year's bear but who knows how I'll feel next year. I do know I can't wait to get after them again in 2010.

[robb92]

Quality is in the eye of the beholder..a "monster buck" to some is just and average buck to others.  I am all about the hunt.  I relish it more than the kill.   The experiences I have had with some small bucks are worth more than some of the hunts I had with my biggest.  

I agree!!!!