Post by: hunter399 on November 20, 2023, 06:06:34 AM
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.
Post by: 7mmfan on November 20, 2023, 06:33:58 AM
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.
Post by: hunter399 on November 20, 2023, 06:42:34 AM
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.I agree and feel the same as you,very well written.
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.
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. :tinfoil:
Post by: bkaech on November 20, 2023, 07:01:29 AM
Post by: Dhoey07 on November 20, 2023, 07:02:07 AM
Post by: Bullkllr on November 20, 2023, 07:11:57 AM
Post by: slavenoid on November 20, 2023, 07:15:00 AM
Post by: dreadi on November 20, 2023, 07:17:51 AM
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.
BLACK HAMMER ARMS
07/02 NFA Dealer
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Post by: Ironhead on November 20, 2023, 07:23:02 AM
Post by: ASHQUACK on November 20, 2023, 08:03:30 AM
Post by: Griiz on November 20, 2023, 08:07:15 AM
Post by: kirkl on November 20, 2023, 08:11:07 AM
Post by: Encore 280 on November 20, 2023, 08:17:12 AM
Post by: jackelope on November 20, 2023, 08:25:25 AM
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.
Post by: Mtnwalker on November 20, 2023, 08:25:31 AM
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.I agree and feel the same as you,very well written.
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.
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. :tinfoil:
Unfortunately biologists can be idiots too...
Post by: doubletall on November 20, 2023, 09:57:31 AM
Post by: nwalpineguide on November 20, 2023, 10:00:07 AM
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.
Post by: Gentrys on November 20, 2023, 10:54:24 AM
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.
Post by: Apples on November 20, 2023, 11:07:52 AM
Post by: brokentrail on November 20, 2023, 11:40:01 AM
Post by: vandeman17 on November 20, 2023, 11:56:24 AM
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
Post by: 85yota on November 20, 2023, 12:28:19 PM
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.
Post by: Buzzsaw461 on November 20, 2023, 02:20:42 PM
Post by: dylanb on November 20, 2023, 03:08:06 PM
Post by: MADMAX on November 20, 2023, 03:57:46 PM
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 :yeah:
Post by: huntandjeep on November 20, 2023, 04:43:58 PM
Post by: NOCK NOCK on November 20, 2023, 05:43:53 PM
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 :yeah:
x3
Post by: Naches Sportsman on November 20, 2023, 06:08:57 PM
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.
Post by: shadowless_nite on November 21, 2023, 04:34:50 PM
Post by: bigmacc on November 21, 2023, 05:17:42 PM
xxx4For 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 :yeah:
x3
Post by: Humptulips on November 21, 2023, 07:16:12 PM
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.xxx4For 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 :yeah:
x3
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.
Post by: Birdguy on November 21, 2023, 08:22:53 PM
Post by: TeacherMan on November 21, 2023, 08:48:22 PM
Post by: huntnnw on November 21, 2023, 09:44:55 PM
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
Post by: BLH69 on November 21, 2023, 10:31:33 PM