All BS aside, be candid; how important is it for you to kill a big whitetail and why?

I really appreciate everyone's honesty here, I was hoping NOT to get a bunch of cookie cutter answers. I asked this question because in the grand scheme of all things in this life, I have always been one whom truly values varying opinions and perspectives no matter what my personal thoughts on a subject might be. It's these varying thoughts that often spark a new dimension to my way of thinking. So thank you guys, I have read every word of every reply this evening. I have respect for everyone's thoughts and we all get to know each other little better.

As for me, answering the question myself, I hunt for and target old bucks because I can find nothing else on this earth that I can take part in on a daily basis, year around that intrigues and inspires me more. Second, I have old deer here where I hunt. It' so important to me, I make it a point to live where I live and I chose to spend very little time outside of my family activities doing anything other than whitetail related activity. My family always comes first, but outside of that, I really have no other interests. In today's technologically advanced world, I can keep up with the news and sports I enjoy when I can't be hunting or even while hunting. My teaching affords me valuable time in the summers to get all of my family and hunting prep completed at the same time. Lord willing, I would never live where I couldn't hunt mature whitetails. This was the determining factor from me taking a very good teaching position in Alaska about 12 years back. If I could have it my way I would fill every buck tag I can afford annually on big mature bucks. Does it always happen, No....actually rarely! which motivates me even more to work at this craft. Give me a mountain, a big whitetail buck that's avoided wolves, mountain lions, bears, yotes and hunters for 4 or 5 years.. and I am all in. hope to hear some more thoughts and opinions on this subject.

 

There are few things that are more important to me then looking/hunting big bucks.

Family
Work

ummmm????

Yep that is about it.

I can kill does for the freezer plus I do enjoy hunting them. I will be the first to admit... the bigger the rack, the better. I need a challenge to take my mind off work. Something I can really focus on. The shed hunting, scouting and hunting do that for me. I love it to start with. Generally the bigger the rack, the older the buck. Killing any buck isn't a challenge. The hunt would be over before it hardly started.

I really do not care what other's shoot. If they are happy hunting any buck... good for them. They have there reasons... I have mine.

I've had quite a few guys come hunt with me with bow or rifle over the years. They've shot young bucks, decent bucks and good bucks. My only concern is that they are having a good time... period !!! Not what they shoot. When someone new comes here to hunt... I always tell them to shoot what ever they want.

Some on here seem to make it sound almost evil to hunt big bucks. I should spread that rumor around here to the locals. Then there would be more big bucks for me to hunt !!!! I just doubt they would buy it because I am not buying it.

Tim

 

Wait a minute .... I would say it is very important because it means that I challenged to the limit and exceeded my expectations by a pure will and mental capacity of outhink Virginia tricky (especially during the rut) and harvest , and wood, after letting him go after four seasons in a row while I was waiting for him to grow wood of sufficient quality to meet my criteria.

If I wanted to flesh that has just killed a deer. They are not as smart and cunning as a man of the woods to be a challenge for everyone and does nothing to shoot to test my skills, mental ability or desire.

 

Its all I think about. Its a part of my life. Im ok with not killing one but man it will drive me crazy until the next year.

 

Dang, did I really say that?

 

I really like reading what others have said on this topic. For me, I am like many others. Family is number one by a long shot for me. But when it comes time to other activities, I absolutly love trying to track down certain big bucks in my area. It is a totally different feeling being able to have encounters with these bucks and then being able to close the deal once in awhile on them.

 

Its very important to me, I love and am facinated with large whitetails. Its important when thats what im doing at the time (hunting) Sure, family friends and other things in life are more important BUT, we we are talkin bout when where playin the game here eh?

 

Oh dang you sound like half the chicks I know.

 

LMAO or start taking medication I am not on LOL.

 

for me big bucks are exciting to take, but not overly important. To me the important parts of hunting are enjoying the outdoors, comradery at camp, and getting some meat in the freezer.

 

My track record is pretty good so far. I've only ever dropped the string on two bucks in my lifetime. First one was a 140" that we didn't recover and second one was a 171" that I got last year. Now I know that the 171" is a buck of a lifetime and that is not the norm, but 130" and 140" bucks are attainable deer for my area.

Now in my two years of hunting I have had numerous shots at smaller bucks, 110" and under. I am new to the game but shooting a small buck will just not excite me. I would rather shoot does in that case, which there are plenty of around here.

What there are also plenty of around here are mature bucks. This year I have 6 known bucks that will all score over 120". So to me the opportunity is there and it is my job to get in close and seal the deal. That is the fun of it to me.

Young bucks, just like young does, are not very smart. Opportunities at these animals are not hard to capitalize on.

It won't kill me this year if I don't shoot a mature whitetail buck, but that is definately my goal. What would kill me is shooting a smaller buck just to do it and say " I got my buck this year".

Bottom line is you have to be realistic with what your area has to offer and what you know is out in the woods. I know what I have a good chance at harvesting and I pursue that because it is hard but also attainable at the same time. I set realistic goals for myself and work very hard to make that happen. Chasing big bucks is fun for me and all the hard work makes it that much better when you put one on the ground.

 

Overall in my life its a distant third but like anything I put hundreds of hours of hard work into I want to be successful and part of being successful, to me, is to kill a mature buck. I love the outdoors and bowhunting big bucks is by far the most sporting way I've found to channel that energy. I generally see deer on every hunt, the challenge is in getting that mature buck close enough to close the deal. That usually only happens once or twice a year, having everything come together is a thrill that only those that have done it can relate to.

 

Its very important to me, it solidifies to me that what Im doing works. I like to compare what I kill with what others kill on the same land I hunt. I like the scouting, planing, map study...all the hard work that goes hand and hand with killing mature bucks....thats what makes it fun for me.

I could go out and kill any deer, it wouldn't require any scouting or planing...hell it would be over as soon as it started. That would SUCK!!!!

And for all the "I just hunt for the meat" guy's....I can eat a big buck just like any other deer, how cool is that!!!! Not only do I get to fill the freezer, I get a big rack to boot!!!!

 

I’ve put more work into deer hunting this year than ever before. Reading all the forums and suggestions from BH.com has really put me in high gear as far as harvesting a big buck. This year in particular, I'll be a big buck chasing MOFO. All of the hard work, time, and golfing that I sacrificed this summer should prove to worth it come 2011 season. I think that if I don't see any big bucks this year I will be tremendously disappointed. However, if I see the big bucks and I am in the wrong location, then I won’t feel nearly as bad. But the most important thing for me is the encounters with deer (any type) under my stand. I hate looking at squirrels all day long. I have plenty of does to fill my freezer; however, a bruiser will be what I am chasing 1st and foremost. My family comes 1st; however, they’ll be home when I get down hunting. lol

 

I'd like to be like some of the others here and say it's not that big of a deal, but I'd be lying. If I look at the money, time, energy, and sacrifice I spend each year preparing and hunting it's apparent that killing a big buck is pretty darn important to me. If it were just about the meat I wouldn't hunt in multiple states and I sure as heck wouldn't be out in the woods every opportunity scouting, hanging stands, and checking trail cameras. I sacrifice time from my family, take days off of work, and spend money that could go toward college funds or retirement on this pursuit.

At the end of the day, if my family came to me and said "quit hunting or we are leaving" then I would walk away from hunting, but they would be dealing with one ornary husband and miserable father.

So, yeah, it's pretty important too me.

Why? That I really can't answer. I just like it better than hitting a golf ball, painting pictures, horse back riding, or working on cars I guess.

 

Killing a big buck isn’t at the top of my life’s most importance list, but its definitely on the recreational kick a$$ list. Family, friends, health, home, finances, work, then comes the recreational stuff. Hunting is my #1 recreational hobby and for 30 years I eat, sleep and breathe hunting, particularly whitetails. On the hunting importance list, killing a big buck isn’t my #1 important thing to do anymore, especially as I get older, but, I still try to make it happen. Killing a few deer each season and just enjoying myself with my friends is #1 on my hunting list, if a big buck reads the script even better. I used to hold the killing a big buck much higher on my “important” list, but as my tree stand time dwindles down as I grow older Im going to appreciate, a good kill is a good kill, more and more.

 

If it happens it happens. I hunt in Florida and not to many true Trophy deer here. If i get the chance at a nice wall hanger that would be awesome, if not i'm still stoked to get out there. Plus my wife won't let me hunt enough to truly go after a Biggun. last as my grandpa always said "you can't eat them horns"

 

Yes, I have a lot of the same feelings.

 

This hits home! I swear I could have wrote the exact same reply!