Bowhunting Trophy and or need

Hello,

So again, I am obviously new to the whole game. The question I have is do you all here hunt for food and use as much as you can from the animal or is it strictly for the "trophy"? The reason I ask is I love the idea of what hunting stands for as it provides you a rush that most could never understand, it allows you to be out in the wilderness and around amazing animals. I also get that when you bag something you have never gotten or it was a first period, you want a memento. I am just curious as to how it helps conservation? I obviously want to bowhunt and it seems it definitely takes more skill, but for myself it isn't about how many I can get on my wall.

Thanks.

 

i was taught at an early age don't kill anything unless you plan on eating it. (minus snakes, rodents, etc.) any deer i put down will get processed and i will use as much meat as possible.

 

I was brought up in the same way ( native american) background. I am all for pop control and killing if you are going to use as much of the animal as possible, the one animal I don't understand killing is bear. I know people eat the meat, but is this mainly a trophy animal?

 

I think hunters are the best conservationists because deer, if not managed, will be overpopulated. Overpopulation can be just as detrimental (if not moreso) to the ecosystem and coexistence with humans than if they are underpopulated. When any species of animal, such as deer who can grow in numbers extremely quickly, compete with other animals (and humans) for the same resources the ecosystem becomes unbalanced. I personally hunt for the meat but I am not opposed to hunt for trophy either. Anyone who has to convince themselves to hunt for one or the other probably shouldn't hunt. Hunting for the thrill and spending time with family and friends should be enough to enjoy hunting. The meat and trophy are bonuses.

 

Are you a hunter?

 

I bowhunt for "the love of the game. This time of the year when I'm not in my stand I'm thinking about the next time I'll be there. Every buck I shoot gets a euro mount (haven't shot a MONSTER yet) & is on the wall in my basement. I usually have numerous tags to fill & what my family doesn't eat I give to friends or donate it to SAH. (Sportsman against hunger).


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I ask because that doesnt really sound like a statement a hunter would ask. Kinda threw me off and thought you where a anti

 

I don't believe any animal should be killed unless it is fully utilized and eaten. I have never killed anything I didn't eat except for a coyote.That being said, I will kill coyotes because of the huge problem they have become around here and because they are destroying the deer population. Obviously I will also kill anything that threatens me or my familys safety but only as a last resort.

I will never understand why someone kills something they don't intend on eating. That is not right in my eyes. You shouldn't be able to take an animals life just because it makes you feel good.

 

Im an outdoorsman and eat what I kill which most if not all do the same

 

Also want to add that I do keep something from every animal. Whether its the tail off a doe or the antlers off a spike horn. I believe those are trophys and momentos of a great experience.

And one other thing, I hunt because I simply LOVE to hunt. Everything about it. The excitement, the time in the woods, the shared experiences, the mind game, every little detail. Not because I need something to eat. However, if you are killing something, you need to eat it. Just clarifying my previous post.

 

I am not a hunter (although I would really like to start) that being said I am far from anti-hunting. I am all for providing your own meat and knowing you put hard work into it.

Also I think you all had killer responses ( no pun inteded) I figured most felt that way, I was just curious because media and leftists tend to try and shine a bad light on hunting. I agree that if you have to determine hunting for one reason or another defeats the purpose. I also understand taking a trophy of some sort as you have all said in a way that it allows you to remember a great time with a friend or just being out there.

 

I love this response and agree 100% and I don't allow a small % that do hunt simply to kill something as that kind of person is in every aspect of life.

 

I enjoy the talent and mindset of being a predator and having the skill and patience to get a clean bow kill on a trophy animal to eat.

 

All deer get processed period. However I hunt does to put food on the table. I hunt bucks for their horns.

 

I happen to enjoy the taste of what I hunt, and I dont hunt the things I dont enjoy eating... what I do have is an issue with people that hunt and waste. I have nothing against people that hunt for trophy as well, because I am of the opinion that if the trophy is what you are hunting for, then it isnt really a waste of that fine animal. But I have seen in the past where people (and if you notice I dont define them as hunters) have purposely killed an animal, and just leave it to rot, all for the purpose of being able to.
To me, that isnt showing the animal or the sport of hunting it's proper respect.

ok...I'm hoping down off the soapbox for now...

 

Well said sir. I am definitely glad to be apart of a great group of men and women and I look forward to my first bowhunt.

 

I know it isn't always manageable to do, but if you were hunting bear and other large game I am all good with it especially if you are using meat, skull and even the fur. As I get it especially with deer it is helping pop control and you could probably build a mansion with all the pelts so I get that.

 

I hunt for food. I hunt for the challenge. I hunt for the pure enjoyment of it all.

You can get a lot more meat off a trophy buck than a yearling

 

Bear hunting is my favorite. The meat to me is by far the best out there. I've never not eaten anything I've shot bow hunting.

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I think the term trophy hunting and meat hunting sometimes get too far separated. The meat being eaten is really an unspoken element. I highly doubt anyone kills a "trophy" then tosses the meat, I could be wrong though. It's not illegal.

Some people get off on having the horns, some are fine with the memories, others like them both. I am at a point in my bowhunting career where I don't need to kill, i've fulfilled that want. Unless my freezer is empty I will not a shoot a immature deer (more so when it's full of elk :D). Even then I would still hold out until later in the season before killing something young.