I posted something very similar to this on my FB last night and felt the need to share it here... I was talking to a coworker about some thoughts on my mind today and he showed me a picture posted to Facebook by a mutual friend of ours. It's a famous quote that has been seen by nearly everyone. Yet, as simple of a saying that it is I feel it gets taken for granted greatly in these times. Every year I hear the same old quotes; "I shot an elk, it's just a cow", "he's just a meat bull", "he's just a dink". It's sad to me that people feel the pressure to downplay a kill to satisfy the thoughts of others. Hell, I've done it before. You felt the need to pull the trigger, own that decision proudly! You killed a 2.5 year old rag horn?Good for you! That's something that 90% of the bowhunting population will not do this year, or the next 5. IMHO, This blame is largely held by social media and the constant pressure of needing to lay down a book animal to be noticed as "somebody". When is the last time you picked up a hunting magazine with an "inferior" animal on the cover? I love looking at big Bulls/bucks as much of the next guy but I feel these pictures often Instill unrealistic expectations in most guys, especially the youth. Appreciate your hard work, hunt for yourself, relish in the opportunity, and be proud of your experiences!
Very well put. I will never say I killed a small buck and then justify it by saying it was a meat or cull buck. I shot it because I was happy with him. I don't care if they aren't trophies to some but if I shoot it means I'm proud as heck. People worry way too much about pleasing others. It's sad really.
Well said. I can't stand when people use those sayings as justification. It's disrespectful to the wild game we hunt. Just be proud of what you killed, obviously it got you excited enough to take it.
I agree. Not all of us hunt in lands where giants roam. I say the same thing around here when guys / girls say they just shot a "little buck"... around here, any legal buck, esp with archery equipment is a trophy. many times this is the only buck seen or shot at all season for the person! The "industry" is desensatizing the world of hunting by glorifying the score of the animal vs the real reason most of us hunt. In NE and the NorthEast, hunting is a time honored tradition. Hunting camps are part of what we do. In a camp, any deer taken is celebrated, especially a buck. I do have to call myself out as I have done it in the past as well... Downplaying a small buck kill, but inside I am very excited. I try to celebrate everyone's success... no matter how big or small.
There are a lot of pressures put on people for shooting what others would consider worthy. Not saying it's a result of QDM but it's the perversion of it where some get on their high horse and criticize others for shooting a young buck, scrub buck, etc.. Once you see people drug through the mud and ridiculed then you see people start to have to justify why they shot a particular animal before the criticism even begins. Unfortunately that's the world we live in. Being a moderator on other forums in years past I've encountered many of these people and their over the top hatred for someone who doesn't believe and practice what they want to preach. This is a good reminder to those who are more than happy with putting their tag on any animal, give yourself and the animal you kill the respect you both deserve. And those who live to criticize.....well we know there is likely no hope you will ever understand because you have obviously forgotten "what the ultimate goal should be"
I don't think it's necessarily from desensitizing, a lot of it is from people just being rude and the state of social media. You post a pic of a small buck on facebook and without a doubt one of the first post will be from some "richard" that feels compelled to get in a cheap crack about it being little. Most hunters when they say something like that are just trying to get it in before a jackass comment like that.
I like this quote....but I take a different meaning from it. It's all about journey to me, the kill is nice but the hunt is what I live for. We have to be careful not to live a life focused on finish lines....instead, we need to just live life. Much to often people reach the end...only to realize they never arrived.
If you want to take a small deer that's your business. As long as your happy with your choice then that's all that really matters in the end. What really gets me fired up is when somebody gives a kid a hard time for taking a small buck. Those people should be taken out back behind the wood shed if you ask me!
Well said! people just need to get out their and enjoy it. If you can beat nature that's a huge feat in itself!
Very well said, I applaud you!! I often tease the horn guys, that shooting a big one is easy because that's all the magazines and bragging photos show, but it's tough to shoot a small one 'cause you never see pictures of them. Seriously though, most people I know that focus all their attention on a 'booner' or nothing are often the most sour disposition people I know. I filled my archery deer tag last year in Utah by shooting a two point, and shot my first whitetail in Nebraska by shooting a 2-3 year old 8 point, HA! And I was happy, happy, happy. Funny, I get almost as jittery shooting a cow elk at 300 yds with a rifle as I do a 6x6 at 25 yds with my bow. The grin on my daughter's face with her first mule deer is priceless - and yes, I would shoot that 2x3 she got any day.
Im mentoring a new hunter this and I am taking him out on Saturday morning. He is so excited just to be able to be in the woods. I told him to shoot any legal deer that presents itself and he feels great about that! Great perspective. GOOD post.
Awesome. Couldn't agree more. I'll admit when I was younger I viewed my season as successful or not based on my kills. It used to bum me out seeing bucks I passed hanging on the neighbors meat pole. Now I hunt a lot more stress free and actually have more fun trying to get my dad a shot than I do hunting for myself. It's all about the cat and mouse game now, matching your wits against your prey. I'm not hunting for the Jones' anymore, I don't only want to hunt musk ox to notch a kill on my belt, I want the experience that goes into it, I don't want to hunt elk only because I want a pretty mount on my wall, I want to know what it's like living on a mountain chasing them, and I could continue down my list of dream hunts with this theme. Hunt for yourself, and be happy and have fun doing it. Enjoy all the events leading up to the kill. Life is too short to be worried about what other people around you are killing.
Great post Backcountry. That's one thing I love about this site, I've never once seen a comment on someone else's thread bashing them for their decision to shoot a deer no matter the size. We have guys on here who manage their land very strictly and they are usually the first to congratulate someone for shooting a buck that they wouldn't shoot for another 4 years.
