Everything has a time and a place depending on peoples situations if done legally. I hunt for both meat and antlers. I get a ton of excitement out of harvesting a doe. I love processing the meat on my own. With that said, I still wish some people I know would let younger bucks go by. Merely for my own selfish reasons of wanting to have more opportunities at bigger bucks. I would love to say that I don't look down on someone shooting a fork buck, but I honestly do because of my hunting intentions. It doesn't make me right, but that is my honest opinion on the matter. The people I refer to are mainly our shotgun group I hunt with and some of them say they just want the meat, but they'll shoot a deer in the hind quarters. Then they will try to take a different deer for their freezer. Same goes for a small doe and they try to get a bigger deer. We also have a guy in our group that says he passes up small bucks one day (more than likely he missed) and then the next day shoots a fork buck. The prior day he was preaching that they need time to grow. More of our personal problem with a few guys in our group that are loads. Same guy has to be forced to clean his own deer. Another reason why I love bowhunting so much. Not dealing with other people. Now if someone needs the meat for their family......I have zero problem with anything shot.
personal preference, but personally I think shooting little bucks should be reserved for someones first or kids. other than that let em grow... thats probly why most dont should good bucks most years, too trigger happy. I for one can't stand gun only hunters who show up opening day of gun without stepping foot in the woods otherwise and blasting anything in sight.. frustrates me after all the hard work i've put in over the off season...
Gonna say this once, and I don't plan on arguing the reasons I feel this way---- I have a crazy amount of opportunities when it comes to hunting deer. Have had for a long time, and sometimes I forget it.. I have finally realized that the only reason I get upset is normally when someone shoots a deer I passed, or think should have some time to grow up-- and this is because of my own selfish reasons.. An example -- I have watched a specific buck grow up, and he gets taken by one of the new guys. May be the biggest buck this guy or gal has taken to date.. Be it a 110 basket or even a 120 10pt! Thats sad-- I should feel nothing but pride in the new bowhunters sucess and not be thinking of ME only.. We are all selfish to some degree.. The key is zipping your lip and letting it go! To each their own I say.. If its legal and you need to scrtach the itch then by all means do so.. Who give a crap what anyone else thinks!
I'm personally a meat hunter at this stage in my hunting life. At this point I will harvest any deer that gives me the opportunity. That may change in the future and I may become more trophy oriented in my hunting. That being said I have absolutely no problems with someone shooting what they want as long as it's within the regulations for their area and done with good ethics and good positive hunting practices. That pretty much sums up my opinion on the subject.
