What's more important? To kill a deer you can show the masses? Or, to walk out of the woods satisfied that you were successful, period? I know my answer. What's yours?:D
Even though I'm the only person I hunt for, I still wouldn't shoot an animal I'm ashamed of. If I'm loosing an arrow, it's at the animal I WANT and I'll show it to anyone proudly.
Usually the latter, but never the former. Sometimes I come out of the woods wondering WHY I'm not getting it done (usually hits toward the end of the season). Doesn't have to do with showing to the masses (because most likely it won't be anything to brag about compared to some of the deer here...I would still be happy).
To quote my 10th grade Lit teacher, "The Masses are Asses!":D I made fun of him at the time... turns out, generally speaking, he was right.
Depends on how the rest of my season had gone. Obviously everyone wants to shoot that big elusive buck. But if I'm not seeing any good mature deer up to a certain point of the season, then I will most definitely be happy to walk out with a sub-par deer regardless of what the masses think. I'm in it for myself, not them.
It always feels good to get a real nice buck you can "show off", but I'm just as happy stacking does that sometimes I don't even take pix of.
I don't know about you guys but there is something to the overall nature of the hunt that makes it special for me...waking up early, freezing your butt off, walking in a mile, staying mentally sharp...to take a deer in certain conditions just feels "right" to me and I am damn proud when I am dragging that deer out of some sleepy hollow, regardless of doe, small buck, big buck...I don't care.
What if I show you guys photos of deer I didn't shoot? Had this little guy keep me entertained for a little while yesterday morning. Making a rub. He'll probably be pretty nice in two or three years.
The good thing is, if I take a buck I'm proud of, the important people in the "masses" (Family and Friends) will congratulate me and be happy for me. The rest really don't matter to me. Reminds me of a toast! Here's to those that wish me well, all the rest can go to h_ _ _ !
There was a nice old buck that was taken out there last season that had a double main beam. Maybe this little guy is his son.
I hunt for the meat, the bone is a bonus if it happens. I have never shot a deer that I wasn't proud of taking. I have never shot a spotted fawn (too little meat). Otherwise, depending on when in the season it is, I go from pretty picky (nice rack or adult doe) early in the season to meat later on.
I killed a 130+ 10pt 2 years ago, and minutes later called a 150+ down a gas line in front of my uncle and watched him smoke it (last ditch effort, we threw everything including the sink at that old boy)...I was about 75 yards from him and alot closer to the deer. I could not wait to get home and share it with the fellas on HNI... a double on P&Y deer in Georgia...my thread got 7 replies...Now I will post because I like it here and my team is cool as heck, but that will be at the back of my mind when I leave the woods.
Wow, I remember back then when I did not suck...I also realize I waited 2 months to post that story. To be truthful, I was pissed about the pictures we took as you guys have really made me want to take better pictures and I did not know how to post and was too much of a ( ) to ask. In my defense, pics of a deer in the back of a truck is how we are raised down here...you guys made me one of them as the locals now call me when I want help posing the deer and covering up the blood and the worst of all is tucking the tongue in...lol
