I agree with your reasoning, but I'm not sure that I understand exactly what you were trying to communicate with this statement. If you're referring to the attitude that I see occasionally of meat-hunters towards trophy hunters, then okay. I'll agree that I've seen a fair amount of that, but I've seen it reversed more often than not. As for me... I don't know for sure. When I first started I was a meat hunter and my primary objective was to fill my freezer, but I'm evolving as a deer hunter. I don't consider myself a "meat hunter" nor do I consider myself a "trophy hunter". I just consider myself a "deer hunter". Do I still want to fill my freezer? Yes. Am I more selective now? Yes. I passed on two 8 points last year - something I couldn't have possibly envisioned myself doing prior to that. Would I love to kill a big, mature 150" buck? Absolutely! Why is that, as the original poster asked? If I answer that question honestly, it's a lot of different reasons. Here they are in order of importance to me: 1. I get a rush from accomplishing a difficult, challenging goal. This would definitely qualify. 2. PreacherTony would have to send me a few pounds of his famous deer jerky. 3. I could rub my brother's nose in it for a change. 4. Bragging rights. Let's be honest and face it. It's a part of the game. 5. I could rub my brother's nose in it some more. 6. I'd finally get to have that fight with my wife who is totally supportive of my hunting but refuses to budge on allowing mounts in the house. 7. I could drive my brother absolutely nuts! I think that's about it.
If you don't understand why now, you probably won't ever understand. It's all about personal preference and freedom of choice.
I meat hunt & trophy hunt. Doe is in the freezer. Now it's time to go for a nice buck. Like others have said, it's the challenge for me. If it's mid-late December and I haven't got a buck, then I'll try and shoot another doe. I still get excited when I shoot a doe, but I'd be lying if I said that it did not pale in comparison to when I shot my 136" 8pt. In the end, take what makes you happy. But show me someone who says that they'd be just as happy shooting a 100" buck as a 170" buck, and I'll show you someone who has not shot a 170".
The difference is when you find your trophy in the woods after waiting hours after the shot and get to experience raw emotion that comes along with this. Along with holding your string back with a focus that only a buck bigger than you have ever seen in your life slowly makes his way. Then picking the moment of truth to let arrow fly! Ok i am getting fired up opening day 2 days and wake up! Book deer rock!
I have went in the opposite Direction of most people here, I was a "trophy hunter" until about two years ago, the guys I was hunting with made it unbearable to be in the woods, it was all about killing the Big Bucks and Deer Management, they wouldn't even let a new hunter kill a small buck or Doe to get their first deer. I was in a rifle only Lease, they set up on big Food Plots in heated Box blinds and called it hunting. I finally got Fed up with lt picked up my bow and haven't looked back. I am a meat hunter now and actually having to learn how to get the Deer in close, instead of just waiting on them to walk out into a field right before Dark. I am having more fun and enjoying being out in the woods again. One day I may get back to hunting for bigger bucks, but right now I just want to enjoy being in the woods without all the crap trophy hunting can bring. just my $.02
Human nature for a challenge and the biggest and best. What kind of bow do you shoot? If its a newer model you can relate to big deer if your shooting your grandpas old bow then you may not understand.
the whole point in shooting a big rack is the satisfaction of a job well done, plus a bit of bragging rights at the local watering hole. yeah you can shoot a doe or younger buck if you want meat but how often does a chance come to get a big buck? not very often unless you hunt the places that have nothing but huge bucks. nothing beats scouting and finding a big one on your own then bringing it down.
Let me put it this way. I've never gone fishing and come back and had someone ask "did you catch any small ones"? lmao
So if both were side by side you wouldnt prefer the monster with a huge rack? That doesnt make sense to me. The old wise buck is seldomly outsmarted. As hunters, thats what we should be doing. Outsmarting the old smart bucks that have survived some seasons. From experience he knows when that smell (our scent) starts reeking up the woods, it's time to smarten up. BUT then the rut comes and even they make mistakes.
Does anyone else absolutely hate these ridiculous Texas deer shows on t.v.? There is absolutely NO challenge in simply picking the biggest buck out of 10 that are standing in a field while you sit in this gigantic box thats big enough to live in. Especially with a gun. And then they have all this pride in shooting a 170" deer. That is not hunting. That is shooting. Very different. This throws a lot of people off. Shooting a 3 yr. old 130" deer on public land in a remote area that you have spent hours scouting and hunting is a far greater accomplishment than that 5 yr. old 170" deer in TX. It's really all about the chase and the adventure. I mean, thats why we're all out there right? So in this case, obviously one should take far more pride in the 130" deer. Don't get me wrong, if i saw a 170" deer standing next to that 130" obviously I would take the 170. It all comes down the why YOU hunt. For me, its all about the chase. However for many people, it is all about the rack size no matter how easy it may be. That is sad and that is not hunting. That is shooting.
It IS hunting...just not the kind that interests you...or me for the matter It is important for hunters (yes this includes rifle) to stick together in a country in which so many are against it
You tell 'em, bb22! That ain't hunting! Can you believe some guys use these modern bows, treestands, and <gasp> trail cameras!? I just don't get some people. They always want the easy way out.
Fitz, Sorry about not coming across very well it sounded good in my head. In my opinion shooting a big buck to some is like having the best bow out there. Alot of people want the newest, fastest, best bow out there. I relate that to big bucks. You want the best out their its a challenge to obtain them for some. You could buy a cheap old bow and be able to hunt but most people naturally want the best. Horrible comparison I know but it sounded good at the time. Hope this helps.
