Test for What Kind of Hunter You Are

[archer36]

I saw this on Meateater with Steven Rinella. I really like his show, temperament, and deep thinking. He covers everything from the actual hunt to butchering and cooking. He is not solely a "trophy" hunter like most other shows.

So this is the test: If you shot a buck and it had a great rack (one you would mount) and you were given a choice, take the Head or the Meat. Which would you choose? 

Edited ****You are in a State where only one buck is legal and there are no doe tags. ****

Happy New Year!

Edited January 1, 2019 by archer36

[JimC1965]

Take the meat and photograph the rack.

[JHbowhunter]

I place equal value on both. If a matter of survival - no brainer, the meat. If it were in a place where a lot of out of state hunts end up going, meaning that long flights, impossible logistics to get meat back home, I would only shoot an animal if I knew the meat would go to someone (a person, not coyotes or wolves or vultures), and either have taxidermy done there and shipped or somehow ship antlers back home. 

It's not a realistic question in NJ  - no reason we can't get both. 

I will say to me, the rack has no real value if the meat is not edible.  The key to a good hunter is doing our job to make a quick ethical kill and full meat recovery.  The rack is an added bonus, and a way of honoring the animal and the memory of the hunt. 

Edited January 1, 2019 by JHbowhunter

[MGHunter66]

The question poses the argument against trophy hunting to me and lends to pit guys against each other. Kinda like why fish for something you don’t choose to eat because there’s a risk of a mortally hooked fish. For some reason people don’t rationalize fishing and hunting in the same light.


Sent via carrier pigeon

[Greybeard]

Meat.  Besides, it would break NJ law to leave the meat

[3Blade]

23 minutes ago, archer36 said:

I saw this on Meateater with Steven Rinella. I really like his show, temperament, and deep thinking. He covers everything from the actual hunt to butchering and cooking. He is not solely a "trophy" hunter like most other shows.

So this is the test: If you shot a buck and it had a great rack (one you would mount) and you were given a choice, take the Head or the Meat. Which would you choose? 

Happy New Year!

Trouble maker!

Well I'll be the first one here to admit if put in this situation I am keeping the head.  

 

Edited January 1, 2019 by 3Blade

[archer36]

19 minutes ago, maximus66 said:

The question poses the argument against trophy hunting to me and lends to pit guys against each other. Kinda like why fish for something you don’t choose to eat because there’s a risk of a mortally hooked fish. For some reason people don’t rationalize fishing and hunting in the same light.


Sent via carrier pigeon

It's not meant to "pit guys against each other".  There is NO correct answer. It's a mindset. You can rationalize the decision either way. If it was my Father making the decision, it would be clear, the meat! LOL. The rest of us may have a harder decision making process. It's a thought provoking question that many guys would have never considered. That's all. 

Edited January 1, 2019 by archer36

[archer36]

8 minutes ago, 3Blade said:

Trouble maker!

Well I'll be the first one here to admit if put in this situation I am keeping the head.  

 

No one is being forced to answer. LOL

[archer36]

17 minutes ago, Greybeard said:

Meat.  Besides, it would break NJ law to leave the meat

You could have your friend or another hunter take it?

[Nomad]

2 minutes ago, archer36 said:

You could have your friend or another hunter take it?

If that's the case then I would take the antlers any day, knowing the meat won't go to waste.   

[Nomad]

Hypothesis:  As antler size increases, the likely hood of the hunter keeping the antlers instead of the meat, increases also.

[archer36]

Ok I see there are a lot of conditions that effect the decision so I went back and edited the thread. Since here in NJ we have unlimited antlerless harvest, it may influence the decision in a certain direction. LOL

[archer36]

2 minutes ago, Nomad said:

Hypothesis:  As antler size increases, the likely hood of the hunter keeping the antlers instead of the meat, increases also.

I agree. But a DIE HARD meat hunter is still not fazed. 

[Gobblengrunt]

I dont know why there would be a situation where i couldnt keep the meat but i would opt to keep the antlers.  I love venison but i am a trophy hunter.  A particular bucks antlers are unique and represents the accomplishment of taking that particular animal.  Im not starving and can always aquire food so i dont hunt to survive.  Antlers are irreplaceable, meat is readily available.  But, i would not hunt anywhere where i was not allowed to keep the meat unless im assured that its going to good use.

[archer36]

I guess it's not fair if I don't answer. LOL

It would depend on a lot of factors.

How many deer am I allowed to shoot?

Is my Family dependent on the meat?

Can I afford the $700 Taxidermy fee?

I can see myself moving from meat hunter to trophy hunter and vice versa. 

I have a friend that always says: "You can't eat the horns". But then again he never shot a trophy buck and doesn't make it a priority. A pure meat hunter.