I almost got sucked in ..............

[LittleM]

Actually, for a few years, I did.  And I shot some really nice bucks.  But always waiting for a big one got old and I started to forget how much fun hunting used to be.  So this year, I changed gears and just went deer hunting.

 

 

And I shot this buck this morning.  One of three deer I saw.  Tonight I went one of the dairy farms where we all meet up.  That was fun as well and some of the other fellas shot some deer as well.  I find it to be so much more interesting talking to hunters as opposed to trophy hunters.   I can't wait to tack that rack up on my garage wall along with the other 50 or so I got there.  They all tell a story and bring back a lot of great memories.

[CJ3a]

Great work. I did the same today. It was good to feel the recoil.

Edited December 9, 2014 by CJ3a

[runum n gunum]

Congrats and I did the same thing the buck i shot tonight I think I passed up about 15 of them this bow season

[BowhunterNJ]

Congratulations!  Nothing wrong with changing gears!  As you said, they're all good memories too look back upon!

[Bucksnbows]

Funny, I was thinking the same thing today.  I passed up dozens of smaller bucks with the bow so far, passed a small buck early opening day to shoot a nice 8 in NY, and passed on scrappies in PA.  Today (or later this week) my plan was/is to shoot a legal buck and not worry about the bone.  We really only have one decent "target buck" and he would do well to put another year on him to get real nice, but there are ample snarkers I would be proud to take and eat.  

[BowTechExperience]

Congrats on a nice deer  and it is ALL about the memories.... 

[hunt1940]

this year i passed on alot of small bucks and said i'm waiting on a good buck..now with the bow season over i said to myself..what the hell were you thinking idiot? i pride myself on filling the freezer for the family.. i have good friends who just trophey hunt and there's nothing wrong with it...but to be honest ..i can't take listening about a shooter buck etc. to many guys watch these t.v. shows.  rather just hunt and make memories..

[Matty]

First of all...Congrats! Any deer that makes you happy is a deer you should shoot.

 

However, regarding the view of "trophy hunters" by a couple....I'll say this...Different strokes for different folks.

 

Unless I'm using more primitive equipment, like my recurve, I can't really bring myself to shoot a younger buck. To be honest, I always hate shooting bucks, I feel much worse about shooting them than I do shooting does. Don't know why, just the way my brain functions. When I kill a buck, I like to think I took out an aged warrior! A more worthy adversary!

 

With does I just think of it more as population control and food. When I hunt bucks I'm hunting to beat the best, it's why I also limit myself to certain tactics too. Again, just the way my crazy brain works. I understand that most people don't feel the way I do. I just think we should get rid of labels like "trophy hunter". 

 

We all hunt, we all shoot and eat stuff. 

[LittleM]

I hear ya Matty.   I caught some hell from some guys for shooting that deer, as letting it go would have given it potential.  But I think they were more interested in the potential for it to have made it on to their land where they could have shot it.  And that's all good.  I just smiled and told them I didn't want to hear it.  If I can kill another one this week, I will.  If not, I'll buy a doe permit/buck stub and try later on.  I'll also try to use my muzzleloader buck stub.  For here on out, I'm gonna be a deer hunter.  I know I can't eat the horns.  But I can nail them to my garage wall.  Honestly, if I could have the money back from those I did get mounted, I'd take it in a heartbeat and then tack those up on the wall as well.  Hunting for me is way, WAY, different than a trophy quest.  And its way down on the list of what's important.  I do it because as they say "Tis the season".  I could prolly take it or leave it.  But that's prolly cause I do so much other wildlife related stuff.  Anyway, Happy Hunting!  I have a few spike bucks on camera that have my name on them.

[TroutandBucks]

way to go on the deer you did better than I did opening morning! congrats and as long as you are happy with your kill thats all that matters.

[NJSOG]

There is nothing wrong with that deer. It has legal antlers and agree with you LittleM the guys busting your nuts were all wishing it walked by them. Congratulations.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BowhunterNJ]

I like this thread, it's good to see guys getting back to enjoying hunting and not getting caught up in trophy hunting.

I'm all for shooting whatever's legal.

I too find myself getting caught up in trophy hunting, which in NJ is tough to say the least.

The season ticks on by, and for years I've passed on MANY bucks rarely to see them ever again.

Really it all comes down to the property you hunt, the time you have available to hunt, and your personal goals for the season.

I'll be switching to fill the freezer mode now, especially with upcoming work I have scheduled.

Good luck to everyone out there, and shoot whatever is legal and makes your hunt a memorable and rewarding one!

[Tarhunt]

I got this one yesterday on my birthday.

[BowhunterNJ]

Awesome! Happy Birthday! Did you let your son hunt yet, or is he still on lockdown? You're catching up!

[Rusty]

I got this one yesterday on my birthday.

 

Nice!!  Happy birthday.