Meat or Trophy Hunter?

[OLDHAT]

Well, it had to happen sometime so it might as well start here. So, who are the Trophy hunters and who are the meat hunters?

I'll take the first vote and say that I am a Trophy hunter. I've got 5 on the wall (although they all don't make P&Y) and there will be another this year that will go up when he is done.

For the Trophy fellas, I've had a hard time getting these "bad boys" before the rut. I'd like to know if anyone takes trophy (let's say 100 class +) caliber bucks in early season (prior Nov) and what tactics do you use to get these early season big bucks?

Oldhat

[bks]

When I come to Ohio to hunt it's for a good buck or I'm coming home empty handed.

[lureboy98]

I want to shoot a good buck but I also want to shoot one. Points don't matter to me so I guess i would say meat hunter.

[Pike]

When It comes to Bucks, I guess im a trophy hunter, I shoot the doe's for meat. I know I posted this in a previous thread but I will post it again anyway. For me the best way to get to with in bow range of a shooter pre-rut buck is to only hunt buck sign that is less than 4 days old ( less than 3 if possible) If an area hasnt had any rubs or scrapes made in the last couple days I keep scouting until I find fresh sign. If I have to blow a day of hunting to keep scouting so be it. I call it hunting not hopeing. After all the 2 week old rubs your hunting over could have been made by a buck that is laying on the side of the road somewhere or moved out of the area since it made that last rub a week or 2 before. I also will not hunt a spot more than 2 or 3 times a season unless its during the rut. Pike

[Caribou Dreamer2]

I'm a meat hunter if it is a buck in good range and a good shot i will take the shot . If it is a doe in good range and a good shot i will take her,Those big boys will come someday.

[Q2XL]

im a meat hunter those antlers just give it a little more enjoyment

[flathunter]

I am a meat hunter but I will gladly shoot a trophy:D

[Nut]

At my stage as a deer hunter I am what many consider a "meat" hunter. But I also consider every hunt a "trophy".;)

[gamegetter1]

I've gotten four deer in my whitetail career, two bucks and two does. I must say that I will gladly take a doe for some good venison:D , but I will pass on bucks that have a spread of inside the ears and are not 2 1/2 old deer. I was fortunate enough to have gotten a nice 20" 8pt and also a smaller 6pt. Both were very exciting hunts, but I will let the small ones walk. So I hunt does for meat, but I am waiting for that monster!


David

[OLDHAT]

Pike:


That sounds interesting. Now I have never been one to hunt rubs, but I love seeing them (especially baseball to football sized ones on hardwood trees)...do you hunt fresh rublines or pre-rut scrapes? Now when I see fresh scapes (ones with mosquito's still buzzing in them and worms twisting/broken), then I am a firm believer that a guy can "see" that buck in the next 2 days if he thinks he's a good one and wants to attempt to set-up near the scrape.

The other thing I do is hunt "thickets" aka clearcuts. It's pretty much where you will find the big boys early.

I'd also like to add that here in Ohio, the big bucks (really all deer) hold onto the "summer pattern" for about 1-2 weeks into our season and they can be taken. But, that pattern ends quickly and until the rut these bucks are hard to find (I call it the"acorn spread-out"..they head back to a ridge/sperate from other bucks and you'll not see one until rut kicks in). This period usually lasts 2-3 weeks and ends around say the 5th of October.

What I'd like to do is become a bit more proficient in seeing these fellas for those 3 weeks that they are in trasition from a summer pattern into the rut? Any advice would be good from anyone.

I feel I am a fairly well versed bow hunter, but those 3 weeks from Mid October to the 1st week of Novemeber is tough hunting for trophy's (say 130 class+ bucks).

Also, I would like to add that I hunt "big woods", not around too many crop fields....some of the woods might be as big as 6k-10k continuious acres of woods with very little "development" or crop fields, so there is plenty of room for the bucks to "seperate" into individual areas.

Again, Thanks for any advice.

OLDHAT

[Spitfire]

I am all about hunting for the meat. Those antlers sure are nice but they don't taste very good. If a big heavy beamed long tined buck walks in i am going to shoot. Those big antlers are just an added bonus. If a little fork horn walks in I am shooting him, I think you get the picture. As long as I fill my freezer, that's all that matters to me. When my son starts hunting and we have an extra tag in the house I might try for some wall hangers but until then I will shoot any deer.

[CARPN-JAKE]

If I want meat I shoot does for meat but when it comes to bucks I won't shoot em unless they're 125 or better...I pretty much strickly bowhunt and my last 3 bowkill buck from the last 3 seasons averaged about 130....Every nice buck I've taken has been between Oct 30th and Nov. 5th....I have certain areas that I know are awesome during this time and I don't even go near them until this time....

[johnc21]

I guess you could say a little of both. When it comes to bucks, if it is not a deer I would mount then I'm not gonna shoot it(unless I see a wounded one). I usually wait to shoot a doe during gun or ml season. That also gives me a reason to keep huntin!

JC

[Lundy43123]

We are both.

We won't shoot the smaller bucks.

If my son and brother both shoot a good buck thats all of the meat we would need for the year. I then would not shoot anything unless it was 150+.

If we haven't been able to take any good bucks we will shoot a couple of does on the last day of muzzleloader season for the yearly meat supply.

This year was a good example. My brother shot a 3-1/2 year old buck on Tuesday of gun season that had it's left front leg nearly shot in two at the elbow. He travels in from Colorado to hunt with me each year to hunt for mature bucks. Had this deer not already been very badly wounded he would not have shot this deer. One for the freezer. My son misses the biggest buck he has ever seen on Friday of Muzzleloader and then takes doe on Saturday evening, the last day he can hunt. Two for the freezer. I hunt Sunday and Monday of Muzzleloader knowing that I won't shoot anything unless it really big, we don't need anymore meat.

I've killed enough deer in my life that I much prefer that my family do most of the killing. I just love being out there watching it all happen.

We passed on a lot of nice bucks this year, next year should be great if they hang around the area.

I'm posting a picture today of the buck my brother took this year in the picture gallery.

Kim

[Troph-E-Hunter]

I am a bit of both. I don't need the meat, but enjoy it, so I tend to be selective. I also hunt for others that have a specific need and are financially struggling. Deer are usually low cost to process.

As for early season tactics, I agree with most of you about old sign being just that and thickets. I like to first setup where I can see buck movement, then tend to get closer to where I think an ambush will happen. I base a lot of instinct and it seems to have not failed me yet.

However, I would like to pose a question.

How do you scout during the hunting season?

I am usually a weekend hunter so finding sign maybe 5-7 days old. I also am a stand hunter because I am fearful of walking around because of the shifting of patterns due to my interference. I am also not the best still hunter, in which I would love tactics of how to be better.

I would cherish any advice.

[Troph-E-Hunter]

Even though old sign is just that...old, I do find that hunting around sign in general leaves good chances. My thought is this...
If deer were in that area, the chances of them coming back around are good. They left sign there for a reason. Now, I am not saying to hunt there all the time, but if other factors prevent from moving somewhere else, it could still pay off.

I have had many bucks come back to previously-signed areas to either make new sign or just pass through.

[Pike]

Trophy E Hunter, I am a weekend hunter aswell. But i can usually scout one morning or eve. during the week for atleast an hour or so. I can also usually hunt Friday eve and all day Sat. In PA. and MD. and since No hunting is permitted on Sundays here either I spend all day Sunday in the woods scouting and try to get out like Wed. eve or Thurs. morning to scout.. In season scouting is a necesary evil. Come bow season I know were there bedding area's are and try to avoid them but sometimes you stumble upon a bedded buck, which is actually a plus, If you just bump him and then do not persue him. I act Like I could care less when I kick one up and noisly walk in the opposite direction as the buck exited the area. I then quicky try to determine how the buck exit's or enters his bedding in the AM or PM. and then get out of the area. I then wait 2 or 3 days and start hunting him. I have shot 2 real good bucks by bumping them and then setting up on them and I also put a friend on a third. All 3 were shot the first time we set up on them. The key to inseason scouting is to take the same scent precautions as you do when hunting, Knee high rubber boots, and I also were rubber gloves .If you bump a buck once he will return to that bedding area if you do not persue him once you bump him.

OLD HAT, I treat territorial scrapes and rubs the same. For example if I find a couple of fresh territorial scrapes in the same area as a couple week old rubs, I will still hunt the area, I follow this same stradegy from the first day of the season, thru the searching phase, Now once the chasing begins I will only hunt breeding scrapes, If the scrape does not have a licking branch I do not hunt over it. To me it seems a buck will continue on his summer pattern no longer than Oct. 10th , Some might stop Oct. 5th and some might stop Oct.13th but I count on every buck to leave there summer feeding patterns by Oct 10th. The majority of bucks will become almost completely Nocturnal at this point, Many hunters think this is because of hunting preasure but mature bucks will become nocturnal even without the presance of hunters. The reason for this is the same reason as of why the bucks antlers stop growing and then shed their velvet, It has to do with the amount of light in the day. Once the bucks start shedding their velvet their body is producing testostrone and hormones, the shorter the days become the more their bodies produce, the more they produce the more nocturnal they become, This leads them in to the next phase which is the Oct. Lull, which is the toughest time to hunt mature buck's, it usually last until about the 23rd of OCT. The only chance of harvesting a buck during the Lull is either to get real lucky, or move and hunt closer to the bedding area's both in the morning and eve. but as you know this gets tricky and risky. Now my favorite time to hunt mature bucks is the day after we turn the clocks back around the 26th of Oct. thru the 2nd or 3rd of Nov. If you find fresh sign during this time and set up on it a day or 2 later, your chances are pretty good that you will see what made the sign, The rut as you know is also an awesome time to hunt but the buck that made the sign could be 3 mile away courting a lady or searching the local Walmart parking lot for doe's . Pike

[george tinkham]

T HAT depends on what some call a trophy.For instance someone like the Wensels might smirk at what we are calling trophies.I like big deer and am Very particular and selective at what I will shoot.I have turned down p&y animal because Ididn't like something about the rack.I need an upper class p&y and it needs to have very good symetrictics.I do not call myself a trophy hunter.I just don't like the sound of it.

[atrkyhntr]

I am a meat hunter scouting for Alpha Bucks simply because I save them for my clients :D

How do you scout during the hunting season?

That is easy to do if you have a tree stand that is very easy to set-up. You can hunt a style I call outside inside which means hunt an area where you can see into several other areas. I like to hunt staging areas early in the season either near bedding areas or food sources. By not moving right in an area and hunting from a distance I can now watch deer movement and plan from what I see or plan for lack of not seeing...
Early in the season you can rattle bucks into range if you just make a tic tic like bucks do when they are sparing with gentle clicking of their tines. Their not ready to show who is dominant yet but will still come in to light rattling sessions. I also like to make my own mock scrapes and rubs with licking branches to establish when and where bucks are becoming active and to place them where I want them not the other way around... I never ever hunt the same area for more then 2 days after I have established some type of pattern and always play the wind... :eek:

[Ðe§perado™]

I'm a meat hunter, but if a nice buck comes along. Well , got meat and a head on the wall.;)

[Ohio Bill]

Im mainly a meat hunter....But ill take a trophy if i see it:D

[OLDHAT]

Pike:

Yeah, the October "lull" is a tough one. I compare it to the January and February "freeze"...hehehe it's almost as tough...Where did those big bucks go?

During the "lull", I try to find a bedding area (thick nasty stuff) with some type of food close/on the fringes of the thick stuff (persimmons, acorns etc.) that this one buck I am hunting might decide to slip out of the cover in daylight area and feed on.

I will have to say that taking a buck trophy buck in the "lull" period is to be commended (outside of pure luck). I'd love to find a bow hunter who is consistant in taking bucks during this time period and "pick his brain" a bit. IF anyone can reference me to that hunter (professional/writings/documentation/amature), then I'd love to do some reading on tactics.

During this period, I know how to find the big bucks, I just can't seem to get them close enough for a shot. And bedding areas (especially mature buck areas) I stay the hell out of! Once I find and area like this, I'll never mess around in it but instead hang on the "fringes" of it if the conditons are right to hunt those fringes. And even if that buck gets taken during the season, you can take it to the bank that another mature buck will take over that bedding area the next year.

Someone also asked how does someone "SCOUT DURING SEASON"...Here is my idea/tactics in scouting during season.

Early year, I'll hang on thicket edges and bedding area edges. Come "sniffing time", those bucks start getting brave and looking for does. The does (in my area) will be back "in the oaks" feeding on acorns. I'll scout the ridges and hillsides to find what set of oaks they are feeding on at that time. Now, the minute I start seeing some young buck action (chasing and grunting), I pack up shop and head for the doe action in the oaks. My theory being, is that the bucks will come to the doe's. And if you have a few Oaks that are getting fed on hard, there is nothing better in the world then setting up on the does and waiting for one to come into estrus. ( I likewise will not take a doe before the rut, I count on any and every doe in an area to be the one to bring in that big buck for me).

Now the scouting part, I don't put much importance in spooking does in the open woods, even if I have to spook them while entering in the morning or evening. They are not like a buck in the pressure category. Sure too much pressure and spookng will get to them, but an occassional "bump" they will tolertate. Most of the does I spook out of the oaks will run around the side of the hill and be back to the acorns in an hour or so or at least by the next day. Not all, but most will. Sure, I take every effort that is possible to not spooking them.
Now my scouting exists to take a good buck. And before the rut, it's tough to find one out in the "open oaks", so I don't worry too much about me spooking one. If I do happen to be scouting and jump a trophy caliber buck up (in the "open woods") , I feel he was just "passing through" and the chances of me seeing him on a "pattern" here again is very slim, so I don't think much about it, and I think he probably doesn't either.

Now, we know there is nothign more magical then "THE RUT", I think the gun hunters miss out on an awesome experience in the woods. A lot of it is the pre-rut action that is amazing, but when the real breeding kicks in, and you see a big mature doe by herself coming around the hill, that's when I get excited.

Over the past few years, I have seen some incredible species of whitetails. In 2000, I had 3 bucks within 60 yards of me that all would score 150+. (the largest a basic 12 that was booner class that I "blew the shot on"..probably only the second buck I have ever seen that would score at least 180 that I have seen while actually hunting in 18 years). These 3 bucks were around me for 45 minutes (within the 60 yards), I thought I was gonna dye of a heart attack!

Last year, I had 3 large bucks during that "incredibly foggy day" we had during the rut (all you bowhunters should remember that day) pass by my stand (I got greedy, let a nice 8 and a 10 pass at 20 yards waiting for the one bringing "up the rear")..anyway, the "whatever he was" (BIG) decided to hang a left about 50 yards out fom my stand (figures hunh!)

This year, when I shot my buck, he was the 10th buck I seen that evening...with 2 being much bigger than the one I shot and both 150+ class animals.

I live for "the rut", but I'd like to learn how to take these puppies during the "lull", again, any info/tactics that is either and "idea" or a proven method, I'd surely be interested in hearing what anyone/everyone has to say.

Oldhat

[Trumbull Archer]

Trophy hunter till January, then does exclusivly. I wont shoot a buck in Jan, for fear of the rack comming off, plus if I see a good buck late it gives me a goal of that perticular buck to hunt the next year, which is the way I like to hunt. I did not take a buck this year but I did see a big 12pt that had made it . I will learn all I can about this deer in the comming year. The last buck I took was last year and he was a 135 class deer, the took me 2 years of hunting him only, which was very satisfying to me.
T.A.

[Pike]

Old Hat, When you find that hunter, please let me know word for word what he tells you!! I usually spend most of my time scouting from about Oct 14th to the 21st. This year I opted to make a scouting/ hunting trip to OH, I ended up shooting my buck out of a stand the next trip out on Nov 2nd that i found on that first trip. There was 5 rubs on Oct 19th within 20 yards of each other and when I returned Oct 31st. there was 9 rubs and 2 scrapes, One of the scrapes was just made that day. I returned to hunt the stand durring eve of Nov 1st. and there was another fresh rub 5 yards in front of my stand, and then about an hour later I seen him wrapping around me at 65 yards I tried gruntting and the horns but it was so windy I doubt he heard either, I returned the next morning and he came feeding past me at 65 yards on the opposite side of me but this time I was able to grunt him in. I found this buck during the lull, I knew where he was exiting and entering his bedding area thru this area and only seen smaller bucks and doe's. I come back 10 days later and check up on him and then set up him again and those 10 days made the difference. So other than getting lucky or being patient and waiting out the bucks to start moving during daylight again, I have no clue of how to hunt mature bucks during the Lull!! The best advice I can give is to not over hunt prime spots during the Lull and save them for a week or so down the road and dont get frustrated. Like I said , If you find this person please let me know!! Because I sure do not have a clue when it comes to being successful during the Lull. Pike

[jeffmo]

well i'd have to say that i'm both in a way.i'm pretty lucky in the fact that i have permission to hunt some real good private farmland that's right out my back door.i scout during the summer months primarily to see the size of bucks that are in the area where i hunt.
when bow season rolls around i'm looking for something for the wall.i was lucky enough several years back to get one that green scored a little over 140 so from then on i've been waiting on something bigger.
gun week is when i'm looking at freezer meat.
tactics wise on bow hunting.i hung my stand years back and have never had to move it.i hunt a transitional area between where these deer bed and where they feed.i try to catch them when they're moving from one to the other.they seem to be less cautious when they're on the move.

[Mal]

Nut I couldn't have said it any better.

[Farmbear]

Meat hunter the rack don't mean that much to me. But if a wall hanger comes by he better watch out because he well get it. I"m out for the meat I just love to eat it. :) But I love the hunt the most.;) the sights the sounds the whole exsprience.:D

[Stacker]

Mature racked buck....dead! Young spike, fork, 5, 6 etc. walks. Mature doe without fawns early....dead! Yearling doe after snow flies....dead! I am a deer hunter...not a buck hunter, not a doe hunter, not a trophy hunter, I use my best judgement and have let alot more walk than I've harvested. Best tactic, get yer butt off the couch and into the woods, be there, quiet, scent free, and ready when a shot presents itself. Don't buy into gimicks and shortcuts, they are designed to separate you from your money first and to make hunting simpler second. Simple is not better, just easier!

[CritterGitter]

I hunt for Trophy bucks Opening day through mid January. Then, I can go to the State Park(bow only and does everywhere!) and hunt for meat if I didn't get a buck. This was my 8th year of deer hunting. I have gotten a 131" 11 pt and a basket rack 7 point. I have passed on a lot of basket rack bucks. I am at a point where I won't settle on a buck that is less than 100". As far as early season success for the big boys, I would say preparation for opening day is critical. That is when I have seen the most trophy rack bucks outside of the rut. I usually have strange things happen on opening day and they usually involve me, a big buck, and some idiot walking in on me? LOL

[OHyotekiller]

I take all the deer I can for the meat. I've gotten 3 (2 doe and a 7 point) so far this year and I'm still bowhunting. We eat venison several times a week here because it doesn't have all the steroids and junk they put into beef cows. If I could take enough deer, that would be all we'd ever eat.

[Spitfire]

That's all we eat also and anything alse that I happen to harvest during the season. Right now I am making a Dove in the crock pot for supper and man is it smelling good. I think tomorrow night we will have rabbit for supper. I can't remember the last time there was beef in this house.

[Dear_Hunter]

I hunt for the meat to fill my freezer.

:)

[carpwarrior]

i am a meat hunter by all means first,i yet to harvest a buck but when i do it will be a dang good one

[lureboy98]

hehe carpwarrior, I can see you being a meathunter because carp are NASTY to eat.

[carpwarrior]

lureboy your name fits you well , BOY---------------- LOL!

[lureboy98]

Hey, I didn't say anything bad about the fish, in fact they are one of the fish I am going to target this year. I simply said they aren't good to eat!

[BottomBouncer]

I hunt for trophy meat. I won't pass up a nice buck or doe, but I will pass up a spike or dog size deer. Disappoints me to see knee high deer takin'........maybe they are looking to make a steak and a couple burgers?

[Spitfire]

Is it still disappointing to see a "knee high deer" taken if it's a guys first bow kill?

[carpwarrior]

lureboy, i was just joking around ,just like you was. its all in good fun, you are right they are not very good to eat trust my i have tried. if your around dayton when shootin season opens up send me an e.m. and well hook up and shoot a few

[BottomBouncer]

If a fella is proud of it..........so be it. With the amount of deer in Ohio, it's not like there won't be a larger deer around the corner.

[lureboy98]

Will do carpwarrior. I still have to get the first deer, and Desperado is going to take me to stick some pigs (carp) this year, but I'm also gonna try and catch some carps on rod and reel.

[Hoytme2]

Brown is down! I hunt an "Urban Zone" in NW Ohio primarily as well as SE Ohio in Nov. so I have the opportunity to harvest 7 deer each sesaon with regulation changes. I have never been able to harvest this many. I think the deer gods are against me! One so far this year but there is still time left!!!! Good hunting!

[Deehntr56]

;) Doe tags are for the Meat, but the Buck tag is used for 120 class or better bucks, so with the buck tag, it is strictly a good Buck. Now since I have been only taking good bucks for the past 4 years, I have passed on smaller bucks with the feeling I may not fill my Buck Tag, but I have been fotunate that some where along the line to get a good Buck, whether It was in the late bow season or Muzzleloader sason. I guess that by passing on smaller bucks and being in the right areas, eventually you may get an opportunity!

[fishforfun]

Well i am a trophy hunter ,I do shoot does for meat.I let alot of the little bucks go bye each year.It is hard letting those nice looking 2.5 yr olds go bye though.

[lung buster]

Im both. When i bow hunt i hunt rack. When gun season comes im filling the freezer.

[MrFurious]

Depends on how far into the season we are. Where I hunt usually allows two deer to be harvested, so I hold out in the early season for a good buck to come along. Once gun season hits, I dedicate the first few days to a buck, but after that anything is fair game. If I take a doe then I'll spend the rest of December and January looking for a buck. If I end up with a buck or we're down to the last few weeks I'll pop the first good doe that comes along to fill my tag and the freezer.

[Mohican]

Trophy hunter. 150 or better for a buck. For meat I shoot does.

[It's Not A Passion..]

Trophy hunter. I won't shoot a buck unless he's at least P&Y. Shoot the does for meat and herd management.

[SP Scout]

1 month ago I would have said trophy hunter but being without harvest at this point in the year all I can say is if it's brown, it's down.

[countyroad]

My dad and I have been going rounds on this topic. My aunt recently jumped in too. Neither are on my side. They know I'm holding out for a mature buck or doe. I passed up some mature doe earlier in the season for some good reasons. I get plenty of oppertunities at deer throughout the season so I've been in no hurry. I've passed somewhere around 34 deer this year. I'll take a doe before I shoot a young buck. My dad says that guys that hunt for a trophy buck are not hunters. He say's he hunts for meat . Yet he makes sure he shoots a buck each season. I don't get it. I told him that a mature buck has more meat on him than a young buck and that I'd shoot a doe before I'd shoot a young buck. I care about the deer, I enjoy being in the woods and being in the company of deer. I didn't appreciate them inferring that I'm not a hunter.

I'll put it this way. I'm after a nice buck, but my mouth waters at the first sign of venison walking my way. I will have venison in the freezer by season's end. I like to eat it.

[deerhunt45]

at this point, i'd have to say trophy hunter. i have let over a dozen bucks walk the past two seasons in search of my goal of a P&Y buck. don't get me wrong, love venison! and ended up harvesting a doe for freezer last year and will do it again this year as season winds down (if the deer gods permit it!). have two bucks with my bow so i said next buck is 130+ and sticking to it. btw, stuck my P&Y buck last year 1st weekend of November, but not a good shot, all shoulder muscle, he made it and was chasing does a couple days later, big symetrical 10 point! bummer. but i love being in the woods during all seasons. still have 2 tags i can fill before Jan 31st....good luck and good hunting.

[Sinclair 1]

Both,

I have over the last few years learned the value of not shooting little bucks. I hunt for trophy's and meat together, it doesnt matter which comes first.


SS

[coonskinner]

i want a 150 or above...i have passed on many that would go p$y...i do not need to score ea. yr. to be successful.i can wait for 10 yrs. if i have to,this year was the yr. i have been waiting for,for about 8 yrs. now and i blew it but its not over,theres the rest of this yr. and next yr...if the deer is still there,next yr. he'll be bigger and i know lots more bout him then i did this yr. when i first located him.i am not a meat hunter,i am not a trophy hunter...i just want to hunt,hunt with a recurve or longbow,preferably in the big woods...what happens then will happen...

[Thunderflight]

Passed a doe tonight. She offered me several shots, but it just didn't feel right.

[Redhunter1012]

Originally posted by Thunderflight
Passed a doe tonight. She offered me several shots, but it just didn't feel right.


Not sure I understand that. Not questioning it, just not understanding. The great bald one feeling compassion for a doe.I'm both by the way. I always get does for the freezer so I hold out for 140" or better. The buck I took this year wasn't 140", but he was very unique and I couldn't pass him up. Still can't believe he passed one up.

[Thunderflight]

Originally posted by Redhunter1012
Not sure I understand that. Not questioning it, just not understanding. The great bald one feeling compassion for a doe.I'm both by the way. I always get does for the freezer so I hold out for 140" or better. The buck I took this year wasn't 140", but he was very unique and I couldn't pass him up. Still can't believe he passed one up.

Yelp surprised me too. I was going to donate it to Hunters For The Hungry too.

It was just a bit too dark. She was only 15 yards away and I got ready to draw down once or twice too, but let her go.

She "might" not be so lucky next time....;)

[It's Not A Passion..]

Yeah, she's lucky she wasn't a button buck!:D

[SP Scout]

Yeah, she's lucky she wasn't a button buck!

Man, I was thinking the same thing....lol

[Thunderflight]

Actually "she" might have been. It was getting kinda dark and the deer was alone so it could have very well been a button head. If so that would be the second BB I've passed this year. OHBOW76 would be proud;) :D

[It's Not A Passion..]

We all are TF......... we all are.........:D

[wise88biker]

Just my two cents worth, they are all trophies, I do love to bow hunt, and yes I would rather outsmart a big buck anyday. Tell you though, them does are just as smart as them big bucks, just aren't as many as them heavy antlered boys as there are girls..
I've seen alot of them girls save the hides off of a lot a bucks in the last 21 years of bowhunting.
Even with no harvest, they are a blessing to sit and watch..

[Ross Co. Bowhunter]

I trophy hunt only and have done so for about 8-10 years. A trophy to me is 150" or better. So far this year I have had 40 some bucks sightings,and of that about 14 were p&y class animals. I keep a daily hunting log to keep track. Most of the bucks I have harvested in the past years were taken in the last week of October. To me thats one of the best times to be in the stand.

[Buckmaster]

I typically harvest the first two mature does I see in order to fill the freezer. After that I try to score on a nice buck with my attempt to be completed by gun season. My ideal buck is 150" however I have 8 sets of horns exceeding 120" over the past 8 years I haven't hit the 150" mark. My focus during the early bow season consists of hunting funnel areas and staging areas outside of food plots. The does hang in the plots whereas the bucks hang in the woods until dark.