Originally posted by jonsimoneau:
Ben that's a great pic. Maybe I'm all wet on this one. I just hate to see youngsters become discouraged because they feel the pressure to take big bucks. That is really all I was trying say....it just took me alot of words to say it!
I know exactly what you mean and I think you are right on track. It really depends on the person and their expectations. If you have unrealistic expectations, you are setting yourself up for disappointment and burnout. Fact is, where that dude hunts, a mature buck may not even exist. Even if there is a mature buck, or two, in the area he is hunting, the odds of him shooting that buck are stacked against him. You need to be in the right place, at the right time, and all of the other countless variables need to align themselves at that very moment. A lone mature buck could also be taken by another hunter, hit by a car, or leave the area, never to be seen again.
I think a hunter must first understand that gaining permission on good property, doing the the scouting, stand placement, stand prep, entrance and exit strategy, scent control, etc. that you must master to regularly take mature bucks is fairly extreme and requires a lot of hard work, especially in high pressure areas. Secondly, the hunter must be content with the fact that all of that effort may result in tag soup. Many hunters understand that and it doesn't bother them. I think for other, often less experienced, hunters it can be extremely dissappointing and they may lose interest in bowhunting all together.
Big bucks do hold more clout and garner more respect for one's abilities than lesser bucks and it is no doubt fun to show them off. I'm also guilty of saying things like "It was just a spike, or awww just a little 6pt" when describing deer that I have shot. However, no one should worry about what others think if they shoot a legal deer. It is a personal choice that you should be happy with. I think the bottom line is do what makes you happy.
During the early doe season last year, I got a look at a good buck for my area (about the size of the one in my avatar). I passed on some perfect opportunities at smaller bucks during the early bow season while I was hoping for a crack at the larger buck. After some run-ins with another hunter on the property, who I suspect was trying to sabotage my hunting, I ended up shooting a small buck with the shotgun on opening day. I never did shoot a deer with my recurve last year. I didn't regret the fact that I shot a small buck but I really, really, regretted not shooting one of those smaller bucks with my recurve when I had the chance. I have only shot one deer with my recurve, but I had planned on shooting does and letting the small bucks go. It never worked out and I actually had more opportunities on small bucks than does during the bow season.
I understand the "let em go, let em grow" philosophy and I know some day I will be more selective, but this year, I have lowered my standards (and my expectations) and I couldn't be more excited about the upcoming season.