What is your hunting philosophy?

[moose eye levi]

I like all of them A,B, and C I'll shoot me a big booner buck and I don't mind trying to even up my buck to doe ratio, and really any way you look at it taking any deer with traditional equipment or not any deeris a trophy, but traditional equipment makes it way better.

[Tom]

Shoot does, let little ones walk and look but seldom kill big bucks. Content with a freezer full of good eating deer.

[Hubertus]

Still praying for my first kill. I can only harvest bucks where I'm hunting this fall, so any one that takes my arrow will put me on cloud 9!

[Benny Nganabbarru]

"Other" for me. I'm Aussie, and in most instances for me it is a simple case of maths: "Kill a feral, save heaps of native flora and fauna, and help the whole ecosystem". However, I am at times hypocritical or forgetful of this "feral menace" philosophy, as I don't particularly wish to shoot a sucker pig ever again, and I counted coup on a brumby mare with a young foal the other week. If I was to hunt southern Australia, deer would be a feral species I would not "whack and stack" (they are probably the least-destructive of our ferals).

[Michael Pfander]

In some respects this is an east/west kind of divide.  Here (AZ) we get one tag buck only.  Between the desert, the mountains and the canyons any deer killed with bow is a trophy.  All of that said there is nothing quite like the January bow hunt here in southern AZ. It quite simply is enough to be out and about and watch the world come to life sitting on a ridge glassing over miles and miles of country.

MAP

[vtmtnman]

C for me.Full freezer means more to me than dust collectors on the wall.  

[Sam McMichael]

I'm not sure I have a hard and fast philosophy. I make up my mind as the shot presents itself. Sometimes I let them walk, sometimes I shoot. I do have a tendency to let the smaller bucks go, but that may be because I have been playing hide and seek with a really nice buck for 3 seasons now.

[Wannabe1]

When I've killed my first deer period, then I might have something to say.   :rolleyes:

[waknstak IL]

I shoot only does, unless I have an opportunity to shoot a nice buck. I'm willing to waste tags to extend my season and our herd needs does thinned out so I try to do my part  

[Mark Baker]

I can usually use my buck tag on a doe, if I choose, and I'd rather that than an immature buck, as meat is the goal there.  But I'm also usually blessed with multiple antlerless only tags, and I shoot them gladly, and stoke the freezer.  I feel that a trophy is really in the eye of the beholder, and can be defined more than just rack size.  Many does I've taken were worthy of trophy status.  That said, I try each year and hold out for a mature buck to my liking, and if I don't find one, I'm usually looking for another doe those last hours....unless I've got plenty, then I'll hold out to the end and eat that tag rather than shoot a younger buck that might become next years trophy.  My standards sometimes waiver, however, if I've chosen to hunt a certain way with certain restrictions in the equipment and methods, so.....like I said, "in the eye of the beholder".

[longbowben]

Dust collectors eat just as good.I have eaten many and i love dust collectors.If i hunted just for meat it wouldnt be any fun.Season would be short and, I enjoy hunting mature bucks.Watching bucks for years learning thier habits and big bucks dont do a lot of dumb things.

[jonsimoneau]

I've recently started holding out for mature bucks only, and does.  I have been doing this for the last 5 or 6 years.  But I hunt ALOT, and I live in Illinois.  I live and hunt in a not so good part of Illinois, but still mature bucks exist.  I don't care how good you are...if they are not around you cannot kill them.  However in the last 5 or 6 years, I did have a moment of weakness.  I had little time to hunt, and was quite frustrated with the season I was having.  I shot a small buck and regreted it before the arrow even got to him.  But I think it is important to say that it is much easier to hold out for a good buck when you hunt in an area where they actually exist.  If I Lived in a poor whitetail state, I would be content to take whatever the area had to offer.  Mature bucks are my favorite animal on the planet, but not everyone has the opportunity to hunt them. I always like it when an experienced deer hunter from a poor whitetail state comes to Illinois and kills a great buck.  Many times, these guys are excellent hunters, who have just never had the chance to take a good buck in their home state.  I love to see the smiles on their faces when they come here and do it in short order. There are good deer hunters all over the nation, but not everyone has the opportunities for hunting mature bucks.

[GMMAT]

Every deer is certainly not a trophy to me.  I've killed a few does that just needed thinning out, and I can't say I view them ALL as "trophies".  Have I ever killed one I was ashamed of...or regretted?  Nope.

"Other", for me.  I have two piebalds I'll be looking for, hard.  I always look for a buck for the wall, and I won a shoulder mount at the shoot I was shooting in this past weekend.

Hopefully I'll get a couple/few nannies and keep everyone in venison.

My philosophy is.....I'll shoot any deer that makes me happy.....but ANY deer won't make me happy.

This year, I'll spend about ZERO time worrying about it.

[frassettor]

Great responses guys....Keep them coming  

[BradLantz]

A. Tropy Bucks only

define that

B. Quality deer management

define that

C. Any deer, they are all trophys.

that one is easily defined  

D. Other

define that

[Missouri Sherpa]

I live and hunt in Iowa and I see enough big 8 point or better whitetail bucks to hunt just for them.  Based on responses I see from around the country if I never kill another deer I have probably killed more than my share of 140-170 class bucks. I did not spend a day hunting for whitetails last year, loosing the farm I hunted being purchased by an out of state hunter from Wisconsin.  My passion is hunting elk and I spend most of my hunt limiting resource, my time off, preparing for and hunting elk for 2-3 weeks every year.  I would rather eat elk,(or beef or chicken) than whitetail venision.  I would like to hunt for whitetails more and probably will this year and in the future as my shedule and hunting land availability will permit.  If I hunt for whitetail deer, I am holding out for a certain size of buck.  I will kill does for QDM, only if I have a doe only tag and conditons permit not screwing up the buck hunting.  In northern Missouri where our family farm is there is a 4 point per side or better restriction so if you hunt there you are required to let the young bucks walk.  We do cull does there and donate meat to the Harvest for the Hungry program.

[Dave Lay]

I chose other... I will take any mature animial I can, I lay off does with fawns normally eventhough there is no sound reasoning for this, but I do try to be sure the animal is mature. I have taken a few large bucks which is cool, but my over all thoughts are a big mature doe is every bit the trophy a big horned old buck is, maybe more so, to take a 3 yr old doe late season vs. a 3 yr old buck during rut isnt the same at all..but guess who's picture we are all going to be showing??  doesnt make alot of sense to me... guess I am in the later stages of a bowhunter LOL !!!!

[larryh]

we have one tag only and now mule deer are 3 pt. or larger where i hunt, so i will drive up to the colville rez and shoot a whitetail doe like i did last year. i have to pretty desperate to kill a stinking buck to eat.
guess it's what you are used to.

[frassettor]

I should have added I did vote as well...I voted C...The real trophy to me is when my family and I are sitting around the table eAting the meal I provided with my own two hands.

[ron w]

Its C for me..I don't see enough deer to be fussy,Like frassettor said, when sitting with family or friends enjoying a meal of venison...perfect!!! Remember to have fun also don't get caught up in the "Gott'a Get One Mode"!