What is your hunting philosophy?

[Schafer]

In Vermont we have to lay off of the spikes, so anything bigger then that for me or a doe is what I am after!

[Bonebuster]

"Other".

I don`t shoot "any" deer, I do pass on the little ones.

Truely big bucks are a very rare occurance here.
A three year old buck is a trophy. I usually pass on young bucks...usually.

I shoot year around, and try to be the best shooter/hunter I can be. I hope for at least one, good, close range shot at a mature deer.

I have killed my share of bucks I call big, but I know would not be considered "shooters" in some other places. So be it. When I pick up a blood soaked arrow, I am ALWAYS gratefull, and my hands are ALWAYS trembling...antlers or not.

[Whitetail Archer]

In my area of Pennsylvania we have to shoot an eight point to be legal (four points on one side really) since the new law was passed.  This year I am spending more time in scouting for this "legal" buck as opposed to hunting a good looking area and waiting to see what shows up.

[PAPA BEAR]

my hunting season consists of elk hunting only pretty much.i buy my deer tag every year but only because i know the year i dont i will surely stumble upon mulezilla the biggest muley buck to ever walk the planet.
     even in my elk hunting i am not picky as to what meat goes into the freezer.whatever gets within range is gettin an arrow flung at it with the exception of calves and yearlings,those get to walk.for now.  

[James Wrenn]

I had to go with the other.Never know which other slot I might fit into depending on the day,place I am hunting or just mood.I hunt because I like eating animals so getting a couple in the freezer during a season is the primary goal.Since we have long season and plenty of tags that leave many other days for different hunts.If I know or think there is a big one in the area I might well hunt for him a few days although most likly the antlers would be cut up for overlays and such and not mounted.No matter the score I would most likely never know it and it would never be put in a book somewhere.Of course I might post a picture sometime.I just like to hunt and anything besides the "other" probably will not fit.

[Bill Carlsen]

Here in NH we have the option to take four deer. There are limits on seasons in various parts of the state so some restrictions come into play. However, in a more general sense I only bowhunt because I enjoy the challenge so any deer is fair game as one of my goals is also to fill the freezer. Deer densities in NH are not at all like they are in other states so any opportunity that presents itself is one that should be taken advantage of. Laura and I acquired a small landlocked parcel of 23 acres or riverbottom land nearby. It has several nice bucks that seem to use part of it as their core territory and one of our goals is to each kill one of the bigger bucks...two of them should be huge this year as last year they were both very respectable in the antler and body size dept. I also was able to shoot a cow moose two seasons ago on my wife's permit and even though a bull would have been legal we decided before the season to take a cow or yearling because we were looking for table fare. This year I drew an anterless tag for moose upstate and will be happy to take another cow or yearling if the opportunity presents itself. I guess any animal I take with a bow is a trophy for me but I do have a special place in my heart for two large bears I killed years ago and a NH record archery buck I killed in 1990. That was a four year chase and was especially nice since the deer herd in NH at the time was not as plentiful as it is now. I suppose if I lived in Iowa or Ohio or one the big deer states I would have a big buck on my "must do" list but I do not have the opportunities to see, much less shoot, too many of the big ones.

[Landshark160]

Originally posted by 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.

Excellent post!

[Plug]

Does and mature bucks.  I get more satisfaction from shooting a doe than a juvenile buck plus they taste better plus I can shoot all I want.  If I shoot a young buck I burn one of my two buck tags.

In DE there are plenty of deer and shots at does are easy to come by.  Even on public land.  I see no reason to shoot young bucks.

[Herdbull]

The numerous response I have gotten from the article and the great diversity of opinion sparked by this thread, showcase the many freedoms we still have. Choosing the one that is right for you when alone in the woods is of utmost importance. I’m not sure, but are these deer hunting’s good old days? Ha! Mike

[paleFace]

Mike is right on with what's right for you when you loose an arrow at an animal is what's important. I love opportunities to tag a nice buck, but some of my most memorable hunts ended with a doe, small buck or nothing at all except memories.  

Mike I would bet 50 to 100 years from now our future brothers of the bow will indeed say that this time we bowhunt in will be known as the "good old days"....

[BlacktailBowhunter]

My home state does not have the best opportunity for deer so any deer will be a trophy with the recurve this year.

Utah, any buck.

Ohio, a trophy buck and does per Ben's advice.

Paul

[RC]

My family loves wild meat. I do my best to keep the freezer full of pork and venison along with catfish and bream.
   As far as deer go I`ll kill the first buck of the year no matter what size given the opportunity after that its does and I`ll hold out for a good buck. Our rules require one of your two bucks in Ga. to have at least four points on one side.But you got another buck of any size along with ten does to go with that.

    A trophy to me is one I got my hands on.RC

[varmint101]

I put other.  I don't trophy hunt, but I do I guess.  Really as fas as bucks go, I know immediately when I see a buck if it's one I'm going to kill or not.  I don't have to say welll maayybe.  Normally I do try to wait for a 3 1/2yr old just because, but I certainly don't have to.  I may go out and kill a 1 1/2yr old this fall.  Just depends on how I feel that day and I'll be absolutely fine with that.

I get one buck a year here in Indiana, but I don't have to worry about my season being over if I kill a buck early.  I have 6 does I can kill also so the season can last as long as I want.

Anyway, any deer is a trophy with bow or gun to me.

[Ybuck]

Any buck, or doe is good for me.  

[Talondale]

Depends on where I am.  Most of the hunting areas I hunt have lots of does, probably too many, and I like to take some out for meat.  When I aim for a buck my restriction is basically: "Do I want to spend $350 to get him mounted?"  If the answer is no, then I pass.  What makes him worthy of mounting may vary, and is purely subjective, but it's my threshold for shooting a buck.

[hill boy]

All the above.  :cool:

[Rufus 25]

I fall into the "other" category.  The club that I am a member has a 6 point or better on bucks.  This is a real bummer when you have a 5 point at 15 yards...lol  I have no problems shooting does, but here in Florida it is not uncommon to see does with spotted fawns during archery season. I have had several does within range, but I will not shoot a doe that has spotted fawns with her.

[razorsharptokill]

I had to go with other. I have passed on young deer. Just couldn't shoot one with spots. Been a few years since I've tagged one but that's ok too. It's the hunt.. ya know?

[Stone Knife]

Life is too short to trophy hunt, I shoot them all. Shooting deer is fun no matter what there size, IMHO.

[pronghorn23]

I went with other. I'll shoot a doe, pass on the fawns, and have my first 8 pointer. Therefore my own standard for bucks is it has to be bigger than my 8 point.

I like to let the smaller bucks grow to be bigger.