Trophy or Meat?

[Sharp Shooter]

Either way I will get meat so I am going to try to get a big buck but my priority is meat so I will shoot a smaller buck by the end of the season if I do not get a bigger one.

 

[catman]

I jerk the hole deer, this is the only way my wife will eat deer meat. I eat the loins by my self every night until they are gone. I prefer doe's over bucks, never could get the horns tender enough. Got a young one a couple of years ago with bow that had some fawn spots still on it, that was some very fine eating. If they still have fawn spots they are still titting and the meat is like veil in color and taste.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Apparantly meat. :haha: I've only got two sets of antlers in the house: my first deer (an 8 point) and my first arrow killed deer (a 6 point - or 9 for you guys that go by the "wedding ring" test). I always wait to try for a buck on opening day - just because they are much scarcer hereabouts and, as mentioned earlier, a doe/antlerless usually comes along sometime later in the season.

First day in these parts is like Omaha Beach and, I believe, 50% of the bucks taken in the region are taken on opening day.

Now, if a 200# dressed size doe ambles by I'm not one to look a gift whitetail in the mouth. :winking:

 

[Slamfire]

Those are the deer I look for, old bucks who haven't any sex drive left. I think of it as euthanasia. Too bad somebody won't do as much for me when I can't even git outa my bed anymore.

 

[Vaino]

I'm way past the "horny" stage.....Fred

 

[SavageArcher]

I'm not going pass up a chance at a good rack, but he better be the first one to show up. 'Cause I ain't passing up on meat either. A nice fat doe is awful hard to resist.

 

[paco97]

This is my 6th season hunting, so harvesting a deer is still a great pleasure for me. I go for the first deer I see. So far I have 1 8pt 96" bow kill, Spike & 3pt & 8pt Rifle Kills, 2 Buttons Shotgun & Rifle Shotgun Kills, 1 Doe Rifled Shotgun, and 1 Doe Rifle Kill. I'm at the point now where I pass up on the buttons. I still need to get my 1st ML kill--I've 3 misfires with my old bobcat, so hopefuly this year will be the year with my new Flinter.

 

[RC]

I still need to get my 1st ML kill--I've 3 misfires with my old bobcat, so hopefuly this year will be the year with my new Flinter.

HMMMM, my first shot w/ the flinter would be AT the ole bobcat! :rotf: RC

 

[JCW]

meat.

 

[Bountyhunter]

I spent 25 years huntin for meat to feed hungry kids. Now, I got a 10 day season and 9 of em are lookin for that Alpha buck. If I dont have at least a 5x5 hangin by the 9th day, then anything is fair game, cause, I'm totally tired of eatin it and its gonna go in the smoker as jerky anyway.

Now, if'n yas have a way to get yer hands on a big ol bag a that Chimayo red chile, then you can make yerself up a big old batch a Christmas Tamales. Other'n that, it goes to jerky. Plain jerky, smoked jerky, red chile jerky, and green chile jerky. It just dont get much better.

Now momma will likely yank out a haunch and take it up to Dalhart and have em cure it like a ham. She'll yank the tenderloins so she can stuff em with lobster, other'n that it's gonna get sliced.

Bill

Sheesh, I get the best of both worlds, but it begins with a large mature buck. Shootin anything less than a 4x4 just aint moral.

 

Once I have meat in the freezer then I'll concentrate on a trophy.

Garryowen

 

[Legionair]

While I do choose over which buck I'll take, the primary goal is meat.

I think Trophy hunting for no other reason than a rack on the wall is wastefull.

Legion

 

[KyFlintlock]

I usually try to hold out for a good buck, then try a stillhunt for a doe with the flinter.

It is all good! Just getting out there!!!
wess

 

[roundball]

While I do choose over which buck I'll take, the primary goal is meat.

I think Trophy hunting for no other reason than a rack on the wall is wastefull.

Legion

I have the best of both worlds...I go after horns all the time, drag them to the truck, register it by cell phone, then on the way home drop them off to needy families who live out around the area where I hunt...I get the horns and the meat helps people who really need it so nothing is[url] wasted...win-win[/url] for everybody

 

[RC]

OKAY, technically I'm meat huntin...cause if a big rack comes by and there ain't nuthin under it I ain't shootin! :rotf: guess I just want my big buck and eat it too! :winking: RC and Roundball, I'll be the bearded guy on the corner w/ a sign says "need fresh meat!" :rotf:

 

[Bountyhunter]

I dont know what your New Yourk deer look like but where I hunt, if'n you have a 5x5 in your sights, you have a 300+ pound live animal. Our deer will dress out to about 170 pound carcass weight. Thing is, that if I just want meat, I could go to Dalhart and buy a quarter of good choice beef for less dollars spent. Hell I got half a pickup load of horns over in the storage shed.

Thing is, we have lived on venison for about ten years and I'm tired of eatin it every meal. So, the first day, I still hunt with my Hawken. I will see 30-40 deer. If there is a really big one, I'll take him. If not, then I move to the tops and the open range country and I hunt with my centerfire rifle, as up there, the shots are all going to be over 300 yards. If I havent gotten a big buck at the end of the week, then I go back to the Hawken and back to the heavy timber and I fill my tags.

Meat hunting has all the sport of shopping at the supermarket. There isnt any doubt that I can shoot as many deer as I have tags for. I could drive down to the pasture and check the water tank for the cattle and shoot a half a dozen out of the pickup window. But to get out and walk several miles and find that alpha buck and bust his butt with a roundball out of a Hawken, then that is hunting. Out here, it is considered moral to kill a doe for meat after you have gotten you a good buck but is frowned upon otherwise. Does eat good, but every doe you kill will be at least one less fawn next year.

 

[Vaino]

My son for a long time shot "big sausage bucks" and passed on the good eating does. Now we shoot a lot of does to fill the freezer and to reduce the deer herd. Last year over 40,000 whitetails were killed by cars in Wisc. causing a lot of serious injuries and besides....they eat my wife's bushes and plants which really corks her off.....Fred

 

[roundball]

"...Last year over 40,000 whitetails were killed by cars in Wisc. causing a lot of serious injuries and besides....they eat my wife's bushes and plants which really corks her off.....Fred

That's a lot...Insurance stats here in NC put our deer/auto claims up over 12,000 a year...1000 a month from which insurance claims are made...big trucks, 18 wheelers, etc, I doubt bother turning in any claims cause the deer are just a bug splat on the bumper

 

[RC]

I dont know what your New Yourk deer look like but where I hunt, if'n you have a 5x5 in your sights, you have a 300+ pound live animal.

bountyhunter, evidently another of my poor attempts at humor :redface: I just meant I wouldn't be out hunting for just a rack..I love venison,but would also like to take a :shocked2: "monster buck" w/ my flinter.that's one of the reasons I hunt in the Adirondack Mts. there's just gotta be a dandy up there..meat I can get in our southern zone...hopefully! (but they ain't goin weigh anywhere near 300 lbs..and I'd be happy as h7ll if'n I could see a 10pt. oops! :nono: 5x5 I mean...couple more[url] weeks...waitin[/url].... waitin..RC :thumbsup: