Do you really hold out for the big ones?


huntn4bucks

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Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones?

I USUALLY FILL THE FREEZER WITH DOE MEAT.I WILL PASS ON A 1 1/2 YEAR OLD BUCK,BUT I HAVE A HARD TIME PASSING UP A PERFECT SHOT ON A 2 1/2 YEAR OLD 8 OR 10 POINT.I SUPPOSE AS I GET OLDER THAT WILL CHANGE SOME AND ALREADY HAS A LITTLE.MY FIRST FEW YEARS I SHOT WHATEVER I COULD MOSTLY BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING AND DIDN'T SEE AS MANY DEER.

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Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones?

I'll never shoot any buck if his rack isn't outside his ears. That's just me sorry. I see several deer mostly does every time I go hunting. Shooting a basket rack 4 or 6 point just isn't worth it after hunting for 16 years. I believe in letting them walk & letting bucks grow.

When I want meat I shoot does in December before the season closes.

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Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones?

This is the way I do it if I see a buck and its a good size but then I ask myself is a buck I would mount but thats the way I do it if its a buck to mount shoot it but I your not becouse of size dont shoot it but if I know their is a hos out their then I wait and past up all deer exept if its early in the season I shoot a doe for meat then hunt for that trophy.

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Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones?

I just can not get the "if I don't shoot him, someone else will" mentality.

Don't get me wrong. I don't condem anyone for shooting a legal buck. It is a very personal decision and if it meets your criteria as a shooter, then by all means take a buck if it is legal.

I also know that deer populations and hunting opportunities greatly vary. But from what I've seen, the vast majority of whitetail country USA has PLEANTY of does out there. They eat better and can be just as difficult to hunt.

So, why not let the little guy walk on by. Maybe that guy on the next ridge will let him walk too. And if that guy does choose to shoot him, then so be it (as unfortunate of a reality that I feel that is).

Again, I'm not condeming anyone on what they choose to shoot so long as it is legal and ethical. We all have different goals when it comes to hunting. I choose to hunt all year if I have to and potentially eat my buck tag while passing on many small bucks (I'm sure than many get shot by "that guy on the next ridge"). But why not put a doe or two in the freezer and then let those little guys walk? I know "you can't eat anters". I've heard it all. But I can guarantee you that there is not a single hunter out there that does not dream of putting his/her hands on a wall hanger set of antlers. Face it, that is the ONLY way to get to that point. They will not grow big, if you shoot them when they are small. Simple fact folks.

Shoot what makes you happy, it is all cool with me. I just don't understand the mentality behind it is all.

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Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones?

RR, I suggest you go back and READ my whole post, but just to clarify for you, NO, I will NOT shoot a deer just to keep someone else from shooting it. But if I let a 4pt walk to get bigger, so I can have a mountable rack, and someone else takes him 2 days later, what the heck good is that?? Answer me that!!

Guesss ya'lls comments on the "if I don't shoot it, someone else will" are directed at me. Well you know what, I don't care what you think. I hunt to hunt, plkain and simple. If I wanna shoot a spike, I will, it's my choice, noone else's. I really could care less what you think about that mentality. I shoot, kill, harvest, whatever you want to call it, to put meat on the table, as my FAMILY loves it. I can't believe some of ya'll are so shallow as to condone what a person may/may not shoot!!! Guerss it all has to do with the way my daddy raised us. We NEVER passed on a legal deer, heck, it may be the only one we saw for the year!!!

And another thing, I will shoot a doe just as quick as I will a buck, what about those that won't even shoot a doe, how the heck are they helping the population?

Ya knoiw, use to be this was a fun place to come and share ideas, get new ones, bounce questions off of other people, but seems like anymore it's just one big gripe session around here. frown.gif

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Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones?

I agree with GATOR if its legal who cares! If he wants to shot a LIL BITTY BUCK or whatever let him! Its legal! No reason to knock on people! THis forum is a place where we all hunters to gether and share idea! THIS IS THE BEST FORUM ON THE NET! KEEP IT THAT WAY!!! If someone take a bad shot SO WHAT HE LEANRED FROM HIS LESSON! ALot of people jumped him for that! If Some one chooses to shot a small deer who cares! In gators case he hunts for meat! Not to brag about this HUGE BUCK HE SHot! He brags about saying hey i got a deer for my family and it tastes D##M good! Thats what he wants to say! He would rather say that then I shot a 12 pointer! I know gator and have meet him! Hes a DANG good guy! LEAVE HIM ALONE! He loves the taste of the deer meat! he shoots the smaller one it just tastes that much better!

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Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones?

This is my first post in the forum.

I hold out for the big ones for sure and so do most of the hunters in my area. My first bow kill was a 169 inch 9pt. in my first year of bowhunting. After shooting that I won't shoot a buck that is less than 140 inches and so far I haven't had the opportunity to do so. I try to shoot does with my antlerless tag but have only been able to fill one of those tags in my 4+ yrs. of bowhunting. During shotgun season we holdout for the big one until the last couple days, then it's anything but small bucks and fawns.

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Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones?

All deer are fair game in Oklahoma. Everyone has the choice of shooting smalls bucks, and while I do not do it, I do not have a problem with someone who hunts for the experience. Like Gator said, he will shoot a doe as quick as he will shoot a small buck. Not many will do that around here...most will hold off on a doe to shoot a small buck, that's when I get mad, unless it is a first kill, etc.

The "if I don't shoot it, someone else will" mentality is understandable, but I look at it this way: If I shoot it, this deer has NO chance of reaching maturity, but if I let it walk, he at least has some chance.

I have shot two 1 1/2 year old bucks in my short career, that is enough for me. I am by no means embarrased of them though!! They are hanging on the wall (and always will) just like that monster I hope to kill someday soon.

I have passed up 2 bucks that would have been my largest deer if I had shot, but not quite what I wanted. Also passed up 2 button bucks just last week.

I can completely understand Gator's rationale for not passing on any deer, as I know he is on call 24/7 (just like my dad, who NEVER, not occasionaly, *NEVER* gets to hunt with me). I would shoot any deer also if I were in this situation.

Nobody has the right to bash someone's reason for shooting something that they may consider a trophy.

There, I am done now..... grin.gif

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Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones?

I have no problem with people shooting what they want. My neighbor does this. If you're a meat hunter that's perfectly fine. I don't like the people that shoot whatever comes along just to kill something. That's wrong in my book. Those are the people that give other hunters a bad reputation.

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Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones?

[ QUOTE ]

I only commented on the greedy comment that I quoted from gator, which I have heard from many people. I never said he should let small bucks walk. I was ony pointing out if you shoot it just because you think someone else will you are hunting for the wrong reasons. You are letting someone else dictate your actions and not hunting for your own personal fulfillment.

I thought I had a good post and example. I am sharing ideas that is all no need to get hot because someone does not agree with you.

[/ QUOTE ]

You call me greedy, and I'm not supposed to get hot? Well buddy, to late for that!!! Who the heck are you to call me greedy, cause I wanna feed my family? You know what, I have killed 1 deer this year, and it was a doe. Last year I got 5, all does, year before that 5, 2 bucks 3 does, an 8pt,m and a 6pt, 6pt was killed in Alabama, (passed on 2 others) where we DON"T have big deer, and as a matter of fact, there if I don't shoot it, my brother or nephew I know will, so go figure!! Maybe it best you just keep your comments to yourself from now on.

Guess you didn't read my other reply to you either. I would NEVER shoot a deer just to keep someone else from shooting it, but I will not let a LEGAL deer walk either!!

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Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones?

Gator -

I hope that my post did not offend you. That was not my intent at all.

Like I said, shoot what makes you happy. Just as I don't understand certain political parties points of view, there are hunting points of view that I also don't understand. That does not mean that I do not respect your decisions in what animal to shoot or let walk.

I've shook the hands of many of my friends after helping them drag a buck out of the woods (even on my ground) that I would not have shot.

I just think it would be so cool if everyone had equal oportunities at shooting large bucks. And the simple fact is that the only way to get large bucks is by letting small bucks grow. Unfortunately such a dream will never occure.

I appologize if I offended you. Again, that was never my intent.

I knew I should have just let this topic pass and never have posted about it.

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Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones?

Let me clarify some things. I hunt public land that is REAL close to home, it sees alot of pressure. I hunt here because 1., it is close to home, as has been stated, I am on call 24/7. Example, our ML season is 1 week, guess how many days I got to hunt, 2. I tried to hunt opening weekend, did for about half a day, then got called into work. I am lucky to even see a buck out there!! So yes, if it has horns, I will shoot it, plain and simple. If I go home, and tell my wife that I passed on a 6pt, cause it "wasn't big enough" she would hang me by my toenails!!!!

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Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones?

No, I am not trying to turn your words around, I read them the way you typed them. If you notice in my first reply to you about shooting a deer just so someone else couldn't. You never took notice of that in your reply, hence the reason I am hot for being called greedy. You have a problem with the way I hunt, take it up with me via PM, but don't call me out in public bud! Maybe before calling someone greedy, you should try and understand what they are trying to say, instead of jumping the gun!!

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Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones?

Gator is THE MAN i Respect him for everything he does! Helped me with my blackpowder! And at the end of that we looked at each other all confused! LOL rememerb that one! Gator os the man and i dont care what he shoots how he shoots it! If it legal thats all that matters! I know his hunting time is limited! GATOR dont let anyone talk down on you!

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Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones?

[ QUOTE ]

OK, that facts are all cleared up.....Gator only shoots scrub bucks and he is stupid for doing that. He is not a real man. laugh.giflaugh.giflaugh.giflaugh.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

And if it takes killing big bucks to be a real man, guess I'll just keep on being me, cause I got a wonderful wife and family that just love eating my little scrub bucks and does that I put on the table!!

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Re: Do you really hold out for the big ones?

Ryan, ain't noone on these boards gonna talk down on me. Well, they can talk all they want, but you know what the say about buttholes and opinions, everyone has one, and they all stink!!!

My opnion is that real hunters don't dog out other hunters for what they kill don't kill, if it's legal, who cares? I don't care if someone kills a spotted fawn and comes on here bragging about it, I will NEVER jump their butt for it, that's for sure!!!

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