rifleman25 Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 Re: Good Meat -vs-Little horns I own a cattle feedlot and raise beef as my primary source of income. Needless to say good meat is not in short supply around my place. I only shoot mature bucks. Sometimes a mature deer isn't big. Last year I ended up shooting a 130 inch whitetail that was about 4 years old. Not a real giant but he was mature. I have taken some bigger ones ofer the years and stick to that. I believe the buck vs doe or the old vs young deer thing is entirely up to the hunter. I believe you honestly cant tell a difference. What makes the differece is field care of the carcass, and proper aging of the meat, as well as having a good butcher. Since most of the fresh cuts we consume are home grown beef I usually have my entire deer ground into sticks and some jerkey. I do this with the 1-2 deer I kill each year. I grew up chasing western big game and found proper field care, cooling, and aging to be the most important players in the quality of meat from any game animal. This is just my opinion take it for what it's worth. I see so many people driving around with an animal thay have shot for several days in the back of a pickup with the hide still attached. These also seem to be the people around me that claim there animal isn't worth eating. I believe if they would carefully gut the animal, promptly hang it, and get the hide off you are well on your way to having some fine table fare. Aging is also a valuable practice that I believe not alot of hunters follow. I will hang my animals high from a loader bucket and leave them for 5- days depending on the weather. We typically have mid 30's around rifle season so I'm not concerned about spoiling. I understand in some areas that is not an option. I also believe the way the meat is prepared plays a part in this as well. Remember this is just MHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowhntr Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 Re: Good Meat -vs-Little horns Most hunters go through different levels of hunter "maturity" as they progress. There was a great article on that in Deer & Deer Hunting a few months back. Everyone is different and at different levels in their hunting career. I've gone through all levels and I'm now at the level where I'm more about the hunt than the harvest. In the question that has been asked I would take a doe every time and hold out for a mature buck now. However, there was a time if it was legal it went down and that was fine too. But now I'd rather have a good fat doe and let my little bucks walk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cutter Posted March 12, 2006 Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 Re: Good Meat -vs-Little horns We have a long season and acouple of doe tags available as well as the either sex so I like to hold out to the end for a wall hanger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GreenHead Posted March 12, 2006 Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 Re: Good Meat -vs-Little horns since i havnt got a deer yet it doesnt really matter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nut Posted March 13, 2006 Report Share Posted March 13, 2006 Re: Good Meat -vs-Little horns [ QUOTE ] since i havnt got a deer yet it doesnt really matter [/ QUOTE ] I agree with you on that. My wife has not taken a deer yet so it is brown is down for her. Pretty much on how I feel for me also. But I would rather have her and my boys do the killing while I watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingduckhunter Posted March 13, 2006 Report Share Posted March 13, 2006 Re: Good Meat -vs-Little horns little bucks grow to be big ones.....if your not into trophy huntin i quess it doesnt matter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkhntnfool Posted March 13, 2006 Report Share Posted March 13, 2006 Re: Good Meat -vs-Little horns Here's how I usually hunt. The first 4 weeks of the general season I hunt for a 4 point or better (8 point for you easterners). Then the last week of the season if I still have a tag I'll take any deer that I can to put meat in the freezer. I'm by no means a trophy hunter I just don't like to shoot the young ones to give them a chance to grow up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longislandhunter Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 Re: Good Meat -vs-Little horns I'd shoot the doe for the meat in a heat beat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QDMAworks4me Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Re: Good Meat -vs-Little horns [ QUOTE ] I'll always take a doe for meat.Sometimes 2or3 doe. I leave my buck tag for the wall hanger. [/ QUOTE ] I am with you Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lilbuckmaster Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Re: Good Meat -vs-Little horns I would rather shoot a doe, because the little bucks will get bigger so I would just let them go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hookedonhunting Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Re: Good Meat -vs-Little horns Save the little bucks, and shoot the little does! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atthewall Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 Re: Good Meat -vs-Little horns No small bucks here and I'll shoot does and smile all the way to the freezer. If the buck hits 5 years old, then it's a totally different story. Backstraps/tenders whole, hamburger and sausage the rest. Does get steaked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tyshe17 Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 Re: Good Meat -vs-Little horns Every place I hunt except one we have a 6 or better rule in place...it isnt much, but i lets most 1.5 year old bucks walk. That being said, I will shoot a doe in a new york minute. I just let them lay and keep hunting and have killed deer after that several times. The one place that doesnt have the limit has the biggest bucks...it isnt agreed apon but everyone on the property (and the surronding ones) goes only for the older deer. So, I havent shot a small buck intentionally in several years. I did kill 3 smaller does with a bow this year, and man do they eat good. We eat a lot of meat (11 deer from this season are gone except for 3 bags) so I stock up when the season is open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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