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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 971
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 971 |
I have never actively hunting for "big bucks" until last year when I bought property next to a few friends who have been managing for big bucks for a number of years. That being said, my criteria over the years has changed from "any legal animal" to "mature animals". I am just as happy killing a mature doe as I am a mature buck. They both eat well as long as you practice proper field care and processing methods. While my hunting partners are obsessed with what a deer scores, I care about what he, or she, ages. We have a camp minimum on bucks, but most 4.5 year-old deer on our property meet that grade.
Last year's buck was only a 6-point (3X3 for you western guys), but he was 7.5 years old (verified by Matson's Lab). That is a heck of a trophy in my book.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130 |
Do you all have a camp slut yet? I am available, and cheap. And sexy. Are we talking live or via Zoom? Depends on price. Do you know how to serve coffee?
If you put Taco Bell sauce in your ramen noodles it tastes just like poverty
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 9,053
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 9,053 |
Just reviewed my lifetime hunting stats...verdict: 99.99% of the time I venture forth with high hopes and return with a dink.
Well this is a fine pickle we're in, should'a listened to Joe McCarthy and George Orwell I guess.
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21,734
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21,734 |
Kingston brings up a few good points about the Pa deer situation. There are more deer than rifle season would indicate. Early seasons do take a toll, as big (I think) is trophy hunting inspired methods. We wouldn't have seen as many deer 30 years ago with so few hunters.
Both numbers, and ass sitting, never move types. People of little skill and others that do nothing more than walk to a stand. Nobody hunts on their feet anymore.
The herd is still about 1/3 of the past.
Spend a few evenings spotlighting. Used to see more deer in a single field than we now see in an 8 mile stretch. And then see a bunch in mist other fields.
Parents who say they have good kids..Usually don't!
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,069
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,069 |
Just reviewed my lifetime hunting stats...verdict: 99.99% of the time I venture forth with high hopes and return with a dink.
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 23,506
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 23,506 |
Just reviewed my lifetime hunting stats...verdict: 99.99% of the time I venture forth with high hopes and return with a dink. Laffin here, too. 😂🦫
Curiosity Killed the Cat & The Prairie Dog “Molon Labe”
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,009
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,009 |
In my experience, not matter how many pound of onions you cover them with, or how long you smother them, antlers never get tinder. ...
"The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants".
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,621
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,621 |
Just reviewed my lifetime hunting stats...verdict: 99.99% of the time I venture forth with high hopes and return with a dink. LOL.
WWP53D
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189 |
My son recently killed his 4th buck. Another forkhorn. He has a giant 3×3 that was not a young deer to his credit, his second deer. After he got this latest deer, he told me he'd like a bigger buck next year. I explained that it's pretty simple: shooting a big deer just requires not shooting the first one you see, or any smaller bucks you see, and continuing to hunt hard until you find a big one.
I'm almost certain that his second buck showed up the day he killed his first one, but he just couldn't see it. It was a big 3×3 then, too, and was within 100 yards for at least a minute, but my son couldn't see it moving up the ridgeline in front of us. Eventually it headed into some timber, as I watched it for several minutes. My son didn't see it until just before it disappeared. Luckily, that buck pushed a forkhorn out of that patch of timber, which came running straight for us. A year later, nearly exactly the same antlers, but heavier. And the first buck he spotted that year.
I belong on eroding granite, among the pines.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,917
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,917 |
Just reviewed my lifetime hunting stats...verdict: 99.99% of the time I venture forth with high hopes and return with a dink. LOL Sometimes I shoot because of the antlers. Sometimes I shoot for the freezer. Sometimes I shoot because of the experience. Sometimes I shoot because of location. Sometimes I shoot just because..... My tag do with as I please. Sometimes it is tag soup.
Arcus Venator
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 9,157
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 9,157 |
I can afford meat. I want the biggest animals I can find. If I can't find them I have zero problem eating the tag. Zero shame. Different strokes for different folks. We need to quit beating each other up.
Proud NRA Life Member
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,392
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,392 |
I have enough horns. I’ve been shooting for meat for the last ten years or so. I have a nice buck on my land I have been watching him grow for three years. I wouldn’t shoot him until he scores very well. Until he scores very well. So I’m not sure I fall in your categories.
I prefer classic. Semper Fi I used to run with the hare. Now I'm envious of the tortoise and I do my own stunts but rarely intentionally
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,069
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,069 |
Head Hunter vs. Meat Hunter…🦫 Neither, I hunt for the sport.
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 4,813
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 4,813 |
Kill for the thrill leave em in a ditch.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,917
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,917 |
I can afford meat. I want the biggest animals I can find. If I can't find them I have zero problem eating the tag. Zero shame. Different strokes for different folks. We need to quit beating each other up. Yep, It is your tag to do with what you please.
Arcus Venator
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,376
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,376 |
Just reviewed my lifetime hunting stats...verdict: 99.99% of the time I venture forth with high hopes and return with a dink. LOL Sometimes I shoot because of the antlers. Sometimes I shoot for the freezer. Sometimes I shoot because of the experience. Sometimes I shoot because of location. Sometimes I shoot just because..... My tag do with as I please. Sometimes it is tag soup. Well spoken I operate very similar to this as well.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 20,192
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 20,192 |
Meat: Luv'n it.....
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 14,087
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 14,087 |
I am a big fan of exercising "Dominion"
ya!
GWB
A Kill Artist. When I draw, I draw blood.
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,009
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,009 |
Both .... Bigger rack, bigger body = more meat I make specialized tools to kill efficiently.... and selectively ...
"The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants".
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,163
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,163 |
Kill for the thrill leave em in a ditch. A really stupid comment. You do understand that anti-hunters often come to sites like this looking for idiotic comments like the one you just made to use against all hunters don't you? Dumb, really really DUMB!
You get out of life what you are willing to accept. If you ain't happy, do something about it!
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