Hunters, does this make you mad?

Question

I have seen so many hunters take young spike bucks and small 2-3 point deer and then wonder why there are not any big bucks where they hunt. The little deer can't grow to be big deer if someone kills them after one year....I will take a doe before I take a young buck...I have the last several years....give the little ones time to get big....

I guess I should clarify...I am talking about the small young deer....1-2 years old...I don't have a problem shooting the older bucks with few points...there is a differance between management deer and a shooting the first deer with horns...no matter age or size...I hunt for meat also...but will still let the young bucks pass and wait for the older bucks or just take does....

as far as younger hunters go...I feel that it is our job as more expericance hunters to teach the young kids about proper game management and the differance between a young spike and and older dear...granted it will be hard for them to pass on that first deer that walks by the stand. We have to pass on the knowledge. That is another part of our job as hunters.

Answer 1

You have to remember that there are several schools of thought. The first is that you have to manage the herd to try and equalize that buck to doe ratio. Some believe that the spike bucks have poor genetics and should be removed from the herd. I have been managing my property for several years and I can tell you that I have 1 1/2 year old bucks that have 8 point racks with 14 inch spreads. I try not to shoot any deer (buck or doe) until it is at least 3 1/2 years old. Unless I see a 2 1/2 year old buck that has less than 6 points (he needs to go, bad genetics) You shouldn't get mad unless people are shooting 1 1/2 year old bucks or does and if you hunt public land this will never change. If you hunt private land try talking to your neighbors, come up with a good management plan for your area and sell it. In no time you will see a change for the better. One more thing, anytime a novice hunter comes to hunt on my land (kids or adults that are new to hunting) I encourage them to have a happy and successful hunt, and I never downplay there kill even if it is a young deer. New hunters need to play by different rules in order to learn and it does not help them to be ashamed of their success. Good luck to you.

Answer 2

Every year when I go hunting in Wisconsin, I have one buck tag and one doe tag.

I usually try to fill the doe tag first. Deep population is a problem, so I feel I owe it to the deer and the public that tolerates me hunting to remove the females first. If a smaller buck happens to present an irresistible shot, I will take it.

After I fill my doe tag, I do not have any particular criteria. I try to leave the yearlings and the 1.5 year olds alone. I tend to shoot any 2.5 year old buck or older. After age, I tend to shoot the first buck that presents me with an excellent shot (broadside, close).

I usually only hunt the opening weekend, so that first weekend, I’m not very selective. After that, I hunt CWD areas or fill extra “free” doe tags and donate the deer. I let small bucks walk by during this time (if I have buck tags) as I already have the meat for the year.

I am not a trophy hunter and I don’t have deer heads mounted on the wall. I’ve seen many very nice deer. Either I didn’t have a “for sure” shot or my tag was filled already. I do not kick myself for not shooting 8 or 10 pointers or for having shot the smaller 4 pointer earlier in the season. It is a beautiful site to see a deer in its natural environment.

With so many deer Wisconsin, I may just buy two doe tags and save my buck tag to shoot a trophy.

I don’t get mad at people at shoot anything that move. There are so many deer, that they need to be killed regardless. I think from here on out, it is just my personal choice to let the little ones pass.

I do commend the people that the little bucks walk. It takes a lot of self-discipline to do that.

Answer 3

You should move to Pa. We have an antler restriction in place. In certain counties, the buck must have at least 3 legal points on one side & in the rest ,the buck must have 4 on a side. The only exceptions are for youth hunters (3" spikes or better are legal) and disabled hunters and active service members on leave. The bucks have gotten much bigger, rack & body wise, especially in the areas around the farms & not so much in the traditional mountain areas. Most of the bucks taken now are 3-4yrs old rather than 1-2yrs. old. which does make for bigger, smarter deer.

Answer 4

I'm from a family of six and there's meat on the table at least once daily. Over the course of a year, that's alot of meat. I consider myself a trophy hunter. The larger the animal, the more meat I've provided with one tag the better. Therefore wether the game is deer, elk, bear, moose, lion, etc, the amount of meat is the trophy. there's also valuable uses in antlers, hides, etc. There's a small sharp bone in the rear legs of a deer just above the hoof that makes an excellent needle for stitching leather. It even has a natural "eye" in it.
Hunting is an enjoyable sport, but there are reasons for it as well. So don't get mad cause someone else is using a resource as they see fit

Answer 5

My boyfriend is a hunter and he just said that if it is a legal deer he would shoot it. Not everyone is a trophy hunter, he said the better meat is younger meat. He said that is what the second license is for, the trophy buck that has to be 4 points or better on one side. He said he has never shot a buck in the past 20 yrs of hunting. He has only taken does. He kills only for the meat not the size of the antlers. So no it doesn't make him mad.

Answer 6

yeah that makes me mad! people shoot the little ones and wonder where the big ones go. i'd rather not shoot a deer one year and let a 4 point go, and come back and shoot that one 2 or 3 years later and have me a 10 or 12 point.
the first deer i shot was along time ago when i was 12, and that was the only 2 point buck i shot ever.

Answer 7

What makes me sick are Trophy hunters. They do not understand how damaging they are to the sport and to the way they make ANTI'S feel towards us. Why do you think so many states now offer FREE antlerless tags. It's because the Doe population is too large. The last couple years here have been Earn-a-buck, and it is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I hope most states go to earn-a-buck before long. It would lead to a much healthier deer population.

Answer 8

like you said, i too hunt for meat. i hunt state land in MI. I have to deal w/ lots of idiot bow hunters who seem to have no respect for others(like last Sundays opening day; had 1 walk in 10 minutes after legal shooting time then left a hour & 1/2 after changing where he sat on the ground about every 20-30 minutes, 2 others walk in about 2 hours after leagal shooting walking and talking about stand placement and haveing no respect for me hunting). all people like that do is force the bigger bucks into hiding and being nocturnal. that's why i hunt with the theroy of "if its brown its down". now, on privite land i completely agree with quality deer management.

Answer 9

I see larger deer every year since PA introduced the antler restrictions. Many sites are now available to show the impact (positive) implementing this practice. Petition your gaming control board to look into this policy. Back to your question - if ya take a little one, ya can't complain about no big ones.

Answer 10

everyone has different points of view on this subject but i do agree. my family and a bunch of neighbors have been practicing qdm (quality deer management) for over 16 years. and let me tell you it works. a couple of neighbors recently got about 300 acres of public land designated a voluntary qdm land. you dont have to follow the qdm rules but it is encouraged. the state even allowed us to post it with our signs. they are not no hunting signs they just simply state our mission for management and tell you some of the rules we follow. in total i think there is roughly 2000 acres in our immediate area. some very nice bucks were harvested close by including a friend of mine whose scored 185 2/8