dpv

The only deer I've ever killed that I've been "ashamed of" was the one I shot by mistake this year. And even that, I tagged and butchered. I hunt more than anything for the meat. Yes....the antlers of the 7 point I got this year are nice to look at and touch...and it was 20 years in the making for me....but more than anything I want to put meat in the freezer. Can I afford to just buy the meat. Yes. And if I spent my hunting time working at a second job I could probably buy much more meat than I am able to hunt. But I hunt for many things. I hunt to connect with nature....with myself...for the thrill and for the kill. There is so much satisfaction when you take a deer. And like you, I hunt on public land and ANY deer you take there is a damned fine deer.

NY Bowhunter

Never understand why anyone is concerned about what anyone else shoots. Personally I hold out for mature bucks and shoot does for meat. Shooting a 1.5 or 2.5 year old buck just doesn't stoke my fire anymore. Don't get me wrong ..... I get just as excited seeing them (any deer for that matter). But to kill one wouldn't do it for me.

At the same time I could care less what someone down the road or in a different state kills. Affects me not at all. We have some big bucks on our land and there are friends of me that will shoot a basket 6 if they are given the chance. I don't put restrictions on what anyone shoots on my land. If you have permission to hunt my land shoot whatever makes you happy. This trophy hunting is just getting weird.

dpj1030

Ya, I hear ya. No worries though