Do you shoot small bucks ?

[Culvercreek hunt club]

I love the taste too....and DOC...I am with you...veniveal is the best. I carry a small can of brown model spray paint in my fanny pack just so my daughter doesn't get mad at me for hurting Bambi....gotta cover up the aiming points...lol

[Doc]

We eat every bit of the venison that I get, but in all seriousness, I have to admit that it is not my favorite tasting meat. That doesn't really have anything to do with how much or how little I enjoy the hunt. I do not hunt for the meat. I eat the meat because I hunted it.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

I'll invite you up when I do another hind quarter in my smoker....did one for a group of guys at our camp and I am not patting myself on the back but it was the best tasting meat I have had. I'd take it over beef.

But you are corerect it IS about the hunt....and being thankful and using the bounty is a bonus.

PS....First thing I say to anyone that says they do not like venison is "How do you cook beef steaks".....9 out of 10 tell me well done .....and there folks is the problem...well done and venison should NEVER be used in the same sentence.....My 2 cents

[steve863]

PS....First thing I say to anyone that says they do not like venison is "How do you cook beef steaks".....9 out of 10 tell me well done .....and there folks is the problem...well done and venison should NEVER be used in the same sentence.....My 2 cents

You are 100% correct here!  I have heard a good many hunters say that they don't even like venison.  I myself would find it hard to justify hunting if I didn't like or eat the meat.  Sure, there is a bit of a thrill when one bags something, but killing for no real good reason doesn't sit too well with me.  I know I'd get plenty of arguments, but hunting for antlers is also not a good enough reason for me.  The older I get, the more strongly I believe in this! 

[Culvercreek hunt club]

I use to do a bit of nusence permit filling for a nursery in the Syracuse area. They ended up letting a few other guys in to and the way they acted caused me to quit. The owners just wanted the deer GONE due to the $75,000 worth of damage each year but those other guys would shoot them...strip the loins and leave the rest of the deer. I saw it done with bucks too since they got the permits for bucks too once rubbing damage started. Just didn't sit well with me since there was a cutter that processed for the Hunters for the Hungry program and it cost me NOTHING to drop the deer to him. I donated 7 deer that last year and I was glad they were going to a worthy cause.

I guess it boils down to respect for your quarry and the other hunters you represent. Cuz let's face it, those outside our group paint us all with the same brush based on their experiences.

[Doc]

I myself would find it hard to justify hunting if I didn't like or eat the meat. 

As per countless threads across many hunting forums over the years that have asked about the reasons for hunting, I have found "meat" is actually a long ways down the list. Even among those that really like venison, that particular reason for hunting is still a long way down the list. If you ask the same question of a woodchuck hunter, "meat" moves even farther down the list. If you ask a predator hunter, it moves even farther down the list. If you ask a crow hunter, it generally drops off the list entirely. And of course the guy that goes to the dump to shoot rats, well .......  

I'm thinking that if meat was the only reason that I hunt, I would probably be hunting black angus in a barnyard somewhere ..... lol.

I hope we never get to the point where the only justification for hunting is food. That's one argument that I won't even pretend to support.

Doc

[steve863]

I myself would find it hard to justify hunting if I didn't like or eat the meat. 

As per countless threads across many hunting forums over the years that have asked about the reasons for hunting, I have found "meat" is actually a long ways down the list. Even among those that really like venison, that particular reason for hunting is still a long way down the list. If you ask the same question of a woodchuck hunter, "meat" moves even farther down the list. If you ask a predator hunter, it moves even farther down the list. If you ask a crow hunter, it generally drops off the list entirely. And of course the guy that goes to the dump to shoot rats, well .......  

I'm thinking that if meat was the only reason that I hunt, I would probably be hunting black angus in a barnyard somewhere ..... lol.

I hope we never get to the point where the only justification for hunting is food. That's one argument that I won't even pretend to support.

Doc

That is why I don't shoot woodchucks, crows, or anything else I don't intend to eat. Won't say that I never have, but surely don't anymore.  My bloodthirsty days are behind me.  I even had an opportunity to kill a bear last season and chose not to because I surely wouldn't want to eat it no matter what people say how good the meat can be, so I had NO other reason to kill it.  So you don't need to support or even believe the argument, but others may live by it.

[SteveB]

How do flies and mesquitos taste

[woodsdweller]

we enjoy eating deer meat we do not pass a legal buck. here in 4r our deer numbers are not what they use to be. i refuse to harvest a doe in this area. i have 4 children 2 of hunting age and there is nothing worst than not seeing game. i enjoy the days of seeing 20 plus deer still hunting thru these mountains, but they are gone!!! if you see 5plus you have had a good day.

[Nomad]

Hum i put meat way up on the list, not on the very top but #3 or perhaps 2 depending on how one groups things .

We eat healthy, my one daughter in college has me bring her ground venison on our visits !

Cooking with ground beef is gross.

I take great pride in knowing I can provide my family with a years worth of heathy meat.

[steve863]

How do flies and mesquitos taste

In the eyes of the law, that would be deemed as self defense and NOT murder.  And by the way, they could be quite tasty if marinated properly.  LOL

[solon]

yes i will shoot a small buck - i don't get a lot of time in the woods (i work to hunt, not hunt to work) so I consider any deer a "trophy".    The thrill of the hunt and the tranqulity of the time in the woods out in nature are 2 of the reasons i hunt - but i would also sterotype myself as "meat hunter".  It's all in the way the meat is cared for - quickly skinned and then the way my wife marinates and prepares vension it tastes better than beef.  I agree with many of the other posts about eating what you kill is paying honor to the animal so the size of the buck doesn't really matter - it's all about a good time with nature and friends and the stories that get told over and over, but never seem to get old - my friends and I have just as good stories about little bucks as big ones...

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Well...I guess you guys can color me "redneck"....I have eaten Beaver, oppussum, woodchuck, crow, and pigeon....along with the normal fare. All very tastey when prepared correctly. And as far as passing on a bear...if you don't hunt where the bears can be spending time in a dump....even better than venison. My daughters favorite meat of any wild or domestic. She actually gets very mad at me when I give it to folks to try..lol ..SO if you get one....call me...I'd be more than glad to take it off your hands. besides if you front the money for a rug.....you'll make a few bucks... a 5 footer (200-250lb) bear will cost you about 950 to get the rug done ...they are selling for 1300-1500 dollars....the bigger the more$$$ and it is legal since it is not the meat.

I am not trying to sound like a money hunter because I have mounted both I have shot and pick my rug up in 2 weeks but I bet there are a few out there that could use the meat and a few bucks to help pay the bills

[steve863]

I surely ain't calling you a redneck, Culver.  I have no problem with anyone eating bear, woodchuck, etc.  Anything can be eaten if one wants.  However, I myself have no desire to eat a bear, thus I am not about to shoot one.  Just me I guess, but I just don't find eating them very appetizing nor do I care for a bear hide that would simply collect dust in my house.  Maybe there are people out there who would buy them, but I don't think I would have too many potential buyers throwing money at me for them where I live. Even the several deer I had mounted in my younger day I have either given away or pay little attention to on the wall. 

[Culvercreek hunt club]

There actuall is a pretty good size market for the bear rugs. Non hunters building cabins..lodges and such. The Taxidermist I deal with does not even require a deposit to do a rub because he knows he can get more than his money out of them....Just an FYI....mounts on the other hand are a much different story.

The redneck comment was tongue in cheek....although my wife would agree with it

[wellsley]

I would shoot any bear except a cub.

[Doc]

That is why I don't shoot woodchucks, crows, or anything else I don't intend to eat. Won't say that I never have, but surely don't anymore.  My bloodthirsty days are behind me.  I even had an opportunity to kill a bear last season and chose not to because I surely wouldn't want to eat it no matter what people say how good the meat can be, so I had NO other reason to kill it.  So you don't need to support or even believe the argument, but others may live by it.

So, how do you feel about those that do hunt woodchucks, crows or anything else they don't intend to eat? Are they living in their "bloodthirsty days"? .......  :  Maybe those people that trap and take animals that they don't eat are bloodthirsty too? I suppose those that give away their venison are probably also just exercizing their blood lust with their hunting. They obviously are not hunting because they like the meat. How do you feel about those people? .... just curious.

No seriously, I do support your highly evolved sensitivity, and appreciate the fact that such attitudes fit well with this century's political correctness. A few more of us could use a little more of that kind of enlightenment. Maybe next year I will adopt the more tender-hearted attitude and give up predator hunting. I'm no darned good at it anyway, and there is no way that I'm going to start gnawing on some coyote's leg.

Doc

[Gthphtm]

Mmmm,Just finished supper it was Good,Fresh garden Vegies. and a Venison stake on the Barbi.Last years Doe.I have been letting the little guys walk lately,Last year I shot a 4 pointer only because it had a deformed rack,did not want his genes passed on.I have been letting this one walk ever since he was a spike,three years ago he was a 4 pointer walked up right behind me and grunted,I let him walk.then he was a 6 pointer,let him walk during archery season,last year he was an 8 pointer and I saw him again in archery season,I saw him today he was bedded down,got up looked at me and shook his head with the velvet hanging off and walked off.This year is going to be a tuff one his a definate shooter.Not a high tined rack but wide as anything.I have to give him credit for out smarting the other hunters in he area, so far.

[fasteddie]

Gthphtm ----- You let him grow up . Now it's time to put him down . Congrats on your patience !

[steve863]

That is why I don't shoot woodchucks, crows, or anything else I don't intend to eat. Won't say that I never have, but surely don't anymore.  My bloodthirsty days are behind me.  I even had an opportunity to kill a bear last season and chose not to because I surely wouldn't want to eat it no matter what people say how good the meat can be, so I had NO other reason to kill it.  So you don't need to support or even believe the argument, but others may live by it.

So, how do you feel about those that do hunt woodchucks, crows or anything else they don't intend to eat? Are they living in their "bloodthirsty days"? .......  :  Maybe those people that trap and take animals that they don't eat are bloodthirsty too? I suppose those that give away their venison are probably also just exercizing their blood lust with their hunting. They obviously are not hunting because they like the meat. How do you feel about those people? .... just curious.

No seriously, I do support your highly evolved sensitivity, and appreciate the fact that such attitudes fit well with this century's political correctness. A few more of us could use a little more of that kind of enlightenment. Maybe next year I will adopt the more tender-hearted attitude and give up predator hunting. I'm no darned good at it anyway, and there is no way that I'm going to start gnawing on some coyote's leg.

Doc

Look, shooting woodchuck, crows, coyotes in season is legal as far as I know, so nowhere did I call for a ban on such hunting.  If I had the itch to simply shoot at things, I myself would rather shoot at paper targets or tin cans than destroy these creatures that I will have little use of after I walk over to see them dead on the ground.  Call me politically correct, or any snide remark you want to make, but that is how I approach things these days.

[Doc]

Sorry if you got offended, but your "bloodthirsty days" comment kind of made me figure that you felt anyone who shot animals without eating them was simply bloodthirsty in nature.

[steve863]

Believe me, I have a pretty tough skin.  Takes lots more than that to offend me and it surely won't happen on something like a talk forum.  All I'm saying is that I will shoot only at things I intend to eat these days.  If others want to shoot at things that are legal to shoot at without any intentions on eating these critters, there isn't much that I can do about it.  Everyone makes a choice for themselves.

[furman_ny]

Pass up a lot of small bucks but have no problems with other people shooting them, around these parts many have watched too much TV, think that letting a few small bucks go will have giant bucks hiding behind every tree the next season. The doe population here is way out of control, making herd numbers too high for most bucks to reach anything near full potential, and most leave the does alone cause its not cool to shoot them in their minds, until herd is reduced, especially with most all farmers out of business, leaving few crops for food, I wont be jumping on the QDM bandwagon and have no regrets takin a younger buck, mostly out of my appetite for the meat, and in many years for some reason beyond me, they do not give doe tags to many applicants here, as I see this year less than 2 out of 3 will receive a permit here, thus causing many more young bucks to take the place of does in lots of hunters freezers this season.

[nyslowhand]

What I pass up on opening day of bow season has made me think twice by the end of the season on numerous occasions.

The last weekend before gun season when the same small-ish buck you already passed on is within range and broadside, will an arrow fly?

I have, but it really depends on how the season has gone, the overall situation and my mental state at the time.

Adrenaline makes reasoning difficult.

[gjs4]

Guys who see big bucks dont shoot little ones....