Now that we have a 3 buck limit I don't care that much what my neighbors kill (assuming they kill no more than 3) BUT the reason people do care what other people kill goes back to the original point of this thread. More selective hunters = bigger/ older deer. If my goal is to shoot mature deer and I'm letting 2 and 3 year old bucks walk, then why would I not care if my neighbor shoots a 2 year old? Not saying I would get mad about it, but I would care.

No doubt there a A LOT more big deer killed now than prior to the 3 buck limit. I bet the average score of bucks posted, just on this site, have gone up by 15"-20".

All that being said, even for the "killers" I have to wonder how many would still hunt if they new for a fact that there was nothing on their land bigger than 100". Every whitetail hunter out there dreams of killing a stud, so killing 3, 2 year olds in one season just simply decrease their chances of killing a really good buck. Simple as that. But I do like the 3 buck limit as it lets people do what they want without major consequences.

You have never heard me say to kill yearlings or 2 yr olds.

And, you have also never heard me talking 'down' to others who do. If I disagree with their decisions, I keep it to myself as to not take away from their own personal enjoyment.

The size of the deer that a person kills does not define their character to me. There is much more to Life than a deer. And that comes from someone who absolutely LOVES it and LIVES it.

Danny I could not have worded this any better myself. I shoot what make me happy and gives me that adrenalin rush. Granted, it does take a mature deer in most cases to do that. I've been so blessed to kill a lot of deer over my hunting career. I simply don't have the desire to just kill anymore. I have also become lazy and don't care to fool with immature deer.

I use to get wound tighter than an 8 day clock over my neighbors and club members shooting a young buck. It was taking all the fun out of hunting for me to the point it was depressing. I finally said enough is enough and made it a point to not worry about others actions. If they are happy at the end of the day that is all I care about. I do have rules in place on my current leases and I do ask my guys to do their best in judgment when pulling the trigger. Mistakes do happen and none of us are prefect. Deer are a renewable resource it just took me some time to learn that

Very interesting conversation we have going. I can see both sides. Im a lot more selective than i used to be and that is my choice and if i had my own private property i wouldnt want surrounding hunters killing any thing smaller than a wallhanger, but like i said earlier i dont and i dont go on pay hunts. My choice of a good buck is different than others. Merry christmas everyone.

And, I bet you are right about being posted.
That does not equate to being killed.

I agree that Education is critical!
And, I also agree that the age structure of the harvest has shifted due to the Limit and Education. SO, it is a Win!

However, it has also given rise to a certain snobbery and increased greed by a certain group of hunters. They do not realize that they are by far in the Minority. And, they seek to force their opinions and ideas on others. That turns myself, and many others, off. It also drives many people away from posting and sharing their hunts and experiences. I personally feel that we should encourage others to hunt and enjoy Fellowship in the experience.

Derailment




So I have a question for both sides of the argument.


If you had 10,000 acres of contiguous property for a private stalk hunting club, what would be your deer harvest rules?

Danny and Squeaky have gone through the exact experiences as myself. I no longer get excited in the least to kill an immature buck. I went through a period of time when every shot I heard stressed me out because I knew it was a 2-3 yr old buck that I could have killed at a later time had they let it walk. I just couldn't understand why someone would shoot an immature deer when they could let it walk and wait on a trophy. Those days are over. I understand everybody don't hunt for the same reasons. I hunt big deer, and I'm not going to let my neighbors ruin that for me. They'll get congratulated evey time they shoot now.

Extreme heights, if I had 10,000 acres and complete control of it, every buck shot would be 5 years old at a minimum. No antler restrictions. Just 5 years old. I don't have control of that much land, never will, so no need in worrying about it.

I would and it wouldn't bother me a bit. I've been lucky to kill a couple of good deer but I don't get hung up on horns

If I was the president of such club my rule would be 4.5 years old or older no matter the score. If it was in a prime area of the state known for producing better quality deer I would consider 5 years old being the guideline. The big key to making such a property be successful is having like minded members who are all on the same page with this goal. That goes for trigger restraint and the work that goes into managing said property.

Shooting younger bucks are also a result of not knowing what "might" be in the woods. To some, a basket rack 8 is a trophy. No problem, as long as they don't go to killing 10 bucks in a season.
When you go 20 or so years without shooting a buck (intentionally), and still enjoy hunting, waiting for the 140 or so, you can realize how lots of smaller bucks are killed.--How far can people carry on with some patience?
I agree, there does seem to be larger deer being killed.

Yep and Yep!!

However, to enjoy Quality Hunting, the number of members would be so limited that very few would actually get to enjoy it.

That is just the fact of it.

But isn't that the reason for like...limits....?

I don't think every single 1-2 year old deer is getting shot every year?

I didn't say they were all getting shot and just because there is a limit does not mean someone has to reach it.

Let's say I have a 250 acre parcel that I only shoot 4 yr old deer or older on. All of my neighboring property owners practice the same management. And they collectively have an additional 450 acres. Then there is a couple of small tracks of land let's say 15 -20 acres that an entire family hunts. Everyone is striving to kill there limit on those two 20 acre parcels. So let's say it's dad and a son on both parcels. That year they would kill 12 bucks off of 49 acres. No telling how many does and prolly would have a few buddies come over and kill a couple bucks as well. That's way too many for the areas I hunt in the north. Not to mention that hey are shooting first come first serve and that usually is one and two yr old bucks that are still stupid and don't know better than to cross their land.

If I am them I am going to shoot a deer if I want to kill it and then let my neighbors with better practices and grow and produce quality animals that could be killed on those small tracts.

I kill deer cause I eat them. I don't kill 50lb yearlings and I don't kill spikes or really small bucks. I'll kill a doe in a new york second.

You described me to a t! I used to worry so much about what everyone around me was killing, to the point I was driving myself nuts! I would get plum pissed off over someone killing a young buck. I don't care anymore. I don't give a rip what a feller does on his own place any more. I just hunt my way and enjoy it and I hope they do the same.

This here's one of the best posts I've ever read off this forum

I agree, but to address the issue that Clem brought up, too many self anointed "trophy" hunters that are jealous and get their panties in a wad when everybody does not hunt the way they want them to hunt.

There's definitely a middle ground somewhere here. I know folks that get tore up and really let it bother them when it comes to what other hunters are doing. That will just drive you crazy and is pointless. Then there's a group that will degrade someone for having justified level of concern about what's going on around them. Both groups are in the wrong for slinging out verbal jabs at each other.

Only a select few hunters are lucky enough to have properties where they can really manage what is harvested. Absolute huge minority.

The reality is that most don't have this luxury. In the vast majority of situations, multiple groups of hunters with various sizes and types of property are sharing and hunting the same deer herds. Or - the only hunting opportunity they have to hunt is to join a club with more members than a property can support. I realize why a lot of hunters get frustrated and if you can't control yourself, it will worry you beyond a reasonable level of concern. And the unfortunate truth is that most will never be involved in a piece of property other than situations like this. Some will accept it and have fun anyway with reasonable expectations. Some will keep hunting while worrying and complaining until they die. Some will stop hunting altogether.

The back and forth discussions usually get out of control. I think it's hard for either side to put themselves in the other hunters shoes.

Impossible to do. The law abiding killer can't comprehend why someone else cares what he does within the law. The trophy hunter is constantly concerned with the actions of others because they may inhibit his ability to enjoy his style of hunting, and in all fairness, it does. The two sides will never compromise. Only compromise that will ever be reached is within oneself.