Im in the same school of thought as Squeaky, Matt Brock, 2dogs and others.

Heck...well y'all know I AM a trophy hunter. And Im not ashamed to admit it.

I pass on a TON of bucks every year, many that are 3 yr olds and over 120 inches....but that is MY choice.
Heck, I even pass on 130 inch bucks in other states. Again, it is my choice.

However I also ONLY eat wild game I harvest....so If the season starts rolling down, Ill shoot a 3 yr 8 that scores 100 pretty quick before I go hungry.

With just my wife and I at home, 1 good buck or possibly 2 is all I need to eat. Since I only really need 1, then I CHOOSE to be really picky about that 1.

Luckily I also get A HUGE amount of time off during the season as I run my own businesses and would rather work long days before the season to bank time off. And luckily I own my own land.

So my choice is to WATCH deer...and not shoot them.

Sometimes I see 20 + deer a day..heck sometimes a sit..but dont shoot any. Some so close I can spit on em. Again, thats my choice.

Im usually just looking for that one good buck over 4 1/2 , usually one that I know and have watched grow or have pictures of. Thats the game I personally have liked to play. It is a hard game TO play...and pushes me to hunt better, harder, smarter.
It also provides me with A LOT more knowledge on deer, especially bigger bucks as I WATCH deer all the time, and really try to study and figure out big ones.

Im sorry, but young bucks do NOTHING for me. And I just dont shoot does PERIOD. Ive only shot 2 ever since I was 16. But again, that is my choice. It doesnt make me "better" than anyone else...It just means I dont like shooting does. Why is that bad?

But in the same regard I dont condemn others that have their own opinions and choices.
If people want to shoot young bucks or does..that THEIR CHOICE. Not mine.

I dont condemn them for it either. They may not get much time to hunt, or hunt tough hunting land without seeing many deer, or may have to feed a family of 8!

I dont know, and I really dont CARE.

However, what I dont get is why people CARE that I only want to shoot 1 or 2, and want them to be mature 4 1/2 year old or older.

Why does that make ME a bad guy? Why must I be condemned for being a "Trophy Hunter"?? Like its a bad word?

And why do so called "Meat hunters " even care??? I just leave more deer for them?

So my feeling is "to each their own".

Though I do like management minded neighbors and luckily have them, you "meat Hunters" go and enjoy yourselves. Yall dont bother me at all.

But please dont condemn us so called "Trophy Hunters" because we like to do things our way.

We all need to get a long and respect EACH OTHERS ways, without condemning each for theirs. Just my opinion.