Am I Nuts?

[mdhunter]

At home a good whitetail is probably 150". I enjoy hunting and all the experiences that go with it. In Maryland we can shoot up to six bucks with various weapons and can shoot an unlimited amount of does.

Anyhow, I regularly pass on opportunities to hunt whitetail in other "trophy" states such as Iowa etc as I don't want that to ruin my deer experience locally. Do any of you western guys do the same thing and skip hunting your favorite species available locally when you travel and hunt?

The journey is the destination in my mind. I enjoy a big deer as much as anybody but I am trying to prevent the "grass is always greener scenario". Am I nuts?

 

[woodsman]

Yes

 

[LopeHunter]

Go West. Embrace the situational challenge. If you are a meat hunter, no issue. If look to fill tag with a mature animal then no problem. If you are only willing to harvest an animal that supersedes every other one you have harvested then does not take many years to paint yourself into a corner of tag soup.

Eastern Montana whitetails or southern Arizona Coues whitetails are quite a bit different and will challenge you to develop new skills. You will see wonderful country while chasing what may be your favorite game animal to hunt.

Important thing is to do what you enjoy and only you can travel that journey into the woods. Good luck on your hunts.

 

[dustinf]

My problem is I can't stomach sitting in a treestand anymore. It's just flat out boring to me.

Now, I'd rather go squirrel or bird hunting.

 

[Matt Foley]

In my opinion the trophy is in the experience. If you shot a 150 or smaller buck and make great memories in the process then what is the problem. I perfer hunting locally. I like to develop hunting spots and return year after year. I love to scout and to get to know the animals in certian area. Hunting local is also a lot easier on the wallet. Not that I do not dream of someday doing a Yukon moose hunt or an eastern whitetail hunt but for elk and mule deer, I prefer to stay close to home.

 

[mdhunter]

I should clarify, I have been west ...just never for whitetail. I have hunted and harvested elk and antelope. I just refuse to hunt whitetail anywhere other than home.

 

[sluggo6850]

How about mulies!!

 

[ERMINE]

My problem is I can't stomach sitting in a treestand anymore. It's just flat out boring to me.

Now, I'd rather go squirrel or bird hunting.

I am from the midwest as well, and I get bored so quick with it. Sitting the same spot over and over. I have done well from a tree, I just like hunting out west better.

 

[Khunter]

yes you are nuts.

No good reason to not experience other hunts, including those that have better trophy potential than the home ground. you will always hunt the home turf and will not lose appreciation for it.

But the challenge and enjoyment of scouting and hunting new places and new states is a great addition to doing the same old hunts at home.

Life is short, go for it.

 

[JohnCushman]

I have the patience and attention span of a 3 year old on crack, so no treestands for me

 

[Muskeez]

If you just want to experience new turf and the same animal, then head out. Personally though, if I am going to spend a lot of money and vacation time out of state hunting, I would rather hunt something that I can't hunt regularly. Maybe after I have harvested enough elk and mulies and lopes to satisfy me, then I may hunt whitetails somewhere else. I just like the thrill of something new. However, I may have more success hunting WT in new places since I would at least be familiar with their general habits. Don't second guess yourself, just buy the tags you can and adjust as you grow old. As far as Iowa goes, PM me if I can help. But in general it isn't what it used to be. I would love to shoot a 150" deer each year, granted I am not in southern Iowa, but just don't expect to see numerous big bucks like you see on TV. It may happen, but don't expect it. I doubt it will ruin your home experiences.

 

[bennett454]

When I first read your post I thought yes, but after thinking a little more I would say no. I live in pa and hunt md as well. Md has a amazing archery season very early and entire length of the rut. A lot of areas in maryland can put out gagger bucks Charlie's county and the eastern shore. So what would you gain by buying a out of state tag ? I've hunted iowa on public land and it was awesome but very pricy non-resident license. And depending on what access you have where you hunt in maryland you can match or come very close to Midwest quality. So I would say no if you want to hunt out of state than you might as we'll go for other species rather than white tails. Unless you want a certain experience maybe a prairie buck or a wilderness whitetail hunt if you head south you can hunt the rut all over again.
That's my thoughts

 

[1_pointer]

I'd say you're nuts, but I also get what your saying... IMO, I'd probably not travel to hunt a species I have at home if a) it was in similar terrain or b) it wasn't in an area know to produce trophies. I grew up hunting whitetails and still do here in IN. That said, it's not the same as hunting them above the Clearwater River in central ID, which I've done. Similarly, I'd really like to try my hand at hunting them in the prairie regions of the country. Much different than the hardwood hills I hunt them in IN. All that said, time and money is limited and if it's not an itch for you there no need to scratch it.

 

[pointingdogsrule]

OK, I'll come at this from a different angle. I hunt Iowa, where I live, I just can't seem to leave this area during the month of November (and late October). Too addicted to the hunt and really enjoy the hunt. Here is the other part... I am originally from Pennsylvania and have longed to go back and archery hunt PA. I enjoy any type of hunt, however, I just can't make the break to get back to PA.

Just the opposite of your delemia.

good luck to all
the dog

 

[sweetnectar]

Your nuts. The trophy and how you get it is different for everyone. Different areas have different size animals so what might be a MD trophy to you would be different then say an Iowa trophy. To some guys, if a rifle, airplane, lighted knock, etc was used, the trophy term has different meaning.