Not the one I wanted

[wytex]

I certainly want to shoot the biggest every year but realistically know that I won't. And yes we hunt for the meat.
With resident licenses prices the way they are we can fill all 3 freezers with great game meat every year for cheaper than buying beef.
Yes it matters to me if I take something while hunting but not for social media.
My cow pics get posted though, lol.

The times I have hunted out of state I looked into how I could get some meat even if not taking a buck, doe tags etc. My Kansas hunt, the outfitter was very surprised I wanted to take doe for the meat. I also took home a nice 150 class buck another hunter took that didn't want the meat or antlers, he had bigger deer hanging on the wall. I thanked the older gentleman and took his deer.

 

[TOGIE]

it's an inherent lie.

the one you shot is the one you wanted. no other way about it.

 

[R.K.]

The only time I’ve been unhappy with what I shot is when I’m unhappy with myself. Mostly when I hunt Missouri, shoot a nice doe in the woods, then walk up and see it’s a spike with antlers I couldn’t see behind the ears. And they happen to be barely big enough that I have to use my buck tag on it. Annoying. Especially since we really needed to take some does off the place.

Every other tag, I’ve been happy with what I decided to take home.

 

[Elky Welky]

This is a really refreshing thread. There's other threads out there going on about their "best" with a high focus on score, which never mattered to me or the best elk hunter I know, my father, growing up. Just getting an elk was a significant accomplishment.

6 years ago, I picked up archery hunting, and had an opportunity to hunt some public land via private access for 3 days. After lots of action and some great encounters with some bulls, I took a cow at 30 yards on day 2, right at dusk. We were in grizzly country, so we boned out the cow, each put 100 lbs of meat on our backs, and did an all-night packout. 4 miles in and 4,000 vertical feet down. As the sun was coming up, with a quarter mile to go and a 500 foot canyon to descend into camp, my partner accidentally discharged his bear spray. We recovered from our coughing fit and powered through it, and we shared the meat and the story for the rest of our lives.

Nothing was more disheartening than people subsequently telling me I had wasted that opportunity on a cow.

Hunting means more than scores, and if that is someone's only priority, or they think they need to posture and make excuses for taking a "small" animal (it's never a small thing to take a life), then I am probably not going to respect them that much.

 

[elkhuntinfool78]

This is a really refreshing thread. There's other threads out there going on about their "best" with a high focus on score, which never mattered to me or the best elk hunter I know, my father, growing up. Just getting an elk was a significant accomplishment.

6 years ago, I picked up archery hunting, and had an opportunity to hunt some public land via private access for 3 days. After lots of action and some great encounters with some bulls, I took a cow at 30 yards on day 2, right at dusk. We were in grizzly country, so we boned out the cow, each put 100 lbs of meat on our backs, and did an all-night packout. 4 miles in and 4,000 vertical feet down. As the sun was coming up, with a quarter mile to go and a 500 foot canyon to descend into camp, my partner accidentally discharged his bear spray. We recovered from our coughing fit and powered through it, and we shared the meat and the story for the rest of our lives.

Nothing was more disheartening than people subsequently telling me I had wasted that opportunity on a cow.

Hunting means more than scores, and if that is someone's only priority, or they think they need to posture and make excuses for taking a "small" animal (it's never a small thing to take a life), then I am probably not going to respect them that much.

Great post. "It's never a small thing to take a life " resonates.

I've taken many elk that were by no means a trophy to anyone but myself but I knew what I would be happy with and once I took the animal I felt blessed for the opportunity to have done so.

To take an animal and then make excuses for why you killed that little buck or bull just makes me shake my head. Be 100% happy or don't pull the trigger.

 

[Bill Zent]

My old mind was a head of my fingers in post #7. What I meant to mean was a hunter who hunts for trophies aka big bucks, does not SEE one, and then shoots a year old piss buck. Did the thought cross their mind that little bucks grow up to be big bucks? It was not about meat hunting, sorry I did not make it clear in #7 post.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Anyone else get sick of hearing,

" well he wasn't the buck or bull I was after but at least I didn't go home empty handed"

Or "Not the one I wanted but at least I put meat in the freezer for the family "

Let's be real there's not many folks these days that are out hunting because they need to feed their family, there's far cheaper protein to be had when one figures in tags, gas money, wear and tear on vehicles, etc.

I'm so sick of hearing comments like this, it's so annoying. Seems many just can't go a year without putting that post on Instagram about the hard earned tag they filled. In particular with mule deer I find it pretty repulsive that so many young bucks get shot just so someone can keep their ego sufficed.

And influencers, do we really need to kill multiple bucks and bulls each year so we have content for our viewers? Not saying all are this way but I'd say definitely most are. Yes, Yes, I know the meat goes to a good cause.

Alright enough rambling.

I searched but didn't find a thread to this point already but if there is one post a link and let this thread go cold. Otherwise post your thoughts.

Easy answer, don't go on social media platforms where you hear these people make those statements.

 

[2rocky]

I call my uncle “Cash Money Colby”. Because he shoots elk that are “Legal and Tender”

I’ve never seen him pass a buck or bull and he usually shoots the first one in range.

That’s his tag, his hunt and his choice.

 

[Dsnow9]

I love hunting, I love being out in nature, big animals are awesome! But at the end of the day I have a business to run and a family to spend time with. I have shot a lot of cows on either sex tags opening morning. I don’t regret one of those or the little set of dinner forks I have from a buck. I enjoy the hunt! Sometimes I have held out for a mature deer or a bull on an either sex tags tag, but anyone that has read my threads or hunted with me knows that usually lasts about 48 hours at the most. Holding out for a specific animal or specific scoring animal is just torture for me and I don’t like the practice. At the end of the day though to each their own.

I agree though, hearing the excuse making for shooting a small one makes me want to kick people in the nuts. If you’re gonna make excuses or go on about it after the fact don’t pull the f’ing trigger.

 

[Boarmaster]

Anyone else get sick of hearing,

" well he wasn't the buck or bull I was after but at least I didn't go home empty handed"

Or "Not the one I wanted but at least I put meat in the freezer for the family "

Let's be real there's not many folks these days that are out hunting because they need to feed their family, there's far cheaper protein to be had when one figures in tags, gas money, wear and tear on vehicles, etc.

I'm so sick of hearing comments like this, it's so annoying. Seems many just can't go a year without putting that post on Instagram about the hard earned tag they filled. In particular with mule deer I find it pretty repulsive that so many young bucks get shot just so someone can keep their ego sufficed.

And influencers, do we really need to kill multiple bucks and bulls each year so we have content for our viewers? Not saying all are this way but I'd say definitely most are. Yes, Yes, I know the meat goes to a good cause.

Alright enough rambling.

I searched but didn't find a thread to this point already but if there is one post a link and let this thread go cold. Otherwise post your thoughts.

I dont see the issue. I don't worry about another hunters goals or priorities if they are following the law. For myself I have three goals for my hunting. One is to have a good time. It is a hobby. Second I would very much like to kill a better animal than I have ever killed. Third I would like to have some game meat in my freezer. Why that, or me saying that would concern or aggravate another hunter escapes me. I see nothing wrong with going hunting with several goals.

 

[Boarmaster]

Easy answer, don't go on social media platforms where you hear these people make those statements.

This.

 

[noharleyyet]

I love hunting, I love being out in nature, big animals are awesome! But at the end of the day I have a business to run and a family to spend time with. I have shot a lot of cows on either sex tags opening morning. I don’t regret one of those or the little set of dinner forks I have from a buck. I enjoy the hunt! Sometimes I have held out for a mature deer or a bull on an either sex tags tag, but anyone that has read my threads or hunted with me knows that usually lasts about 48 hours at the most. Holding out for a specific animal or specific scoring animal is just torture for me and I don’t like the practice. At the end of the day though to each their own.

I agree though, hearing the excuse making for shooting a small one makes me want to kick people in the nuts. If you’re gonna make excuses or go on about it after the fact don’t pull the f’ing trigger.

Yep, caveat emptor

 

[WildWill]

And then there's my wife. This January we were doing some doe hunting in Texas to fill the freezer. Sitting over a winter wheat field and two deer come out. One is twice the size of the other most likely a doe with last years fawn. I tell her to shoot the one on the left she takes aim and Bang the deer on the right flops over .

 

[rjthehunter]

And then there's my wife. This January we were doing some doe hunting in Texas to fill the freezer. Sitting over a winter wheat field and two deer come out. One is twice the size of the other most likely a doe with last years fawn. I tell her to shoot the one on the left she takes aim and Bang the deer on the right flops over .

Hey, some people struggle with their lefts and rights!

 

[brymoore]

And then there's my wife. This January we were doing some doe hunting in Texas to fill the freezer. Sitting over a winter wheat field and two deer come out. One is twice the size of the other most likely a doe with last years fawn. I tell her to shoot the one on the left she takes aim and Bang the deer on the right flops over .

My sons were hunting mule deer together last year. There was a 3 point and a forky together switching spots. On the video the two of them are confirming the 3 point before the shot. Boom. Filming son says .. and you shot the forky. At least it was a legal mistake

 

[44hunter45]

Do hunters also hate when a guy goes fishing in his $50k+ boat and doesn’t catch a walleye salmon to put on the wall but brings home a limit of 18” walleye salmon?

FIFY - Central Idaho version.

 

[Redmt]

I don't hunt but I kill for meat. I always go for the largest I see. My last buck from last weekend was one I happened across while doing morning chores. I wasn't hunting but there's always a rifle within close proximity.
Hunt,, no. Kill,,yes. Bigger is better.

 

[DRAFTSTUD]

You also have to take into account where you are hunting. Are you hunting in an area you have scouted and know where to go in that area for Mr. Big or did you just drive in from 5 states away and this is your chance at say an Elk. Most of my friends have never seen an Elk. I enjoy my times in the Elk woods and if I shoot a Cow, I celebrate it indeed! I have overcome a lot hunting the way I did coming from Louisiana. I know that it might be neater to hand a set of Horns to your buddies instead of a photo of a big fat cow, heck shoot the cow and go Trout fishing!!!

 

[Borny1]

Anyone else get sick of hearing,

" well he wasn't the buck or bull I was after but at least I didn't go home empty handed"

Or "Not the one I wanted but at least I put meat in the freezer for the family "

Let's be real there's not many folks these days that are out hunting because they need to feed their family, there's far cheaper protein to be had when one figures in tags, gas money, wear and tear on vehicles, etc.

I'm so sick of hearing comments like this, it's so annoying. Seems many just can't go a year without putting that post on Instagram about the hard earned tag they filled. In particular with mule deer I find it pretty repulsive that so many young bucks get shot just so someone can keep their ego sufficed.

And influencers, do we really need to kill multiple bucks and bulls each year so we have content for our viewers? Not saying all are this way but I'd say definitely most are. Yes, Yes, I know the meat goes to a good cause.

Alright enough rambling.

I searched but didn't find a thread to this point already but if there is one post a link and let this thread go cold. Otherwise post your thoughts.

What's your take on the frequently used comment, " It's just a two point, but sure has a big body"? Yea or nea? It's one of my favorites.

 

[Mallardsx2]

I shot this 6 pointer in the brush last year that wasn’t quite what I thought it was but I was happy to get him.

when I got back to camp with it my buddy said “Is that just a 6 pointer?!”

I quickly said “No, its an 8 pointer that didn’t grow G3’s!”

Lol

We got a good laugh out of it and the deer tasted great. I get 2 buck tags a year so it wasn’t a big deal to me.



The 15 minute calling interaction back and forth between that buck and I prior to me killing him was next level. He really fell hard for that buck roar and the snort wheeze. Possibly will go down as one of the coolest vocal interactions with a deer I have had in 30 years of hunting.