Originally posted by SwampRabbit
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First off, I think that when folks say they "I hunt to feed my family" some really mean it like you said, they need the meat because store bought meat is more expensive. But some folks say this and they mean it like what I feel a lot of folks mean it. They like venision, they like the taste, they enjoy eating it. They are feeding their families and their appetite, not out of need, but out of desire. I fall into that category. No, I could take all my lease fees, etc and eat prime steak all year long, but that is not what we like and want to eat. And then certainly there are those who use this line rather than admitting to the fact that they just like to hunt and kill animals. I had a dog once that would go bury the bone in the house and never come back to it. He'd go through all the motions. He didn't even like to chew on them, but he sure knew how to hide and protect them.
Second, IMO your assertion that 99% hunt to kill a big buck is way off. I know you estimated, but since you pulled out a really high number, I think you feel that the overwhelming vast majority just want to kill a big buck and I think that is not the reality. Sure, most people would love to kill a big buck, but that isn't necessarily what drives them. It's the hunt and the killing of an animal to put good tasting food on the table (needed or not) that is what drives a decent percentage of folks. A big buck is a blessing, not a priority. Do I think it is 50/50, I don't know. Most hunters who want a big buck talk about it... most who just want to hunt for the pleasure of hunting anything don't always talk. You don't even know they hunt.
Lastly, I will agree with you on the not shooting does. I personally don't get why somebody would shoot a young buck over a doe assuming the opportunity is just as readily available. And it is that last assumption that I think gets some folks, even me. Sometimes the does just stop showing up and people want that jap-cheese venison smoked sausage and they shoot what comes out. Does and older bucks tend to be a little smarter than young bucks... so by virtue, we tend to see more young bucks than we do does. Add into the fact that a lot of folks won't shoot any doe if a fawn is around... and that happens quite often where I hunt.
Long story short, everybody has a different mindset and I always think its a great idea when folks look to start a lease or recruit members with the line "seeking like minded hunters" tag added. If you don't want to handle the diversity of hunters on your hunting property, then you have to weed out those who don't think like you... and that goes both ways. Nothing annoys a bunch of have-fun-shoot-what-you-want than the one guy lecturing everybody about deer age/structure.
As for me, I'll roll with it and enjoy the diversity that is hunting Texas.
Second, IMO your assertion that 99% hunt to kill a big buck is way off. I know you estimated, but since you pulled out a really high number, I think you feel that the overwhelming vast majority just want to kill a big buck and I think that is not the reality. Sure, most people would love to kill a big buck, but that isn't necessarily what drives them. It's the hunt and the killing of an animal to put good tasting food on the table (needed or not) that is what drives a decent percentage of folks. A big buck is a blessing, not a priority. Do I think it is 50/50, I don't know. Most hunters who want a big buck talk about it... most who just want to hunt for the pleasure of hunting anything don't always talk. You don't even know they hunt.
Lastly, I will agree with you on the not shooting does. I personally don't get why somebody would shoot a young buck over a doe assuming the opportunity is just as readily available. And it is that last assumption that I think gets some folks, even me. Sometimes the does just stop showing up and people want that jap-cheese venison smoked sausage and they shoot what comes out. Does and older bucks tend to be a little smarter than young bucks... so by virtue, we tend to see more young bucks than we do does. Add into the fact that a lot of folks won't shoot any doe if a fawn is around... and that happens quite often where I hunt.
Long story short, everybody has a different mindset and I always think its a great idea when folks look to start a lease or recruit members with the line "seeking like minded hunters" tag added. If you don't want to handle the diversity of hunters on your hunting property, then you have to weed out those who don't think like you... and that goes both ways. Nothing annoys a bunch of have-fun-shoot-what-you-want than the one guy lecturing everybody about deer age/structure.
As for me, I'll roll with it and enjoy the diversity that is hunting Texas.
I will add this, the argument that you can buy beef in the store for cheaper than you can shoot a deer for meat is no different than someone saying you can buy a mount on eBay for cheaper than you can shoot that deer and have him mounted. But buying meat/horns just ain't the same though is it?
Disclaimer; I'd much rather shoot a doe than a young buck for meat, and I'd MUUUUCCCHHH rather shoot a monster buck. I've shot big ones and I'd like to keep shooting big ones. I've passed up plenty of deer this year, and haven't shot a young white tailed buck since my first buck when I was a kid. BUT, if my freezer was empty and it was the last day of the season, you better believe I'd shoot the first legal deer that came out.
. And make a little jerky for my troubles.
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