Two types of deer hunters?

W

William Suter

Well-known member
Was setting here reading some of the posts and got to thinking and came up with a thought. I think there are two types of deer hunters. One that hunts for meat and one that hunts for horns. I use to be a meat hunter. I did my best to tag out every year but I was feeding my family and that was filling the freezer then. Now, old age is creeping up on me, hell its here, and I've turned into more of a horn hunter. One deer will pretty much last me a long time so I usually get the majority of the meat ground up into burger. I let the small bucks pass as well as the does. If I don't get a nice buck then I just don't get one. I just don't have the "if its brown its down" frame of mind anymore. Sometimes just watching them is as satisfying as killing them and I don't have to drag them out of the woods.
 
I think you’re missing another category and that’s for the guys chasing experiences.

I’ve been a trophy hunter and meat hunter since I killed my first deer at 9 years old. Now days, I only want to shoot deer, elk, antelope for the experiences. I have no problem shooting a small buck or doe if my kids are with me. Or shooting a smaller elk if it came screaming in my face. Kinda hard to explain but I’ve passed up killing decent bucks with my wife and son only to shoot a smaller buck or doe later on. In those instances, it was just a more raw experience with them and I was happy they got to be fully present for it.

Last year, I had a great elk tag with the real potential to shoot a high scoring bull. I actually found a huge bull and was making a play on him when I ran into a way lower scoring freak bull. It was way too sweet of an experience with him bugling in my face to not shoot him. Helped that he was almost 60 inches wide too haha. Regardless, I’m in it for awesome memories.
 
I think I have covered all phases of “Types” and over most species of game huntable here in NY. Small game, big game, waterfowl, turkeys and predators. Initially, I would just want to kill them. And over time, I would want to kill them in a more challenging way. And then I would want to target a mature, or even a specific animal. And using a different form of hunting. Archery turkey for example, over the shotgun. I flip back and forth frequently as well. Whatever feels right kind of thinking.

My passion for “killing” has, over time, waned, in favor of enjoying the entire experience. Or enjoying the successes of others, and helping them succeed. There are many days that find me in a tree stand with a beautiful animal in front of me, and I think to myself, Wow, you are the luckiest guy in the world right now… And I just don’t feel like dragging today! Lol…

I still kill. But everything has to come together at the moment of truth at a time when I want to pull the trigger, or loose an arrow.

Now when it comes to coyotes… That’s a whole nother scenario! Those I hold at the top of my list nowadays. They consume my thoughts more than anything else. They are my greatest challenge. Therefore, when I get one in front of me, they rarely get a pass if a shot presents itself. There’s no animal in NY that comes close to the challenges of being a coyote hunter.
 
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hunt0168 said:
My passion for “killing” has, over time, waned, in favor of enjoying the entire experience. Or enjoying the successes of others, and helping them succeed. There are many days that find me in a tree stand with a beautiful animal in front of me, and I think to myself, Wow, you are the luckiest guy in the world right now
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Spot on! Take lots of pictures; you'll be glad you did on those days you can't get out there.
 
I never will understand those who bash others for taking legal game. If you hunt thousands of acres of private property you can most likely pass on smaller bucks and see them again years later... a lot of hunters don't have that luxury so they take what they can get.

I've become more selective in recent years and no longer equate "success" with a kill.
 
I hunt for horns now, and if they don't meet my self-imposed criteria, I don't shoot.

I've heard the 'stages' of a hunter as 1) kill everything, high body count 2) must limit out on every hunt 3) method of take, rifle-to-bow or muzzleloader 4) size of rack, or drake mallards only etc. 5) just being out there and enjoying the experience. If I kill something, great. If not, great. I duck hunted for 3 years with my son and buddy without firing a shot, and I've been duck hunting since 1964.

I'm in #5, except for coyotes. I'll kill coyotes.
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The fastest way to get blasted by me if you're a "non-trophy" buck is to come out during shooting light when 1) I've brought along a new AR15/AR10 build to "try out"; and 2) my freezer is empty lol. Those "new build itches" have to be scratched.

Thinking back on some of the deer I shot that were not that great... this was the situation. I needed a "volunteer" and one stepped up and took one in the interest of science.
 
I must be Stage 6 at this point in life. Have progressed through the other 5 over time amongst deer, bear, waterfowl, upland game, fish, etc. Pretty much chased it all for over 55 years so far.
I much enjoy anymore mentoring friends and family who are pursuing along the same path.
 
I've killed my share of scrub bucks but back then it was public land hunting and opening morning it looked like a busy shopping mall. If you didn't shoot what came by someone else would. Then I moved to lease property. Most was unmanaged and the deer were usually small racked and small bodied. Then I went on a few pay to play hunts and did get a few quality deer. I then had a few friends with private owned property and hunting was decent but deer were spotty. Several places were i between other properties so they were what I called transition properties. Deer just moved threw going somewhere else. Now I'm back to public land but its not over pressured and I have taken a couple of nice bucks there. But I'm more into the stage 5 of my hunting. If it isn't a decent rack buck it gets a pass. Coyotes....don't come by if you don't want to die!!!
 
Why can’t we be both

I find bucks with potential and follow them through the years. Some grow impressive antlers some just grow old. 5.5 or older is a trophy to me, but when they hit that 150” or better it’s really a trophy! My son and I archery hunt bucks.

As far as meat, we have to shoot does for management purposes and have shut down processors in the area for weeks at a time with donations. If I’m going to eat them I dang sure ain’t eating a buck, lol. Rifles are used for does because bullets are cheaper than arrows and broadheads. I’ll keep about 2 maybe 3 does a year for myself. In fact, to make sure only one or two of us aren’t having to keep does in check, next year it will be mandatory for anyone that hunts they must shoot 5 does before shooting a buck.

I personally don’t care what anyone shoots on their property. Each of us has different reasons and maturity levels when hunting. I used to be a brown it’s down type, then wanted bigger antlers. Now it’s age class on bucks. We try and give them all the benefit of the doubt and let them grow.
 
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